Thinking of joining the lucrative and growing HVACR industry as a refrigeration technician, but wondering if you have what it takes to get hired and succeed in your career?
If you’ve been reading our blog, you might already know that you don’t need to have experience in the field to get hired for an entry-level position as a refrigeration technician. Your employer, and possibly the local union, will provide training to teach you how to diagnose, repair, maintain and install refrigeration equipment.
However, there are certain skills and personal qualities that employers look for when deciding who to hire. Let’s go over the most important ones and why they are essential for success.
9 skills & qualities you need to become a refrigeration technician
While you might be lucky enough to be born with some of these, many are skills that can be learned. So, if you want to become a refrigeration technician, here’s what you may need to work on (and be able to demonstrate to employers).
1. Reliability
Hands down, this is the #1 quality that every employer wants in a new refrigeration technician. They need to be able to count on you to show up on time, to do what you’re asked to do, and to do what it takes to get the work completed to the customer’s satisfaction.
2. Work ethic
Refrigeration technicians work hard. They often are required to work overtime to complete critical assignments. And they sometimes need to be on call to handle emergency repairs. If you’re looking for a traditional 9 to 5 work day, working as a refrigeration technician might not be the best choice for you. Employers want to hire men and women who are ready and willing to work hard for a rewarding career.
The good news is, as a union member you make excellent wages and get paid overtime for work above and beyond the normal work day.
Learn more about pay and benefits: Get to Know Your Local NYC Refrigeration & HVAC Union: UA Local 638
3. Technical aptitude
Working as a refrigeration technician means working with technology, from diagnostic tools to electronics to today’s increasingly automated control systems.
Do you have a knack for grasping technical concepts? Do you find it easy to figure out how to operate new devices and software? That’s a major plus in the refrigeration industry. Even better if you have some technical education and have used your skills in a previous job (even in a different industry).
4. Mechanical proficiency
Even as systems become increasingly automated, refrigeration systems are fundamentally mechanical. A refrigeration technician must understand the parts of a system and how they work together to perform their function. Diagnosing problems requires being good at spatial thinking: being able to visualize system operation and what may be going wrong.
It’s very helpful if you have some experience using basic tools. And if you’re good at taking things apart and putting them back together. So if you have been working on cars, repairing appliances, or other work that demonstrates mechanical talent, that’s going to help you get hired as a refrigeration technician.
5. Curiosity
Even after you complete your apprenticeship and become a fully-qualified refrigeration technician, you will need to keep your skills current. In the HVACR industry, there are continuous advances in equipment, tools, and techniques and technicians are always learning new things.
For those who are naturally curious and enjoy learning, this is a great career. Employers look for this quality because they want people who will stay in it for the long term and keep building their skills.
6. Problem solving ability
Are you a creative problem solver? Can you take a problem and turn it around to look at it from different angles, trying different approaches until you find a solution? That quality is very valuable in a refrigeration technician.
If you can demonstrate a talent for solving problems of any kind, that will definitely get the attention of HVACR employers.
7. Communication skills
This is a skill that you might not think to mention in a job interview for a refrigeration technician position, but you should. Because the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with coworkers and customers is essential for success.
That includes both written and verbal communication. You should be able to explain problems and solutions in terms that the customer can understand. You must be able to clearly explain what you did on work orders. As you progress in your career, you may be expected to work with new apprentices and help to teach them new skills.
8. Customer service mindset
A big part of a refrigeration technician’s job is helping customers. If you’re one of those people who genuinely enjoys helping others, that’s another big plus.
Why should employers care if you get satisfaction from your job? It’s not only because you won’t leave for another job, although that’s part of it. It’s because you’ll do a better job of making customers happy. You’ll be friendly, helpful, and stay cool under stress. Your attitude and your actions help your employer to keep their customers coming back to them.
9. Driving skills
What does driving have to do with being a good refrigeration technician? Quite a bit, as it turns out. Once you’re qualified to work on your own, you’ll be responsible for a company van or truck. No employer wants someone who frequently gets into accidents, elicits complaints from other drivers, or gets tickets due to careless driving or parking. Not only does this cost the employer money, but it hurts their reputation.
If you don’t have a good driving record, take steps to clean that up if you want to become a refrigeration technician.
Do you have what it takes to be a star refrigeration technician?
If you’re encouraged by what you read here, and you feel you can demonstrate many of the skills and qualities that are important to employers, why not apply now?
Start by creating a resume that highlights these important qualifications. Check out our resume guide and template.
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.