I have been in the Atlanta area for 15 years and I still see the same people in the supply houses and not many new faces. I put up ads to hire techs and I get very few real technicians most of the guys I know in the field are always looking for help. What gives is it really that hard for guys to get into this field? Are we that picky? Are people not interested in fixing stuff anymore? I have hired some guys out of school and trained them but most have not been able to keep up the pace or did not like the work. One guy became one of my top techs. I love this industry from ice machines to 100 ton RTUs. I like the fact that with experience we can always find a job but where are the new guys? I saw a picture of all the techs from one of the big companies down here and I don't think there was a tech under 40.
Are there any new techs out there?
mkovack
61 - 80 of 147 Posts
Not enough probably 10-14 depending on location and company. I don't know about union apprentices, I would assume its a bit more.
Very well said.
Joined
·
4,380 Posts
Its very doubtful. Plus you will get overtime.
Joined
·
7,476 Posts
Don't let the entry starting wage fool ya'. One you demonstrate you are willing to work, can follow directions and handle easier service calls, you'll have more overtime than you can handle. That'll put you way over call center salary even with days off when it's slow.
Where I work the majority of the techs have been at the company less than 3 years. Most of the guys are also younger in their mid 20's to early thirties.
When I was in community college a lot of my fellow students had no intention of doing this for a living. They were just in school to be doing something and to live off the government grants. The older guys who go into this as a second career for the most part are hard to deal with on a daily basis. You can't tell them anything they have such piss poor attitudes and ego issues. The younger guys just out of high school are no better they are always on their phones texting they can't focus on the task at hand.
From my very limited experience in the industry I get the vibe that companies can't find qualified employees for these main reasons:
-you can't have a felony
-you can't have a DUI
-you have to be able to go on roof when it is extremely hot or when it is extremely cold.
These three things alone disqualify a huge percentage of potential employees.
When I was in community college a lot of my fellow students had no intention of doing this for a living. They were just in school to be doing something and to live off the government grants. The older guys who go into this as a second career for the most part are hard to deal with on a daily basis. You can't tell them anything they have such piss poor attitudes and ego issues. The younger guys just out of high school are no better they are always on their phones texting they can't focus on the task at hand.
From my very limited experience in the industry I get the vibe that companies can't find qualified employees for these main reasons:
-you can't have a felony
-you can't have a DUI
-you have to be able to go on roof when it is extremely hot or when it is extremely cold.
These three things alone disqualify a huge percentage of potential employees.
Joined
·
32,723 Posts
Those things are the same things that would disqualify people from many outdoor jobs.
The problem is that the smart kids that used to go into trades are the same kids that today are tracked into other, higher-paying tek jobs, such as programming.
There is NEVER a shortage of people. I learned this in aviation. They talked about an impending "pilot shortage" due to retiring boomer pilots.
BS.
There is only a shortage of people WHO ARE WILLING TO WORK FOR THE COMPENSATION BEING OFFERED.
I read some articles the other day concerning criminal records questions on job applications. The Department of Labor and EEOC are looking into this because, allegedly, too many of certain minorities (read voters) have criminal records and therefore can't qualify for a lot of jobs.
The DOL and EEOC are saying that this violates federal anti-discrimination laws because certain minorities have disproportionately large numbers of criminal records! They further state that they will take a dim view of companies inquiring about criminal records if the DOL or EEOC deems that it results in excluding minorities.
Several national companies have taken this veiled threat seriously and have dropped criminal background inquiries from their employment applications.
Ten states and more than 50 cities have passed legislation banning these questions in employment applications.
So, you might want to keep your eye on the new guy!
Joined
·
590 Posts
Well, it makes me appreciate apprenticeships, and licensing all the more. After 4 years, you'd know if someone where "trustworthy"....
However, I wonder how that would affect those of us, who do work in medical facilities, schools, pharmacies, and banks???? Losing a contract because you HIRED someone who is a career criminal? Or sending a child molester into a school to work on a boiler? Yeah, there would have to be some exceptions for public safety..
Chase
Edit, found this while looking at this...
http://www.masslegalhelp.org/cori/applying-for-jobs
However, I wonder how that would affect those of us, who do work in medical facilities, schools, pharmacies, and banks???? Losing a contract because you HIRED someone who is a career criminal? Or sending a child molester into a school to work on a boiler? Yeah, there would have to be some exceptions for public safety..
Chase
Edit, found this while looking at this...
http://www.masslegalhelp.org/cori/applying-for-jobs
Joined
·
3,183 Posts
But they still have a "Criminal Record". Do you want them working in the same house where your wife and kid is?
The future isn't what it use to be.
Depends on if I know them or if I'm just looking at a rap sheet. I know guys who have a felony that are just normal good guys now, got into trouble at a young age and straightened up. A couple of the really good knowledgable techs on this site have old felonies on their record but I've learned a lot from them.
I know other guys that are preachers/pastors that sketch me out big time and don't have a record but I wouldn't be surprised to hear they were pedophiles or into child porn because my skin crawls when I'm around them.
Joined
·
32,723 Posts
Pedophiles cannot hold those positions in most states today.
A felony is a Big Time problem. Now, if a guy could show that he has led a stellar life for say, 20 years, then yes, he is worth a shot.
You see it is not so much the offense itself, it is the attitudes and belief systems of the person who could commit those crimes.
It's a matter of how the guy sees himself, and the rights and property of OTHERS that causes this to weigh so heavily. Ergo, he has to show those attitudes and beliefs are no longer in control of him and his life.
And that takes time.
A felony is a Big Time problem. Now, if a guy could show that he has led a stellar life for say, 20 years, then yes, he is worth a shot.
You see it is not so much the offense itself, it is the attitudes and belief systems of the person who could commit those crimes.
It's a matter of how the guy sees himself, and the rights and property of OTHERS that causes this to weigh so heavily. Ergo, he has to show those attitudes and beliefs are no longer in control of him and his life.
And that takes time.
Joined
·
590 Posts
I agree. I have no issues with giving people a shot. However, I also believe you should know who/what you are dealing with. That is my point. But, after reading the law of my state regarding this, I do feel better.
I know plenty of guys with "priors" that I have no problem letting into my house, or around my children. I think full disclosure is the best policy. That is all I am saying.
I also don't think a company should have their hand forced into something against their better judgement. You're going to get used one way or the other...
That is all I am saying.
Chase
Totally agree with what you are saying, if someone applied at a company I owned and had a DUI or felony in the last 1-2 years it would be an automatic no go for me. But if that same person applied 10-15 years later and said all the right things, had been totally squeaky clean since and had great skills and knowledge I would consider hiring them.
My reference to the suspect type guys I've been around are that there are people who commit and continue to commit felonies that haven't been caught and my never be caught or due to connections their behavior might get swept under the rug until it can't be contained or hid anymore.
For example, my employer will not hire any of the following:
-People that have a "gap" in their employment of over a year
-People with Criminal Records
-People with Visible Tattoo's
-Men with earrings, nose rings, or other visible body piercings
-Women with any visible body piercings aside from earrings
-Men with long hair
I think this probably disqualifies over half the applicants from working here.
-People that have a "gap" in their employment of over a year
-People with Criminal Records
-People with Visible Tattoo's
-Men with earrings, nose rings, or other visible body piercings
-Women with any visible body piercings aside from earrings
-Men with long hair
I think this probably disqualifies over half the applicants from working here.
Another thing too...
I'm sure all you guys work with some HVAC Technicians that have "big egos".
We hired another "young guy" with no experience, and when he found out that he was going to be riding around with someone else for a while, he had a little melt down.
Also, whenever they wanted him to do some PM work, he would say he was hired to be a Service Tech, and he was meant to be fixing equipment. He didn't want to be bothered with simple things like cleaning coils, etc...
When I was first hired when I was 19, they told me that I would be riding with someone else, and that I would be doing simple things, and that it would take a few years to learn enough to be useful. Then they started me at $12.50 and said if I got better I would get paid more.
I think that is a real shocker for some people, when they graduate tech school expecting to get a job right away as a Service Tech, paying $20 to $30/hour. Then they go for the interview and find out that they will be a helper getting paid less than half of that.
I'm sure all you guys work with some HVAC Technicians that have "big egos".
We hired another "young guy" with no experience, and when he found out that he was going to be riding around with someone else for a while, he had a little melt down.
Also, whenever they wanted him to do some PM work, he would say he was hired to be a Service Tech, and he was meant to be fixing equipment. He didn't want to be bothered with simple things like cleaning coils, etc...
When I was first hired when I was 19, they told me that I would be riding with someone else, and that I would be doing simple things, and that it would take a few years to learn enough to be useful. Then they started me at $12.50 and said if I got better I would get paid more.
I think that is a real shocker for some people, when they graduate tech school expecting to get a job right away as a Service Tech, paying $20 to $30/hour. Then they go for the interview and find out that they will be a helper getting paid less than half of that.
Joined
·
792 Posts
There are some jobs out there that pay a decent starting wage for HVAC graduates. Two of my classmates from our local community college hooked up with PETRO and are making about $17 an hour to start and will be in the union, think it's teamsters, after 90 days. One of them left a job in a restaurant to go to PETRO and the other had some experience working with small non-union companies here on Long Island. Neither of them have any experience with oil.
Seems like the students that want to get into the business that graduate from Suffolk Community get a pretty good shot at good jobs. Trane seems to be keeping their interns that they put on from Suffolk's internship program every year.
Seems like the students that want to get into the business that graduate from Suffolk Community get a pretty good shot at good jobs. Trane seems to be keeping their interns that they put on from Suffolk's internship program every year.
Yeah I think some young guys have spent too much time being pampered and spoiled and then when they get knocked down a few pegs in the real world they can't handle it and have their freak outs. Like no one cares how awesome you "think" you are, it's about what can you do for the company and your customers.
I still clean coils every year, one to fix units and two on PM's, its called getting 40 hrs a week in, sometimes you gotta change filters or clean coils unless you're ok with sitting at home and not getting paid. I still carry other guys tools and play gopher when I'm out on their contracts with them helping them on 2 man jobs and they do the same thing when its the other way around. I had 2 legit guys ride with me this week and the week before I rode with 2 guys on their jobs.
Even two experienced guys can learn a lot from each other and I always try to be the guy who gets requested to be the help on the larger commercial and industrial work so I can be familiar with the equipment and get as many hours as I can.
61 - 80 of 147 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
