Don’t we need to be encouraging more kids to tinker?

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For more on Gever Tulley go to his site here.

While there are unscrupulous managers out there who take advantage of the fact that their coworkers are footing the entire bill for continuing education, there are honorable managers whose coworkers are footing the entire bill for continuing education.  The manager’s challenge is, “where else can I send Bob, he’s been through all of the schooling…”

To begin with and at a minimum, technicians like Bob need to attend educational seminars on new product or equipment that their company sells.  The same holds true for new diagnostic or maintenance techniques.  Besides the fact that it is in the company’s best interest to have technicians who are familiar with new product, technicians like Bob thrive on new, cutting edge technology.  Think of it as a dose of oxygen after running ten, one-hundred yard sprints.  It keeps them going.

Okay, back to the original question. 

How can I convince my manager that he should send me for additional education?

You need to know why your manager refuses to pay for classes.  So ask him.  If he needs help choosing where to send you, offer suggestions.  If he continues to dance around the question or starts to use the term not in the budget, it’s time to move on and find another manager.  Period.

Try this: Lets say you enjoy hunting, fishing or photography.  Ask your manager to send you to a class on one of these topics.  A savvy manager will understand that he is helping the whole you, not just the part of you who comes to work.  Chances are if he sends you to an off-industry class, you’ll really appreciate it and bring an invigorated energy to work.  The upside of a happy, engaged you at work far outweighs the cost of a class.

We suggest for management to send technicians to a minimum of one off-industry class per year.

I am the lead technician for a residential – light commercial HVAC company.  Prior to starting at this company I received my associates degree from a technical college, obtained RSES CM status and hold current all NATE certifications.  I teach an HVAC class one evening a week at the local trade school.  I also average twenty minutes per day in self-study on various HVAC topics.  My manager, who is the company owner, keeps blowing me off when I ask him to pay for classes.  How can I convince my manager that he should send me for additional education?

One question, would that be the manager who you are working for now, or the one who you should soon be working for?  Short answer, reputable companies pay for a minimum of eighty hours of education per year.  This means they pay for your labor and the costs of classes.  And company meetings where policies, procedures and processes are discussed, do not count.

An immediate thought, given our desire here at The Technician Shop to progress and develop, is to tell you to find a new owner.  But we’d like to give your manager and others like him an idea to consider.  Before we do that however, we need to make sure of one thing, which is really directed towards our other readers.  Prior to asking your manager to pay for continuing education, make sure you are investing a minimum of twenty minutes per day yourself, on your own dime, in your own education.  Most serious technicians contribute more to their own education than their employer does.

Part II