Plumbing is one of the professions whose demand in the market is significantly high. Becoming a professional and licensed plumber is now a major trend among more young people. If you are interested in becoming a professional career plumber, then it may pay to ensure that you undergo the necessary training and post-training process that will help launch your career in the right way. For your ease, you can enroll for Online Plumbing Schools also. Here are 7 basic steps on how to become a professional and successful plumber in the market today.
1. Equip yourself with the right basic education
Just like any other career, before pursuing your ambition to become a plumber, you should ensure that you acquire the right basic-level education. This implies that you study for your high school diploma or any other equivalent basic level education. The idea behind getting sufficient foundational education is to ensure that you are able to read, write, and comprehend any level of advanced education that may be required for your career in plumbing.
During your basic education level, you should pay attention to certain key subjects which are highly essential. These subjects include algebra, geometry, and general math which form the foundation of your ability to accurately take measurements and make calculations. Other subjects of importance include thermodynamics which ensures that you will have the ability to understand different fluid characteristics, especially water, and how it behaves when exposed to different conditions. The last key subject in this stage is biology which deals with the study of microorganisms, especially those which breed in homes and plumbing systems.
2. Advance your career and enroll for a technical course
After basic education, you should endeavor to enroll for a technical plumbing course. This course is highly necessary if you have to start your career on the right foot. The vocational plumbing course is normally offered in different private and public schools and institutions. Among the key entails of this course include crucial topics covered in the curriculum such as pipework cutting and connecting. This is highly essential since, in practice, you will be dealing with different kinds of pipes made of different types of material. You will, therefore, learn how each pipe material exhibits different characteristics and how it can be correctly used in plumbing.
You will also study the concept of draining and venting of water; a major component of your actual practice as a plumber. Another area that will need your close attention is water heating systems and how to make such connections in the right way. You will also study sufficiently on the areas of local plumbing codes and regulations that define how plumbing should be done in compliance with regulations in your area. The basic knowledge gained from the above 2 steps gives you the right technical skills knowledge and competency required to ensure that you practice with ease.
3. Take and complete an apprenticeship program
Apprenticeship in the field of plumbing is crucial as it allows you to transition seamlessly from your theoretical knowledge to the actual field of practice. When securing an apprenticeship program, you should target working with a busy plumbing company from where you will get a chance to work on minor tasks as you orient yourself to ensure that you gain confidence. During the apprenticeship program, you should also endeavor to learn as much as possible from your peers and operate in different kinds of environments and on different plumbing tasks. This gives you the correct exposure required to kick off your career immediately after.
4. Ensure you get licensed
After completing all the mandatory education, training, and apprenticeship, you may have to undertake a test or evaluation, immediately after which you will receive a license to practice. The kind of license issued or required in this regard may vary from state to state and from country to country. Your plumbing license assessment should be taken seriously as it forms part of your essential paperwork required for you to practice. Depending on your state regulations, you may also be required to undertake different kinds of evaluations at different intervals; all geared towards ensuring that you remain competitive in your practice. Those should also be taken seriously.
5. Avoid common misconducts
General misconduct is the easiest way of ruining your entire plumbing ambition and the achievements you have made so far in your bid to become a professional plumber. Some of the most common misconducts that you should be well aware of and avoid include offenses such as driving under the influence of alcohol, engaging in misdemeanor offenses such as brawls and fights, using illegal drugs, and any other action that may find you on the wrong side of the law. Such crimes can easily put you behind bars for some time, thereby delaying and derailing your practice.
6. Establish a niche in the market
The plumbing sector is quite congested with professional plumbers. Competition is therefore significantly high. To give your business a competitive edge, you should focus on establishing a niche in your area of practice. When looking for the right market to settle, you should focus on establishing offices in an area with high demand for plumbing services such as the Brisbane Conrad Martens region. Among the various ways in which you can build for yourself a niche include creating a website and social media page in order to help obtain customers and expand on your reach in the market. Branding yourself in the market using the various web solutions available such as websites, blogs, and social media channels ensures that potential customers using the web to find plumbing services can easily locate you.
7. Build a reputation
Like any other profession, plumbing requires significant input and effort in order to effectively build a strong reputation in the market. To establish such a reputation, you should focus on delivering excellent services to your clients and handling them well. Good customer handling practices such as responding to customers’ issues with immediacy and delivering excellent plumbing services to them increase your chances of obtaining and retaining new customers. You may also want to ask your existing customers for referrals. This ensures that you advance your reach in the market.
