Is A Facility Maintenance Worker Position Right For You? Here's What You Need To Know

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Are you the type of person that enjoys a lot of hands-on work? Do you enjoy fixing things or learning highly technical skills? If so, you might want to consider a position as a facility maintenance worker. If you are interested in working in a facility maintenance position, there are a few things you need to know to achieve your goals.

Who is the Right Fit?

First, you should determine if you are a good fit for the position. A facility maintenance worker is typically a person that possesses the following characteristics:

  • Loves hands-on work
  • Enjoys diagnosing and troubleshooting problems
  • Thrives when working with machinery and performing general upkeep
  • Shows interest in high-demand skills (electrical, carpentry, plumbing)

If you think you possess the characteristics needed to be a facility maintenance worker, it may be time to consider attending a trade school.

Understanding the Responsibilities

There are reasons why a person would choose to attend a trade school to secure a position as a facility maintenance worker. You need to know that responsibilities of the job can include:

  • Performing inspections of equipment and worksite
  • Performing preventive measures through maintenance procedures
  • Addressing basic maintenance and repair needs
  • Directing workers when the need for advanced repair arises
  • Diagnosing and troubleshooting mechanical, electrical, or other issues
  • Performing repairs on equipment, structures, and machines when necessary

Many of the responsibilities listed are learned skills. If you are to perform electrical, plumbing, or carpentry maintenance work, you will need to prove your knowledge. Some facilities may even require certifications for the position.

Obtaining the Skills and Certifications

The best way to prove that you have the skills and provide evidence of certifications is to attend a trade school. Trade schools often offer traditional physical locations or even online courses that you can take to help accommodate your needs and schedule.

Some of the common courses may cover the fundamentals of maintenance, such as reading blueprints. Other courses may cover the following:

  • Energy conservation
  • Industrial hazard control
  • Electrical systems
  • Machine shop practices
  • Material handling systems
  • Mechanical maintenance applications
  • Mechanical systems
  • Power plant operations
  • Process control instrumentation
  • Air conditioning and refrigeration
  • Programmable logic controllers
  • Rigging and equipment installation
  • Water/wastewater treatment
  • Building and grounds maintenance
  • Welding
  • Custodial maintenance
  • Electronics

It is best to contact a trade school near you to find out what steps you need to take to sign up and begin the coursework on facilities maintenance training. If you are already employed by a facility, it is possible that your employer may be willing to cover the cost of your training to help further your position and improve your maintenance skills.

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26 November 2019

Learning More In Trade School

I have never been a great book-learner, which is why I decided to see about going to trade school instead of traditional college. I wanted to get right into a career, instead of taking years of meaningless classes along the way. As soon as I enrolled, I could tell that I had made the right decision. My classes were interesting, fun, and they taught me a lot. I actually think that I learned more in my first semester of trade school than I did in a year's worth of traditional school--largely in part because the subject was interesting to me. I made this blog to help other people learn more about the benefits of trade school.