UMC Crew members at the Exchange project, Utah 2020
A recent article from the Atlantic featured many people sharing what others don’t understand about their jobs. It featured all types of jobs, from a grape grower to a debate coach for a high school, an ER doctor and many more. It’s an exciting read because it highlights the skills, dedication and niche industry knowledge that many different professionals must have. But sadly, the article didn’t include the perspective of a commercial plumber or HVAC technician. So we thought we’d share a few misconceptions or things you might not know about working in the commercial plumbing and HVAC field at UMC, Inc.
- It’s constantly changing. The most exciting part about working on commercial construction projects is that each project is unique. We’ve been incredibly privileged to find our niche in multi-unit commercial construction projects like hotels, office buildings, and multi-family housing, but that doesn’t mean the work is the same every time. We’re constantly being challenged, adapting to new circumstances and learning things on the job.
- It’s all about cooperation. One of the biggest parts of our work is cooperating with our general contracting partners and other sub-contractors. Building something new from the ground up is a collaborative process. Our role may be the plumbing and HVAC needs, but we have to coordinate our work with electricians, carpenters, designers and more.
- It’s very innovative. Plumbing and HVAC technology are constantly changing, especially in the past few years, as more businesses and manufacturers are looking for more energy-efficient systems. So our team has to stay on top of the latest trends and technology so we can recommend efficient systems for our clients.
- It’s all about teamwork. One of the things we love about the trades industry is the teamwork required on the job site. So many of our employees join the company when they are brand new to the industry and work through their apprenticeships and certifications on the job. We facilitate that learning and encourage our older and more experienced employees to mentor and teach newer team members. That essence of teamwork helps everyone get along and develop shared skill sets that help make us more effective.
- It requires a lot of tracking. One of the innovations we’ve pioneered at UMC, Inc. is a sophisticated data collection and tracking process. Our team tracks everything from our inventory management to our on-site performance. This level of data collection allows us to keep a closer eye on our company’s performance and look for potential areas of weakness and improvement.
Every job is unique, but we believe you can build a satisfying career in commercial plumbing and HVAC. We’ve worked incredibly hard to develop UMC, Inc. as an industry-leading plumbing and HVAC company. Our team works hard, and we demand excellence from one another, which helps us to deliver high-quality work for our partners. If you are considering a career in the plumbing or HVAC industry, join us. We are always recruiting new talent!
