Building and electrification trades

The different sectors

Studies
The studies sector concerns engineering, data analysis, the development of plans and models. This is the first step: it consists of designing the installations using suitable software and defining the processes to be applied. This is the domain of researchers, R&D engineers, designer-projectors, and project managers in design offices.

Business
The business sector is linked to the commercial aspect of projects: it involves being attentive to customer needs and managing the negotiation of contracts, as well as the monitoring and coordination of projects. The professions are those of account managers and salespeople.

Works
The works sector consists of the technical and operational aspects of the projects. It concerns jobs in the field, which can include the installation or maintenance of electrical equipment. There are also positions as site manager or works supervisor.

To be expert or versatile?

Areas of expertise
The fields of expertise in electricity are very varied. Most of the time, you will obtain a fairly general diploma before the baccalaureate. If you want to continue training, you can choose a specialized diploma in an area that speaks to you. The fields are quite varied: home automation & smart building, communication networks, cybersecurity, renewable energies ; It  depends on your affinities.
Having an area of ​​expertise gives you many benefits. Booming sectors, such as those listed above, guarantee high employability. Being specialized allows you to have a very attractive profile when recruiting, especially for large groups, which are looking for experts in specific fields.

Be a versatile electrician
Most electricians in small businesses are versatile and can handle a wide variety of demands : miscellaneous jobs, painting, plumbing, and electrical. If you are curious and like to touch everything, the job of electrician is for you! However, it requires a methodical mind to find the best way to respond to your customers. You will need to be an excellent technician and not be afraid to learn by doing.

Self-employed or employed?

Become self-employed
Self-employment has many advantages, such as autonomy and flexibility in schedules, but requires finding out about the most appropriate legal status, and having a business plan that holds water. The delays and costs of administrative procedures and procedures should not be overlooked. In addition, starting a business requires building up a range of equipment, which can be expensive: tools, utilities, etc.

It will also be necessary to ensure that you have a good professional network to make a name for yourself in the industry. The skills already acquired will have to be put forward to be credible on the market: customers may prefer renowned and experienced professionals.

Become an employee
If you want to become a salaried electrician for a company, several types of contracts are possible. You can be registered with a temp agency and be a temp. Companies may offer you permanent or fixed-term contracts, or they may be looking for a freelancer for missions that they would like to subcontract.

Otherwise, there are other types of contracts, which allow you to be an entrepreneur: you can be part of a franchise in the construction industry, or become a partner in a company that is looking for a buyer. You may be an employee of an electrical engineering company or evolve within a large electricity, transport or telecommunications group. Your employers may be design offices, large groups such as Vinci, RATP, Enedis, total energy, or more local SMEs in the construction sector.