From Navy to Tradie

Ben is a Hamilton-based Refrigerant Team Manager who’s had quite the storied career on land and sea. After leaving school, Ben joined the Navy to train as an electrician, working on boats, ships, and naval bases. In 2014, after 8 years of navy life, Ben decided to make the jump to HVACR and never looked back.

How was the transition from electrician to HVACR?

“The transition was good, having already done an apprenticeship I knew the process.

My electrical skills and fault-finding skills were transferable from a practical point of view, but there wasn’t a huge number of cross-over credits, so I had to do most of the apprenticeship work, apart from the electrical licensing. 

I had a vehicle from day one and had to sink or swim a bit, but that is the nature of being an adult apprentice with a trade already. Thankfully, the company provided help and training when and how it was needed.

What new skills did you need to learn?

I was already trained as an electrician, but there were some skills that I needed to develop further that related specifically to HVACR technical and mechanical knowledge, but that was really engaging to learn and hands-on. I also had to pick up the skills of grading and pricing jobs since it was quite different to electrical work, and I couldn’t carry over the usual process.

The other significant learning curve was all the health and safety requirements of working in this industry. You’re using specialist equipment and materials on a huge variety of machines, so understanding the safety considerations of every job is essential to keeping yourself and others safe.

How has your working life improved after switching to HVACR?

It’s been great. The variety of work I’m doing day-to-day keeps me actively engaged and always learning. It’s really rewarding. The pay is great too, so after qualifying I started really earning.

What are you enjoying most working with HVACR?

When I was always on the tools, the variety of machines or jobs I’d be working on was great, because it would keep me engaged all day. Now that I’m managing a team, that same variety continues. I think variety is a huge bonus for any job because it keeps you learning and keeps you at the top of your game if you’re always being faced with new challenges.

There’s also the fact that as far as trades go, this is a relatively clean one, so that’s a plus. The companies I have worked in have been so supportive and keen to train and educate, and since HVACR is always in demand I know I’m going to always have something to do.

What has your career progression been like?

I qualified in 2018 and spent two years on the tools full-time. In 2020, I switched into a sales role and then in 2021 I was promoted into a Service Manager role. I’ve been running a team during that time and have even had the opportunity to begin studying an MBA at Waikato University.

So, all in all, my career has grown a lot in the years since I switched to HVACR.

Any advice for other tradies looking to make the jump to HVACR?

Find out what you like in HVACR and what sort of role or experience you want to be a part of and try to find a company that fits your technical level and your values. Ask heaps of questions and apply all over the place to get an idea of the lay of the land.

Once you’re in, be prepared for another apprenticeship. The rewards are well worth it. You’ll have plenty of opportunity to earn and plenty of opportunity for growth, so make the most of it.