HVAC in ontario will it pick up soon?

[Wester399]

Hey guys fairly new to the site, I was wondering if the trade was gonna pick up soon. I was looking for an apprenticeship with little to no qualifications and obviously had no luck. So all the people I talked to said get your gas liscence then come back and see me. So I looked at prices and by the time i did my g3 then g2 nightschool the 2 year pre apprentice program at fanshawe was only a couple grand more and atleast there i got some solid hands on training. So here i am 22 years old and 2 years of school done g2 certified and odp/cfc certified. And seem to be having no luck what so ever. Had a decent prospective placement lined up but for the last year they like most companies have been dead. And now I hear places are very hesitant to start guys off with little real world experience. I have a good overview of the heating side, and also a fairly good overview of a/c and refrigeration. I'm starting to find out though that the industry has been overrun in the last 3 years with people from private 6month to 1 year training programs. Ive only been on the hunt for about 2 months but its getting frustrating handing out resumes like mad and hardly hearing anything back, starting to wonder if I should look at finding another career.
Any insight
-Getting skeptical

[copperteeth]

I did the same thing as you except i took the program in windsor at st clair. I started a job about a month ago and we have been working long days since i started. I dont think its so much that places aren't busy, i think its more like were dime a dozen and we all look the same on paper. I got the job i have now by dropping off my resume months ago, back in febuary. I called the owner every so often to see if he remembered me and just to let him know how i was doing in school. When i finished school i was showing up middle of the week at 8 am asking if they needed any help that week. by the 2nd Monday of June i was hired. The boss didn't even know what certifications i had until my first day of work.

My advice is to stick with it. One owner i talked to said he would like to hire me but his ratios suck and i probably wont get signed up for over 2 years. His advice i will pass on to you. Keep calling shops, keep knocking on doors. Eventually someone answers. Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

As per the over run industry, anyone can get a g2. Its just a piece of paper. Developing a skill that your good at and putting pride into your work is what will set you apart. That takes time.

[Wester399]

Ya sounds good, another guy I know his brother did that he just dropped off a resume once a week for a like a month and when the people asked why he was doing this he said because he really wants a job. So I am going out again monday morning handing out resumes and talking to the people. Thanks for that man really helped.

[Wester399]

your very right tho the ratio factor sucks. I had an interview for a sheet metal job where I would just be a laborer because he already had apprentices. If the government wants this economy to turn faster they really should make the ration 1:1 because i see so many ads for liscenced guys, if you have a ticket you can find work almost instantly. The problem is getting guys to that stage. Anyways i realize that for me to find a job im just gonna have to keep on the employers follow up weekly go in there , email them do whatever it takes.

[copperteeth]

Something i thought of for you wester is to check out plumbing shops. Some do heating and air conditioning as well. For example, my friend works for a company that's called "owners last name" plumbing and heating, yet they do a/c and sheet metal fab as well. Don't overlook plumbing shops just because that's there primary focus.

[Hawkweiser]

Don't forget about suppliers! Usually tons of postings up on their bulletin boards. Go in around 8-9 and there should be tons of guys getting parts, strike a convo when they are waiting for something from the back just asking if they need anyone or if anyone they know needs anyone.

You might have to take a spot your overqualified for...I spent three months looking after school the only job offer I had was from a large company who had a contract with ottawa hydro, doing electric tanks swaps. Put in my 6 months, it was crap, 8-12 hrs a day doing nothing but electric tanks, but finally got hired on by the main installation department, the rest is history. Sometimes you just need a foot in the door and from there you can prove your worth.

[copperteeth]

Don't forget about suppliers! Usually tons of postings up on their bulletin boards.

THIS!!! When i had finished my first year at st clair i was staying with a friend in Kitchener for a week. I visited the refrigeration supplier on manatu drive every so often just for something to do on the days he worked. There was literally handfuls of job postings on the bulletin board in the bathroom looking for mostly g2's. At the time i hadn't even got my g3 results back so i didn't apply to many postings. One place even called me for an interview.

[73Stingray]

I'll head over to I.S.C. and check out the job board over there....oh wait...they dried up and left town....
I guess there are other places around to take up the slack.

[sinc4]

I'll head over to I.S.C. and check out the job board over there....oh wait...they dried up and left town....
I guess there are other places around to take up the slack.

Umm they moved around the corner from WWG in Kitchener,

[copperteeth]

i was referring to united refrigeration on manitu drive not ISC

[Trublshter]

Have you tryed the many main line job boards that are out there? That's where I had prior success. I can't really recommend this site as a really decent source of jobs that a decent and experienced tech would find and stay at.