Your Ticket to the Top: Tips for Budding Female Electricians
There’s a certain amount of stigma attached to trade jobs for women, but that shouldn’t put you off. Tradesmen (and women) are always going to be needed, so choosing to be an electrician, for example, is a smart move considering today’s economic climate. Sadly, it’s often the case that women aren’t offered as much support or information when it comes to carving a career as an electrician, so we’ve put together a guide outlining some of the information you’ll need to know to secure the job you want.
Choosing the Right Course
In order to be taken seriously by employers, you need to have been trained on the right course. Electricians train for three years prior to becoming fully qualified, so it’s a lot of hard work to then realise your course isn’t industry-recognised. If you want to guarantee your knowledge is up to industry standards and you’re able to install electrical systems safely, you need to be fully trained in the 17th Edition of the Requirements for Electrical Installations. These requirements are extremely extensive and in order to secure a job as an electrician, you’ll need to hold an up-to-date version of the 17th Edition qualification from City and Guilds, which you can acquire by enrolling on a course with PASS.
Gaining Experience
Most courses will include a work placement, but if yours doesn’t, then it’s up to you to get some experience on-site to better your chances of securing a job once you’re qualified. If you know any tradesmen, then ask them to put you in touch with any contacts they have, and then offer to assist them for free. You’ll start by simply passing the electrician their tools, but it’s a great way to learn the ropes and gain experience working on a site. Once you’re a little further into your course, you might be able to start earning some money assisting electricians, although it won’t be much. It’s better than nothing though, and the more work you do, the more employable you’ll be once you’re qualified.
Dealing with Stigma
It’s not uncommon for women to feel undermined by the men working on a site. It’s no secret that female electricians are the minority in the industry, but that doesn’t mean you should be treated any differently to anybody else working in that environment. Know your stuff, be willing to learn and don’t take yourself too seriously. There’s often a laidback atmosphere on-site, and everybody is the butt of somebody else’s joke at some point. If you have a good sense of humour, are determined to work hard and you’re willing to learn, you’ll soon become an integral and valued member of the team just like everybody else.
If you have any other concerns or need more information, the Summit Skills website is a great tool for any budding tradeswomen, including builders, electricians, engineers and plumbers.
