Career & application guide

Helpers--Electricians

Get to know the work, the skills that matter, and how to prepare your next application.

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What do helpers--electricians do?

Help electricians by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.

This describes a U.S. occupation, not a live vacancy. Individual employers may use different titles and requirements.

Job titles to recognize in your search

O*NET reports these titles for this occupation. Compare the responsibilities in each posting before treating titles as equivalent.

  • Apprentice
  • E and I Apprentice (Electrical and Instrumentation Apprentice)
  • E and I Apprentice (Electrician and Instrumentation Apprentice)
  • Electrical Apprentice
  • Electrical Helper
  • Electrician Apprentice
  • Electrician Helper
  • Electrician's Helper

Core tasks to compare with a job posting

  • Strip insulation from wire ends, using wire stripping pliers, and attach wires to terminals for subsequent soldering.
  • Trace out short circuits in wiring, using test meter.
  • Measure, cut, and bend wire and conduit, using measuring instruments and hand tools.
  • Examine electrical units for loose connections and broken insulation and tighten connections, using hand tools.
  • Maintain tools, vehicles, and equipment and keep parts and supplies in order.
  • Drill holes and pull or push wiring through openings, using hand and power tools.
  • Clean work area and wash parts.
  • Perform semi-skilled and unskilled laboring duties related to the installation, maintenance and repair of a wide variety of electrical systems and equipment.
  • Thread conduit ends, connect couplings, and fabricate and secure conduit support brackets, using hand tools.
  • Disassemble defective electrical equipment, replace defective or worn parts, and reassemble equipment, using hand tools.

Prepare an application for this occupation

  1. Check the employer’s requirements, location, schedule and any licenses against your situation.
  2. Choose two or three tasks above that match the posting and your actual experience.
  3. Build a resume evidence worksheet using the skills and software relevant to that employer.
  4. Practice explaining your contribution, decisions and results before an interview.

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