Electrician

You would make sure that electrical systems in people’s homes and businesses work safely. You’d fix faults and install new systems.

You might set up and maintain power systems for engineering projects and buildings or ensure that street lights work.

You could also work on renewable technology, such as wind turbines, 'smart' heating systems and photovoltaic systems that produce solar power.

You would:

• Fit and repair electrical circuits and wiring
• Follow technical drawings, building plans and wiring diagrams
• Make sure that electrotechnical systems work
• Find and fix faults in the systems
• Install and maintain electrical equipment, instruments and machinery

You’d need to understand the importance of safety regulations and work carefully and methodically. You might work outdoors, sometimes in bad weather. You might need to work high up or in small confined spaces.

You could specialise in an electrotechnical role such as:

• Installation electrician - you’d install power systems, lighting, fire protection, security and data-network systems in all types of buildings
• Maintenance electrician - you would check systems regularly to make sure that they work efficiently and safely
• Electrotechnical panel builder - you would build and install the control panels that people use to operate the electrical systems inside buildings
• Machine repair and rewind electrician - you’d make sure electrical motors and other machinery like transformers work properly
• Highway systems electrician - you’d install and maintain street lights and traffic management systems which give signals to people using roads and motorways
• Installing renewable technologies such as PV Systems

You could work in all kinds of places including homes, offices, shops and sports stadiums. You may also supervise a team of people.