Have you ever thought about what a day in the life of an electrical contractor is really like? Or thought about working with and on electrical projects for your career?  

The general work of an industrial electrical contractor is to install and repair wiring and electrical control systems at industrial sites, commercial buildings, government buildings and more. The actual daily work and design on each project differs based on the needs and requirements of the customer, but the result is the same.  

Being an electrical contractor is a reliable and rewarding job. But just like every career, it has its pros and cons. So today, we’ve asked Jared to do a Q&A about the day in the life of an electrical contractor and what the steps are to get started in a career… 

An electrical contractor at Rogers Electrical 

Our contractors usually start their day at 7am and work on jobs until 5pm. On both outside and inside jobs, we cover everything from electrical engineering, design and field installation, to PLC, I/O Rack, Panels, Fiber Optics, automation, HMI, programming and more. 

Q: How do you organize your day?  

Our foremen have to organize what they do job to job. The jobs and scope of work can change often. They have to determine what materials are needed and how many men are needed for each job. 

Q: How you divide the jobs up between your team? 

We have a field superintendent that picks the foremen and team needed per job/project. This is usually based on the individual strengths of each employee. 

Q: Is it inside or outside work? 

Both 

Q: What kind of jobs you do in the inside? 

Electrical installation, MCC’s, Switchgear, Panel Build’s, Engineering, Design, Programming, etc. 

Q: What kind of jobs do you do on the outside? 

Electrical installation, Electrical Utility, Power Lines, Substations, Directional Boring Machine, Trenches, Concrete pads for transformers and/or switchgear, MCC’s, Switchgear, Panel Build’s, Engineering, Design, Programming, etc. 

Q: What are the different stages of a project?  

 Bidding, award, ordering materials, getting the right team, design, installation, start-up, and completion. 

Q: What does it take to become an electrician?  

Three stages include apprentice license, journeyman then masters. You can also go to an electrical school and take a journeyman test after completing classes. 

Q: What is your favorite part of being an electrician/most rewarding part? 

Seeing the job completed, working the way it should and making the customer happy. 

Q: What skills or strengths do you find are helpful to becoming a successful electrician? 

Someone who is safe, willing to gain knowledge and work hard, takes pride in their work and enjoys what they do. 

Q: How safety conscious do you need to be? 

You need to be very safety conscious when working around electrical projects. 

Rogers Electrical is always looking for new talent. Headquartered in Fairmont, West Virginia, we have been serving the electrical industry for nearing three decades and our teams include some of the most experienced electrical contractors in the industry. We maintain a division in North Carolina as well. 

Learn more about us, check out our projects, and if you’re interested in joining our team, contact us today!