With Independence Day (for those of us here in the U.S.) right around the corner, our thoughts quite often turn to friends, family, backyard barbecue's and ballgames. And for those of you out there following along or affiliated with the HVACR trade, I hope you have a safe and happy holiday.
But a couple of recent stories that I've read got me to thinking about the role of education, training and today's HVACR service professional. Namely, that you 1.) should always make sure that the training and knowledge you are receiving come from recognized, established sources; and 2.) the training you receive is truly preparing you for career advancement and enhancement.
On the front page of the June 22, 2010 edition of the Chicago Tribune, an article detailed the plight of Denise Parnell, a 20-year-old single mother who had spent some $13,000 - including more than $8,500 in federal loans - to become a certified nursing assistant. But instead of preparing to take Illinois' certified nursing assistant exam, she learned that the program at the for-profit school she attended didn't have approval from the Illinois Department of Public Health. That meant no exam, no opportunity to get certified or to get a job in the field. Oh, and by the way...she still owes the $13 grand. To read the full story, click here.
Earlier in June, the U.S. Department of Education proposed new regulations that would require for-profit colleges to share key statistics such as job-placement rates, graduates' debt load versus income, and more. That has happened in part because of growing criticism and calls for tigher regulations at such schools, which some say look to take advantage of low-income students.
Meanwhile, those who are getting training and education in such programs might not be equipped to even get a job when they finish the program. In the July 1, 2010 New York Times, one Cleveland, OH-area manufacturer shared its plight with readers in an article titled "Factory jobs return, but skilled workers scarce." The article stated that "supervisors at Ben Venue Laboratories, a contract drug maker for pharmaceutical companies, have reviewed 3,600 job applications this year and found only 47 people to hire at $13 to $15 an hour, or about $31,000 a year.
The going rate for entry-level manufacturing workers in the area, according to Cleveland State University, is $10 to $12 an hour, but more skilled workers earn $15 to $20 an hour.
All candidates at Ben Venue must pass a basic skills test showing they can read and understand math at a ninth-grade level. A significant portion of recent applicants failed, and the company has been disappointed by the quality of graduates from local training programs. It is now struggling to fill 100 positions."
What does this all mean? Right now, simply put, opportunities are out there. In the HVACR industry, openings for refrigeration specialists, service technicians and controls experts are on job boards everywhere. But it is critical that those looking to the field as a career option do their homework; research and find accredited, well-respected institutions to help them learn; and work with respected educational organizations such as RSES and NATE to ensure they are indeed getting what they paid for.
