Discover whether being an electrician is the job for you !

Why is there such an imbalance in supply and demand in spite of attractive salaries?

Often it comes from a “lack of information and certain prejudices related to the building trade which are often perceived as tough”, explains Julien Habran, a self-employed electrician for 12 years based in Liège.

Expertise, attention to detail and new technologies: in this article, you can explore whether being an electrician is the job for you!

What does work as an electrician involve?

From diagnostics to maintenance, along with the installation of cables, sockets and electrical panels, an electrician is a tradesperson who is responsible for the correct operation of the entire electrical system within a building.

You’re never bored as an electrician!

An electrician might work on different sites with varying degrees of complexity, such as the electrical system for a private house, the installation of air conditioning in an apartment, a lift in a company premises or maintenance of a nuclear power station.

On large sites, electricians work alongside other construction industry professionals — architects, painters, tilers, plumbers… — with whom they must coordinate their work to execute the project successfully.

What does day-to-day work look like for an electrician?

When working on a new project, the electrician relies on plans and installation diagrams to determine the location of the various elements forming the electrical installation. They will then proceed to install ducts and supports, lay cables, install the different items of equipment such as boards, cabinets, outlets or heating units and then complete the connections. 

Then, the electrician will proceed to commissioning. It is also down to the electrician to ensure that the installations meet the required standards through a series of tests. The electrician’s role is therefore essential in terms of safety.

In renovation projects, the electrician is responsible for replacing old electrical installations to ensure compliance with current standards.

What makes the job of an electrician so interesting?

It’s the diversity of assignments, we’ve covered them above but there are also lots of other interesting aspects to the profession.

Team work

We need to dispel the myth that electricians work alone. An electrician nearly always works as part of a team. They are also in close contact with the end client (professional or individual) with whom the electrician will need to demonstrate their expertise in order to explain the diagnostics or what they are about to do.

Thanks to technology, it’s a constantly evolving profession

Home automation, IT, networked items, safety and security… The modern electrician is no longer there to simply install cables. An electrician is a jack-of-all-trades with an inquiring mind whose profession is in the midst of a technological revolution thanks to the arrival of IT which means the role has numerous opportunities for development. 

Additionally, there is a strong propensity for professionals from the IT sector to embark on a career as an electrician to leverage their skills in programming for example. 

A key player in energy transition

Electricians also play an important role in terms of sustainable development. They provide advice to clients on new products and how to use them, and can offer clients solutions on how to save energy. To do this, the electrician will need to have a solid understanding of energy and particular new energy sources.

They can also specialise in eco-construction, which means any construction that ensures the comfort and health of residents while still respecting the environment. Notably, the electrician will ensure that installations do not emit magnetic fields.

Set up on your own

If you’re of an entrepreneurial nature, this is the job for you. Work as an electrician is one of the building trades with the most amount of self-employed and SMEs.

Why is this? It’s mainly because working on small sites (individual houses, maintenance or renovation projects) requires a certain amount of organisation that sometimes a large company struggles to achieve at the best price.

They need to be able to respond quickly with the right expertise while controlling operating costs, which self-employed electricians are often very well equipped to do.

How do you become an electrician?

In Belgium, there are several routes to becoming an electrician. Many secondary level education institutions offer electrical qualifications. Daytime lessons take place during the fifth and sixth years of secondary school.

Another option is to enrol at a work-linked training centre on an electrical course (CEFA) lasting two years. Students aged 18-25 alternate between theory lessons and practical training as an apprentice to a qualified electrician.

Other training centres (IFAPME) offer an apprenticeship programme over three years. The learning courses take place either during the day or in the evening. Weeks are split into one or two days of theoretical learning and three or four days of practical training within a company.

Tempted? Are you already qualified? Be sure to check our job posts regularly on Betuned.