5 answers
5 answers
Updated
Mike’s Answer
Facilities maintenance is in demand anywhere in the world, wherever there are buildings there is a need for maintenance technicians to keep them operational. There are many aspects to facilities maintenance, as such you can remain a generalist or a specialist (i.e carpentry, electrician, HVAC, mason, plumber, safety engineer, welder, each of those can brake down into even more specialized professions). Therefore, the course of study is varied and different for each discipline. I myself went into the military as the not only paid me to go to school (while on active duty and after separation through the GI Bill), but also provided real hands on experience. I would say first you need to determine what aspects of facilities maintenance you find most interesting, that will help you to determine the best course for you. Then you can put together a plan to obtain your goal and a timeline to help keep you on track. I wish you the best of luck.
Figure out what aspect of facilities maintenance you find most appealing and why.
If for example it is plumbing, is it new construction, pump repair, valve maintenance, snaking drain lines, boiler operation, etc.
Once you have this information figured out, go to the library or other resources to research this in further detail.
Don't rule out seeking a mentor in your area, or finding and joining a Habit for Humanities work crew, they teach & provide hands on training.
Mike recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Coty’s Answer
One of the trades as a journeyman you can make more than a generalist maintenance technician. But I enjoy doing building maintenance you get do some of everything. So to me the biggest thing you can learn is a variety of skills and don't be afraid to ask questions. and if you have opportunity to learn about a system of building weather plumbing HVAC electrical take it. don't look at it it's not my job. learn as much as you can about as many systems as you can and eventually you will gain the skills you need to do everything you can and then companies will pay to keep you.
Updated
Dominic’s Answer
Hi there Luis! My name is Dominic.
I've been in optician for the last 10 years now and I enjoy it quite a bit. It's a job that is always changing and growing so you're never that far behind anyone else.
School wasn't really for me, and I never went to college. Fortunately a basic understanding of math and a good personality is enough to get you going. On the job training with a competent professional will get you the rest of the way.
Companies like Warby Parker and others are growing exponentially, and are more than willing to train the right personality. I would recommend going to your local eye doctor and seeing what their day-to-day job is like.
I've been in optician for the last 10 years now and I enjoy it quite a bit. It's a job that is always changing and growing so you're never that far behind anyone else.
School wasn't really for me, and I never went to college. Fortunately a basic understanding of math and a good personality is enough to get you going. On the job training with a competent professional will get you the rest of the way.
Companies like Warby Parker and others are growing exponentially, and are more than willing to train the right personality. I would recommend going to your local eye doctor and seeing what their day-to-day job is like.
Updated
Dan’s Answer
Good day to you!
In the Boston-area, the "popular" jobs are in the fields of Medical Sciences and Bio-Pharmaceuticals. Boston is also a Hub for Hospitality and Tourism, with the Casino and dozens of Hotels located in and around the City.
I bring up these fields because your tag line has Facilities Maintenance in it and those fields are DESPERATE for skilled workers in the various fields of Engineering (Structural, Mechanical, & Electrical). They also need a skilled labor force (plumbers, electricians, carpenters, etc.) to make each facility run well. Joining a Trades Union is also a great idea if you're considering a Facilities Maintenance career. Learning about the various trades look GREAT on a resume/CV.
Learn a Trade (or two)
Become an apprentice, learn the trade
Join a Labor Union/Start a Business
Apply EVERYWHERE that has openings in your field
LOVE what you do!
In the Boston-area, the "popular" jobs are in the fields of Medical Sciences and Bio-Pharmaceuticals. Boston is also a Hub for Hospitality and Tourism, with the Casino and dozens of Hotels located in and around the City.
I bring up these fields because your tag line has Facilities Maintenance in it and those fields are DESPERATE for skilled workers in the various fields of Engineering (Structural, Mechanical, & Electrical). They also need a skilled labor force (plumbers, electricians, carpenters, etc.) to make each facility run well. Joining a Trades Union is also a great idea if you're considering a Facilities Maintenance career. Learning about the various trades look GREAT on a resume/CV.
Dan recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Hector’s Answer
Good morning Luis. A very interesting question, but a very wide one!!!! Let's try to narrow it a bit. any of the various entrepreneurs and business sages around right now all say this in common; Do something that you enjoy doing, not just for the rewards, but because you like it. If you like it, it does not seem like work, it seems like a fun thing to do. So, with this in mind, what do you like to do? What professions or vocational trade seems aligned with what you like to do? Not what your parents tell you, but what You Like To Do? Remember, you will plan your studies, your learning path, your skills along with this Goal, so to speak. and you will do this for quite some time if you follow what the average person does in his lifetime (in my case, I became a mechanical engineer, but focused on the Manufacturing Field for Medical Devices and Pharmaceuticals; I have been engaged with this for 38years and have enjoyed it with its ups and downs).
Once you narrow what you want to do, then do a search using google, yahoo or the search engine of your choice for What are the best schools for (fill the blanks), or Where is (fill the blank with the choice of profession) most used in the United States?
Also, there are a lot of specialized organizations based on your choice that can guide you and provide you more information.
Hope this will help you. When you narrow the field a bit, send the question again, maybe I can help you further.
Once you narrow what you want to do, then do a search using google, yahoo or the search engine of your choice for What are the best schools for (fill the blanks), or Where is (fill the blank with the choice of profession) most used in the United States?
Also, there are a lot of specialized organizations based on your choice that can guide you and provide you more information.
Hope this will help you. When you narrow the field a bit, send the question again, maybe I can help you further.