Latest from Learning Resources

gettyimages1059261948
Sponsored
Discover how AI can streamline tasks, boost productivity, and future-proof your small business with practical strategies and real-world applications.
Feb. 12, 2025
dpd_for_building_engineering_cover
Sponsored
As few as 10% of AECO firms currently operate from a single digital ecosystem, but those that do are shown to be more efficient, more adaptable, and more profitable. Ready to ...
Feb. 10, 2025
fmhero_statistics_featured
Sponsored
Avoid becoming an EPA audit statistic. Discover how robust refrigerant tracking systems can protect your HVAC/R business from costly fines and compliance pitfalls. Download our...
Jan. 14, 2025
whitepaper_featured_image
Sponsored
The HVAC industry is at a crossroads: Smart home tech isn't just an option—it's survival. Learn how embracing this tech can cut customer acquisition costs, boost loyalty, and ...
Nov. 5, 2024
ACCA
acca_training_image
Available dates in October, November, December.
Sept. 23, 2024
ID 143624462 © Slavun | Dreamstime.com
multifamily_dwelling
Standard represents a critical shift towards prioritizing indoor environmental quality (IEQ) for occupant health and well-being.
Sept. 3, 2024
Copeland
refrigerant_gauges
Training initiatives include A2L-specific courses on Copeland’s Learning Management System and concise training sessions at industry shows.
Aug. 28, 2024
Yellow Jacket
refrigerant_recovery_gauge
As older refrigerants become an increasingly precious commodity, proper recovery and evacuation procedures are more important than ever before.
Aug. 28, 2024
PHCC
phcc_connect_audience
More than 20 educational sessions will cover finance, business management, legislation, regulations, marketing and more.
Aug. 15, 2024

Trades Education is Better When Contractors Are Involved

Contracting professionals can serve as vital advisors when designing training for skilled trade students.
Feb. 17, 2022
4 min read
NTI
Teaching hands-on experience using real world scenarios was the best way to get students prepared for working in the field.

Have you ever hired an entry-level technician through a trade school, high school program or a community college? I would guess that many of you have. I have done this too, often hiring graduates from various types of programs when I owned my own HVAC contracting business. With the trade skills gap increasing every year, it’s become tougher to find knowledgeable employees. So when you find new graduates, you jump. But, when these “educated” employees start the job, what do you discover about the way they were trained? What I’ve experienced, is that a good portion are not ready to handle many of the common tasks and issues that arise on a daily basis.

You’ve probably scratched your head and asked: How could this happen? I know I have. It’s really not the student’s fault. They learned what they were taught, and many I hired had done well with their trade school training. What I’ve learned is that the accountability falls on the school, specifically the curriculum they are teaching and how they are teaching it.

Real World Training

Unfortunately, many training programs are not geared toward real world jobs. That's because it is mostly curated by academics and not actual people
who work in the field. They don’t know what it’s like to work on a real job site, or understand the types of calls that HVAC, electric, plumbing and other technicians are faced with. There is nothing wrong with academics in trade schools, but I do think, if they don’t solicit input from professional tradespeople and incorporate their suggestions it’s a disservice to their students and ultimately the companies that hire them.

The importance of input by contractors, the people who will actually be hiring these graduates, cannot be overstated. 

The importance of input by contractors, the people who will actually be hiring these graduates, cannot be overstated. During my time as an HVAC
contractor, the problem of finding good employees was so bad, I made a drastic decision to go back to teaching at a trade school at night so I could ensure that the courses the students were taking would prepare them for the “real” world, and then I would hire them. 

Contractor Involvement

I found teaching hands-on experience using real world scenarios was the best way to get students prepared for working in the field. Contractors providing input toward trade education can only benefit the contractors. Think about it: the end user of all this education is, for the most part, the contractor. Why not help build a curriculum that creates the desired results you need? 

The end user of all this education is, for the most part, the contractor. Why not help build a curriculum that creates the desired results you need? 

Many trade schools have advisory boards that meet one to three  times a year. That's not a very intense commitment, but it is one that can have a large payoff. By providing input to the curriculum, not only would you get students who are ready to work, you would also get first pick at the graduates while you are working with the school. No doubt, this could help with your competition.

Community Relationships

Building community relationships to find the best hires requires reaching out to the leaders of your community’s high schools, community colleges and trade schools. After building relationships, these programs are more likely to keep you in mind when they promote graduates who are looking for jobs.

Let’s face it, the pool of qualified job candidates is quite small, creating a recruiting challenge for most companies. If you want to grow your business, you need to recruit and train a team. But you can’t just hire anyone. You need to hire the right people — talented professionals who will represent you in the right way to your customers and prospects.

Anything you can do to tip the scale in your favor can only help. Getting involved in the actual education of your future employees can be a great way to find talent in both the short and long run.

Chris Roth is the CEO and owner of National Technical Institute (NTI) a state-approved trade school with campuses in Las Vegas , Nev. and Phoenix, AZoffering fast-track training in HVAC, plumbing and electrical. NTI’s mission is to produce problem solving, creative thinking graduates who possess
industry-standard knowledge and skills for a long-term, promising career. Roth is a licensed HVAC contractor. NTItraining.com

About the Author

Chris Roth

Owner CEO

Chris Roth is the CEO and owner of National Technical Institute (NTI) a state-approved trade school with campuses in Las Vegas , Nev. and Phoenix, AZ offering fast-track training in HVAC, plumbing and electrical. NTI’s mission is to produce problem solving, creative thinking graduates who possess NTI  industry-standard knowledge and skills for a long-term, promising career. Roth is a licensed HVAC contractor. NTItraining.com

Sign up for Contracting Business Newsletters
Get the latest news and updates.