best way to find a job in hvac

**Mnfreeze** · 04-28-2012, 04:36 PM

As a youngster, I almost cause my mom and dad to sell the house. I would wait until everyone went to bed. I would pull out anything electrical found in the neighborhood. Get a screwdriver and probe until I saw sparks or felt my arm go numb. We, kept a box of fresh fuses. Mom and dad sworn it was bad wiring in the home. God bless them. They left here not knowing it was me. Now, I confess. Now, I probe around 480v.

**haleyann** · 04-29-2012, 08:01 PM

My shop experiences have been far from politically correct being the only girl in an all male shop. I have already dealt with sexism, but I have and will continue to prove myself. I've been doing MMA since i was 4 years old so I'm pretty strong. I also have one of the highest grades in my class in addition to being a Skills USA state champion. HVAC is what I want to do &it’s what I’m good at but thank you.

**timebuilder** · 04-29-2012, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by haleyann

My shop experiences have been far from politically correct being the only girl in an all male shop. I have already dealt with sexism, but I have and will continue to prove myself. I've been doing MMA since i was 4 years old so I'm pretty strong. I also have one of the highest grades in my class in addition to being a Skills USA state champion. HVAC is what I want to do &it’s what I’m good at but thank you.

As a former Judoka, you're welcome.

I would caution you against believing that you will be free from injury in this environment, unless you condition constantly. You will be asked to do the same strength feats as someone with 30% greater muscle mass.

I'm not sure what it means to be a "state champion" in "USA Skills," but if it is anything like public schools standards, I would take a wait and see attitude. No offense. We have been dumbing down standards and giving trophies just for showing up for a couple of decades now, and we are 25th in math worldwide.

I hope you are as exceptional as you apparently think you are.

**haleyann** · 04-29-2012, 08:23 PM

I didn't mean to come off as condescending; I respect your opinion since you obviously have lots of experience in this field while I only have a couple of years of production under my belt and I'm sorry if I seem that way but that's really not me.

**timebuilder** · 04-29-2012, 08:24 PM

Let me give you one small piece of advice that I gave my niece. She's a little bit older than you are.

Try not to use words you learned in school like "sexism." If you were born after 1980, you have NO idea what sexism is. Trust me.

**dsprice** · 04-29-2012, 08:39 PM

Don't forget that besides being a technical expert, you are providing a quality product. The last thing on a job is cleanliness. How does the job site look when your done? Why will the homeowner remember you?

I have 3 women on my crew, each fresh out of trade school. I'll tell you what I've told each of them: you are working in a male dominated industry and you are going to have to work harder than them to prove you are just as good as they are. Now each one is respected for her abilities.

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**DLZ Dan** · 04-29-2012, 08:39 PM

There are a few companies around here that have female techs. You see them in the supply houses and the first couple times, it is a unusual sight. Once you see theyre willing to get in the trenches and kneel on the same nasty kitchen floors you do, theyre respected just as every other tech.

Frankly, Haley, as a business owner, I would definitely pick up a female tech who may be physically weaker than a male tech. Why? Because of the same attitude you exibited so far-because of what you call "sexism", you pride yourself in learning and striving to prove you are on the same level as everyone else. What that boils down to me is that youve conditioned your learning process to get into new material and master it. That is a trait that every good tech has.

Continue and excel, Haley, and good luck to you!

**timebuilder** · 04-29-2012, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by dsprice

Don't forget that besides being a technical expert, you are providing a quality product. The last thing on a job is cleanliness. How does the job site look when your done? Why will the homeowner remember you?

I have 3 women on my crew, each fresh out of trade school. I'll tell you what I've told each of them: you are working in a male dominated industry and you are going to have to work harder than them to prove you are just as good as they are. Now each one is respected for her abilities.

Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2

Very true.

The measure of a technician is the quality of their work, including their attention to detail.

**haleyann** · 04-29-2012, 09:12 PM

Thanks guys! Just so everyone knows by sexism I didn't just mean comments &things, there's a lot more to it lol but thanks for the great advise!

**timebuilder** · 04-29-2012, 09:15 PM

Originally Posted by DLZ Dan

There are a few companies around here that have female techs. You see them in the supply houses and the first couple times, it is a unusual sight. Once you see theyre willing to get in the trenches and kneel on the same nasty kitchen floors you do, theyre respected just as every other tech.

Frankly, Haley, as a business owner, I would definitely pick up a female tech who may be physically weaker than a male tech. Why? Because of the same attitude you exibited so far-because of what you call "sexism", you pride yourself in learning and striving to prove you are on the same level as everyone else. What that boils down to me is that youve conditioned your learning process to get into new material and master it. That is a trait that every good tech has.

Continue and excel, Haley, and good luck to you!

I think "pride" in a person who has not yet demonstrated their ability in the workforce is somewhat misplaced. I hope she can perform as advertised, and that it is not merely bravado.