Over the years, I have had to obtain many certifications. Several years ago, I was laid off from work and decided to return to school, attending a trade school....[full comment]
The best part was contracting profitable jobs and having them go well. Having a responsible office staff while your away from the office. Owning your own business can be very...[full comment]
Take as many courses as you can on the product or service you will be venturing in. Know your product well. Make sure that you have a good contractual agreement....[full comment]
School and Career Surprises: Tips From People on the Job
Each comment from a hvac includes their career and school satisfaction ratings.
Career: "Over the years, I have had to obtain many certifications. Several years ago, I was laid off from work and decided to return to school, attending a trade school. I received a diploma in electrical field, moved to Maryland and went to work in the same field I had been laid off from before. My diploma helped me get this job and since then, I have achieved several certifications. My job/career is always changing, newer technologies and different applications are always coming up. There is a huge move to make more and more households 'green' and many of these ideas involve heating and air cooling of homes. I am constantly taking classes in this area, certifications are always having to be renewed or obtained."
School: Studied Electrical at Triangle Tech in Pennsylvania; completed Associate degree in 2005. Career: HVAC Lead Mechanic, male, 22 years of experience, currently based in Maryland.
Best & Worst Things About This Career
As reported by people currently doing the job
"The best part was contracting profitable jobs and having them go well. Having a responsible office staff while your away from the office. Owning your own business can be very rewarding. The worst part, is having a job go wrong (ex. materials not arriving on schedule, sub contractors late, which causes a domino effect therefore making customer dissatisfied. Appeasing a customer is sometimes hard, but an important factor for in obtaining future jobs. Collections of monies with "big" companies, due to their payment policies, can cause cash flow problems for smaller companies."
School : 2 years - American International College (full time) 2 years - Lowell Technological Institute (Nights) Career: President - Small Business, currently based in New Hampshire.;
Tips for Succeeding in This Career
Helpful Info From Insiders
"Take as many courses as you can on the product or service you will be venturing in. Know your product well. Make sure that you have a good contractual agreement. Take courses in management of both office and labor. Have a good bank, a good lawyer, and a good accountant. Make sure that your family understands that you will be taking extra hours per day/week in establishing your goal. Allow enough cash to maintain your business for 5/6 months"
School : 2 years - American International College (full time) 2 years - Lowell Technological Institute (Nights) Career: President - Small Business, currently based in New Hampshire.;
