Career Change to HVAC without experience

I'm looking to change careers and enter HVAC industry. I'm currently in school to get certification but I would like to work in the field while attending school to gain field experience. How can I get a company to hire me into an entry level position without having any experience and without completing my certification yet?

i graduated from the connecticut school of electronics i 2005.
i worked for one handyman service as a maintenance tech for 10 months.my employer died and i was unable to find another job here in charlotte , NC.
Would someone please tell me what i can do to get another job without being told that i dont have enough experience/

Daddy D in Dallas, Texas said: I'm looking to change careers and enter HVAC industry. I'm currently in school to get certification but I would like to work in the field while attending school to gain field experience. How can I get a company to hire me into an entry level position without having any experience and without completing my certification yet?[/QUOTE

Here was my experience:
Assigned service truck 3rd day with company.
Troubleshooting very easy on most service calls.
Maybe 20 things that go wrong with equipment, usually the same 3 or 4.
Good job if you work well by yourself. Not brainy work, YOU must be liked and fit in with company to get your foot in door.

Daddy D in Dallas, Texas said: I'm looking to change careers and enter HVAC industry. I'm currently in school to get certification but I would like to work in the field while attending school to gain field experience. How can I get a company to hire me into an entry level position without having any experience and without completing my certification yet?

What school are you attending. Is is expensive?

Pat

I am looking to work for a heating and cooling company in waukesha that i need very little experience for i know a little bit about heating and cooling and that i could make about 13.00 the 14.00 dollars an hour.

i am looking for an hvac job as handyman i am working on my cfc and other certification in this field i have 15 years of experiences and i need a job

Daddy D in Dallas, Texas said: I'm looking to change careers and enter HVAC industry. I'm currently in school to get certification but I would like to work in the field while attending school to gain field experience. How can I get a company to hire me into an entry level position without having any experience and without completing my certification yet?

the service field is technical and you really need school for just a basic understanding (the expeirence is another couple years worth of school in itself) being entry level the only field work is installs

charles simmons in bronx, New York said: recent graduate in the havac area, where i study air conditioning refrigeration. i have a(epa) universal certification. i have no work experience in the industry. i am seeking an opportunity for employment in the industry, where i can utilize my acquired knowledge.

Keep trying, you may eventually find some company that will employ you.

My boyfriend is going to school at ATI for HVAC. He has about 6 months left of school until he graduates, as he attend part time, and only three months left until he gets EPA certified. He says that once he gets his EPA card he will drop out of school because his EPA card is all he needs to get a good job in his field and it is not nessisary for him to actualy graduate.
Is this true or is he misinformed? I would like him to finish school so he can have a good chance at finding a good job but if his EPA card is all he needs then I can understand his point.
Please explain the difference of just having an EPA card compared to having an EPA card and graduating.

My boyfriend is going to school at ATI for HVAC. He has about 6 months left of school until he graduates, as he attend part time, and only three months left until he gets EPA certified. He says that once he gets his EPA card he will drop out of school because his EPA card is all he needs to get a good job in his field and it is not nessisary for him to actualy graduate.
Is this true or is he misinformed? I would like him to finish school so he can have a good chance at finding a good job but if his EPA card is all he needs then I can understand his point.
Please explain the difference of just having an EPA card compared to having an EPA card and graduating.

Hi, I work at ATI and I can tell you that no employer will want to hire a drop out. Employers are not just hiring someone with a card.They are looking for responsible people who finish what they start, who will show up ontime and work a full day. Dropping out is a sign of lack of integrity and someone not willing to complete assignments. Besides ATI offers career placement, resume and interviewing skills, not to mention setting up interviews with employers that regularly contact us to refer good students. The HVAC program offer 4 different types of certifications. The more cert's he passes, the more money he will earn. Employers want those folks who are highly trained and certified.

Not worth it to drop out with only 3 months left. Short sighted thinking, IMO.

I am an HVAC tech with several certificates. I work with a man who is the proverbial drop out. He taught me several important lessons. Drop outs have little ability to plan long term, are destined to be life long employees, never the boss or company owner. On the other hand, he has terrific troubleshooting skills, he taught me the "fix whats broke" method of getting the job done. 90% of the time, his methods serves me better than what I learned in school, the other 10% of the time I use my school training to attack problems in a way that he can't, since he did not finish.

i have epa hvac card for georgia can i do work in the state of florida?

i have universal epa hvac certification for georgia can i do work in the state of florida?

ATI employee in Miami, Florida said: Hi, I work at ATI and I can tell you that no employer will want to hire a drop out. Employers are not just hiring someone with a card.They are looking for responsible people who finish what they start, who will show up ontime and work a full day. Dropping out is a sign of lack of integrity and someone not willing to complete assignments. Besides ATI offers career placement, resume and interviewing skills, not to mention setting up interviews with employers that regularly contact us to refer good students. The HVAC program offer 4 different types of certifications. The more cert's he passes, the more money he will earn. Employers want those folks who are highly trained and certified.

Not worth it to drop out with only 3 months left. Short sighted thinking, IMO.

I Beleive they dont care if you finshed college they just want to no how much you no about HVAC because college is nothing like in the field

Dick Hammer in Great Bend, Kansas said: I Beleive they dont care if you finshed college they just want to no how much you no about HVAC because college is nothing like in the field

That may be true in some cases, there are employers that require A.A.S. DEGREE and or NATE certification or minimum of 5-7 years field experiene.

I am about to get my epa card have field exp. better than school is this all I need to start my own company, right now working for brother in law and 4 other owners looking to go out on my own

Marie in Dallas, Texas said: My boyfriend is going to school at ATI for HVAC. He has about 6 months left of school until he graduates, as he attend part time, and only three months left until he gets EPA certified. He says that once he gets his EPA card he will drop out of school because his EPA card is all he needs to get a good job in his field and it is not nessisary for him to actualy graduate.
Is this true or is he misinformed? I would like him to finish school so he can have a good chance at finding a good job but if his EPA card is all he needs then I can understand his point.
Please explain the difference of just having an EPA card compared to having an EPA card and graduating.

Marie,
Short-term gain for long-term pain. Tell him to finish what he started. Dropouts are a dime a dozen.

It sounds like I'm in the same boat as everyone else.I'm 27 and looking into getting into HVAC-R.I worked 5 years for a company in the shipping department making about 50K a year.I've been a sells maneger for 1 year and only making about 20k and its not cutting it(long hours no pay).I want something with options and job security.Any advice on tech schools in Dallas,tx or any advice at all about the career would be greatly appreciated.

I was once a white collar worker with long hours and what amounted to low pay. This is my third year in HVAC and I get paid for every hour I work and overtime on ocassion. It was the best decision of my life to leave the white collar salary rip off. Get your certificates early, get in with a company part time after school if you can, do anything to get hands on experience. Make your contacts as early as you have something to offer. In my program we made contacts 4 months before graduation and those high quality companies were there for us at graduation. Good luck.

sylvanus Dean in Atlanta, Georgia said: i have universal epa hvac certification for georgia can i do work in the state of florida?

Your CFC Certification is Valid in any state since it is certified by the US. Your wanting to do work in other states I would assume comes down to whether you are licensed in that state, and also which ever county you would like to work in. (Company or yourself needs to have State HVAC or Refrigeration license, depending on what type of work you are doing.)

It really seems like there is very little people with the job skills in the north east without a job. Am i mistaken? I haven't searched on here a lot but the few that are just have a cert and no schooling or training. I have a silver cert from NORA and welding expierence to help along my hvac degree. I was wondering what else in important? What books,tools,certs like the fluke116 is what my school wants me to get. Do i need more than one type of multimeter i saw hvac tech12 talk about the fluke 60 i think. You seem to know you stuff so in two year hopefully this economy will turn around what would be the most important thing to get to know and have?

Thanks for any help. Mike

the fluke 116 is a good multimeter but it is kind of expensive, you need a meter that will check a/c volts d/c volts, capacitance, ohms. I personally use the fluke 115 or 117 I think I dont know without getting it out of my toolbag.you also need a good clamp on amp meter. you can get by with out the temp meter(fluke 62) but it sure does come in handy especially with clamp on temp. clamps fluke makes some but you dont have to get the expensive ones you can do a google search for temperature clamps and see the differant ones I use thre yellow ones that cost around $20.00-$30.00 as opposed to $60.00.there are a vast aray of tools and meters you can purchase to make life easier but you will spend alot of money on them. The longer you are in the field the more you can pick up.

I think I wasted 2 years of my life for my A.S. in HVACR. This trade sucks, nobody will hire me because I have ZERO experience in the field because I've been unemployed for 2 freaking years and all shops want are 5+ year veterans to throw in a truck for Chinese wages. How the hell do you beat the vicious circle and get a job in the first place?

Chukwuemeka Soronnadi in Detroit, Michigan said: I am currently in school right now for hvac in alabama i was told that my accent was too strong that i would not be able to work in the south i was very discourged to hear that because my hope is to move to the south i want to work in this field doing my new found trade but im worried that i may be discriminated against could you please help me find work.

Try hilton head Island, There newspaper is Island Packette they are picking up for the summer HVAC jobs.

WageslaveZ in Warren, Michigan said: I think I wasted 2 years of my life for my A.S. in HVACR. This trade sucks, nobody will hire me because I have ZERO experience in the field because I've been unemployed for 2 freaking years and all shops want are 5+ year veterans to throw in a truck for Chinese wages. How the hell do you beat the vicious circle and get a job in the first place?

Man i totally agree with you got laid off from alcoa when plant shut down in late 2008...went to school for HVAC repair,now i am Universal EPA certified, and am registered with State of Texas, Have all my tools to do HVAC work on hand but ..can`t even get a GDamn entry level job! all want 3-5 yrs experience..how am i suppoosed to get field experience??? was even told by some guys that alot of places don`t want to allow you to work for them and get field experience because they are afraid you might break off later on and start your own buisness and be their competition...uuugh! this is a cuthroat field..i am thoroughly disgusted

nonstop67 in Reserve, Louisiana said: I am about to get my epa card have field exp. better than school is this all I need to start my own company, right now working for brother in law and 4 other owners looking to go out on my own

where at? LA?

Here's how cutthroat and paranoid HVAC shops are right now. I applied to a temporary "technician's helper" job at this one shop near me and didn't hear anything back from them in 3 weeks. Apparently it's my mixture of extended joblessness, my overeducation in the field, yet lack of HVACR experience that makes people treat me like a non-entity. So does the Air National Guard actually have an HVAC apprenticeship or is that only the regular Air Force? That $20,000 sign up bonus and relocation to Texas is looking better every day.

WageslaveZ in Southfield, Michigan said: Here's how cutthroat and paranoid HVAC shops are right now. I applied to a temporary "technician's helper" job at this one shop near me and didn't hear anything back from them in 3 weeks. Apparently it's my mixture of extended joblessness, my overeducation in the field, yet lack of HVACR experience that makes people treat me like a non-entity. So does the Air National Guard actually have an HVAC apprenticeship or is that only the regular Air Force? That $20,000 sign up bonus and relocation to Texas is looking better every day.

Things aren't any better here in PA... I have sent out countless resumes without hearing anything back, and when I go on interviews things seem to go well, but then I hear nothing and can't get my phone calls returned. Same problems you have faced, everyone wants 3-5 years experience and pays crap. I'm sticking with my plan of attending school for computer technology... hopefully it works out better than HVAC has.

I am thinking of to relocate in an weather friendly state in Canada. I am a Canadian national, holding Refrigeration Mechanic Inter provincial License, Valid Ozone depletion card and working as a Building Maintenance person. I worked as an Airconditioning mechanic/ Supervisor position for 15 years in Gulf countries.

Looking forward to hear from some one with useful information.

Thank you !

I have completly finshed school for Hvac and now looking to get hirred . but I need more hands on exp ?
I have sent out a lot of Resumes and I work for the Gov't here in Nj I even have a universal certifacate and that course was hard.
now I want go to work every one is asking for 5 yrs or more?

Mitch'e

I was told to go back to school and learn a new trade since I lost my last Job. But it is almost more than two years now since I completed my training as a HVAC technician with a unversal certification and could find a job. I have always been told have to have 5 years of experience. I have had hands on training with two small hvac and maintenance businesses here but still could not find a job.

JOE D. CHPMAN I graduated from Cleburne TEXS, WEAVER AIRLINE PERSONNEL SCHOOL,
KANSAS CITY, MO AND LINSEY-COOPER REFRIGERATION SCHOOL AND RECEIVED MY EPA AND
UNIVERSAL TYPE CERTIFICATE MY CERTIFICATE NUMBER IS 229608

CAREER IN HEATING AND REFRIGERATION TRAINING I HAVE THE TECHNICIAN TYPE
UNIVERSAL

Daddy D in Dallas, Texas said: I'm looking to change careers and enter HVAC industry. I'm currently in school to get certification but I would like to work in the field while attending school to gain field experience. How can I get a company to hire me into an entry level position without having any experience and without completing my certification yet?

I have the hvac certificate of completion

I have my 608,410,&609 certifications now I need more hands on.What can I do.

I just took the pr-eapprentice test for the local JATC union to work as an apprentice for an HVAC company.Im pretty sure my score is good, and there seemed to be a lack of general interest at this union to get into the field. Hoping to get a job in mid-summer, but I work in a place where the weather is usually very pleasant. Does that fact hinder any chance of turning this into a career? Im a 31 yr old father of a 2 yr old child, going back to school in january and really need a career Plus I have no experience. The program thru the union state they'd teach me everything I need to know, thru the classes I'd be taking. But I'd really like any input from someone who has gone this route before. Anything at all would be very appreciated.

Sorry to sound pessimistic San-Fran, but I've been in the same Catch-22 you are for at least 3 years now. I've next-to-zero HVAC experience, I've tested into pre-apprentice status with the MRCC and IBEW in my area, but I've been left out to dry by both. The Millwrights b@tch about having to find work for three Journeymen before an apprentice gets the crumbs being the excuse for not employing me while my eligibility withers and dies. The IBEW gave me a longer eligibility period, but local employers either want people already in the system or are completely anti-union. As for HVAC, I'm screwed because I don't have 5 years' MINIMUM experience. Starting to wish I went into IT management or advanced manufacturing, actual work left in those areas for Associate's holders. My AAS of Climate Control Technology will be kindling for my bum fire. This is coming from a 30 y.o. bachelor with no family to worry about... Hope Cali treats you better than my Rust Belt gulag treats me.