If you ask any plumbing business owner what's one of the hardest parts about running their company, you'll routinely hear that finding good, qualified and reliable employees is a constant uphill battle. Hiring and retaining qualified entry-level plumbers continues to impact many business owners in the skilled trades. In construction, builders report a 55% shortage of plumbers available for work training, according to HBI’s Spring 2021 Construction Labor Market Report. With such a demand for plumbing skills, the task of hiring your next entry-level apprentice or journeyman plumber can be an overwhelming and sometimes disorganized task. You don’t want to hire job seekers purely because you need an extra set of hands, you want experienced plumbers who are at the top of their game, who genuinely care about providing 5-star customer service, and are invested in the growth of your company. A clear and attractive job description for a commercial plumbing job can be a make or break in the number and quality of applicants you get. With a booming industry like plumbing, you need your job title to stand out amongst your competitors or you’ll risk losing your best potential hire and losing out on new jobs because you can’t handle the influx of work without help.
Entry-level Plumbing technician job listing template
This template will generate qualified leads so you can attract the most experienced and enthusiastic professionals to your business. If you want to download templates for the top 10 Plumbing technician job from top Plumbing companies - click here.
Summary
If you are someone passionate about your work, looking for a long-term career, not just a paycheck; good benefits, a place to call home/family, [INSERT COMPANY] is the place for you.[COMPANY NAME] , one of the fastest-growing Plumbing Companies in the [LOCATION] area, named one of the [AWARD RECEIVED] is looking for a dedicated, motivated and skilled professional Residential Service Tech looking for year-round work from a company that promotes advancement and constant training to keep up with the rapidly evolving industry.This is a permanent, full-time position with benefits and a competitive Plumber salary. We supply all techs a cell phone, service vehicle, and power tools. We also offer continued training opportunities. Come join our growing team!
Job responsibilities
In this job, you will:
Install, troubleshoot, and maintain all types of plumbing systems including plumbing fixtures, drainage systems, water heaters, and other service equipment
Prepare quotes / cost estimates and educate homeowners on their options.
Maintain inventories, supply requests, and work orders.
Provide excellent customer service to our customers
Perform routine preventative maintenance
Respond to emergency maintenance requests
Adhere to all safety policies and procedures
Work independently without much supervision but always as a TEAM
Keep job-site clean and vehicle neat and organized
Ensure job-site cleanliness
Other duties as assigned
This is a 40-hour a week job with possible overtime. In addition, all technicians serve one weekend a month on-call.
Qualifications
Required:
Certification or associate’s degree from a Plumber training program at a technical school
Current driver’s license and clean driving record
Required state licensing for Plumbing technicians showing state exams were passed
Preferred:
Plumbing apprenticeship under a journeyman for three to five years
On the job training or experience
Special certification through the Environmental Protection Agency to handle refrigerants
Benefits
We are proud to offer competitive benefits and salaries for our employees
Paid Vision, Dental and Health insurance
Paid holidays and vacation (up to [#] weeks)
Paid sick time (1 week)
Use of company tools and vehicle with gas reimbursement
Commissions on large sales
Tool purchase program
Career growth opportunities
How to apply
To apply, please send a resume and cover letter. In the cover letter, please answer the following questions in individual paragraphs:
Describe a particularly challenging assignment and how you fixed it
How would you make sure a customer is satisfied?
What is your favorite part about working in the Plumbing industry?
Equal opportunity employer
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Detailed breakdown of each part in an entry-level plumbing technician job description
Next, we’ll dig into each segment of the plumber job description above so you have an in-depth understanding of a stand-out company and position summary, job requirements, qualifications and education, and benefits.We’ll also go over some of the biggest mistakes Plumbing service owners make when writing each of those job description categories.
Do’s and don’ts of writing a stand-out company summary
The Plumber job description you post is a potential employee’s first look at your company, so you want to look at this part as a two way street. This job listing is not just what you need a technician to do for you, but also is a way for them to evaluate your company and what you can offer them as a potential employer.
Do:
Include anything that doesn’t fall under job requirements, qualifications and benefits
Paint a picture of what working for you is like
What is your company culture like?
What does growth look like at your company?
PRO TIP: You can even include a testimonial from one of your current or former employees (if you have one) about how great of an employer you are
Include your company mission statement and/or values
This will show the applicant that 1) values are important in the way you conduct business 2) help them identify if they align with your company values or not
Add personality
Whether its adding a small Plumbing joke or a quote you have hanging up in the office, adding your own twist to the job description will make you stand out in the sea of boring, standard Plumbing technician job listings in your area.
Anything unique about your company
Add a local award that shows the success of your business.
Add any community involvement to demonstrate that you’re not just a Plumbing business and you place importance on giving back to your community
Don’t:
Make it all about you and your company
Remember, this is an opportunity for potential employees to imagine themselves working for you. Don’t just list out all of your awards and accolades and not talk about how you treat your employees.
Make it too long
Rule of thumb: If it's too long for you to read, it's definitely too long for an applicant to read.
Make sure each sentence provides valuable information about the job or your company
Not add anything at all
Do not leave this area blank! It's a huge opportunity for you to showcase who you are as an employer
What job duties should I include for my Plumbing technician job description?
What qualities make an amazing Plumber stand out above the rest? Let’s take a look at some skills to include within your job description.Typical duties you might want to include in an Plumbing job description are:
maintain the flow / drainage of water, air, and other gases by assembling, installing, and repairing pipes, fittings, and plumbing fixtures according to specifications and plumbing codes
Find sources of plumbing malfunctions and complete repairs as indicated or according to work orders
Performing standard maintenance duties to increase system efficiency such as changing filters, cleaning ducts, or refilling refrigerants
Install and repair pipes, fittings, valves, fixtures, and plumbing system equipment, including sinks, commodes, water heaters, water softeners, etc
Select materials and hardware and make cost estimates on materials
Examining blueprints to a building when updating or replacing a plumbing system
Responding and troubleshooting after-hours emergencies as needed
Using Plumbing software to schedule appointments and manage customer payments
Working with computerized systems to fix bugs or install software updates
A Plumber job description should be thorough and it should note your company’s area of emphasis. While many technicians work with all plumbing systems, your business is likely specialized in a single area. This could include exclusive work with refrigeration systems in the food processing industry, or perhaps thermostats in a home environment. You want to make sure your candidate knows which field they’ll be working in.
What qualifications does a Plumber need to work for my company?
Most Plumbers need formal training through post-secondary education at a trade or technical school. As you probably already know, students start as a plumbing apprentice under an experienced technician before fully entering the job market. Once they move into an entry-level position, there are many certifications they can pursue to qualify for specialized work and demonstrate specific skills. Before choosing a technician for your business, make sure you’re familiar with plumber requirements so you know your systems are in good hands. Requirements change depending on which state you live in, but standard qualifications include:
A high school diploma
Completion of an accredited plumbing program of 6 months and 2 years, or completion of a 3 to 5 year on-the-job apprenticeship
Industry, state, and national certifications and licenses
Certification depending on line of work
In order to avoid Plumbing invoicing mistakes or faulty repairs, ask your technician to show you which certifications they have completed. Have they worked for another Plumbing business? Make sure to ask for references to get a feel for their work ethic.
What education details should I look for on a prospective technician’s application?
When you’re considering a job candidate, it’s important to look at his or her full educational history. Below are examples of what an ideal Plumbing candidate should have listed on their resume.Primary education:
A high school diploma or GED
Aptitude in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields
While STEM expertise isn’t necessary, the complex technical training involved in Plumbing is made easier with a good grasp on mechanics, physics, and chemistry
Academic training:
Prospective technicians can receive a certification, Associate's degree, or Bachelor’s degree to gain necessary training - look for evidence of formal classes on an application
Courses range from Plumbing technology to industry code standards, and it’s important to have a broad range of knowledge.
Make sure the technician took classes at an accredited institution
On-the-job training:
If the technician didn’t complete a formal education, look for proof they were a paid apprentice plumber for at least 3 to 5 years
Ensure that on-the-job training was carried out by an experienced journeyman plumber, and if possible get the mentor’s phone number for a reference
Look for required 2,000 hours of hands-on training and 144 hours of technical education
Professional certifications:
This step varies by state, and different industries have different requirements for professional certifications.
Popular certifications are offered by:
Journeyman Plumbing License
Master Plumbing License
Soft skills: In addition to the technical qualifications above, there are several “soft” skills every technician should possess to be successful in the workplace. Nextech Acadamy states that soft skills allow technicians to make every customer interaction a positive one, ensure they can clearly answer questions in simple, understandable language for customers, feel more confident in making in-person sales, and much more. These include:
Listening: A technician needs to be able to accurately diagnose a problem when a customer requests your services, and careful listening is the first step.
Good communication: Make sure technicians you hire have great communication skills. Much of a plumber's job involves following up with customers before and after completing the service to keep them in the loop. This involves speaking to them in person, over the phone, and by email.
Time management: Tardy technicians rarely receive repeat clients.
Critical thinking: Troubleshooting
plumbing
systems can often be a puzzle to figure out, so a prospective technician must be competent at problem-solving and detail-oriented.
What benefits should I offer on a Plumbing job description?
When it comes to deciding what benefits to offer, you can consider what the industry standard in your area is, what is financially possible for you, and what items would be the most attractive to a potential tech when considering to apply to work for you. You can use this area to highlight any unique benefits you offer that other employers don’t. Some benefits you can include in your job description:
Competitive salary
Paid Medical insurance
Paid Dental insurance
Paid Vision insurance
Paid Life insurance
401(k) plan with company matching
Paid vacation and holidays (be specific on the number for each)
Paid sick time (be specific on the number of days)
Use of company vehicle with gas reimbursement
Clean, daily stocked trucks
Commissions on large sales
Company uniform
Company tablet
Company supplied tools
Power tool purchase program
Family owned and managed
Career growth opportunities
Education reimbursement
A fun, family working environment
Weekly bonuses, incentives, spiffs based on performance and efficiency
Ongoing training, support, and coaching
Where should I post my Plumbing job listing to get the most applicants?
After you’ve created your job listing using one of our free templates, it’s time to post! There are many different sites to post your job listing on. Some are free and some cost money.
Indeed - Huge job platform. You can add a set budget for Indeed to advertise your job listing.
ZipRecruiter - Same deal as Indeed.
Facebook - You can post the link to your job listing in different Facebook groups in your city and ask local community members to share to increase your visibility.
Final thoughts: Writing your job description for a Plumber is easy when you use one of these free templates and follow the do’s and don’ts in this post. If you want someone to review your job listing, post it in a Plumbing Facebook group so other Plumbing business owners and industry experts can give you constructive feedback.