HVAC Training

What Does An HVAC Contractor Do?

Bill Degassi | January 5, 2013 | 0 Comments

One available job that we haven’t talked about much is an HVAC contractor.

A contractor specifically working in HVAC is responsible for completing and overseeing an entire project including scheduling, budget, timeliness, and quality of work. The difference between a contractor and a technician is that a contractor is hiring other subcontractors or companies to actually complete the work, not doing it himself. A technician would be the one working on the project.

How Do I Become an HVAC Contractor?

Contractors usually have years of hands on experience prior to becoming a contractor. This is usually important because they need to be familiar with how to properly install or work with a variety of different components. On big projects, HVAC contractors need to be able to quality control the work of their sub contractors and be familiar with industry standards.

Apart from experience, HVAC contractors need to be able to communicate well to be successful. They will be working with many other companies, and tight deadlines. Being able to effectively communicate with other sub contractors is key to a successful project. Also, being a great people person doesn’t hurt. The ability to win people over and lead a team will be crucial.

Do I Need To Go TO School To Be An HVAC Contractor?

The short answer is no, you do not need to go to school to become an HVAC contractor.

The longer answer is that it might help. The main thing needed is a solid understanding of HVAC systems, installation, maintenance, and repair. So if you have those skills, then you should be okay.

Do I Need HVAC Certification To Be A Contractor?

This question is a bit tougher to answer.

Every state has different laws around the requirements for working as an HVAC contractor. Some states do not require and certification other than EPA 608 while others require a state specific license and exam. To find out what the law is in your state, head over to our state requirements page and find your state.

HVAC Contractor Salary

Salaries range for contractors from $55,000 to $100,000+ per year depending on the specific nature of the work. Large commercial projects with complex HVAC systems often pay extremely well an many contractors bring in over six figures on a regular basis. For smaller jobs, a contractor can expect to make $55,000 to $75,000 annually.

A career as an HVAC contractor can be a rewarding one with great pay. If you are a technician wanting to grow into a contractor role, ask your boss or your contractor friends how they got started. They will give you a good idea on what it takes to get into the role.

HVAC Technician Cover Letter

Bill Degassi | January 4, 2013 | 0 Comments

Apart from your résumé, a good cover letter is one of the best ways to make a great first impression on your prospective HVAC employer.

What Is A Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a brief personal letter outlining your motives for applying and maybe a few points about why you would be a good fit for the position.

You can consider your cover letter an introduction to you and what you are all about.

HVAC Technician Cover Letter

There are a few specific points that you will want to make on your cover letter when applying for an HVAC Technician position.

First, this is a very technical role, meaning that a specialized training or education is needed to be proficient at the job. Your cover letter is a great place to point out any of your certifications and/or trainings that are relative.

Also, you may want to explain about why you are applying for this position. What is it about this company that makes you want to work for them? What are your future goals and aspirations? What unique benefit will you bring to their company? These are all things that you could speak about in your cover letter.

Don’t Be Pushy

One last tip about the writing in your cover letter is to avoid coming off as cocky or obnoxious. It’s important that you sell your strong points but do so in a manner that preserves a sense of humility. Remember that this is going to be the persons very first impression of you.

Once you have your letter sent off, remember to follow up in a few days to make sure that they have receive it and your resume. Let them know that they can always reach out to you if they have any questions or need any more information.

I hope these cover letter tips help you land that HVAC technician position you are applying for.

Preparing For Your HVAC Technician Interview

Bill Degassi | January 4, 2013 | 0 Comments

You’ve finally found the HVAC technician position you have been looking for. You fired off your pristine resume and quickly got a call back asking you for an in person interview.

Gulp.

If this sounds like you, don’t worry, you have a fantastic opportunity in front of you! Here are 5 quick tips to keep in mind before you head off to that first HVAC interview.

Be Honest

I can’t stress the importance of this more. Honesty is key.

When I say honesty, I should also explicitly say that you should also avoid “exaggerating” your abilities or work experience. I know that it can be tempting to maybe bolster your past a bit, but in the long run, it will likely only hurt you.

Play To Your Strengths

A lot of people forget to tell people about the things that they are best at. Remember that’s its their job to ask the questions, but it’s your job to respond with the appropriate answer. Let me give you an example.

Lets say that during your HVAC technician interview, you get asked, “Do you have any hands on experience?” If the answer is no, then maybe you can add a few details about the experience you do have. Do you already have your EPA 608 certification? NATE certification? HVAC degree from a college? Worked on car air conditioning systems? These are all quick tidbits that you can throw in to show that although you may not have the experience they are referencing, you still have skills that would be valuable to their company.

Learn About Their Company

Doing a little homework before you head into the interview can show that you are serious about the position and what the company’s values are.

A lot of companies have certain ideas or values that they look to operate by. A lot of times you can briefly speak about how you want to work for a company that has values that align with yours.

There are other pieces of info you can pick up as well like how the company started, locations, goals, awards, etc.

Bring References

References are one of the best way to show an employer your abilities.

If you have previous work experience, it’s a good idea to bring your old supervisors contact information with you. Of course, this is assuming that your previous supervisors would have good things to say about your work. It is also polite to ask people for their permission before listing them as a resource.

If you don’t have previous work experience, character references could also be an option.

Provide Real Life Examples Where Possible

The HVAC industry is a technical field, with lots of expertise needed. This gives you a chance to expand on your knowledge and problem solving skills.

It is not uncommon for employers to ask you about specific HVAC technical questions about procedures, refrigerants, AC units, etc. When possible, you should answer these types of questions by talking about previous times in your work history where you had to solve a similar problem. Explain what the problem was, how you overcame it, and what was the result

I hope these tips help you land that HVAC job you have been hoping for. Don’t forget to have fun.