He was then hired as an office worker in Norsk Phillips, before moving on to Honningsvåg in 1966 to work as manager at NOFI-Honningsvåg until 1981.
[1] He was then elected as a deputy representative to the Parliament of Norway from Finnmark in 1981, leaving his local posts.
As the regular representative Thor Listau was named to Willoch's First Cabinet, Eriksen filled his seat the entire four-year term.
He moved to Bærum while serving as an MP, where he chaired the borough branch of the Conservative Party in Hosle (1982–1986, 1989–1993).
[1] After leaving national politics Eriksen was hired as an office manager in the Norwegian Public Roads Administration in 1989.