Are you a high school athlete considering a career as an HVAC technician? If you have been reading our blog and preparing to apply for entry level HVAC positions when you graduate, here’s some more helpful advice.
Participating in team sports can help you build important skills that you’ll need in your HVAC career. Taking advantage of that now, and being able to talk about it later in a job interview, can help you get hired when the time comes.
HVAC positions: 6 required skills that you learn in team sports
1. Teamwork
This one seems obvious, but many job seekers don’t even think about it. As an athlete in team sports, you have spent several years (at least) learning how to function well as a member of a team. You have learned how to support and encourage others, and how to collaborate with them on a plan and work together toward a common goal. You understand that you can achieve more together than any one person can achieve alone.
These are important lessons for nearly any job, but they are particularly important for HVAC service jobs. No matter what your specialty turns out to be, you’ll work as part of a team to provide great service to your customers. If you know how to be a valuable asset to the team, you’ll do well in your career.
Learn more> How to be a Team Player in HVACR Service
2. Reliability
You wouldn’t last long on your high school team if you skipped practices and regularly showed up late for games. Your coach and your team members count on you to be there when they need you, and to follow through on your commitments.
HVAC service teams also need technicians they can count on to be on time, follow procedures, and work hard to provide great service. In fact, hiring managers rate reliability as one of the top qualities they look for in applicants for HVAC positions.
Learn more> How to Be a Valued Employee in HVAC Service
3. Work ethic
To succeed in your sport(s), you have invested many, many hours practicing hard and giving your all at every game. You are motivated to work hard and do what it takes to succeed because you understand the return you get from your efforts.
This mindset will serve you well in the HVAC industry. Sharing your experience with employers will serve as proof that you’re willing and able to work hard to succeed in your job.
4. Commitment to learning
You invested a lot of time and energy in learning to play your sport. You must thoroughly understand the rules of the game and those of your school, and you need to memorize playbooks that are constantly changing. And of course, you learn everything you can to improve the skills needed for your position.
For example, if you’re a baseball pitcher, chances are you’re spending a lot of time watching the mechanics of other pitchers and learning their tips and tricks.
Learning is a critically important aspect of HVAC work, and it’s required for HVAC positions at all levels. It’s not just something you do when you start out. HVAC technology is constantly changing and technicians must keep learning to keep their skills current. Employers want candidates who can demonstrate an interest in and commitment to ongoing learning.
Of course, you’re learning in school, too. But learning to play a sport is something you choose to do, and that makes all the difference.
5. Respect for safety and processes
If you get injured because you neglected safety, you not only lose the chance to play, but you also let your team down. That’s why you follow the safety rules and use safety equipment.
HVAC work does have risks, and safety is a big concern for employers and for technicians. If you get injured on the job and can’t work for a while, you stand to lose a lot of income. And your employer is out a key worker and may lose business as a result. That’s why employers love to find workers they can count on to work safely.
Learn more> Refrigeration & HVAC Safety Tips for Technicians
6. Strength and dexterity
Over the years you have spent playing team sports, you have made your body strong and capable. You have learned how to handle equipment and become skilled with your hands.
These are abilities that are no longer as common in young people as they used to be. I’m sure you know plenty of young men and women who spend most of their free time playing video games or otherwise being sedentary.
Your physical strength is a great asset to your career and will help you land HVAC positions. Employers will be reassured that you can handle demanding work and the sometimes challenging conditions.
Learn more> HVAC Interview Questions & Interview Preparation Tips
Get prepared to join the HVACR industry as a service technician
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HVACR Career Connect NY was created to promote the exceptional quality-of-life benefits of a career in HVAC and Refrigeration service, and also to provide a clear path for getting started in the profession. In doing so, we serve as a resource for employers in the New York City metro area to find and hire smart and capable new technicians. We also serve as an educational resource to support business growth and to help service technicians succeed in their chosen profession.
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