Serious question - how do you break into that industry? My current career path is a dead end...my boss isn't planning on leaving, and that's the only path to advance within my organization. So, I've begun applying with our contractors and trade partners, but can never seem to get past the first step in the application process.
I started off as a HVAC apprentice for a small residential HVAC company, but they didn’t always keep me working at 40 hours so I started looking elsewhere.
I got lucky in that I found a company that hired young, inexperienced technicians because they could pay them less. I had a bit of an HVAC background and took programming in high school, as well as did some Q-BASIC programming and web-design as a hobby, so I was a bit of a shoe-in.
Worked there for a couple years until it looked good on a resume and I coaxed all the training courses I could out of them and moved to a larger, more reputable company that paid a normal wage. Worked there for several years as a BAS Technician and Project Coordinator, took more training, and then moved into a dedicated PM/Designer role at bigger company where I don’t have to do as much field work.
Thankfully I wasn’t married and was living at home when I got the first position, otherwise I don’t think I would have been able to afford it.
If you don’t have HVAC or programming experience, you may want to look into getting some. Coursera has some free online courses, and I’ve seen some programming ones, but I don’t know if they have anything on HVAC.
You really need to get HVAC experience. I was at a conference a few months ago with leaders of the industry talking to a local college that wanted to startup a BAS course and one of the main things everyone was complaining about was that we were hiring people straight out of college that were great at programming, IT networking, and other computer stuff but had no idea how a boiler or chiller plant are supposed to operate. You need to know that stuff because you need to make sure the technician programs the controllers to run the equipment in a way that is efficient, comfortable to the tenants, and doesn’t damage the equipment.
There are probably some local or online courses other than Coursera you can take.
If you need anymore help, feel free to PM me. I don’t mind looking at your experience and giving you some pointers as to what to highlight on your resume and such.
I can also answer different questions you have about different programming methods, different manufacturers tools, HVAC stuff, integration stuff, etc.
By the way, my experience is more with DDC controllers which is common in residential and commercial and light industrial. Process Industrial automation is more done with PLC controllers and that requires a bit more education (like electrical engineering courses) which I don’t have.
Also, HVAC-talk.com is basically the talkbass of HVAC and controls. It’s based on HVAC but they have a controls sub forum and there are some real helpful knowledgeable people there.
