Skilled workers for trades such as HVAC, Plumbing, and more are in high demand. According to McKinsey & Company, 80% of construction-related companies struggle to fill some or all positions.
Trade jobs are projected to grow at 20 times the average job rate growth and interest in the trades is up— creating an opportunity for you to develop skilled trades talent in your area.
Due to the skills shortage, employers in fields like HVAC, electrical, and plumbing are willing to hire candidates with little to no experience and train them on the job. But if employers aren’t looking for experience, what do they want in entry-level technicians?
Here’s what employers look for in an entry-level technician— and how you can prepare job-seekers to succeed in the job market.
1. A Motivation to Succeed
First and foremost, hiring managers in the trades look for motivation. They want candidates who will be motivated to show up consistently, give their best effort, and do the job right.
Travis Lyons, Regional Vice President for Cascade Services in North Florida, shares that he looks for technicians with a strong “why”— a drive to succeed or a goal like supporting their family or buying their first home.
“Nobody starts out with a million years of experience. If their why is strong enough, the how is easy,” shares Lyons. “In our best technicians, their why is strong. If they’re motivated and inspired to produce and show up to work and give it their best, that’s a good clue that they’ll be a good hire.”
Job-seekers can demonstrate their motivation in numerous ways. If they are motivated due to a personal story, they can be prepared to share that story in a succinct yet compelling way in an interview or on an application. Job-seekers could also start learning some of the basic skills on their own time to show that they are all-in on this career. Training on tools that use 3D simulations, such as Interplay Learning, can help job-seekers gain hands-on experience in a flexible manner before they go into a job interview.
2. Coachability
Because so many entry-level skills are taught on the job, coachability and a desire to learn are very important to employers.
“A willingness to work is hard to find nowadays. We look for a willingness to be here and learn,” says Josh Anderson, Maintenance Planner for the KU Medical Center. “You can definitely tell when someone has the attitude and willingness to train. I notice if someone goes out of their way to come to me and say, ‘Hey, what can I do to better myself or to further my training?’”
The KU Medical Center starts all new technicians with a training program, including Interplay Learning, to give new hires exposure and hands-on experience with different trades they may use. Even experienced technicians need to maintain their certifications and skills, so a desire to continue training is key and showing initiative in the learning process can give someone a leg up.
3. Customer Service and Communication Skills
Technical knowledge is just one part of a technician’s skill set and job. They also need to work with people. Situations like broken pipes or storm damage can put customers into high-stress mode and technicians need to keep them calm, informed, and ultimately, happy. They also need to discuss finances, a difficult topic, with customers.
“Technicians need to understand that there are two sides to every problem you have: the problem itself and then the emotional side of a problem,” says Lyons. “I want to see that technicians care, that they’re customer service focused, that they understand that a customer’s time is valuable, and will do everything they can to get that customer taken care of.”
Employers look for technicians that are presentable, professional, and trustworthy in a customer’s home or office. These customer service and communication skills are transferable from any field.
“Their experience doesn’t necessarily have to be in HVAC, plumbing, or electrical. It could be a bellhop at a hotel— those are some of the best customer service people ever. If you work at Chick-fil-A or Publix and I’m interviewing you, I know you’re starting with customer service skills, and we can teach you the technical side through tools like Interplay Learning or hands-on learning,” says Lyons.
4. A Clean Driving Record
Most technicians drive a commercial work truck to whichever homes or businesses they’re servicing that day, which means their driving record matters.
According to BlueRecruit, most employers in the trades require an active driver’s license. To protect the company’s vehicles and reduce liability, employers pay attention to candidates’ driving records.
“Insurance carriers are super strict on who they will let drive commercial vehicles,” shared Lyons. “You need to make sure their driving record’s good, because how they drive your personal vehicle can disqualify them from being able to drive for a business. If they don’t take care of their own car, they probably won’t take care of an $80,000 truck with $20,000 of inventory.”
5. Industry-Recognized Certifications
Working in the trades is an excellent career option for job-seekers without a four-year degree. Just 13% of employers require post-secondary education, while 55% require a GED or high school degree, and 32% have no education requirements, according to BlueRecruit.
However, one way for candidates to stand out is with industry-recognized certifications in areas like HVAC, plumbing, electrical, or general safety like OSHA.
“We love when people have credentials like HVAC certifications, electrical certifications, and others,” says Anderson. “They aren’t a must-have, but it is a bonus.”
While job -seekers still need to demonstrate motivation, customer service skills, and excellent communication, a certification can separate them from the pack— and help them start a rewarding career in the trades.
Build a pipeline of job-ready candidates with Interplay Learning’s simulation-based learning for the trades. Try it today!
