Electrical Technician Job Description and Duties

Electrical Technician Job Description and Duties

Electrical and communication systems in offices and factories need professionals to oversee installation, repair, and maintenance. That’s where electrical technicians come in; they ensure that these systems are functional and running smoothly. So, there’s often high demand for this profession. 

If you’re considering an electrical career, you may want to start by understanding the role of an electrical technician. This will help you decide if it’s the right career path for you. 

What Does an Electrical Technician Do? 

The role of an electrical technician can vary depending on several factors, such as whether they work in-field or in-office and what kind of company they work for. Electrical technicians working in an office may be responsible for maintaining multiple electrical systems or assisting electrical engineers. They may also need to design electrical systems with an engineer supervising them. 

Those working in the field are responsible for routine maintenance of electrical systems and equipment in the facility. They have to provide team members with regular updates about system and equipment status. Electrical technicians are also responsible for repairs in case of any breakdowns or issues. 

While the specific responsibilities may vary for each job, the typical electrical technician job duties include: 

• Building electrical systems with calibration equipment and other tools 
• Determining the ideal placement of fixtures, panel boards, and outlets with the help of technical diagrams and blueprints 
• Determining the ideal electrical wiring placement in new construction with the help of engineers and architects 
• Identifying the placement of existing electrical components using sketches and blueprints and preparing instructions or work orders accordingly 
• Ensuring safety and quality control by running tests on existing wiring and electrical systems 
• Anticipating future issues and performing necessary defensive repair and preservation of electrical systems, devices, and equipment 
• Ensuring the proper completion of all duties relating to protective maintenance 
• Meeting the latest codes and safety regulations by updating outdated electrical systems as needed 
• Installing and maintaining the electrical or electromechanical parts of machinery and equipment 
• Installing electrical outlets, wiring, and controls as well as improvements and major upgrades to existing systems 
• Repairing or replacing defective components in electrical fixtures, motors, generators, conductors, switchboards, and controllers 
• Offering suggestions to ensure that newer systems or equipment exceed previous standards 
• Preparing schedules to ensure proper coordination between different electrical divisions 
• Assessing electrical systems and making improvements to handle increased demand, such as installation of large appliances or addition of new devices 
• Making necessary modifications to existing systems to ensure that they meet environmental standards 
• Training new electrical workers and directing team members on installation, repair, and maintenance of electrical systems and wiring 

What Skills Does an Electrical Technician Need? 

Considering this long list of job responsibilities, electrical technicians should have the necessary skills to fulfill them safely and accurately. This is particularly true since working with electricity can be dangerous and risky. 

In this line of work, there are risks of injuries from electrical shocks and falls. So, one small misstep could result in a serious injury or an expensive accident and may potentially be fatal. But with the right training and skills, you can take the necessary precautions to stay safe and successfully fulfill your responsibilities. 

Below are some of the top skills that you need as an electrical technician: 

Mechanical Aptitude 

The most obvious requirement is an instinctive sense of mechanics. Not everyone has the natural gift of easily understanding mechanical concepts. An electrical career is ideal for you if you enjoy taking things apart, studying how they work, and putting them back together. 

Problem-Solving Skills 

One of the main roles of an electrical technician is solving electrical problems. So you need good troubleshooting and critical-thinking skills to fulfill these responsibilities. You should be able to understand the problem and figure out the best way to fix it. For any alternative solutions that you identify, you should be able to assess the relative strengths and weaknesses and decide the best course of action. 

Color Vision 

As an electrical technician, you’ll have to work with color-coded electrical wiring. So you need excellent color vision to be able to safely and accurately do the job. 

Physical Aptitude 

Physical aptitude is another requirement for electrical technicians. 

For many electrical technicians, their jobs may call for lots of physical movement. They may need to move around all day or work in cramped spaces. Sometimes, they may even have to work at great heights, so you need a lot of stamina to fulfill these physical demands. 

In addition, electrical technicians often have to work with heavy equipment. That means you also need to have the physical strength to lift and sometimes move these components. 

Reading Comprehension 

Although an electrical technician’s role is usually more hands-on, they often must deal with written communication for work orders. To have success, you need good reading comprehension to be able to interpret work orders and ensure that you are following all the job requirements. The same skill will also serve you well when drawing up a summary of your work so that team members can easily understand. 

Customer Service Skills 

Some electrical technicians don’t have to interact with customers regularly. For instance, if you work for a large organization and your responsibilities involve maintaining the company’s electrical systems, you wouldn’t need to deal with customers directly. 

However, some jobs may call for face-time with customers. Depending on your job requirements, you may have to interact with homeowners and business owners directly. 

How to Become an Electrical Technician 

Now that you understand the typical roles and responsibilities, you should have the background knowledge to make a more informed decision about pursuing an electrical technician career. The next step is to build the necessary skills to fulfill these job demands. 

ed2go offers a comprehensive electrical technician training course that will get you qualified for an entry-level career as an electrician in 12 months or less. The course covers all the essentials–from electrical theory to service skills and the National Electrical Code. 

Ready to take the next step towards an important and growing career field? Contact us to learn more about the course and how to become an electrical technician.