ENTRY-LEVEL HVAC JOBS?

Q: I am a senior in Mechanical Engineering and I am very interested in entering the HVAC industry. I have found though that it seems to be almost impossible for a new college graduate to find a job in the HVAC field. Does anyone know of any entry-level positions in any industries related to HVAC?

A: -VERY HARD IF YOU WANT TO GET INTO CONSULTING. EVERYONE WANTS A P.E. -Yes, they want those initials after your name, but is not an absolute. Don't give up. I've been doing HVAC design for 20 years and have no degree, only two years of refrigerant tech school. And no PE here, but most firms pay you for your *abilities.* So I have done the same work as PE's, often am paid more, without the creative right brain lobodomy most college degrees induce. Entry level job problems?? ... something seems wrong, demand is sooooo strong. Every single graduate at Vermont Technical College HVAC have firm jobs. You can only sit for PE exam after 6 years or so experience in most states, so most want the EIT, or Fundamentals of Engr. exam passsed and completed by applicant. Frankly, most folks with ME degrees

are totally clueless at first job, lots of theory background, almost no apllication knowledge. I know, having trained many. Work for myself now, and call my work HVAC Consulting, not engineering, for legal purposes. -the best degree right now for entry into MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) consulting engineering for buildings is architectural engineering (ARCE). The students get the coursework, do design projects, earn their EIT, and typically get great job offers even without experience. The feedback from employers is that they are typically two or more years ahead of other entry-level engineers, and the employers always come back asking for more grads!