Facility maintenance jobs can be incredibly rewarding for the right person. They are hands-on, meaningful to the community, and pay very well in comparison to the cost of education. However, becoming an HVAC technician, electrician, plumber, or other maintenance worker is not right for everyone. It requires several years of training and should not be chosen as a line of work unless you are confident you’re up to the task.
If you’re interested in joining the facility maintenance field, ask yourself these questions to determine whether you’re right for the job:
Do you like working outside?
Even though you’ll be working on buildings, quite a bit of maintenance work happens outside. HVAC technicians, plumbers, roofers, and electricians all have job duties that require work outside, sometimes in tight spaces or on the ground, These jobs can get dirty, too, so if you’re not used to hard labor in the sun, you may want to consider whether you’ll be capable of working in these conditions daily.
Is your schedule flexible?
When a pipe bursts in a home or the power goes out, most people can’t wait until the next business day for service. This means that many facility maintenance jobs require on-call time and overtime in order to provide 24-hour service. While this will inevitably add to your paycheck, it can be taxing on those who prefer a 9 to 5 job. Be aware and willing of this job requirement before applying for trade school.
Are you willing to invest in your education?
Most facility maintenance fields will require a two-year technical school degree or the completion of an apprenticeship before you can begin your work as a journeyman. While technical school is much less expensive than a four-year college, it will still take time and patience before you can begin earning as a maintenance technician.
Are you looking for a challenge?
Maintenance work is very different from modern desk jobs. You’ll always be on the move when you’re at work — there is little time to sit back and relax as a maintenance tech. You’ll also be working physically most of the time, which can wear on the body the longer you’re in the field. While this job can be very satisfying for diligent hard workers, it is not the path for everyone. You have to really want success to achieve it in the maintenance field.
MaintenX is always in search of qualified maintenance technicians at our locations across the U.S. Once you’ve completed your training, give us a call to learn about the opportunities in commercial maintenance and how to get started with us!
