Refrigeration and HVAC Careers: Customer Service Matters
If you want a career that allows you to work with the latest HVAC technology on an every-day basis, or if you're interested in a mechanical maintenance career where you can work with your hands, choose The Refrigeration School. We're a technical college in Phoenix, AZ – and a family-run business, to boot, so we're personally invested in student growth and achievement.
At RSI, you will receive the refrigeration and HVAC training you need to make a difference in people's homes and workplaces. The journey to an HVAC repair or mechanical maintenance career can be as varied as your imagination.
And now, we want to tell you a story about an especially interesting path one of our trade school program graduates took.
Steve Kreiger graduated from RSI in 1992. The journey from student to HVAC mechanical maintenance professional was a long one – and we're talking about mileage, here. In 1991, Kreiger left his job with Boeing – he was a lead mechanic, and had a wealth of skills in areas as diverse as electrical wiring, sheet metalsmithing, and emergency fire services. He enrolled in the HVAC-R technical training program at RSI's Phoenix, AZ school campus, from which he graduated in 1992. From there, he made the journey from Phoenix to Kuwait.
From 1992 through 2005, Kreiger ran his own business while holding down a variety of mechanical maintenance-type careers. In 2005, he made his longest journey yet – to Kuwait. He took a job with CSA, Ltd., where he worked on air conditioner units and other cooling appliances like refrigeration systems and vehicle HVAC systems. He granted RSI an interview for our Holiday 2005 newsletter, and was very enthused about the level of HVAC and mechanical maintenance expertise he was able to achieve as a result of RSI's training.
Perparing for HVAC and mechanical maintenance careers through RSI's technical and vocational training programs gives you opportunities to travel the United States – and the globe – as you use your skills. Our graduates have found jobs in many different cities and states. Not all stay in Phoenix, AZ. Some go to the West Coast – some of the nation's largest urban areas, such as San Francisco, San Diego, Portland, and Seattle are found there. Others go to different countries – for example, we've had graduates working in Guam and Chile! Once you finish HVAC training school, the possibilities are seemingly endless.
So you've discussed the traveling part -- now what did you say about the economics of trade school?
Trade school is a great deal – there's no doubt about it. For less time and money than you'd pay for traditional college, you can study at RSI and learn the latest HVAC technology. You'll polish your skills in mechanical maintenance and repair in far less than you'd spend for a four-year degree. Many people opt to attend trade school while working full- or part-time. Working is more difficult when you are taking heavy academic course loads, as you would be at a traditional four-year college.
Student loans are another big issue for many college graduates. Most students cannot pay for their educations out of pocket, and many resort to taking out large loans to finance four years of school. Conversely, trade school or technical college costs less – in the short term and in the long run. RSI is cheaper than many state schools in Arizona and across the United States. The less money you spend on school, the more money you'll make to enjoy the finer things in life – and with a shorter investment in training time, to boot.
Most exciting of all, technical or vocational school can allow you to earn more money than you would if you trained for certain academic programs at a four-year college. The BLS states that the median hourly earnings of HVAC and mechanical maintenance technicians was $18.11 midway through 2006. This translates to a yearly salary of over $35,000 – higher than many liberal arts grads earn in various professions. Furthermore, mechanical maintenance and HVAC careers are recession-resistant. Even if there is a downturn in the building of new structures and facilities, older ones will continue to need repair and maintenance.
If you are looking for an economical school or college option with an array of career possibilities in a variety of locations, consider the Refrigeration School, Inc.!
Not all of the photos on
this website were taken at the school; they are meant to be
illustrative of some of the career activities. |
