NEWS & INSIGHTS > News > U.S. Engineering Service Technicians Showcased by HirePaths
Nov 22, 2022
It’s no secret that technical industries are experiencing job shortages. Organizations like HirePaths seek to draw attention to technical fields by educating parents, teachers and students. In fact, their mission is to highlight careers that can be quickly and affordably pursued following high school. One aspect of HirePaths’ larger initiatives is to feature career paths in skilled professions on their website.
Two U.S. Engineering Service technicians, Jared Kirkland and William Drilon, were recently featured as Success Stories on the HirePaths website.
In each profile, Jared and William share their career journeys and offer insights on how others can benefit from a similar approach. Their stories are great examples of how a career in mechanical services can provide well-paying positions with opportunities for growth.
Jared is currently an HVAC service technician at U.S. Engineering Service in Wichita, Kansas. But his career didn’t start that way. He started his first job after earning a bachelor’s degree in construction science and management. Working as an estimator, he quickly realized a desk job wasn’t right for him.
“After about a year, though, I realized I was more interested in the technical aspects of the field. I wanted to work with tools, not a computer. It was a stressful time, and I wasn’t enjoying the work,” said Jared.
He was able to transition to a field position after a year. Later he joined the U.S. Engineering team. In his current role, he helps maintain and repair heating, cooling, ventilation and refrigeration systems for businesses, schools, large commercial buildings and more.
Much like Jared, William began working at traditional 9 to 5 jobs. However, they didn’t offer the growth opportunities he was searching for. He decided to pursue a degree at Manhattan Area Technical College. He earned a certificate in air conditioning and refrigeration, and then worked for a year before applying for an apprenticeship through the Local 441 Plumbers and Pipefitters Union. U.S. Engineering brought him on as an HVAC service apprentice.
“A cool part about this apprenticeship is that I’m getting experience in the field, studying under more seasoned journeymen and getting a paycheck as I learn. Right now, I’m working on the commercial side of HVAC and discovering how to fix air conditioning problems in businesses and other properties,” said William.
Read Jared’s and William’s complete profiles, view more Success Stories, and discover how to support HirePaths on their website.
*Photos from the HirePaths website.