Is a technician’s value based on technical skills only? The answer will depend on your experience and the pivotal events that helped to shape your career. Our industry places much emphasis on diagnostic and troubleshooting capability, whereas a customer’s perception of value may be something else altogether.
A focus on soft skills has recently become paramount among college and trade school advisory boards. The emphasis on workforce development is a critical component towards educating HVAC students on a customer’s perception of value. What are soft skills? They include behaviors such as proper etiquette, positive facial expressions, wearing professional attire, and other interpersonal abilities that can make or break a technician’s career. Soft skills are the key component of a good experience and are what customers are most likely to remember. These skills create better customer service which could lead to more opportunities for technicians.