Help for Gas Technician interview

[bearlee]

 I live in Markham,Ontario. My company went bankrupt! I am seeking a career change. I need some information interviews about GAS Technician.
Anyone in the filed, Please help me answer following questions:

Position: Gas Technician

1: What are the main duties involved in this type of work?

2: What education, skills and experience are required for the position?

3: What are the future opportunities for advancement for this position?

4: What specific training is recommended? Which Training schools do you feel are most recognized by employers?

5: What is the salary range an entry-level employee can expect?

Your name,title, telephone,company

Right now, It is very difficult to find a good job in manufacturing.   Is it a good choice to be a Gas Technician?

[Admin]

1: What are the main duties involved in this type of work?

Maintenance technician - planned appliance maintenance
Service technician - on call appliance repair
Installer - install equipment and appliances

2: What education, skills and experience are required for the position?

No education required.
The G3 certificate is the starting point for a gas fitter in Ontario.  Under general supervision you can do anything a G2 can. (Key word "general" supervision)  This means as long as you have contact with a G2. "Direct" supervision is not required.  Download the O. Reg 215/01 for more information about certificates - Here

3: What are the future opportunities for advancement for this position?

Your goal will be to get involved with sales.  Once you learn the trade you will have an enormous advantage over most sales people.  Sales can be very rewarding.  You can earn 6 figures as a selling technician.

4: What specific training is recommended? Which Training schools do you feel are most recognized by employers?

Personally I think they're all a waste of time and money.  I went to college myself and completed a diploma program in HVAC.  However the diploma is absolutely useless.  Your trade certificates are what matter.  G2 for residential heating, and 313D and ODP for residential air conditioning are the only pieces of paper that matter.

5: What is the salary range an entry-level employee can expect?

You'd be lucky to make $15 an hour as a G3 starting out.  You'll need a few years under your belt before you can demand higher wages.
A licensed G2 technician with a 313D and ODP certificate earn around $25-$30 / hr.  A selling technician makes between 7% and 10% commission on products sold.  Sell a furnace and A/C for $7000 and you just made around $500.  Add that to your 8 hour day and you can make some great money.

The key is to get a job with a good company, one that's willing to invest in you.  No school, book or crash course could teach you what a competent person can tech you in the field.