Electrician

Once upon a time, all you needed to survive was food, water and shelter. Then man discovered computers, iPods and hairdryers. Now you need electricity, too.

If you pay your family’s electric bill, that’s a bad thing. If you’re an Electrician, however, it’s a really good thing. After all, “Information Age,” in your language, means “job security.”

Like knights in the Middle Ages and bootleggers during Prohibition, yours is a job that society can’t live without. Because electricity powers everything from lights and electronics to refrigerators and stoves, Electricians are always busy.

Of course, it helps that you have two jobs. The first is installing new electrical systems. Whether it’s a house, hospital or office tower, you’re hired to install circuit boards, power outlets and load centers in new buildings, and to run electrical wiring inside them so the building tenants have power. Once the system’s installed, you’ll also assist with the installation and wiring of telephone lines, Internet connections and security systems, as well as lights, ceiling fans and speakers.

Your second job as Electrician is electrical upkeep and repair. This requires many of the same tasks as new construction, but with more problem-solving skills, since you must diagnose and repair problems within existing — and often aging — electrical systems.

Both jobs require special tools, as well as the ability to read blueprints. What’s more, both jobs require a thorough knowledge of local, state and national building codes. After all, electricity is extremely dangerous, and safety — yours and building occupants’ — is always your No. 1 priority.