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Description: Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. May install or service street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems.

Sample of reported job titles: Electrician, Inside Wireman, Journeyman Electrician, Maintenance Electrician

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Tasks

• 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, and fixtures, using hand tools and power tools.
• Assemble, install, test, and maintain electrical or electronic wiring, equipment, appliances, apparatus, and fixtures, using hand tools and power tools.
• Test electrical systems and continuity of circuits in electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures, using testing devices such as ohmmeters, voltmeters, and oscilloscopes, to ensure compatibility and safety of system.
• Use a variety of tools and equipment such as power construction equipment, measuring devices, power tools, and testing equipment including oscilloscopes, ammeters, and test lamps.
• Plan layout and installation of electrical wiring, equipment and fixtures, based on job specifications and local codes.

Knowledge

• Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
• Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Skills

• Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
• Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Abilities

• Problem Sensitivity - 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.
• Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
• Visual Color Discrimination - The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Interests

• Realistic - 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.

Work Styles

• Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
• Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
• Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
• Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
• Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.

Tools and Technology

Tools used in this occupation:

• Cable reels - Single reel cable trailers; Wheeled wire dispensers; Wire dispensers; Wire dollies; Wire hand caddies
• Screwdrivers - Cabinet tip screwdrivers; Conduit fitting and reaming screwdrivers; Insulated screwdrivers; Phillips head screwdrivers; Round shank screwdrivers
• Stripping tools - Automatic insulation strippers; Cable jacket strippers; Cable sheath strippers; Channel lock crimping tools; End wire strippers
• Voltage or current meters - Milliameters; Non-contact voltage detectors; Test lamps; Volt tick meters; Voltmeters
• Wire or cable cutters - Cable butt trimmers; Cable cutters; Coaxial cable cutters; High-leverage cable cutters; Insulated cable cutters

Technology used in this occupation:

• Analytical or scientific software - Electrosoft FlashWorks; Elite ECOORD; Elite Software Inpoint; Elite Software Outpoint; Elite Software Short
• Computer aided design CAD software - Computer aided design CAD software; One Mile Up Panel Planner; SmartDraw software
• Data base user interface and query software - Database software; Insight Direct ServiceCEO; Resolve service management software; Shafer Service Systems software; Timberline Office
• Project management software - Construction Master Pro software; Craftsman CD Estimator
• Word processing software - Socrates Contractor's Library; Word processing software

Note: This occupational description highlights important information for this occupation (ie, Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities). Additional detail is available from: O*NET OnLine.

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