HVAC Skills to List on Your Resume
For your long-term HVAC career, a well-written resume will be a valuable asset. Having a demonstrable record of your skills, experience, and knowledge will allow you to more effectively promote yourself as a reliable contractor and, consequently, gain more work.
There is no perfect resume format or style for an HVAC career. However, your resume should contain a few key pieces of information for potential clients or employers to consider. Include your years of experience, your education, and briefly describe the skills most critical to an HVAC job.
What kind of content should a resume for an HVAC technician contain? Find out here. Click To Tweet
Experience and Education
This one applies to any career path. On your resume, list the trade school you graduated from, your GPA (if one is provided), how long your training lasted, and how long you’ve been working in the HVAC field since then. Excellent grades from a reliable school show you’re a hard worker and willing to learn. And of course, experience shows how long you’ve been able to apply your newfound knowledge in your field. List any jobs, apprenticeships, or other work experience that helped you learn.
Technical Skills
Think about the repair skills you learned in school. Which ones will customers want to see that you have? A few critical ones might include:
- Installation and troubleshooting skills for heating and cooling systems
- Finding and fixing the source of a problem
- Finding or altering replacement parts
- Installing individual parts (pumps, pipes, fans, etc.)
- Using power tools safely
- Maintaining air and water treatments in HVAC systems
- Performing preventive maintenance as needed
Pro Tip: Don’t forget to list customer service skills on your HVAC resume! A good relationship with your clients will help expand your career.
Knowledge
In addition to the mechanical skills an HVAC technician needs, you should also be prepared to demonstrate your knowledge of different systems and legal documents. On your resume, explain how familiar you are with:
- Safety procedures and basic instructions for HVAC equipment
- Work strategies and schematics
- Local building codes and safety regulations
- General familiarity with how an HVAC system functions
- Determining whether a client needs a simple repair or full replacement
Certifications
Different regions require different exact certifications before you can begin work, so make sure you know what tests to pass and list on your resume. One example is the EPA 608 Technician Certification, designed to ensure that HVAC technicians know how to handle potentially hazardous refrigerants. Not only is this test mandatory to do any real HVAC work, but it’s also absolutely critical to most HVAC employers. Once you have this certification, display it on your resume prominently.
Additionally, while some tests may not be mandatory, they can increase your appeal to potential employers and clients alike. Research your local regulations and see what HVAC employers want from their new hires.
Starting Your HVAC Career
A well-written resume can ultimately contribute to a rewarding job and a fulfilling career in the HVAC industry. How does your resume measure up? It may be time to double-check that your resume matches your ideal job description.
Connect with us to learn more about jumpstarting your HVAC career!