Related Career Categories

• Architectural Technician
• Chemical Technician
• Electrical Technician
• Electrician
• Food Technician
• Gemologist
• HVAC Technician
• Mechanical Technician
• Telecom Technician

Best & Worst Things About This Career

"The best and worst part of the job is that when you finish one job, you don't know when or where the next one will be. I have worked on the roof of the Fleet Center (in Boston), which was awesome, and I have worked on a mechanical lift that went up to 180 feet. That was both scary and exciting. The worst part is maybe installing pipe in a 110 degree steam tunnel crawling on your belly in dirt. But no matter how lousy or great the conditions are, they are always over soon, so you can always get through it."

"The best part of my job is learning the skills associated with being an electrician. This is my first year in this field and I am learning something new every day. I enjoy the getting dirty and troubleshooting things, as there is a crossover from electrical and computer work. My least favorite aspect of the job is the pain involved. Working around wood and metal, it is very common that I come home with a few cuts and scrapes. The worst pain is getting shocked. Other construction workers will turn a breaker back on without realizing we need it off, and the subsequent shock when touching the wires is very painful."

Tips for Succeeding in This Career

"The major downside of being an electrician or any construction worker is that work can get slow during bad times. If no one has any money, no one can afford to pay you to work. It's good to diversify your abilities. I was once unemployed for nine months from my job. During that time I did small electrical work for my friends, and learned appliance repair. If you do get hired as an apprentice, make sure you show up on time, don't talk on the phone all day, listen and study. The test to become an electrician costs money so you don't want to fail."

"Find your local electrical worker's union and find out if there are any training programs available. Most electricians begin their careers as helpers for a few years before moving on to become apprentices and then journeymen. Having your own tools is very important. You must have several screwdrivers, pliers, wirecutters, meters, and a pair of steel toed boots. One source of information available to all is the National Electrician's Code. It's a book of standards for electrical work, and is updated every three years. This book has all the information you need to get your work up to code."