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[G101]Get A New Job

by James Copper, Jam

Electricians are specially trained individuals who are able to design, construct and work with electrical systems. There are specialisms within the field of electronics that professionals can focus their training on. Examples of the different types of electrician you could train to be include; construction or building electricians, appliance electricians and radio electricians. In many instances electricians and electrical engineers are strongly associated.

Before deciding if being an electrician is the path you would like to take in life you may need to know some terminology in order to help establish what type of electrician you would like to become. For instance, in contrast to "outside linemen" who work for utility companies and provide services on phone or electrical lines outside, electricians are often referred to as "Inside Wiremen" due to their focus on interior electrical systems.

These Inside Wiremen are construction or building electricians. People who specialize in lighting in theatres are also termed "electricians". However, these workmen are not trained or hold a license in the electrical vocation and have unique skills compared to those who are. As shown above, the term "electrician" applies to anyone who works with wired mechanisms or systems.

There is certain training that needs to be completed in order to become an electrician and there are regulations that need to be understood and followed. These regulations are the foundation of a solid career in the profession. Electricians who have gone through, and completed, a training programme then go on to do a three to five year apprenticeship under the direct guidance of a Journeyman Electrician. This is someone who is under the supervision of a Master Electrician.

During the education provided you learn Electrical Theory and Electrical Building Codes. When training under the supervision of the Journeyman you will be required to learn all the phases of electrical installation, multiple construction styles, the dynamics of electrical performance, and the maintenance of all equipment. The Master Electrician who supervises the Journeyman begins as a Journeyman himself and has at least two years experience beyond that of a Journeyman. They have knowledge of the design of electrical networking and also their layout and estimation.

All fully trained electricians are expected to have a license with a specialization in at least one important area of electronic systems. This specialization could be in low-voltage current-carrying conductors, high-voltage main connections, or homeowner electrical systems. Whichever type of license you hold, you will be regularly inspected under the articles of the US National Electrical Code (if you are a US citizen) or the UK IEE Wiring Regulations (if you are a UK citizen).

Without electricians societies would not be able to live as they do today. These training stages and the licensing processes must be carried out so that you, the electrician, are well-trained in your craft. This is very important as electricians control the world's power.

You could be right - you may need specific skills, experience and qualifications for your desired career.

But in some cases... you don't need to be worried at all.

This is what I call having "credentialitis". It's a condition where, despite having the skills, talents and knowledge you need for a new career, job or promotion, you still think that you must study, or do some course, or get some credential, to get that new career, job or promotion.

Strange.

I always considered qualifications and credentials to be short-hand for skills and knowledge... but not the only "short-hand" and not necessarily indicative of the most valuable skills and knowledge.

Imagine, for example, that you dropped out of school, started and sold a business and now want to become the marketing manager of a big company.

As a victim of credentialitis, you might wonder if you're qualified to perform the marketing management role.

You may even consider going to business school and investing thousands of dollars, not to mention one or two years in time, to get an MBA in marketing...

Although there's nothing necessarily wrong with attending business school - and you might learn some interesting things - is the return on your investment really positive? Will studying really make you more qualified than having hands-on experience as a business owner?

What if you repositioned yourself as the best possible marketing manager - someone who has acquired rare and valuable skills and experiences through building and selling your own company?

Ofcourse, for some career changes you will need to undertake a course to become qualified for a particular career, such as architecture or teaching.

But in other cases, you probably have the fundamental knowledge and skills required for the new job... and what you don't know can either be picked up relatively quickly on the job or isn't all that important.

Now, I know that while you may value real ability above a degree... many recruiters and prospective employers may not.

Well, although it's difficult to change people's beliefs and attitudes... it's definitely worth attempting. Especially if it saves you time and money and gets you the job you deserve.

So what should you do? Firstly, work on your self-confidence. Be confident in your ability to both do the job you want, and to communicate that you're qualified to do it.

And if enrolling in a formal education course or program continues to intrigue you, answer this question:

Will you be undertaking the course to acquire new knowledge and skills or to acquire a credential that proves your possession of that knowledge and those skills?

You see, overcoming credentialitis and becoming more self-confident will not only save you money, time and energy... but it will also enhance your sense of self-worth and happiness.

If someone queries you over the absence of some qualification, you reply by explaining how your particular background and experiences have given you the skills, knowledge and abilities required for the new career.

This happened to me when I was asked why I didn't have an MBA. I pointed out that my experience working in advertising, marketing, law and my own business had given me much more valuable business skills and knowledge than what I would have acquired going to business school.

Of course, not everyone will be satisfied with an answer like this. In that case, you need to ask yourself whether working for people and companies that have credentialitis is really for you.

In turn, when you're the one doing the recruiting, don't let credentialitis get in the way of making a good hiring decision. Sure, consider qualifications - they do have value - but also consider alternative backgrounds and on-the-job experience that may be just as, if not more, indicative of an individuals abilities.

Article Source : Careers In Music Production

About Author

Both James Copper & Anna Johnson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

James Copper has sinced written about articles on various topics from Finances, Mortgage and Mortgage. James Copper is a writer for where you can find. James Copper's top article generates over 1220000 views. to your Favourites.

Anna Johnson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Generation Y, Careers and Job Hunting and Careers and Job Hunting. . Anna Johnson's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.