Get a Job Working With Consumer Electronics
So, you're interested in electronics like they have at stores like Radio Shack. Ever wondered what kind of job you could get involving them? Tech colleges offer classes involving electronics like television repair, radio repair etc.
Steps
- Look at vocational-technical schools for courses involving repair, maintenance, building, or upgrading electronic equipment.
- Repairing electronic equipment. This is an area of work that is decreasing in demand with our society becoming more accustomed to replacing faulty, broken, or obsolete equipment, but as with any trade, you may be able to create demand for your service if you can inform potential customers of the benefit of repairing, rather than replacing their equipment. This may include:
- Saving data on computer hard drives.
- Environmental benefits of both saving manufacturing impact, and landfill space by keeping the old equipment.
- Cost saving, if the repair can be done for a reasonable cost, with a reasonable usable life for the product.
- Maintenance. Most electronic equipment requires very little maintenance, but even so, there is a certain amount of attention required to keep equipment operating at peak performance.
- Cleaning. Most electronics have a cabinet with power ventilation provided for cooling, and this introduces dust, which can accumulate on fan blades, components, etc, causing them to heat up. A computer, for example, has delicate parts which do not tolerate high temperature, and by educating a potential customer base of the need for this service, you may create a market for your skill.
- Building. Especially with computers, custom built electronics may provide a better "fit" between the product and the user, often with the prospect of saving the consumer money and frustration with an "off the shelf" product that does not meet their specific needs.
- Upgrading equipment. This again has both economical and environmental benefits. Because a large share of the electronics market exists due to the rapid increase in capacities and performance of equipment, upgrading is an option many users look at to extend the life of the equipment they use.
- Repairing electronic equipment. This is an area of work that is decreasing in demand with our society becoming more accustomed to replacing faulty, broken, or obsolete equipment, but as with any trade, you may be able to create demand for your service if you can inform potential customers of the benefit of repairing, rather than replacing their equipment. This may include:
- Learn advanced skills for training people to use the products they purchase. Many people fail to utilize the full capabilities of their electronics simply because they do not understand the potentials or benefits the product offers. Computers, software, even simple electronic products are packed with features that the average person never uses.
- Look for job opportunities is consumer electronics sales. This is the single largest niche in employment in the consumer electronics industry. Make yourself a valuable potential employee by following these guidelines.
- Maintain good appearance and hygiene. Customers do judge people by appearance, hence, an employer must take this into consideration when filling a position.
- Learn the language associated with the products you will be selling. Computer buyers will need to know "Processor Speed", "RAM", "Hard Drive Capacity", and other things to make an informed purchase decision. Television sets have their own language as well, as do many other product lines.
- Learn good communication skills. This is essential for selling any product, since your ability to make yourself understood will be the foundation for giving a good sales pitch for the product.
- Keep informed about the latest features, compatibilities, and performance of the products you will be selling.
- Learn the trade of installing consumer electronics. This is another large potential field of expertise with employment opportunity. Much of the electronic equipment sold today requires, or benefits from, professional installation. Here are some guidelines that you may want to consider for specific installation jobs.
- Satellite TV and Internet. There is a tremendous growth in consumer use of satellite technology, and by learning, and applying your knowledge of basic mechanical work, in setting up the receiver, running the cables, installing the controller or user interface equipment, and aiming the dish, you can find employment in this trade.
- Home Theater, Surround Sound, and Entertainment Systems. These are the cutting edge of home entertainment electronics, and often require acquired skills to get the best results from the consumer's purchase. You may find that by hiring on as a "helper" to a professional installer, and listening to that person while watching them work, you can build a working knowledge of this trade.
Tips
- Be willing to train for specific jobs, and use training opportunities to your advantage.
- Look at specialized tools and equipment you would need for a job you are interested in, and consider investing in some of the basic ones as you work in a related field.
- Read publications relating to the field of consumer electronics to learn the directions the field is heading. To be employable in this field, you will need to be familiar with the products produced and sold in it.
- Start where the opportunity occurs. You may start in a stockroom, shipping and receiving, or even a janitorial job, but many employers will try to "promote from within", since you are already a recognized asset of the company you are working for.
- Take night school, or even online training classes to diversify your skills and knowledge base.
- Moonlight as a helper for people with jobs you are interested in, learning their "tricks of the trade" as you do.
