The main remit of an electrician is to install, maintain and test a variety of electrical systems, appliances and fixtures. It goes without saying that good electrician should hold all of the necessary qualifications and have achieved a good level of experience working within the electrical industry – however, to make the leap from being a good electrician to becoming a great electrician you need to follow these 5 trade secrets.
- Stay ahead of the game. A successful electrician should continually educate themselves in the latest developments and information relating to their profession. An electrician’s job is continually evolving with new products being brought to market, new safety devices and updated standards so it is vitally important to be aware of each new development in order to deliver the best service possible.
- Network, network, network. The key to building a solid client base is to continually network with prospective clients and industry experts to grow and develop your professional reputation. Receiving good recommendations from loyal customers is one of the best ways to advertise to new prospects, letting your excellent work speak for itself.
- Develop your business understanding. Often electricians work on a self-employed basis or as electrical contractors, so in order to be successful they must be able to manage the day-to-day running of their business. This includes being able to effectively manage your time – when providing estimates and quotes it is important to stipulate how long it will take you to complete the task at hand, and to stick to this timeframe as closely as possible. You will also need to understand how to properly manage your business finances- including completing tax returns and assessments.
- Practice your interpersonal skills. Having good communication and interpersonal skills is very important when you are building a successful career as an electrician. As well as providing a good level of customer service you will also need to be able to effectively communicate with contractors, team members and other people working alongside you. Having clear channels of communication between yourself and others means that there is less risk of accident or misunderstanding when working in a potentially dangerous environment.
- Positive character traits. Successful people typically possess many positive character traits such as; dependability – letting contractors and employers know that they can depend upon you to get the job done, patience and professionalism – often when working closely with other people there will be differences of opinion, it is important that you are able to settle these with minimal conflict and disruption, honesty – having an honest and ethical approach to work will help to build a positive reputation and gain more positive feedback from your customers.
