Earning a living is a big part of existence, so it’s important that you find a job that you love, and that can help you take care of yourself and your family. Becoming a field service technician in an industry that you enjoy and appreciate is one of the best-case scenarios.
For example, the Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) industry is expected to grow to approximately $36 billion by 2030. Other people do field service in industries like information technology (IT), plumbing, and other areas of business.
So, what should you know about these field service technician jobs? How can you get your career started?
We’re happy to explain.
Keep reading to learn more about field service technician jobs, so that you can put together a career that you’ll appreciate.
Who Is a Field Service Technician?
A field service technician is a professional that takes their skills, equipment, and knowledge to work onsite to solve problems. This definitely isn’t limited to any particular industry, and these pros are relied upon to help keep systems running and to keep businesses and consumers happy.
These jobs are excellent for people who would rather be out and about, rather than couped up in an office. It provides different challenges every single day and affords you the opportunity to never get complacent or bored.
The average field service technician salary is approximately $54,000 today. These pros tend to have plenty of room to advance, and the jobs often come with competitive benefits packages.
What Do Field Service Techs Do?
Get to know the field service technician job description so that you can figure out if this is the career path you’d like to take. In most cases, these pros respond to job sites after people have had problems, or when they need maintenance or installation.
They get a breakdown of the issue before responding so that they show up with the right tools and equipment for the job. Field service techs also provide detailed reports of the work that was done so that they have the right information if any follow-ups are required.
Are You Ready to Apply?
What Skills Do You Need to Be a Field Technician?
If you’re a field service technician, there are always skills that you need to carry with you. With the right mix of skills, you’ll be able to thrive at your job, no matter what industry you’re in.
Here are a few of the skillsets that you’ll need for a successful career as a field technician:
- Proficiency in your chosen field
- Written and verbal communication skills
- The ability to quickly diagnose and fix problems
- Flexibility and patience
- Physical fitness, depending on the nature of the job
These are skills that will carry you far in any field technician career.
What Makes a Good Field Service Technician?
The best field service technicians have a mixture of technical mastery, people skills, and the ability to explain their work. Many of these professionals provide home service to customers. When people allow you into their homes to fix their HVAC systems or other needs, they’re relying on you to help with their quality of life.
This requires a level of trust, and as a technician, you’ll need to treat every job with the seriousness it deserves. Above all, the best field service technicians are constant learners. These fields evolve quickly, so you’ll need to invest in some continuing education every couple of years.
How Do I Become a Technician?
For starters, you need to determine your field of interest. If you’re like many hopeful technicians, you recognize that HVAC is a field that’s always in demand. This applies whether you decide to help residential, commercial, or industrial customers.
Determine your field of interest, and figure out what draws you to it. These jobs require long work weeks with sometimes emergency hours, so make sure that you love whatever path you choose. Brainstorm and map out your career so that you come up with a plan you feel confident sticking to.
Enroll in a trade school or community college that can set you on the right path. For HVAC, you’ll need to satisfy a certain number of classroom hours, as determined by your state of residence. From there, you will have to set for an examination to prove that you’ve mastered the skills required for the job.
The exam will involve both a written test and a hands-on portion. From there, you’ll need to go through an apprenticeship for a year or two before you can work on your own.
Find the Ideal Field Service Jobs
Congrats. You’re a certified technician. Now, what? It’s time to hit the pavement (or online job search) to begin looking for positions.
How can I find field service technician jobs near me? The best thing you can do is build relationships within the industry. Starting in trade school, you can build a network of professionals in the industry that can let you know what jobs are available so that you always have leads. This can even include lucrative jobs with housing included.
Is there part time work near me? Depending on your trade of choice, there may be some opportunities to work part time, freelance, or on the side as you build your skills and figure out which company you’d like to work for long-term. After getting some good experience, many field service technicians decide to go into business for themselves.
This is enticing for people who are budding entrepreneurs. You’ll get to set your own hours and have some technicians working under you. Figure out what works best for your lifestyle and begin finding your dream job.
Are You Ready to Apply?
How Do I Become a Better Field Service Technician?
The best thing you can do is learn, grow, and embrace technology. Field service pros today rely on software and apps just like any other profession.
Today, field service management (FSM) is growing at an 11% rate over the next few years. These platforms can keep you organized and help you hit your goals.
Treat this like your career and you’ll always be able to stay on top of your game.
Field Service Technician Jobs 101
These tips will help you out when you’re considering field service technician jobs of all kinds. The sky is the limit if you’re interested in this sort of job path, so set aside the time and money that you need to make it happen.
We’re always in the market for quality pros and would love to learn more about you. If you’re interested in applying for a service technician job with Energy-One, get in touch online, or call us at (401)823-1800.
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