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6 Things to Consider When Screening Technicians

6 Things to Consider When Screening Technicians

If you are new to technical recruiting, it can seem a bit overwhelming at first.  However, if you are screening equipment technicians, there are 6 key things to focus on that will help you to be sure you have the right candidate in consideration.

1. Work History

First, you will want to clearly understand the technician’s work history.  Find out as much as you can about where the technician has worked.  If you are tasked with finding a technician with a specific type of equipment experience, it is important to know how much experience the technician has and in what types of environments.

For example, if you are searching for an experienced technician to work on equipment in the semiconductor industry, it would be extremely beneficial if the technician has experience working in a clean room environment.

In addition, find out why the technician has made the moves he has made.  Ask why he left each employer and be sure to do your due diligence and check references later.  The last thing you want to do is submit a technician to your client, when the technician was fired due to violating safety protocol at a past employer.

2. Equipment Experience

Always ask the technician to explain his equipment expertise.  Ask for types of equipment he has worked on, the specific types of work he has performed on the equipment, and find out if he was in a lead role or simply a helper.

The more you understand about the technician’s equipment expertise, the better you will know if he is a fit for your client’s needs.

3. Problem Solving Ability

Any technician should have strong problem solving skills.  Question your technician about any equipment issues he ran into in the past and what he did, step by step, to figure out and resolve the issue.

You may not understand the entire technical lingo, but you will be able to tell by each technician’s explanation if he has the ability to figure out problems and find resolutions.  This is key with any technician, regardless the industry.

4. Customer Service Skills

One of the most important skills that is often overlooked when screening technicians is the ability to provide excellent customer service.

Remember, quite often a technician will travel to another work site or will work with other customers on equipment issues.  Having impeccable customer service skills in addition to the technical expertise is quite often a must.

5. Education

If a technician is fairly new to the game, you will want to find out about his education.  When a technician is lacking real world expertise, he should have had formal education that allowed him to develop his technical skills and problem solving ability.

Find out where the technician went to school, what type of degree he received, and if he had any internships or hands-on labs at school.  Specifically, ask about his work in school and any technical projects or assignments he was responsible for.  Have the technician walk you through what he specifically did from a technical perspective on any assignments or projects.

6. Reliability

Finally, another key thing to consider is the technician’s ability to be reliable.

Many times, technicians are scheduled to work compressed shifts.  When a facility is open 24/7, it is of the utmost importance that technicians are on time and at work when they need to be there.

If your technician was fired from his last job due to continuous absences or tardiness, chances are you’ve found an unreliable technician.

What are some other things that you focus on when screening technicians?  Please share your tips in the comments below.

Image: Wavebreak Media Ltd/BigStock.com

Julia Weeks

Julia is a skilled Recruiter with over 8 years of experience in sourcing, interviewing, and hiring within many industries globally. She works closely with hiring managers and job seekers to understand needs and desires, while offering guidance and ensuring the right fit. When not recruiting or writing, Julia enjoys spending time outside cycling, taking her dog for walks, or honing her sailing skills.