appliance technician

refrigeration technician

service technician

service technician ii

hvac technician

Sears Home Services

Pros: Your own company van that you can take home with you. You get to see something different each day so it’s not normally a boring day. Sometimes I forget how long the day is. Getting to help good people fix their broken machines.

Cons: I could probably write a book.

I am profiled for Laundry, cook, and dish. And to Sears we are the least respected, most disposable techs. You get paid the least and do not receive a sign on bonus, despite you repairing a majority of the appliances in a typical home.

First is training. Their training program needs work. I mean a lot of work. The first two or so weeks of your only six weeks training, Yes you read that right only six, Better be ready. Is sitting in front of a bunch of cheesy YouTube videos and slide shows most of which don’t work properly and cause you to have to restart. The actual more useful part of training is the mentor tech. You are assigned to work with a senior tech on how things work. It’s quite helpful but is only part of it and only lasts a couple of weeks. A pretty paltry amount of time. Certainly not enough to get a grip on what they expect of you. After that, if you’re lucky to have your van, they sick the wolves on you. With nothing but the van, your phone, and a couple of special tools. Did I mention you have to buy your own hand tools with personal money?

The company phone: this can either be your greatest ally or your worst nightmare. To me it’s mostly the latter. The system they use to run calls and manage your inventory is a huge pain to use. It frequently crashes and starts back up as if you’ve never started your day. Forcing you to log out and back in a couple of times which then causes it to get back on track. It hangs up a lot with a spinning wheel working because they use bottom of the barrel carriers. Meanwhile the customer is tapping their foot waiting for me to get going with the diagnosis.

The Routing System: This one would be the worst however their routing department is actually pretty helpful. But even they’re not in charge of setting routes. Some computer is. And boy it has no idea what it’s doing. First you could be starting at a call an hour from your home in one town. Then your next is another hour from there. Then your third was in the first town you were in that morning. Bonus points your first 35 minutes and your last after the final call are unpaid. So that two hour trip back home is only going to pay for the hour and twenty five minutes. It could be snowing sideways and you still need to make it to customer’s homes as if it’s not bad out.  The vans they supply don’t have four wheel drive so be careful. They overload you with calls and expect you to do them all. Even if that means being home at 10 that night. So forget having a social life. They also expect you to do your truck inventory and any other work related stuff during your route. No completing it afterwards which would make more sense. You must run your route, do your inventory and other stuff, then end your route. After the route is done you must go straight home and end your day.

The Management: I’ve saved the best, read worst, for last. The management. These people have no idea what is going on and are absolutely useless. Any call or request for help results in a sarcastic reply of: call someone else. There is are constant texts from them about how we need to sell, sell, sell. All they care about is numbers and not actually fixing the problem. Techs are constantly hounded for sales. I’ve gotten to the point where I am so desensitized to messages on this phone that I even miss actual important ones. I’ve solved this by simply turning off the notifications for these group texts as I don’t really care anymore. They bombard customers when they call for help and expect techs to do the same. And you need to or else the manager puts you in a “shame club” group text with other “defective” techs. After which I assume they get fired. No repair skills are required you just have to be a salesman with tools. They want you to diagnose and repair an appliance in as little time as possible, which is unrealistic. There are a lot of details and information left out and you get yelled at once you come upon something that requires this information. They care obsessively about “unproductive drive time” but don’t realize that we drive halfway across the state and back most days of the week.

The constant sales, They care far more about selling their rip-off warranty and clean and maintains than helping people that need it. They even hammer it in your head during the “training”. It took them until up to the day I was to be on my own, to get my van. There isn’t a list of tools and supplies that you need. You find out as you make yourself look like a fool in front of a customer. Nothing like needing to remove a weird nut without the special tool. They run this business like a competition. The amount of “completes” determines how good you are. Too bad if you get a day of calls you can’t complete because you have to order parts. I’m sorry a control board, that’s never the same from one machine to another, is bad and needs to be ordered. I’m surprised if I even have a common part on my truck. If I get a bunch of collect calls especially those on washing machines, I already know it’s going to be a bad day. Nobody, in their right mind, wants to spend 800 dollars to repair a 400 dollar washer.

I worked with some of the smartest, most driven, and capable people I've ever known. Sears placed a high value on personal integrity and diversity, with frequent annual training topics and job opportunities.  If you are highly motivated and willing to take risks, you can go far in the company and you will be surrounded by equally capable leaders in the field.

Unfortunately, Sears is something of a fading business, and much of the operational improvements (and there have been many successful ones) are not offsetting the business expenses.  While short-term strategies are put into effect very quickly--something I found impressive given the size of the workforce--long term strategies are somewhat vague and shifting.  

I was given a lot of space to develop my own tasks, the freedom to pursue any leads to improve the business, and the support to implement both short and long term planning.  I worked remotely for several years, and not once did I feel taken advantage of, or passed over for other positions due to that.  The work/life balance was fantastic, and I was always able to take some extra time when needed for a child's dental visit, dance review, or other activities with the family.

It's hard work, and at times very stressful, but it was an amazing experience to race with people who had the same passions.  The culture was amazing, I had never had so many people willing to collaborate with one another across divisions so openly.  It was a diverse working environment, and I felt respected from day one--and there is a strong expectation that you respect everyone for what they bring to the table.  And I find it hard to write this review--the people are top, quality individuals who are fighting an ultimately impossible war.  I hope they succeed, I really do.  If Sears does go under, it will not be due to a lack of risk, or investment in its' personnel.

What is the best part of working at the company?
You will travel and see different places.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Everything. Doing part installs for whoever diagnosed it. Which is shot gunned. So there many times to where you'll show up not knowing you're putting on parts, and realize the parts ordered aren't going to fix the unit. So you'll run into many angry customers and multiple attempt type repair.  Truly embarrassing for a company. Also Sale Sale Sale, they'll fire over that. You can be a horrible tech but a good salesman and you'll go far with then. You're alone, which isn't bad but if someone needs a part out if your van you expected to meet them somewhere even if you're an hour apart. The buddy system is prevalent between LMT's and mangers. No comradery alot of knives to the back. Sears is for green techs and techs who couldn't male it else where. The system constantly crashes causing your day to be longer. And expect at least a 10 hr swift everyday. Stay clear from refrigeration, poor process, and hilarious at times.I wouldn't dare allow sears in a love ones house, especially for refrigeration. Some customers have been waiting months for a good repair and after 6 attempts they're usually mad. They rarely keep you with your diagnosis, so the customers could have up to 6 different people attending to the situation. It's a circus. Maybe not all. It's a failing company so they're always making changes to policies last minute and the Ceo doesn't understand the jist of the work. Sad situation, something like the Titanic. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Toxic and depressing. Good technicians don't last there.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Whatever the Appliance devil unleashes

The Sears brand sells it self. It is a company that has offered grate products and service's for generations. The company gives you all the tools you need to become a success.I was a project consultant interior specialist. I gave a laptop presentation using many samples of the high quality materials that we had to offer for there kitchen, bathroom and flooring remodeling project.The lap top I was provided was a very high quality tuff book that had great soft ware I used to calculate the amount of materials,cost of the project, sears financing  and closing the sale  using the 10 step sale process. The projects I bid usually where large projects that cost between $10,000- $70,000. I received 10-12% commission. We had weekly webinar sales training and I went to the office in Greensboro north Carolina once a mouth for sales training. They would have manufactures reps at the meeting giving you on going training, sales contest that I won many times and was rewarded gas cards ect. Also we as a office became number one in the north eastern reign and had a company party to celebrate at Dave and busters in carry Nc. So there was a great competitive spirit and company meeting usually where enjoyable. I would stay in hotels that the company paid for to attend the meetings or If they had a excess of leads in ares to far to drive with out staying over nite  some times I would take up residency for weeks at a time. Sears customers where great people, I enjoyed meeting with them and using my expertise to help them with there remodeling projects.

A typical work day at Sears is going through emails that came through from the previous day and scheduling appointments for phone interviews to help match job seekers with our available jobs. 
I have learned that not many people know that Sears still exists. Many people resonate Sears with the Retail stores. Which was a legendary time in the past, but now looking to the future there are better opportunities in the horizon and we’re capturing that and making it known to the public. 
Management is great, they promote well being and constructive criticism. They’re there to help you, not to belittle you. If you need a bit of an alignment, they’re there to help you get back to track, that’s what a true manager does. And Sears Management team does just that. 
Workplace culture is very diverse, many different backgrounds and experiences, you are bound to make a new friend. 
Hardest part of the job is keeping up with the calls, and going through interviews, unfortunately it’s not easy to find the right fit, but once I do, It is worth it. 
The most enjoyable part of the job is when I hear feedback from employees I hired telling me that they enjoy working with Sears and feel that they are making a difference in peoples lives, that makes me feel proud and honored to know that I had a part in that process. 

No company is gonna be 100% perfect to work for but here at Sears I have found a home. They care about your overall well being you're not overworked. You're home at a decent hour. The work life balance is incredible for the heating and air conditioning  industry.  no one call. every other weekend Off. meaning 2 consecutive days Saturday and Sunday the other 2 weeks. You get one day off during the week And always off on Sunday . if the weather is bad enough they ask you to volunteer On the week that you have A-day off during the week . rarely Is it made mandatory my manager does care. And my checks don't bounce. Every job has its challenges and dealing with B to B partners can be challenging At times. Adapting to the procedures Of a larger company can be a bit daunting, But that goes for any job That's worth doing .there are plenty of people in place to help you through each day. No matter what the situation is we have a fantastic mentor System in place. leadership also outstanding. After being at a few different companies in my career I have to admit this is a fantastic place to work. The more you put into it the more you get out of It bottom line.

Typical work day at Sears Home Services begins with loging into your phones and computer systems. Verfiying all your technicians are working for that day and begin to make any necessary changes you need to make to technicians routes or customer service orders.

In this job position I have learned to work with a team as well as how to take initiative to process work orders, request, and solve problems on your own with minimal assistance from others.

Sears Homes Service provides a good work atmospher. Co-workers get along well and there's always team building and worker appreciation events going on in the service center. 

The hardest part of the job in Home Service is sometimes not having enough technicians to run the service call so that creates multiple reschedules with the customers which escalates the service call. However this just gives the router the ability to go above and beyond to assist the customer in anyway they can within the realm or scoope of the job.

The most enjoyable part of the job is being able to work with good people that teach you how to work as a team as well as give you the space and opportunity to flurish as an individual.

The culture at Sears Home Services is one of inclusivity and teamwork. Colleagues are not just colleagues; they are teammates who collaborate seamlessly to achieve common goals. The leadership team fosters an open-door policy, creating an atmosphere where every employee's voice is heard and valued. This sense of camaraderie and mutual respect makes the workplace feel like a second home.

The company's focus on innovation is another aspect that sets Sears Home Services apart. There is a continuous drive to explore new technologies and methodologies to enhance our services, keeping us at the forefront of the industry. This commitment to innovation not only ensures the company's success but also makes the work itself dynamic and engaging.

In conclusion, my time at Sears Home Services has been marked by professional growth, a positive company culture, and a genuine sense of purpose. I am grateful to be part of a team that values its employees and is dedicated to creating a workplace where individuals can thrive both personally and professionally. I look forward to many more years of success and collaboration with Sears Home Services and TransformCo.

Like I said, a great place to work and gain experience. Once hired they send you to Atlanta for a week for some training, then for one week a senior tech takes you along with him and then the next week he rides with you. The company doesn’t have to do this at all. They could of been like here’s your can and gas card, have at it. But they take the time to make sure you have the training, tools, truck stock,mentors, resources, and support you need to succeed. They provide specialized industry tools and provide a company credit card for other tools/parts on a case by case scenario. There technology is great! There tech app has great features like inventory control, tech data sheets, troubleshooting guides, and more. It is impossible to fail at this company if you work hard. Pay is descent (for where I’m at). You literally work from home, truck stock parts get sent to tour house, and usually your manager lives hours away and you will check in by phone once every week or so. Lastly, if your motivated you can also learn other skills by asking your manager for training in that area. 

This job is not about fixing the appliance, it is all about meeting sales expectations. Your district will be short staffed so expect to work long unpredictable hours. Don't get too excited about over time though, every minute past your scheduled 8 hours works against your metrics. Time works against your metrics as well as how many parts you use and how expensive the parts are (even if they are covered under warranty). You will have 6 - 7 scheduled repairs due before noon, each call about 20 - 30 min away from each other, so expect very angry customers chewing you out. You will be responsible for other technician's diagnosis, typically 50/50 chance it was correct. To summarize: You will be late to half your morning calls, have to deal with incorrect diagnosis, have a heavy workload working against your numbers. Luckily you can skew your numbers positively by selling a ton of "Extended Warranties", "Protection Agreements" and "Whole Home Solutions". Try selling these $500 warranties to customers who are angry that you arrived too late to their scheduled appointment or that the last guy ordered the wrong parts.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Appliance technician 1263 salaries reported	$23.86 per hour
Refrigeration technician 1 salary reported	$21.00 per hour
Service technician 240 salaries reported	$29.38 per hour
Service technician ii 58 salaries reported	$27.19 per hour
Hvac technician 44 salaries reported	$27.73 per hour

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