If you are Interviewing for a new HVAC Tech Job then make sure that part of your interview prep is writing down a list of questions that you want to bring up during the interview. No one likes job hopping so you want to make sure that the next job is a good long term fit. Below we will cover 6 questions that you can ask during your interview that will help determine if this is the right job for you.
Before you decide which questions you are going to ask it can be helpful to either write down or make a mental list of what is important for you in your next job. There is a reason you are looking for work, what is it about your last job or current job that you like and you want to make sure exists in your next job and what do you not like that you want to make sure isn’t repeated.
Be sure to know what is a deal breaker and what is a nice to have. The following 6 questions are fairly generic questions, you may want to replace them with things that are more important to your particular set of needs.
One question I do not recommend bringing up is about pay. A first interview is not the time to bring up money, it makes you look like someone who is only in it for the money and will jump at any new opportunity down the road that pays more (this might be the case but you don’t want them to know that, a potential employer wants someone that they think is going to last.) If the employer brings up money that is fine you can discuss but don’t be the one to bring it up, there is plenty of time for that later in a 2nd interview or at the offer stage.
1. Why is this position available?
Ideally someone just got promoted internally and they now have an opening. Other good reasons would be because they are busier, expanding or just had a tech retire.
What you want to watch out for is if they just fired someone, are planning on firing someone or someone has quit. These are not necessarily deal breakers but make sure you find out why that person is moving on. If it is because they were routinely late and you are not an ‘on time’ person then this is probably not the right job for you.
Also you want to make sure this isn’t a company with a lot of staff turnover.
2. Overtime, what is the OT Availability and is it mandatory?
You need to know what you are getting into here, the posted hours may be 7am-3pm Monday to Friday but what are they really working? If it is typical that techs work late and you have other obligations i.e. have to pick the kids up from school, you need to know this.
If you rely on Overtime to pay your bills you need to know if they are busy enough for OT and how much to expect.
3. Do you send techs for training?
The best companies are constantly sending their technicians for training to keep them up to date. You want a company that is going to provide this for you. The more training and certification you receive the more valuable a technician you will be which will impact your pay rate.
4. What is the career growth potential?
You want to know if they typically promote from within. If there is no potential growth i.e. to a foreman or manager, that is fine but you should know that. If you have no interest in being promoted, which is also fine, then don’t bother asking this.
5. What is the Travel Requirements?
This has to do with what territory are you covering. If you have a territory covering several hundred miles that means you are going to be away from home a lot more. That may be fine for you but something you need to know ahead of time.
6. Why do you like working here? You want to get an honest opinion about what it is like to work there. If you just ask why do people like working here you will get the company line, if you ask what do YOU like about working here you will get an honest opinion.
