14 Key Attributes Electricians Need To Succeed In Their Career

by Noah Smith

Saturday, January 2, 2016

Electricians install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. They may also install or service street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems.

The core tasks that electricians are likely to carry out include:

Maintain current electrician's license or identification card to meet governmental regulations.
Connect wires to circuit breakers, transformers, or other components.
Repair or replace wiring, equipment, or fixtures, using hand tools or power tools.
Assemble, install, test, or maintain electrical or electronic wiring, equipment, appliances, apparatus, or fixtures, using hand tools or power tools.
Test electrical systems or continuity of circuits in electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures, using testing devices, such as ohmmeters, voltmeters, or oscilloscopes, to ensure compatibility and safety of system.
Plan layout and installation of electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures, based on job specifications and local codes.

In order to successfully forge ahead with their careers, analysts in a survey carried out by U.S. Department of Labor (via O*NET) have marked out the following as important attributes that electricians would need. These attributes have been selected from characteristics and requirements strongly associated with the occupation. They are

Abilities: Enduring attributes of the individual that influence performance
Interests: Preferences for work environments. Occupational Interest Profiles (OIPs) are compatible with Holland's (1985, 1997) model of personality types and work environments. Six interest categories are used to describe the work environment of occupations: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. An OIP consists of six numerical scores indicating how descriptive and characteristic each work environment (or interest area) is for an occupation
Knowledge: Organized sets of principles and facts applying in general domains
Skills: These include basic skills, which are developed capacities that facilitate learning or the more rapid acquisition of knowledge. Plus cross-functional skills, which are developed capacities that facilitate performance of activities that occur across jobs
Style: Personal characteristics that can affect how well someone performs a job

We have listed out attributes which were scored 80% or more in terms of importance by the analysts.

Having a strong preference for realistic work environments. Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Attribute Type: Interests Score: 100%

Being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 97%

Being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 89.6%

Being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 87%

A willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 86.6%

Being honest and ethical.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 84.6%

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Attribute Type: Knowledge Score: 83.4%

A willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 82%

Developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 81.4%

Analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 81%

Accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 80.8%

Being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 80.6%

Maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 80.2%

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Attribute Type: Abilities Score: 80%