Whatever their reasons may be for seeking out certification, NATE offers a bevy of programs and aims to help technicians across the country constantly improve themselves while also providing value to other segments of the industry.

The backdrop for the contests was the 52^nd SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, where more than 15,000 people, including students, teachers, and business partners participated in the weeklong event.

One source indicates that up to 40 percent of our daily activities are executed on autopilot without giving much thought to what we’re doing.  So when someone mentions the word change, we often want to put on the brakes and tell them they can keep their change.

Fail to prepare and you’re preparing to fail. It’s a common phrase we’ve all heard and frequently comes to mind when I think of hiring a new employee. All too often in our industry we give new technicians what amounts to a crash course in training before sending them on their way and expecting them to learn the rest on their own. 

I am not going to sugar coat it — this is not easy work. It is manual labor that will have you in attics when it is hotter than a jalapeño’s armpit and down in crawlspaces in freezing temperatures. You may be working nights, weekends, and holidays during the busy season, when the temperatures are at their most extreme, but, rest assured, you will be well compensated.

With flat rate pricing, customers know the price of everything before making a purchase, thus eliminating labor and material cost calculations.

Are you taking any special steps to attract the HVACR industry’s next generation of employees?