Trade Schools
With the massive increase in robotics, automation, artificial intelligence, and other technological advancements, professionals in machining, technology, creativity, and hands-on work are able to utilize their skills from more basic functions in these fields.
The electrician career path is just as important in the basic wiring of homes and businesses as it is in high-tech fields.
Becoming an electrician is a common career path for those interested in electricity and power, but there are countless other careers that use the same transferrable skills.
Some leave the electrician field for better advancement opportunities and pay, while others are interested in mastering new skills in modern sectors like robotics.
Regardless of the reason, it’s important to understand alternate career path availability. Keep reading to learn more!
List of Alternative Careers
One: Alternative Energy
The massively growing field of alternative energy offers electricians extensive career opportunities.
Increased industrial, commercial, government, and residential investment has opened many career paths for those with cable installation and wire management experience.
Tasks like wind turbine maintenance and assembly and solar panel installation are fitting work for electricians.
Understanding electrical systems and processes, decision-making, problem-solving, organization, and attention to detail are skills that are easily transferrable from electrician work.
Although additional education is not required to enter the alternative energy field, many electricians take courses in green energy to be more updated on the technology.
Coursework is often at the forefront of technological advancement and innovation, so accessing the latest can help advance your career.
Benefits include being part of a global solution and helping create the infrastructure for the future of energy.
Also, larger green energy companies have excellent benefits and since this is such a vastly growing field, you can enjoy job security and higher salaries with room for advancement.
Two: Industrial Engineer
Industrial engineering over electricians looking to utilize existing skills but in a different career path.
Industrial engineers are responsible for the governance and design of control systems.
Topics like innovation, adaptation, and continuous learning are critical for driving progress forward within the field.
Having a background as an electrician provides a strong foundation in understanding processes and systems, problem-solving, and holding great attention to detail.
Also, industrial engineering is a hands-on trade that is seamless with an electrician background.
Depending on the industry and company, becoming an industrial engineer may require additional schooling.
Your experience might demand fewer educational hours, but be prepared to take classes and potentially earn a diploma.
The benefits of transitioning into the industrial engineering field include a completely different environment that helps develop a different skill set, more collaboration with cross-functional teams, and better career growth potential.
Three: Industrial Maintenance Technician
Industrial maintenance technicians are highly skilled mechanics who oversee, repair and install facility maintenance in industrial or commercial environments.
The professionals ensure all machines are functioning correctly through preventative maintenance and troubleshooting techniques.
Typical duties range from plumbing and heating to fixing machinery, reading engineering blueprints, installing new production equipment, adjusting mechanical parts, preparing maintenance reports, and cross-team collaboration.
The transition from electrical to industrial maintenance technician is seamless given that the same skill set is used.
Skills like problem-solving, customer service, organization, project management, strategic planning, and equipment management are utilized.
Additional education requirements are not typically required unless you are moving into a management position.
Benefits include a potentially higher salary by working with a larger corporation, plus excellent healthcare, 401K, paid vacation, and potentially tuition assistance.
At smaller companies, you may gain the benefit of doing multiple unrelated tasks to expand your skill set.
Four: Maintenance Supervisor
Maintenance supervisors coordinate the repair and maintenance of painting, carpentry, air conditioning, ventilation, heating, plumbing, and electrical systems.
These professionals manage teams that execute project tasks while maintaining standards and requirements at each site.
Maintenance supervisors may also set standard operating procedures and other processes with cross-functional teams.
Like in the electrician field, maintenance supervisors must have strong decision-making and problem-solving skills and a thorough understanding of safety and health measures.
Other important transferrable skills include project management, strategic planning, team building, scheduling, and customer service.
Given that this is a management position, experience leading a team or management classes may be required.
Depending on the company, a formal business or management degree may be required for the position.
The benefits of this position are being in a leadership role, potential for career advancement, and extra perks being the manager.
Five: Mechatronics Technician
Mechatronics technicians maintain, test, and operate robotic, electromechanical, hydraulic, and automated equipment by combining knowledge of electronic and electrical circuitry with mechanical technology.
Mechatronics technicians also analyze and record test results, verify component dimensions, inspect parts, and determine the sequence and method of equipment assembly at production sites and offices.
Transferrable skills from being an electrician include the ability to read and interpret blueprints, technical prowess, problem-solving, collaboration, and effective communication.
A technical background is all that is required to become a mechatronics technician, so no additional training.
The benefits include potentially working for a large corporation with extensive resources, being in a hands-on field, and the ability to work across multiple sites and environments.
Six: Real Estate Professional
As one of the most unexpected future positions for electricians, being a real estate professional can be highly lucrative and flexible.
Electricians who have worked in the residential sector have in-depth knowledge of contracts in the field, working on home job sites, and home building design.
This allows them to discuss specific details more effectively about different residential options for buyers.
Transferrable skills from the electrician trade include communication and interpersonal skills, along with technical details about each home.
Having a background in electrical work is a unique selling point, thus giving you the edge when discussing renovations, repairs, and home features with potential buyers.
Although a degree is not required to make this change, real estate licensing is required by each state, with plenty of quick entry options available that only require a few weeks of time commitment.
The best benefits of entering the real estate field include a significantly higher salary than being an electrician and a more flexible schedule, allowing you to set hours, which is essential for those seeking a better work-life balance.
Seven: Technical Writer
The other surprising potential career for an electrician is to become a technical writer.
Those with strong written communication skills can easily transition into technical writing.
This type of writing specifically focuses on the explanation, instruction, or guidance of specific systems.
Those with electrical work knowledge can effectively communicate the information in the form of articles, guidebooks, or other written assets.
Technical writing is used across multiple industries, so without it, complicated topics and procedures would be difficult to understand.
Electricians considering this field would be able to use their technical prowess and written communication skills to properly communicate information.
Technical writing is a field that electricians can dabble in via freelance work before making it a full-time career.
This helps gain experience and build a portfolio.
No additional education is required, but enrolling in English courses to brush up on grammar is helpful.
The greatest benefits of becoming a technical writer include a highly flexible schedule with the ability to work remotely, broad industry application outside of simply electrical topics, and the expansion of your current skill set.
Also, creating guides and communicating information helps others learn more about technical topics in an easy-to-read manner.
Tips for Transitioning Careers
Complete a Self-Assessment
Before starting the transition process, it’s important to take inventory of the pros and cons of your job as an electrician.
This will help you better identify career prospects that align with your interests and strengths.
It also helps determine the priority of different aspects of different roles, like salary, leadership positions, and team building.
Consider Freelance Opportunities
Freelance work in many of these fields is possible and mostly based on working with a team to complete a specific project.
As an electrician, your transferrable skills will be temporarily used until project completion, which will help you gain experience and network within the target industry and still be paid.
Develop an Action Plan
An action plan is an excellent idea for creating the path to reach your goals.
First, set your educational and career goals, and then outline the path to reach them.
This could include taking specific classes, joining professional organizations, or conducting freelance work to gain additional experience.
Bigger job transitions will have more complicated action plans than staying in the same industry.
Leverage Existing Skills
Highlighting important skills like decision-making, problem-solving, technical prowess, project management, and attention to detail on your resume and in the interview are an important part of changing careers.
Also, aligning your future career in a similar field that uses the same skills will result in a more seamless transition.
Network with Other Professionals
Attending industry events, seminars, trade shows, and guest speakers can also help expand your professional network by meeting employees within your target position or industry.
Try joining a professional organization related to the role you desire to meet others in the same position.
Seek Additional Training
Some positions, like management, may require additional training to help give you the skills to lead a team.
Even if there is no additional training requirement, taking several courses in the target field will help you be more marketable to hiring managers and build a better knowledge foundation of the new role and field.
Transitioning between positions and industries is never an easy endeavor.
Even with additional training courses, it will take time to fully understand and get a grasp on the position.
However, since being an electrician is such a demanding and technically skilled position, many of the skills are transferrable, making you a better candidate to move into the role.
Plenty of positions exist for electricians who seek to move into management roles, technician positions, or move entirely into a different, less technical career, like in real estate.
Creating an action plan will help you outline the required steps to reach your career goals.
