Questions??

[ChrisTechMech]

I feel for you. I'm in Columbus, OH. I was recently laid off, BUT I'm turning down pretty good offers because I'm shooting for a great one. Columbus dealt with the recession better than any city in Ohio and much of the US. Lots of non-union shops hiring now thru June. A few union shops too. It'd be a lot closer to home, if that's important to you. You don't have to go where it's hot year round to stay busy. We also use gas heat, something they don't know much about down south. ;-) Depending upon his experience he could make some pretty decent cheese. My wife stays home with our two girls. If you're interested in Columbus, let me know and I'll see what I can do for you guys.

[heatingman]

To the original post. I can speak from personal experiance here. I too was living about 30 miles west of chicago. I got tired of the politics and bs of Illinois. So I moved to Texas, because my wife has family in Austin. Its been 9 months, and we cant stand it, so once our lease is up we are going home. There is plenty of AC work to be had in texas. But, unless you love traffic, roads that run in circles, hippis, homeless beggars at every corner, and snotty college kids, then stay as far away from Austin.

Also,
It seems like you want it both ways. You cant have all the bennifits such as bountiful work living in the middle of nowhere as you will near a city center such as Chicago. Another reality check is that any area that has bountiful work will be a large city, that will contain all of the crap you wish to avoid in Chicago.

Now if your husband has real talent anr skill he can make his own work anywhere. Including where you currently live. He may just have to expand what he is willing to do for a while.

[timebuilder]

I guess. I work for Trane. We're probably the only non-union shop in the Chicagoland area, and we're swamped. I'm working 6-12 hours OT every week. More if I wanted to.

I guess being union isn't all it's cracked up to be uh?

I suppose it's who you are. For you, that's fine. It's good to be in the 5%. I applaud you.

However, the majority of the commercial retail market segment makes about 50% of what you make. In many parts of the country, having a union employer is how you make decent money. The problem with towns like Philly is when the construction stops, hundreds of union jobs evaporate. It happened a few years ago when they finished Citizens Bank Park and Lincoln Financial Field, just a few short years after the (now) Wachovia Center replaced the Spectrum.

Some 200 - 250 LU 420 guys are still waiting for another building wave. Unfortunately for them, the guys they were told to vote for have the country being unwilling to build or do much of anything, because they don't know what their costs will be. So, all that private investment money is on the sideline, and there is no longer any public money to start a new wave of schools or other public structures.

If enough people vote for pro-growth, the industry will benefit. If we continue to vote pro-socialism, we won't. It's that simple.

[valdelocc]

I suppose it's who you are. For you, that's fine. It's good to be in the 5%. I applaud you.

I can see his head growing even bigger, dont feed it more or will explode

[timebuilder]

I can see his head growing even bigger, dont feed it more or will explode

That's okay. It's good to have things to which we aspire. Would I like to be in the top 5% or HVAC guys? As Gov. Palin said, "you betcha!"

I'm also a firm believer in the labor market providing feedback to employers, whether they be union or not. If kids coming out of HVAC school refused to work for low wages, and employers could not fill positions at those rates, then wages would tend to rise.

Of course, the business model has to contain enough flexibility for that to happen, ergo, we have an entire market segment that has identified technician skill in repairing systems as not having as much value as selling replacement systems, and the "sales technician" was born.

In commercial, this is a disaster, ergo, the limited lifespan of a program like NAS.

Guys who are considering this trade need to fully inform themselves of the various dynamics AND requirements as they decide which direction they will take in supporting themselves and their families.

[TheChillerMan]

I can see his head growing even bigger, dont feed it more or will explode

I wasn't bragging. My point was that in one of the worst states in the country, jobs are available for very high wages.

It is up to each and every person to better their own situation. Trane is hiring, you can do it too!

[valdelocc]

Trane is hiring, you can do it too!

For real? do you think I can do it too? wow! what a great burst in self esteem, thank you for believing in me.
you are the best!! those big intimidating chillers dont know how lucky they are to have you. may the force be with you!

[timebuilder]

I wasn't bragging. My point was that in one of the worst states in the country, jobs are available for very high wages.

It is up to each and every person to better their own situation. Trane is hiring, you can do it too!

I have visited the Trane website many times in the past several years, and they are not posting jobs that I have seen in places where they are organized. Maybe that has changed.

[TheChillerMan]

For real? do you think I can do it too? wow! what a great burst in self esteem, thank you for believing in me.
you are the best!! those big intimidating chillers dont know how lucky they are to have you. may the force be with you!

Why are you being such as a condescending douche bag?

[TheChillerMan]

I have visited the Trane website many times in the past several years, and they are not posting jobs that I have seen in places where they are organized. Maybe that has changed.

That's probably because Trane is union in only a handful of places.

Being union used to be very important to me, but it's lower down the list of importance now.

[valdelocc]

Why are you being such as a condescending douche bag?

for the same reason you are being such an arrogant prick!

[timebuilder]

I think maybe we are losing something in the communication process here.

[TheChillerMan]

for the same reason you are being such an arrogant prick!

I don't see how I was being arrogant by telling the OP that quality high paying jobs are available in the state that she lives in, and that the company I work for is hiring.

[TheChillerMan]

I think maybe we are losing something in the communication process here.

Reading comprehension is a lost art.

[Telecaster1]

In response to the original posting,

I understand your husband's plight, having originated from Chicago. The job market up there is tight as compared to other places, i.e. Texas, the Southeast. However the key to success in this trade no matter where you live, union or non-union, is to be as proactive as you can in obtaining knowledge, experience, and the ability to network. Having approached 10+ years in this industry, with my share of wins and disappointments, I would suggest two things, whether or not a relocation is in the works;

Have your husband consider what part of this field he enjoys and develop sort of a five year plan. What does he find the most interesting? Chillers? Controls? Commercial Refrigeration? Service Manager? Owner? Energy Management? Of course this is very general, but coming up with a plan of where he sees himself developing an expertise of sorts helps with coming up with a plan of execution. From this he can develop a means of researching, educating, and networking his way to a career that he envisions.

Wherever you and your husband end up, I highly suggest he becoming a member of the local RSES chapter, if he doesn't already belong. Meeting with other people in the trade, face to face, from different companies and areas of specialties is beyond extremely helpful. RSES has a wealth of knowledge and insight of where the industry as a whole is heading, a tool that can help the self-motivated individual reach that next level. This site as well, is another useful tool in the chest. All in all any form of networking that can be done is vital to becoming a well rounded and dynamic mechanic.

However not knowing your husband's experience, he may already be doing the above. I do see similar questions and discussions being had on other threads, mainly by some who are new to the trade, having expressed similar roadblocks. The Illinois/Midwest job market can be tough and have worked with many who have traveled south for work. With this trade however, wherever you go you have to take bull by the horns and write your own ticket.