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Electrician skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Expert
Ronald Widdoss
Electrician Example Skills

Some of the most important hard skills an electrician can possess include training and experience in working with electrical systems, hand tools, running conduits, and transformers. Electricians would benefit from specific training in these areas as they are the most common issues and needs.


When it comes to soft skills, electricians should have strong customer service skills. Electricians need to be able to quickly diagnose and resolve issues, so attention to detail is also an important soft skill.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical electrician skills. We ranked the top skills for electricians based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 9.5% of electrician resumes contained hand tools as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an electrician needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 electrician skills for your resume and career

1. Hand Tools

Here's how electricians use hand tools:
  • Operated power hand tools and other specialized electrical equipment; Installed, repairs and services specialized electrical equipment and machinery.
  • Performed installation and assembly of mechanical and electrical hardware using various hand tools and measuring instruments.

2. Electrical Equipment

Here's how electricians use electrical equipment:
  • Performed installation/troubleshooting/repair/removal of contracted customer's oilfield electrical equipment.
  • Install shipboard electrical cabling, perform complex hook-up and installation and operational checks/tests of electrical equipment and cabling using test equipment.

3. RUN Conduit

Running conduit is the act of affixing metal sheathing to a wall or dwelling for the purposes of running wires through them. The sheathing protects the wires from environmental variables and people.

Here's how electricians use run conduit:
  • Run conduit pipe, pull in new wires following wiring diagram, terminate wires setup fuse panels relays MMC panels breakers disconnects
  • Job duties: Run conduit, pull wire and terminations, with helpers, building new mining facilities around the USA.

4. Transformers

A transformer refers to a passive electrical gadget that transfers electrical energy from one electrical circuit to the next.

Here's how electricians use transformers:
  • Terminated wires to circuit breakers, transformers and/or other components
  • Assisted with installing electrical panels and transformers.

5. Ladders

Here's how electricians use ladders:
  • Install light and emergency exit fixtures in small buildings and large warehouse using ladders, scaffolding, and personal lifts.
  • Work from ladders, scaffolding, and various types of lifts: personal, scissor, boom and fork lifts.

6. Switches

Here's how electricians use switches:
  • Fabricated and installed control and distribution apparatus, including switches relays and circuit breaker panels.
  • Job also included installing 12 volt fuse panel box, lights, light switches, hot water heater and water pump.

7. PLC

Here's how electricians use plc:
  • Completed several electrical installations: Power distribution, electronic devices, and PLC programming.
  • Performed installation of ABB welding robots, PLC's, shuttles, conveyors, and transfers for Tower Automotive assembly lines.
Select Skills To Add To Your Resume

8. Electrical Components

Here's how electricians use electrical components:
  • Worked in conjunction with the Electrical Supervisor/Electrical Manager in implementation of an effective P.M. program for all electrical components and systems.
  • Administered the connection of electrical components of recreational vehicles, inspect electrical current of system to identify electrical shorts, rough wiring

9. OSHA

Here's how electricians use osha:
  • Provided electrician support for wiring residential and commercial projects using OSHA standards.
  • Performed lockout/tag out procedures following OSHA requirements.

10. Test Equipment

Test equipment is a mechanical tool or a device which is used create signals and gather response from an electronic device under test. It helps in detecting any faults in the device and it also proves the proper operation of the electronic device.

Here's how electricians use test equipment:
  • Test continuity of circuits using test equipment to ensure compatibility and safety of system following installation and replacement or repair.
  • Worked with electrical diagnostic test equipment for installation, testing, troubleshooting and repair for electrical and instrumentation systems.

11. Ac Dc

Here's how electricians use ac dc:
  • Installed electrical equipment, such as AC DC Motors and electrical panels for different sections of the plant.
  • Control wiring, high voltage lighting, motor Controls, AC DC controls.

12. Preventive Maintenance

Here's how electricians use preventive maintenance:
  • Inspect electrical systems and their components for the purpose of evaluating condition, identifying necessary repairs and recommending preventive maintenance.
  • Prepared and executed job orders for preventive maintenance and modifications and maintenance as required according to Technical Manuals and manufacturer.

13. Circuit Breakers

A circuit breaker is an electrical switch that is designed to operate automatically and safeguard electrical circuits from any damage, whenever an excessive amount of current passes through it. Circuit breakers carry a thin wire with high resistance, which either burns out or breaks contact whenever a higher than average current passes through.

Here's how electricians use circuit breakers:
  • Maintain existing panel boxes including the replacement of circuit breakers; troubleshoot electrical circuits in order to eliminate potential hazards.
  • Completed routine connections for circuit breakers, transformers and/or other electrical components.

14. EMT

Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) provide urgent and emergent patients who enter the emergency medical services (EMS) system for out-of-hospital emergency medical treatment and transportation. EMTs are trained to stabilise and evacuate patients in a variety of situations, from non-emergency to regular hospital transports to life-threatening emergencies. Under the supervision of a physician, EMTs work as part of a robust EMS response scheme.

Here's how electricians use emt:
  • Worked on commercial tenant improvement projects, running PVC for underground power feeds, MC cable, flex and EMT pipe.
  • Used scissor lifts and one man lifts to rerun EMT, Flex and MC for displays, end caps and registers.

15. Electrical Code

Here's how electricians use electrical code:
  • Read and interpret all shop drawings reference drawings, mechanical and architectural drawings and electrical code specification to determine wiring layouts.
  • Gained knowledge and respect for electricity and it's importance Skills Used troubleshooting mechanical building heavy equipment operation Knowledge in electrical code
top-skills

What skills help Electricians find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What Electrician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

R

Ronald Widdoss

Understanding the flow of electricity. Reading wiring diagrams. Diagnosing electrical concerns. Both AC and DC.

List of electrician skills to add to your resume

Electrician Skills

The most important skills for an electrician resume and required skills for an electrician to have include:

  • Hand Tools
  • Electrical Equipment
  • RUN Conduit
  • Transformers
  • Ladders
  • Switches
  • PLC
  • Electrical Components
  • OSHA
  • Test Equipment
  • Ac Dc
  • Preventive Maintenance
  • Circuit Breakers
  • EMT
  • Electrical Code
  • Electrical Circuits
  • Ac
  • Dc
  • Electrical Schematics
  • HVAC
  • Motor Control Centers
  • Control Panels
  • Electrical Control Systems
  • Electrical Problems
  • Safety Codes
  • Install Conduit
  • Electrical Troubleshooting
  • Electrical Conduit
  • Light Fixtures
  • Electrical Installation
  • Industrial Maintenance
  • PVC
  • Electrical Issues
  • Electrical Fixtures
  • Switchboards
  • Switch Gear
  • Local Codes
  • Identify Hazards
  • Electrical Panels
  • Electrical Construction
  • Lockout Tagout
  • VFD
  • Electric Motors
  • Electrical Maintenance
  • Service Calls
  • Distribution Panels
  • Fall Protection
  • Conduit Benders
  • Electrical Devices
  • Transducers

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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