[John Markl]

Been visiting with a lot of folks over the last several days.

While we are experiencing an unusually slow winter season, the economy is down in general....WAY down.

Not a week goes by, that we don't have some familiar person locally in the trade, calling or coming by looking for a job.

Who are they? The usual suspects. The surly, know-it-all types, that lost their jobs somewhere else. Or, they're unhappy (what's new?) in their current job and looking for something else.

Three years ago, they'd be snapped up in a heartbeat, because someone needed the bodies.

Not now. This economy is going to get worse, before it gets better. The producers who are team players with good skills and attitudes will have jobs.

The malcontents will still be looking, wondering why they can't change companies in a days' time like they could a few years ago.

And, before someone goes off and flames me....realize that the same holds true for businesses. A few years ago, a company could get by with incompetent techs and bad attitudes. Not so much these days. There's a smaller pie to be had out there, and the companies that don't offer top-notch value will be left behind.

Everyone understands that a business relies on customers to stay in business. But I wonder how many employees realize that you too, have a "customer".....your employer.

 

[keeplearnin]

Very good points you have made. A lot of times techs leave jobs because of uncontrollable factors like micro managing female dogs or micro managing bosses son's who are protected by daddy, otherwise they would be beaten to a pulp by their coworkers. But yes the excuses will have to end there.

 

[coolwhip]

This month is usually slow for me, but its been slower than normal. Fairly mild weather so far this winter here in MI.

 

[motoguy128]

I think you're seeing hte bubble burst, at least on the residential side wiht tax rebats in decline... and quite frankly everyone that could afford a new furnace and AC had one installed. Sort of like Flat screen TV's. The sales are down because wuite frankly... almost everyone has one now. The latest and greatest isn't all that much sharper or give picture quality so much significantly better than I'm going to go buy another.



If anyone is curious, I know in my area it seems like they have a hard time finding good qualified service techs. It seems like my contractor at work is always backlogged.

 

[keeplearnin]

I think you're seeing hte bubble burst, at least on the residential side wiht tax rebats in decline... and quite frankly everyone that could afford a new furnace and AC had one installed. Sort of like Flat screen TV's. The sales are down because wuite frankly... almost everyone has one now. The latest and greatest isn't all that much sharper or give picture quality so much significantly better than I'm going to go buy another.



If anyone is curious, I know in my area it seems like they have a hard time finding good qualified service techs. It seems like my contractor at work is always backlogged.

maybe "they" are charging too much for the product.

 

[John Markl]

If anyone is curious, I know in my area it seems like they have a hard time finding good qualified service techs. It seems like my contractor at work is always backlogged.

Finding "Good Qualified Service Techs", that are productive, profitable, and aren't more trouble than they're worth, is like finding a needle in a haystack.

There's boatloads of "wannabes" and "experienced parts changers", with swarthy attitudes out there....but in a down economy, they're not in demand.

 

[truck12]

A little late IMO. This could have been posted 4 years ago and it would be true. It's nothing new here at all, in fact it seems to be picking up around here, we are unusually busy.

I've noticed that something has changed when it comes to getting hired when you are experienced. If you simply tell someone what you know and what your strong points are (what you have to offer the company) they seem to think you have a big ego and consider it a problem (for lack of a better explaination).

Been visiting with a lot of folks over the last several days.

While we are experiencing an unusually slow winter season, the economy is down in general....WAY down.

Not a week goes by, that we don't have some familiar person locally in the trade, calling or coming by looking for a job.

Who are they? The usual suspects. The surly, know-it-all types, that lost their jobs somewhere else. Or, they're unhappy (what's new?) in their current job and looking for something else.

Three years ago, they'd be snapped up in a heartbeat, because someone needed the bodies.

Not now. This economy is going to get worse, before it gets better. The producers who are team players with good skills and attitudes will have jobs.

The malcontents will still be looking, wondering why they can't change companies in a days' time like they could a few years ago.

And, before someone goes off and flames me....realize that the same holds true for businesses. A few years ago, a company could get by with incompetent techs and bad attitudes. Not so much these days. There's a smaller pie to be had out there, and the companies that don't offer top-notch value will be left behind.

Everyone understands that a business relies on customers to stay in business. But I wonder how many employees realize that you too, have a "customer".....your employer.

 

[John Markl]

I've noticed that something has changed when it comes to getting hired when you are experienced. If you simply tell someone what you know and what your strong points are (what you have to offer the company) they seem to think you have a big ego and consider it a problem (for lack of a better explaination).

I suspect at this point that most employers have been burned....by guys that are all smoke, mirrors, and ego.

Like a guy that tells me he's a 16-year veteran that can "do it all".....but when I discuss superheat, he says, "What's that?"

It's tough being an employer in this trade these days.....We've destroyed ourselves as a trade, from within....because for the last 15 years, we've scorned technical training in favor of selling equipment.

And, now it's come back to bite us. Probably one in ten "service tech" applicants truly qualifies as a "service tech". But, there's plenty of parts changers available....and they've got an attitude that would make Terrell Owens look humble.

 

[maxster]

commercial/industial guys are banging winter maint.with the big chillers work being busier now then in the summer with teardowns,retubes,changeouts and just plain old punching tubes changing fluids...it's work.here on Long Island i saw the field just duck the home crisis thru late 09' but starting seeing jobs and stores closing in 2010,and with that goes service and contracts

 

[Bobjohn]

John you make good points about the difficulty in getting good help. I recently retired after 40 years in management. In the early years people hired on to learn a trade/occupation, today they hire on to make a paycheck. As a manager we need to accept that times/people have changed and that now the onus is on us to motivate/inspire them to want to do good work. Basic things like insisting on clean uniforms, teaching customer care and challenging them to take more responsibilty go a long way toward having an inspired workforce. Training in new technology is also important for the individual and company growth.
My recent history with new HVAC technology has led me to believe that there is little commitment by HVAC repair companies in North Texas to new technology training. In 2010 I bought two NuTone 23 seer I.Q. drive heat pumps from one of your competitors in Sherman. I wish I knew then that there were no I.Q. certified technicians in the 4 counties surrounding me. Had I known this I would have bought a much simpler system.
I discovered this web site in an attempt to find online answers to some of my questions about the I.Q. Drive.
I now warn neighbors and friends against buying new technology HVACs. This is a sad statement about the state of HVAC repair service in North Texas/Texoma. Bob in Van Alstyne

 

[John Markl]

John you make good points about the difficulty in getting good help. I recently retired after 40 years in management. In the early years people hired on to learn a trade/occupation, today they hire on to make a paycheck. As a manager we need to accept that times/people have changed and that now the onus is on us to motivate/inspire them to want to do good work. Basic things like insisting on clean uniforms, teaching customer care and challenging them to take more responsibilty go a long way toward having an inspired workforce. Training in new technology is also important for the individual and company growth.
My recent history with new HVAC technology has led me to believe that there is little commitment by HVAC repair companies in North Texas to new technology training. In 2010 I bought two NuTone 23 seer I.Q. drive heat pumps from one of your competitors in Sherman. I wish I knew then that there were no I.Q. certified technicians in the 4 counties surrounding me. Had I known this I would have bought a much simpler system.
I discovered this web site in an attempt to find online answers to some of my questions about the I.Q. Drive.
I now warn neighbors and friends against buying new technology HVACs. This is a sad statement about the state of HVAC repair service in North Texas/Texoma. Bob in Van Alstyne

Actually, I was IQ certified with NuTone/Nordyne about 3 years ago. Sorry they didn't work out for you. We've sold many Tappan/Nordyne 16 SEER systems with zero problems.

 

[keeplearnin]

Finding "Good Qualified Service Techs", that are productive, profitable, and aren't more trouble than they're worth, is like finding a needle in a haystack.

There's boatloads of "wannabes" and "experienced parts changers", with swarthy attitudes out there....but in a down economy, they're not in demand.

Hey I used to live in Whitesboro tx.

 

[Bob_Scaringe]

I believe part of the problem
Is too many kids have no mechanical aptitude because they were never exposed to it growing up.
Parents do not fix their cars or any of there stuff themselves and schools have no shop or hands on training so the average kid has never used a screw driver or wrench.
I am on the board of a community college that has an HVAC/R training program it's three years long and these poor kids never touch a system it's all done on computer it's terrible but these lousy academics want to make all classes computer classes -makes more Money and the teachers they hire have very limited experience and no knowledge!!!!
Our training programs stink
I am no fan of NATE either it cost a fortune and why should it?

 

[Williamsma]

Finding "Good Qualified Service Techs", that are productive, profitable, and aren't more trouble than they're worth, is like finding a needle in a haystack.

There's boatloads of "wannabes" and "experienced parts changers", with swarthy attitudes out there....but in a down economy, they're not in demand.

Finding "good qualified contractors" that are fair, honest, and not out to screw the customer or the employee is like finding a needle in a haystack.

One can always start pointing fingers at what they think is where the problem lies, but offer up no solution to the problem. If you employ someone, do you offer some form of training, even if it is in house? If a technician is rough along the edges, do you work with him to change this or do you send him down the road and say next? If you start selling new technology, do you train your people on it? If you want your technicians to perform at the level you want from them, do you try to make it happen? If you are not trying to change what you have before you, your part of the problem.

 

[TheChillerMan]

Finding quality techs is nothing new. 20 years ago when I was an apprentice part of my job was drive home technicians that were let go. It was a revolving door. People have all sorts of problems that they carry onto the job. We all have problems, but those of us that can keep our personal lives personal stand out as reliable hard working employees.

I've had friends that got fired because all of a sudden their personal problems affected their job.

As far as the economy goes, yes, here in FL the downturn started 3-4 years ago. Before that we were hiring people just to have bodies. Recently things here seem to have leveled off and stabilized.

 

[freemind]

Finding "good qualified contractors" that are fair, honest, and not out to screw the customer or the employee is like finding a needle in a haystack.

One can always start pointing fingers at what they think is where the problem lies, but offer up no solution to the problem. If you employ someone, do you offer some form of training, even if it is in house? If a technician is rough along the edges, do you work with him to change this or do you send him down the road and say next? If you start selling new technology, do you train your people on it? If you want your technicians to perform at the level you want from them, do you try to make it happen? If you are not trying to change what you have before you, your part of the problem.

:cheers:

Good post.

 

[John Markl]

Finding "good qualified contractors" that are fair, honest, and not out to screw the customer or the employee is like finding a needle in a haystack.

One can always start pointing fingers at what they think is where the problem lies, but offer up no solution to the problem. If you employ someone, do you offer some form of training, even if it is in house? If a technician is rough along the edges, do you work with him to change this or do you send him down the road and say next? If you start selling new technology, do you train your people on it? If you want your technicians to perform at the level you want from them, do you try to make it happen? If you are not trying to change what you have before you, your part of the problem.

I pay for classes at the local community college HVAC program, I send my guys to manufacturers training classes, (ones I pay for, not just the freebies) and we hold in house training classes. When we sell an install with equipment we aren't familiar with, we bring it in early, open it up, and go thru the instructions together.

That being said, if you come to work here claiming to be an experienced tech, I shouldn't have to explain to you why a universal 825 RPM condenser fan motor is perfectly acceptable to replace an OEM motor that has 840 RPM on the label.

You'd be amazed how stupid and ignorant some guys who claim to be "techs" are....:gah:

 

[keeplearnin]

Well when it comes to very high end units like say a 23 seer, there is not a great demand for a repair person because most people couldn't afford it. I personally wouldn't push this product if I didn't know how to repair it. if you sold it you need to know how to repair it.

 

[beshvac]

Finding "good qualified contractors" that are fair, honest, and not out to screw the customer or the employee is like finding a needle in a haystack.

One can always start pointing fingers at what they think is where the problem lies, but offer up no solution to the problem. If you employ someone, do you offer some form of training, even if it is in house? If a technician is rough along the edges, do you work with him to change this or do you send him down the road and say next? If you start selling new technology, do you train your people on it? If you want your technicians to perform at the level you want from them, do you try to make it happen? If you are not trying to change what you have before you, your part of the problem.

:cheers:

Good post.

BS....

I paid for my own education and learned the fundamentals....If I run upon a new piece of equipment, I can figure it out and not end up changin' a bunch of parts. I dont have to "sell" the new technology, but I do need to be able to WORK on it, if I want to be a Service Company.

I have my own show now, but when I was the GM of a service company and NOBODY wanted to go to training, but when they were forced--they made sure we also covered the hours and travel to drive a company truck 30 miles to the training center.....:gah:

 

[John Markl]

When I was the GM of a service company and NOBODY wanted to go to training, but when they were forced--they made sure we also covered the hours and travel to drive a company truck 30 miles to the training center.....:gah:

Exactly...We've all dealt with it...."Pay for my class, pay for my transportation, pay for my lodging, pay my hourly wage, pay for my meals.....and after the class is over, I should get a raise because I have more training".....:gah: