Skilled Trades Careers Blog

Attention: NABCEP Certified Professionals

MEP Jobs(www.mepjobs.com) is pleased to announce the integration of NABCEP certifications into the job site's searchable resume database. Certified professionals can now identify themselves as a NABCEP certified professional under the resume posting and job alert features. Employers and recruiters will be able to search the resume database and set up talent alerts by the specific certification of interest to them. Both the NABCEP Solar PV and the Solar Thermal certifications are available under this program. You can create an account and post your resume by going to www.mepjobs.com.

 

 

MEP Jobsis the leading speciality job board for professionals in the mechanical and electrical industries. In January of 2008, the Company completed a survey of it's vast job seeker traffic that showed the majority of professionals had firm plans for renewable training and certification. Many of the Company's existing customers who operate in building energy efficiency are entering the market for on-site renewable power generation.

How to Write a Resume for a Civil Engineering Position

If you're looking for a great opportunity in a competitive field such as civil engineering, then you need to know how to most effectively present yourself to a potential employer with a highly effective resume.

Check out this great article brought to you by PreferredResumes.com which offers tips and guidance on resume writing:

How to Write a Resume for a Civil Engineering Position

 

Moving on

You know it's a tough economy out there when you write about careers day in and out - and then get laid off. Yes, yours truly is the latest casualty of the economic downturn!

So what happens? Well, I went back through past posts, jotted down my own advice - and set up an action plan. If you're like me, you need a list to actually get anything done. So I wrote down a daily 'to do' list, designed to generate useful activity: turning up job leads, perfecting my resume, networking, and identifying companies I really want to work for.

The result? Yet to be seen - but trust me, activity is better than inactivity. As much as anyone, I know there are still companies looking for great employees like you and me - you just have to find them.

And this blog? It will continue under new authorship, starting today. So farewell, good luck, and happy hunting!

Friday humor

It's Friday, and we think you need a dose of low-grade humor. So here goes:

Q: What do you call a carpenter working in a electrical panel?

A: Dead! 

Q: How many plumbers does it take to screw in a light bulbs?

A: Three - A boss to tell a plumber, a plumber to tell a helper, a helper to get his electrician friend to do it on the side

Q: Do you know how an electrician tells if he's working with AC or DC power?

A: If it's AC, his teeth chatter when he grabs the conductors. If it's DC, they just clamp together.

And finally....

A HVAC contractor dies on in a fishing accident on his 40th birthday and finds himself greeted at the Pearly Gates by a brass band. St. Peter runs over, shakes his hand and says "Congratulations!"
     "Congratulations for what?" asks the HVAC contractor.
    "Congratulations for what?" says St. Peter. "We are celebrating the fact that you lived to be 160 years old."
    "But that's not true," says the HVAC contractor. "I only lived to be forty."
    "That's impossible," says St. Peter, "we added up your time sheets."

Washington Women in Trades Career Fair

Mark the date on your calendar: Friday, March 27.

At the Seattle Center’s Fisher Pavilion, all women trade school students, women in the trades and anyone else who has any interest can participate in hands-on activities and network with recruiters and employers with apprenticeship programs.

Learn more: http://www.wawomenintrades.com/

There's growth out there - in tacos

In our never-ending search for positive news in a not-so-positive economic environment, we found this tidbit:

"Many of the Taco Bell franchises...experienced 8-10% increases in comparable-store sales for 2008.Rodney Walker, the president and co-owner of 42 Taco Bell and KFC restaurants in Michigan said, “While comparable-store sales are up significantly, we always focus on the fundamentals. Rain or sunshine, recession or economic exuberance, we have always believed that the key to multi-unit success is people, people, and people.”"

This begs the question - are tacos the food of the skilled trades? Let us know.

The American Sanitary Plumbing Museum

Even if you're not in the plumbing part of the industry, you might want to visit The Plumbing Museum. The museum's collection includes claw-foot bathtubs, fancy water closets, and antique sinks. You can also view a large library of turn-of-the-century trade magazines and newspapers, and a circa 1910 plumbing shop with original tools and equipment.

The museum was a labor of love for the PHCC and J.C. Cannistrao, LLC. Check it out!

Green jobs and your career

We've talked about this before, but it's worth repeating: green careers are growing. For example:

$80 Billion for greening federal buildings: The U.S. Department of Energy awarded 16 new Energy Savings Performance Contracts that could result in up to $80 billion in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation projects at federally-owned buildings and facilities.

Green buildings are the future:  More than 80 percent of commercial building owners have allocated funds to green initiatives this year.

Green plumbing certifications coming:  PHCC and GreenPlumbers® USA are partnering to train and certify plumbers across the nation on the environmental impact and technical aspects of water and energy efficient technologies.

So...what are you doing to 'green' your career? Brush up those skills. Volunteer to install a tankless water heater, solar panel, or geothermal system. Learn BACneT. You'll be insuring your own 'green' career future!

Short term, long term career goals

It's a new year. Are you where you want to be in your HVAC, electrical, facilities, plumbing, or other skilled trades career?

No? Well, then, now is a great time to lay the groundwork for a better future. Goals, of course, help you move from point A to point B. But sometimes a goal that's too big keeps you from getting there.

That's where short term and long term goals come in. For example, let's say you're currently working as a journeyman electrician with a small firm. The work's ok, but you're bored and the owner isn't willing to talk about a raise. Instead of handing in your resignation, why not set a short term goal of learning about something new that makes the company money - and makes you more valuable? 

Like what? Well...lots of folks are rethinking their heating and cooling systems at home and business. Why not get involved with a solar panel installation? Or learn more about the programming and care of a home or building automation system? You might even pick up a useful certification along the way.

And if you need guidance, work on your long term goal for the year. For instance, maybe you want to end up in a bigger, more progressive company. Spend some time - just a few hours will do it - on research. Find out what these companies need. Then use that info to determine what kinds of certifications and experience you need. 

Where's the money these days? Check out our salary survey to find out.

Finding jobs in HVAC, electrical, plumbing, facilities, and more

If you're a HVAC, electrical, plumbing, or facilities pro, you already know this. The industry has a problem - there aren't enough skilled workers, yet many segements of the market continue to grow, such as commercial building and the retrofit of existing structures to include energy-saving systems.

But just because you're popular doesn't mean you should be complacent. In fact, now is the best time to improve your skills so that you can advance your career--and increase your paycheck.

Many employers look for NATE certification; it's good for HVAC, hydronics, and related specialities. If you're in plumbing, ICC may be worth looking at. Facilities managers almost always need a Facility Maintenance Professional (FMP) certification at some point in their career (see IFMA for more info).

And of course, when you start looking for work, turn to MEP Jobs!