On April 15, nearly a dozen Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical School adult and high school students heated up their futures during an HVAC/R job fair on the Career and Technical School’s Albany campus. Prepared with resumes and portfolios, students one-by-one met with area heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC/R) employers ranging from Adams Heating & Cooling, Inc. to Northeast Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Co. Inc.
“It’s really cool to have this opportunity in school. I like the industry a lot and it will be fun working with my hands and see all kinds of cool set-ups,” said Adam Fisherauer, a South Colonie senior who interviewed with one of the companies.
Besides their daily lessons in heating and cooling, HVAC/R students also learn soft skills such as how to produce an attention-getting resume and how to communicate effectively with potential employers and colleagues. Mock interviews and resume review sessions were conducted by faculty and staff in preparation for student graduation and career fairs.
“The industry is desperate to hire people with the skills necessary for the careers. The employers can’t find the help they need,” teacher Tim Duane said. Mr. Duane also added that the companies on hand at the event spoke highly of the students and the program.
Did you know? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects employment of HVAC/R technicians will grow four by 2029 with HVAC technicians earning a median salary of $50,590 per year in 2020.
The job outlook is particularly strong for students “familiar with computers and electronics and those with good troubleshooting skills…as employers continue to have difficulty finding qualified technicians to work on complex new systems,” federal labor officials have reported.
The HVAC/R program at the Albany campus of the Capital Region BOCES CTE gives students a solid career foundation in the HVAC/R industry. In a state-of-the art classroom, students learn about ventilation, piping, refrigerants and refrigeration, furnaces and boilers.