Getting A Good Job

P. Smith

I recently finished trade school, took the state exam and received my Mass Oil Burner License. I have bene looking around for a good job. I found a couple off companies who where hiring one of which said he could use me part time varying from only 2-4 days a week for only $8 an hour under the table, this was a small 2 man opperation; owner drives oil truck while the 1 full timer does most the service work and installs, I would work the days there would be installs scheduled to basically be just a second set of hands. I turned down the job because of the lack of hours and pay, the owner told me that i probably wouldn't find much better because he normally gets people to do this work for only $7 an hour under the table (but he said the people he had doing this were never licesned.

I did find a real good paying job with another company the probablem with that one was the guy said he could give my as much work as i wanted doing mostly anual services. The probablem is I needed to use my own truck and would have to supply all my own tools and everything to do the servicing ie. filters, nozles and so on. In return I would give him a % of what the customer pays me. Off course he said I would have to put a sticker on the boiler with his number so that future calls would still go through him.

Neither one of these sounded right to me, I talked to a salesman at a local suply house and he recomended that i should with all of you and get all the advise that i can.

So finally I'll get to my two Questions,
1. What is the best way to get into a bisness who can give you 40hrs/wk? Should I just go through the yellow pages and call every one? Spring will be here soon, will companies be letting the least experiansed people go until next fall?
2. What types of tools would most companies want me to provide my self? I have basically just what can fit in a tool box, srew driver set, wrench set, adj wrench, 10' pipe wrench, vise grips, allen wrenches, Carlin and Becket igniter gauges. What else should I start getting?

BillW@honeywell

Check out Alan Mercurio's...

oiltechtalk.com. He has a list of recommended truck stock, tools and offers great training seminars. The best of the oil burner service guys hang out there, and it may be a source of potential employment, not to mention good advice & tricks of the trade.

Ray Landry

Entering this great trade

It's all about finding the right company. Money isn't always everything when you first start out. In trade school, you do all your work for FREE while you learn. Now you've graduated, and are still going to be learning under the wing of a plumbing/hvac company. In enscence you're getting paid and learning a great trade at the same time.
In many ways I was in the same shoes you were, I took plumbing at a vocational school, and graduated a year and a half ago. I got hired, then laid off for two months, then hired again as a delivery driver for six months, and then finally got oppurtunity to ride in a truck with liscenced guys. Now almost two years later I'm taking my journeyman's exam in the summer, do many of my own jobs, constantly get trained (twice a week in house and attend seminars frequently) and most importantly ENJOY what I do.

It's all about the effort you put in. Don't expect to be making sweet money your first day on the job. Your employer doesn't know what you're capable of. I stuck with the company I started with because I saw an oppurtunity to grow. One thing my shop teacher always told me was that to get to the top you have to start at the bottom. This is very true in our trade.

My advice to you is to look for a company who is going to put you in their books. if you get paid under the table, it won't even go towards your apprentice hours (assuming you're shooting to be a plumber) My next tip is to go for a full service company (Plumbing,HVAC, Fire protection, ect ect.)

I'm also from Massachusettes and would gladly give you the number for the company I work for. We're always looking for good people to hire. Email me at KTM_Racer032@hotmail.com

Paul Mitchell

You can pick them...

You went to two terrible places as far as I can tell. You need to start at the bottom as we all did but There has got to be a better place by you. Come to NJ and you would find a real job no problem. You usually need hand tools at a co.
Goodd Luck

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Leo

Oil Burner Tech

Most companies supply a vacumn and a combustion test kit. You supply the rest. The two companies you went to are dogs. I too am from MA, hopfully these two companies are nowhere near me. Get in your car and go to these places, over the phone is too impersonal. You may not get a face to face everywhere but it helps when you do, it is your chance to leave a good impression.

Good Luck,

Leo

ed wallace

getting in the trade

ok try sending out resumes to companies within a 25 mile raduis of your home also dont be afraid to call up companies and ask for work try to post a message at supply houses near you if you are in eastern ma around boston i would be happy to give you the name and addrreess of supply houses or try to get hired by a supply house and learn the parts that are used in the trade good luck

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steve_29

I graduated from Peterson last June and had multiple job offers before I got out.

Many of the guys that I went to school with, could not find jobs in either the oil or HVAC field.

Seems that Mass. is saturated with graduating techs, (probably due to the downsizing of many companies)and most oil companies won't hire you for much money.

You need experience... and the only way your gonna get it is to work for someone.

No matter what you think your not ready to go out on your own.

I would suggest, that if your close to the NH border, check out NH companies.

Many are looking for school grads and the pay is much more than Mass. companies are offering.

good luck

Wayco Wayne_2

All good advice

I would even consider working part time for the first company while keeping an eye out for a better situation. A small company might take you on and then be able to handle more work and grow just because you are availible and before long you would be full time and irreplaceable. Then you could be worth more to the small biz owner. Once you're in someplace you can start to see the trade from the inside and can make better choices as you go. Good Luck. WW

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Boiler Guy

I agree

with Wayne. It is ALWAYS easier to find a job when you already have a job. Yes, unfortunately you need experience (good or bad). Now you just need a chance. Best of luck

Joel_3

call us

www.boucherenergy.com


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John R. Hall

Career Center

The NEWS just started a new online service called "Career Center." It's free and available at www.achrnews.com. Couldn't hurt to try it.