My name is Kim Leslie. I'm an apprentice for Refrigeration
Mechanic. I'm technically in my second year. I have enough
hours to be in my third year. I work for Welldone Plumbing
and Heating. I decided to retrain a few years ago. I've worked
in the automotive field for over twenty years and I'm an instructor
at the YWCA. I teach carpentry, electricity, plumbing and car
repairs and I wanted a career that encompassed all the different
abilities that I have, so after a certain amount of research
I ended up going back to school in Refrigeration.
[Education & Training:]
To get into the field of Refrigeration you
simply need a Grade 10, Canadian Immigrant
status or landed papers - something of that
sort.
[Skills Needed:]
You have to be:
[Teamwork
Skills & Positive Attitude:]
I would have to say that teamwork skills are
one of the most important aspects. You're often
working with a partner. You have to be able
to deal with the customers. You're going into
their home (they're not impressed already because
their furnace isn't working). They want you
to come in there and reassure them. So you
have to have a certain ability to deal with
the public. The teamwork aspect usually comes
from within. You have to be able to get along.
I don't know if there's any courses or training
programs to help develop those particular skills
but it's mostly from within.
The positive behaviour along with the team
work is the most important. If I walk into
a customer's place and I've got a nasty attitude
going - well, they're not going to want me
there. So the positive attitude, I mean, you
enjoy what you're doing that's why you do it.
[Change & Adaptability:]
Adapting to change is very important. For
example, we're working on furnaces now but
we're going to be working on air conditioning.
We do air to air exchangers. You have to be
able to adapt to every different situation
and there's nothing about this field that is
very routine.
[Decision Making:]
Well, the decision making (when you're working
on a furnace) is probably a very important
aspect. If you find cracks in the heat exchanger
you have to inform the customer that they're
getting exhaust fumes that are coming in their
house and they could be dead in the morning.
You're the first contact with the customer
and you have to make a decision as to whether
you know that you're going to shut that furnace
down and tell them you know they can't run
it for the rest of the day and I'm sorry it's
-30°C.
[Ongoing Training:]
Aside from the regular having to go back to
school once a year, the different manufacturers
of furnaces put on training seminars and we're
always encouraged to go to them.
[Typical Work Day:]
Well, I wake up around 6:00 am and I'm at
work around 7:00 am. The first half an hour
is paperwork. Once a week we have meetings
and then we head out on the road. Our first
call is at 8:30 am and our last call is usually
4:00 pm to 5:00 pm, depending on how busy we
are.
[Most Challenging Aspect:]
The most challenging aspect of my job so far
(I'm from out of province and we don't have
a lot of gas furnaces) is not blowing anybody
up.
[Most Satisfying Aspect:]
The smile on the customer's face when they're
cold and the furnace starts again is the most
satisfying aspect.
[One Thing That You Would Change In This Occupation:]
If I could change one thing about this job,
I would change the number of women who aren't
involved. You have to look far and hard to
find women who are working as Refrigeration
Mechanics. That's what I would change.
[Advice For Someone Entering This Field Of
Work:]
Take a long, hard look in the mirror and find
out more about themselves and if they've got
the "hootspa" to continue and mostly
self-respect and pride in what you do - and
if you have that and you can deal with customers,
that's what it takes to get ahead.
