HVAC Professional Credits Southeast Tech for Career Success
When Justin Parliament was getting ready to graduate from high school, he considered
college but didn’t think a four-year school was for him. He started looking into the
trades to see if that’s what he wanted to do instead. Parliament connected with a
couple HVAC professionals that he knew who suggested he pursue a career in the field,
which is how he got introduced to Southeast Technical College.
HVAC has multiple “trades” within the trade, so Parliament felt a bit overwhelmed by his college education at first. But that’s why he was at Southeast Tech – to learn.
While pursuing a degree from the college’s HVAC program, he was also hired part-time by a mechanical contractor.
“I was able to learn side-by-side with a senior person while going to school, so it kind of fulfilled both avenues,” Parliament said.
Ultimately, he feels his college education set him on a path to success.
“The overall experience was very good,” he said. “It was fulfilling and satisfying to learn the trade. It laid the groundwork for my future successes.”
After he graduated from Southeast Tech in 1999, Parliament continued to work for the mechanical contractor, first on the residential service and repair side before evolving into commercial service work. He was there for 12 years, which he said enabled him to “cut his teeth on everything.”
The skills and knowledge he gained in that time led Parliament to his next career opportunity at Daikin Applied, the largest HVAC manufacturer in the world, where he currently serves as a service center manager.
Parliament credits Southeast Tech as the foundation for the career he’s built.
“It allowed me to explore different opportunities,” he said of his education.
Yet he views his biggest career success thus far as “the evolution of myself and my capabilities to be in a position where I can choose what direction I want to go.”
Parliament points out that opportunities in the HVAC trade are plentiful and encourages others to consider a career in the field. There’s a growing need for professionals, he said, especially because many are retiring, resulting in a higher demand for up-and-coming service technicians.
One thing Parliament appreciates about his career in the HVAC industry is that every day is different.
“No single day is like the previous day. You’re not stuck in one spot.”
Overall, though, the thing that gives Parliament the most satisfaction is that at the end of the day, he knows he’s made an impact on someone’s life because he’s helped them solve a problem.
For Parliament, that’s what it’s all about.
“My experience at Southeast Tech was very good. It was fulfilling and satisfying to learn the HVAC trade and it laid the groundwork for my future successes.”
December 12, 2022