I received this letter from a guy who received a letter from a
guy who can’t find a job in the HVAC industry. Call me stupid, but I’m betting
somebody wants to hire this guy. Let’s find him a job.
DearNEWS,
I received this letter from a friend today who is in his late
30’s and is looking to get into HVAC.
He currently works in the printing/graphic design industry, and is also
a master guitar builder. He is married with kids and is clean, sober,
responsible, etc. Here is part of a letter he sent to me:
“I
looked for a HVAC guy that I could work part time for but no one wants a rookie
close to 40 years old. I’m not sure what I’m going to do.”
That's interesting because there is a shortage of good workers in
our industry. There is a shortage of skilled people and rookies who are ready
to learn.
It's very short sighted of the guys he spoke to, to dismiss him.
I would snap him up IMMEDIATELY. I have 31 years in our trade and 10 as
owner/operator of my own HVAC company.
Someone his age and situation is perfect. Old enough to have some
prior life/work experience, work ethic, responsibility, and social skills, and
young enough to be able to do the work and to have many years ahead.
Now, if an employer just wants bodies to install flex duct in
residential, then I agree that the 'younger the better' if they are
conscientious and trainable. But for a rookie to learn service/repair work and
install assist/start up - I'll take a competent person who is 30 to 50 years old,
anytime.
Anyone who is in decent physical condition and height/weight
proportionate will easily be able to do the physical work. In fact you will
stay younger by doing this work because it is active.
I have worked at HVAC shops that had older techs who had been
truck drivers, warehouse workers, auto mechanics, soda pop salesmen, motorcycle
mechanics, machinists, cabinet makers and more. These guys made excellent
techs! In fact, at one shop, we had a tech in his 20s. Oftentimes the office
would get a call saying, "please send out an older tech." The general
population equates "older" to "wiser". And I have found
that many customers, especially women, are more comfortable with an older tech.
This friend of mine is eager to work and go to tech school. He’d like
to get a job with an HVAC company and go to school at night. He lives in
Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Can we please give this willing young man a
start in our fine trade?
You can contact him through me: Doug Fergus, All About Air,
Ashland, Oregon. E-mail me at Allaboutair2006@msn.com.