In the HVAC and Refrigeration industry, many service technicians begin their careers as an apprentice or “helper” with little or no experience. That means learning on the job — and learning fast — is critical. Taking full advantage of a mentor/mentee relationship can make that much easier.
In fact, HVACR employers often rotate new technicians through a series of experienced mentors to learn different skills or get a different perspective. Here are some tips that can help you learn as much as possible and build helpful relationships with every mentor you have the chance to work with.
8 tips to get the most from a mentor/mentee relationship
1. Set goals
If your employer assigned you to a specific mentor/mentee relationship, find out why. What do they want you to learn from this mentor? What are his strengths and what can he teach you?
Otherwise, it’s a great idea to set your own goals with mentor support. If you are just getting started as a first-year technician, consider where you want to be in a year. What skills can you realistically learn in that time? If you’re not sure, ask your mentor (and other experienced technicians if possible) to guide you in setting goals for yourself.
2. Become a sponge
In your mentor/mentee relationship, it’s your job to soak up as much knowledge and experience as you possibly can. You’ll quickly find out that learning to be a service technician is NOT like learning in school: you can’t just coast along learning enough to pass the test. You need to retain what you learn so you can use it to solve customers’ problems. At some point in time, your employer will expect you to do that independently.
That means you must take an intentional approach to learning. Actively take in everything that’s happening around you when you’re on a job and working with a mentor. Get hands-on experience wherever possible. And, take steps to make sure you’ll remember what’s important, such as taking notes after each service call.
3. Keep a list of questions to ask
One of the most important benefits of having a mentor is having someone who can answer your questions. While you’ll certainly have lots of technical questions about problem diagnosis and equipment repair, remember that a mentor can advise you about many things.
Don’t be shy about asking other types of questions: about career path options, about resources that can help you learn more, and even about so-called “soft skills” like communicating with customers and staying calm under pressure.
It can be helpful to keep a list as you think of things you’d like to discuss with your mentor.
4. Set aside time to talk
Of course you will interact as you’re working in the field with your mentor, but that’s not always the best time to ask questions about things other than the job at hand. Talk to your mentor about scheduling a regular time to discuss your questions and your progress.
TIP: Consider having those discussions when you’re driving between appointments.
5. Ask for feedback
Your mentor should be giving you regular feedback about your progress, but when things get busy you might find that sometimes you need to ask.
You can start by asking your mentor to watch you perform a specific task, and confirm that you’re doing it right. When time allows, ask about how you’re doing in general with picking up on new skills, working with customers, communicating with coworkers, and other skills that you need to meet your goals.
Always be open to both positive and negative feedback. You might not always hear what you want to hear from your mentor. But that’s what is so helpful about the mentor/mentee relationship: you have someone you can trust to be honest with you so you can improve.
6. Be open about your struggles
If you’re struggling with learning something specific, speak up. You might feel embarrassed, especially if others at your level don’t seem to be having trouble. But it’s never a good idea to hide something that’s giving you difficulty. You won’t catch up if you don’t ask for help.
Often all you need is some quick advice from your mentor to greatly improve a skill that’s giving you trouble.
7. Demonstrate a commitment to improving your skills
In our industry, you’re always going to be learning so you keep your skills current. From the beginning, it’s smart to get into the habit of taking the time to study and learn on your own.
When your mentor sees that you are practicing skills and studying on your own time, that helps your reputation and makes you more valuable. Also, you optimize the time you spend with your mentor. You don’t need to waste time on things you can do on your own, but instead fully take advantage of their expertise.
8. Say thank you
Chances are, your mentor is not being paid anything extra to work with you and teach you what they know. Make sure they feel appreciated for everything they do for you.
Relationships are incredibly important in work and in life. Do your part to ensure a positive mentor/mentee relationship. Someday, it’ll be your turn to be the mentor!
More advice for new HVACR service technicians
Here are some additional articles that can help you gain the skills you need to build a successful career in HVAC & Refrigeration service:
Service Techs: How to Build Relationships with Customers
HVAC Basics: Indoor Humidity & HVAC
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.
Learn about technical careers in the HVAC & Refrigeration industry, how to get hired and tips to build your career.