Table 1Transition record

street lighting electriciantosubstation engineer

A street lighting electrician already meets 24% of what the substation engineer role asks for. The move turns on 20 required skills not yet in the profile.

From street lighting electrician

24%

Overlap1

To substation engineer

13 Skills carried over

20 Required, not held

77.3 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 77.3

This move: 77.3 of 100 · career change

1 Share of the substation engineer role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the street lighting electrician profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 13 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A substation engineer role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a street lighting electrician background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held inspect overhead power lines constructing
already held inspect underground power cables constructing
already held transmission towers engineering, manufacturing and construction
already held test procedures in electricity transmission constructing
already held ensure compliance with electricity distribution schedule information skills
already held respond to electrical power contingencies working with machinery and specialised equipment

All 13 carried skills, including the 5 the substation engineer role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 32 missing skills fall into 10 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 engineering, manufacturing and construction 7 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held engineering processes required
required, not held mechanical engineering required
required, not held electrical engineering required
required, not held electricity principles required
required, not held engineering principles required
required, not held mechanics required
required, not held technical drawings required

optional, not held electric generators optional

02 communication, collaboration and creativity 3 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held design electric power systems required
required, not held adjust engineering designs required
required, not held approve engineering design required

optional, not held manage workflow processes optional

03 information skills 3 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held inspect facility sites required
required, not held make electrical calculations required
required, not held perform scientific research required

optional, not held assess financial viability optional

04 management skills 2 required, 3 supplementary

required, not held manage engineering project required
required, not held perform project management required

optional, not held develop electricity distribution schedule optional
optional, not held develop strategies for electricity contingencies optional
optional, not held supervise electricity distribution operations optional

05 assisting and caring 2 required

required, not held ensure compliance with environmental legislation required
required, not held ensure compliance with safety legislation required

06 working with computers 2 required

required, not held create CAD drawings required
required, not held use technical drawing software required

4 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a substation engineer role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 13 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held electric current knowledge
already held electrical discharge knowledge
already held electrical power safety regulations knowledge
already held electricity consumption knowledge
already held ensure safety in electrical power operations skill
already held ensure compliance with electricity distribution schedule skill
already held inspect overhead power lines skill
already held inspect underground power cables skill
already held maintain electrical equipment skill
already held respond to electrical power contingencies skill
already held test procedures in electricity transmission skill
already held transmission towers knowledge
already held wear appropriate protective gear skill

The 4 learning areas not shown above

Skill to acquire Tier

07 working with machinery and specialised equipment 1 required, 3 supplementary

required, not held operate electronic measuring instruments required

optional, not held manage electricity transmission system optional
optional, not held adjust voltage optional
optional, not held install circuit breakers optional

08 business, administration and law 1 supplementary

optional, not held electricity market optional

09 constructing 1 supplementary

optional, not held monitor electric generators optional

10 information and communication technologies (icts) 1 supplementary

optional, not held CAD software optional

12 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held develop electricity distribution schedule optional
optional, not held develop strategies for electricity contingencies optional
optional, not held manage electricity transmission system optional
optional, not held monitor electric generators optional
optional, not held supervise electricity distribution operations optional
optional, not held CAD software optional
optional, not held adjust voltage optional
optional, not held assess financial viability optional
optional, not held electric generators optional
optional, not held electricity market optional
optional, not held install circuit breakers optional
optional, not held manage workflow processes optional

23 held skills the substation engineer role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role advise on safety improvements skill
not needed by the target role apply airport lighting maintenance procedures skill
not needed by the target role artificial lighting systems knowledge
not needed by the target role assess areas for power line installation skill
not needed by the target role calculate needs for construction supplies skill
not needed by the target role comply with electrical safety regulations skill
not needed by the target role ensure functionality of airport lighting systems skill
not needed by the target role ensure safety of mobile electrical systems skill
not needed by the target role follow safety procedures when working at heights skill
not needed by the target role handle high voltage of airport lighting skill
not needed by the target role handle veterinary emergencies skill
not needed by the target role inspect construction supplies skill
not needed by the target role install power lines skill
not needed by the target role maintain automated lighting equipment skill
not needed by the target role maintain lighting equipment skill
not needed by the target role manage risk of lighting failure skill
not needed by the target role power engineering knowledge
not needed by the target role prevent technical problems with lighting equipment skill
not needed by the target role read electricity meter skill
not needed by the target role repair overhead power lines skill
not needed by the target role repair underground power cables skill
not needed by the target role supervise routine maintenance of airport lighting systems skill
not needed by the target role work ergonomically skill

10 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held engineering processes required
required, not held mechanical engineering required
required, not held electrical engineering required
required, not held electricity principles required
required, not held engineering principles required
required, not held mechanics required
required, not held technical drawings required
optional, not held CAD software optional
optional, not held electric generators optional
optional, not held electricity market optional

Index

Other moves recorded from street lighting electrician

Full index of moves from street lighting electrician

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.