Electrician: The Life of an Electrician

Introduction
Think back. Recall when you were two-years-old and your mother sternly warned you against sticking anything into the electrical outlets of your home. Did you listen? If you did, then stop reading right now for the life of an electrician is not for you. However, if you stared into your mother’s adoring eyes before plunging your finger into the wall, then congratulations. You have already taken your first step toward becoming a real-life electrician. The next steps come roughly fifteen years later when you acquire your high school diploma and secure an apprenticeship with an electricians’ union, such as the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Job Function
Once your apprenticeship is complete, you will be ready to tackle the wide-range of responsibilities and tasks that come with being an electrician. These tasks may include: maintaining electrical lines, studying blueprints and mapping out the best way to wire a building, installing new power sources, and ensuring that a building’s electrical wiring is up to Federal code. Careful attention to detail is a must. Advertisement
Lifestyle
Make no mistake about it. The life of an electrician is a dangerous one, and I’ve certainly been shocked more times than I care to remember. Imagine working for a major metropolitan power company and being assigned the task of repairing damaged city power lines that are coursing with thousands of volts of electricity. The room for error is microscopic, and a single misstep could cost you dearly. That said, there’s something very satisfying about finishing a large wiring project and seeing a building light up for the first time like a Christmas tree.

As cheesy as it may sound, we are the backbones of modern civilization since our work allows technology to function and the world to go round. It’s a lot of responsibility, to be sure, but I love it and would not want to do anything else.

Additional Information
Expect lots of work and pressure, but the rewards (and compensation) are worth it.