I think many people have found themselves in the same situation as our graduate quoted in this article printed in Sunday’s Arizona Republic: http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/2009/06/28/20090628biz-jobs0628.html

It is in these times that it is important to know the career you have chosen will give you as many options as possible. With a career in HVAC/R (heating, ventillation, air conditioning, and refrigeration) there is a vastness to the kinds of jobs available and places to take it. Any building that needs climate control or refrigeration needs technicians to maintain it. While this doesn’t mean that the career isn’t affected by an overall economic downturn, it does mean that it will always be needed. It simply can’t be outsourced overseas or filled with unskilled and untrained workers.

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I don’t usually post this much in a row, but check out the new RSI video

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Graduate Article - Updated 6/26/09 - Since we had a lot of great comments on this post, I thought everyone would like to see an article from a couple of years ago.

We get questions about this often enough that we thought we would post something about it:

Most people tend to envision HVAC/R as a “man’s career,” one that deals with intensive installs, compressor change-outs, and many other strength-oriented tasks. This is a common misconception; while sometimes heavy lifting is necessary, these cases are not as frequent as people think. Even when there is more labor intensive work, certain adjustments can be made to help accomplish the job. Much of the HVAC/R work revolves around electrical and mechanical troubleshooting. The main requirements  needed to work in this industry are the enjoyment of working with your hands, solving problems, fix things, and being able to deal with the often harsh weather that comes with the trade (heat in Phoenix, cold in Chicago).

One of the reasons HVAC/R is such an exciting career – and why it is appealing to both men and women - is the fact that they can adapt their training to so many different industry areas. The primary focus of RSI’s curriculum is electrical circuitry and temperature/humidity control, which makes students’ education readily transferable to many areas of the industry. It also allows technicians to work interesting jobs without demanding they be capable of intense physical labor. An entry level HVAC/R technician is prepared to work with climate control equipment (air conditioning, heating, ventilation, humidifying, de-humidifying, etc.), refrigeration equipment, large commercial equipment, and more. Wherever there is climate control or refrigeration equipment (which is almost everywhere) technicians are needed to maintain and service it.

In fact, when it comes to hiring, some employers are very interested in hiring females because they are often already sensitive to the customer’s needs without extra training. Technicians can run away business if they make a habit of treading through a client’s house with tar on their feet from the roof they just got off, ruining the customer’s carpet. Employers need technicians that tend to be more mindful, and will even remove their dirty shoes before entering a house if the customer requests it. What is the big deal? It means that the client will make sure that they ask for the same technician next time, and as long as they’re working at the same company, there will be repeat business. Like men, women who are mechanically inclined should research a career in HVAC/R. The potential for a great career in this industry is there for anyone that wants it.

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RSI graduate, Bill Riley, will be at our open house, Saturday, June 6th to talk to people about the industry. Here’s an article from one of our newsletters about Bill and his experience:

     With gas prices rising and current economic and political climates variable, what do people need the most? Besides solar panels on their SUVs….a career that will provide them with the versatility to flow with the changes. When everything else is up in the air, the ability to make yourself necessary in your chosen career is what will count when it matters the most. This is why a career in air conditioning, heating & refrigeration (HVAC/R) makes sense to anyone that wants to “call the shots” in their career instead of being on the receiving end all of the time.    

     Bill Riley, a March 2008 RSI Graduate, says this best, “you can see the need in the industry no matter what the economy.” For Bill, the HVAC/R industry was a second career. He spent 30 years as an auto & diesel mechanic repairing heavy equipment such as bulldozers, graders, and other types of earth movers. At the age of 49, he decided it was time for a career change.    

     Bill currently works with Arizona Public Service Company™ (APS™) a local (Arizona) utility provider. His supervisor, Edward McGovern a 1971 graduate, told Bill about RSI. He also had several other graduates that encouraged him to attend school. At first he was concerned about his age, but after attending the first month he realized the career was well suited to people like him. Because the industry is so diverse, people of many levels and capabilities are able to succeed in HVAC/R. According to Rick Rusch, RSI Career Development Director, employers in the industry appreciate the maturity and work history that comes with a more seasoned graduate. Age does not play as significant a factor as it does in other types of careers.    

     As a graduate Bill is eligible to move up in position to HVAC Technician III. He travels all over Arizona as part of a team of technicians providing repair services at power plants, sub stations, facilities, remodels of buildings, and more. He loves the local travel and the different types of equipment he is able to work on. According to Bill, “you can also see a lot of diversity in the kind of work schedule you have and a lot of flexibility in how you can maneuver your career.”    

     When asked about his experience at RSI he is quick to note, “the RSI staff really helped and the skills were brought across by instructors even if it took extra time. All the instructors were great.” He is so impressed with the career, he goes on to say, “I’m trying to talk all of my family members into it. I recommend it to a lot of folks. You get some independence in the work itself. Thank you to the management of APS™ for letting me attend RSI and to my family for their support”. 

     One thing that is a proven fact, the economic climate we are experiencing today will change. How much and when is the ultimate unknown. A career in HVAC/R will not change the economy, but it will change how you and your family are affected by it.”    

     Come by and visit us on Saturday, June 6th from 10am - 2pm. We will have tours, a prize drawing, demonstrations, and refreshments. It’s a great opportunity to find out more about RSI and a new career in HVAC/R.

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This blog came from Jon Cline Jr. who is currently a Marketing Administrator at RSI and has attended classes. Here’s what he had to share:

As Marketing Administrator at RSI, my focus lately has been honed in on understanding the HVAC field, and working with career services on internet portal contacts with employers.  As part of my current training, it is required that I take the first phase of RSI’s curriculum, so I can better understand the basic terminology and principles of the industry. It was an altering experience.  Never before have I looked at a building wondering where the return duct is, and if it is a good location for it. 

After about my second day of class, I understood basic thermodynamic principles that allowed me to conceive how heat is transferred in multiple environments.  The class has a very progressive style, adding information on top of information, but the pace of the class makes it so everyone will understand by the end of the day. If they don’t, the teachers are always more than happy to stay and tutor.  My instructor, Tom Ginn, is a very knowledgeable, witty individual, and would love to be out in the HVAC field, if he hadn’t fallen in love with teaching about a year ago. 

Each phase is 20 days in a classroom, which will take a month if you are enrolled in either morning or afternoon classes (6 weeks at night).  The final for first phase consists of multiple choice questions ranging from types of refrigerant, to heat pumps, to accessories on the units, to pressure/temperature conversions.  None of this is too difficult to answer after first phase, as long as you pay attention, and whenever someone in the class doesn’t understand, they just ask.  The first phase thus far has been very eye-opening for me, and I would honestly recommend it to anyone.

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