"Having an exciting job where every day is different has been the best
part of this career," says Cliff Wheeler, an air conditioning technician in
Arizona.
Wheeler first learned the trade when he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force.
Today he's with an installation and repair company.
The work is challenging, but that's what makes it rewarding. Some
days are filled with so much work he doesn't even have time to stop and
take a breath. Other days aren't as hectic, but they are filled with
complicated technical problems. "Every day brings something new."
In air conditioning and heating, people skills are almost as important
as technical ability. And because just about every home and business needs
the service, technicians meet all kinds of people.
"I've met movie stars and other notable people," says Wheeler. "They
make the work interesting."
But being able to get the job done counts for a lot too. "Get formal training.
Don't try to learn it on the job."
The military, community colleges and trade schools all offer good training
programs.
Academic preparation is important, especially math. Mathematical formulas
are the backbone of electronics, which is a big part of a technician's
work. Wheeler also recommends taking a shop class or two so you can handle
tools.
"I've had kids come in here and say they know how to do the job, and
they don't even know which end of a screwdriver to hold! If you start
yanking wires without checking power supplies, you've got a problem."
Being a good sport also helps.
"There's a lot of teasing going on out there. It's not all because
I'm a woman -- just mostly. But it's all in good fun," says Sharon
Stephenson, a pipe insulator in Phoenix, Arizona. Stephenson was the first
female technician ever hired at her company.
"You really need mechanical ability. You can't mind getting dirty
and sometimes have to do some heavy lifting -- like a water heater. Not many
women are OK with all that."
Stephenson grew up fixing things around her family's farm and decided
she was good enough at it to make a living. She spent five years in training
at a local journeyman's union, getting hands-on and academic training.
The life of a heating and cooling technician isn't glamorous, but
it's a job that makes you feel good at the end of the day. "It's
about giving people comfort and sometimes about keeping them alive -- not
everyone can tolerate extreme heat or cold," says Wheeler.
Gordon Arnott, a technical manager at the Heating, Refrigeration and Air
Conditioning Institute, says the variety in the industry keeps it exciting.
"I enjoy the people and the diversity," says Arnott.