Day in the life of
Electrician – Jeff Brandlin
I am a licensed residential, commercial, and industrial electrician with 20 years of experience. I also specialize in solar installations, repair, and maintenance.
My Typical Day
My typical work day usually starts by reviewing all our clients’ queries and preparing for any scheduled appointments.
The next activities depend on our clients’ needs. Our solar services are divided into four categories: Consultation, Discussion, Installation, and Repair/Maintenance.
The consultation stage is where we get to know our clients and find out their solar energy needs.
If everything goes well, we will move on to the discussion phase. Our team will review all details from the initial consultation. We will then create a project proposal and meet with the client to discuss it. To polish the project plan, we often visit the service area too.
Depending on the details of the project, the first two stages might take a day or two. Some days I am out in the field installing and repairing solar panels. Sometimes I work in the office for project proposals.
Leading a team of solar contractors requires a lot of technical skills, customer service skills, and accuracy. Our clients invested a lot in solar. We need to be efficient in our service to help them reap a higher ROI.
Pros
Electricians are essential
Electricity is essential for our daily lives. It doesn’t matter if you are at home, at work, or enjoying delicious food at a restaurant. All of us will need an electrician at one point in our lives. As an electrician, this means that you will be required to work for a long time. If you work hard and have enough experience in the field, you can make a decent living.
You don’t need a college degree
In most cases, electricians don’t need a college degree. There is no need to take out huge student loans or read a lot of books. However, that doesn’t mean electricians cannot read, write and pass certain tests. While a college degree is not required, licenses and certifications are. Aspiring electricians can opt for an apprenticeship where they get hands-on training and experience before they qualify for a journeyman or a master electrician license.
It is not boring
Being an electrician is never boring. Electricians are highly skilled trade workers. We don’t repeat the same task every day. I, myself, don’t do routine work every single day. Some days I am out in the field repairing, installing, or maintaining electrical equipment in residential areas or business offices. Sometimes I need to be at the office to plan different projects for different clients with different needs. This job is great for anyone who enjoys challenges and doesn’t like to stick to a routine.
Cons
Training and licensing can take many years
While we don’t need to spend four years at college, apprenticeship requires around four to five years of on-the-job training and experience before we are eligible for an electrician license. We get paid as an apprentice electrician so it is still worth the effort.
This is not a 9 to 5 job
Being an electrician is challenging. You can’t come to work at nine o’clock in the morning and expect to return home at five o’clock in the afternoon. You might have to brave the rainstorms in the middle of the night to restore power to a neighborhood. Sometimes you might be assigned to other states to assist nearby electricians who are overwhelmed with their work. You must be flexible with your time.
It’s also physically demanding. Expect to climb into dark places, reach high up onto roofs and perform a lot of standing, bending, and reaching overhead. You’re always on the move, so you must be mentally and physically healthy if you plan to become an electrician.
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Electricians
install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures and ensure that their work is in accordance with relevant codes.
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