With college tuition rising faster than wages, it’s no surprise that more and more people are turning to alternative career paths. Subcontractor work, as well as other forms of self-employment, is becoming more popular as it allows people to build sustainable careers without going into student loan debt. With a few years of technical school or internships, young professionals can learn the skills needed for subcontractor work in fields like roofing, electrical, plumbing, or HVAC.
Becoming a subcontractor has many perks. As your own boss, you’ll have more discretion over what jobs you work on and for what price. You can take as much time off as you need to rest and recoup. Many contractors vary their work schedule with their financial requirements, working just as much as they need to and spending their leisure time with family or pursuing other hobbies.
However, this line of work is not always easy. Subcontractors must be highly trained in their fields and must have a strong work ethic in order to balance work and leisure effectively. If you’re interested in starting a career in HVAC repair, plumbing, electrical, or roofing, here are some tips you should follow:
Invest in education. Someone with the right work ethic can make it as a subcontractor, but someone with a work ethic and technical school training will go further and faster in their field. Technical schools can teach you everything you need to know to make yourself a desirable candidate for subcontractor work with a larger company. If you can’t invest in technical school education right away, start saving and work entry-level positions in your desired field.
Find an internship or apprenticeship. At some point during or after your formal education, you should try to find an internship or apprenticeship to sharpen your on-the-job skills. You may understand the principles of your chosen work, but being able to think critically, problem-solve, and handle customer interactions well is just as crucial as your technical skills. Work with a seasoned professional to better understand the demands of subcontractor work.
Work within a network. If you are just starting out, working for yourself will prove difficult. You don’t yet have the reputation to attract new customers, and probably don’t have the experience to handle unexpected problems on the job. The best way to learn as a subcontractor is to join a maintenance subcontractor network. These sorts of positions give you ample job experience as well as additional training and resources to thrive in your chosen specialty.
At MaintenX, we offer exceptional benefits to contractors in our service network. We believe in providing proper training, good pay, and room to grow at the individual level. Our contractors uphold the highest standards in maintenance because we believe in a job well done. If you become a MaintenX subcontractor you will receive:
- Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance and Short and Long Term Disability
- 401(k) retirement plan with company match
- Paid Vacations, Paid Holidays, and Sick Days
- Personal Cell Phone Service Discount through Company Cell Phone Carrier Company
- Vehicle and Uniforms
- Fuel Card provided for Company Vehicle
- Opportunities for Overtime Hours
- Opportunity for Career Growth!
The opportunity is endless when you apply with MaintenX. Talk to us today to learn more about our job openings.
