Please help: Educational paths for a blue-collar medical worker

November 8, 2023 3:09 PM

Maintenance work in an assisted living facility. Don't know the ins and outs or where to find them.

I've leveraged my broad construction acumen into a job as (sole) assistant to the maintenance director of a non-profit assisted living facility. I was hoping this would be a stepping stone. My boss is wonderful and knowledgeable, but also aging and not always helpful when navigating the complications of the industry. I'm eager (desperate?) to find proper educational channels but really don't know where to start or who I might ask. Perhaps it's imposter syndrome, but I've felt that probing for this information from within may create problems. I want to grow into the role and make sure I'm being safe and ethical when taking on new responsibilities.

To be clear, I'm not being put in situations where I don't know to send it above my pay grade. But I also don't know how to go after this career.

posted by es_de_bah to Education (7 answers total)

I would see if you can find the Linkedin profiles (or just Facebook profiles/names) of anyone in leadership roles in facilities or plant operations at your local healthcare facilities and see if you can contact them to ask for what they look for in a candidate. Or look for job postings and see what qualifications or certifications they ask for!
posted by MadamM at 5:50 PM on November 8, 2023

It sounds like you want a better maintenance job or to be the maintenance director? If yes, I would start by talking to whoever hired you and find out what’s the compliance/credentialing requirements for that role, emphasizing that you’re not gunning for his job now but looking to improve your long term value. I would also go to your local public community college or technical school and talk to admissions advising about what that role entails, certificate/credential-wise.
posted by toodleydoodley at 5:52 PM on November 8, 2023

Poke around O*NET.

49-9071.00 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
posted by oceano at 5:57 PM on November 8, 2023

Hospital maintenance worker can be a great career with benefits and pension depending on your location (and whether the industry is unionized in your state/ town). You seem like you're getting great resume fodder for that. County or City maintenance worker is also a solid career if you can get in.
posted by latkes at 8:42 PM on November 8, 2023

Wait.. are you wanting training to do the job you have well, or to change jobs?

(I've been told my medical sector employer requires an HVAC certification for maintenance staff FWIW)
posted by latkes at 8:44 PM on November 8, 2023

If you're wanting a structured training environment, outside of work, then your local community college should have some good options. Check out their website and look for career training, adult education, or continuing education options--these are usually a one-off class or a series of classes that result in a certification of some sort. For example, mine offers an Air Conditioning Technician certification that requires only two classes; and similar technician courses for other trades (plumbing, electrical) as well as basic construction skills. Your supervisor might be able to tell you which classes would be most relevant or useful once you see what is available.

The classes are usually targeted towards people with day jobs, so more likely to have night/weekend classes and fewer demands on your free time. Technician-level training is also a good stepping stone to further qualifications (trade apprenticeships, degree programs) if you really click with something.
posted by ailouros08 at 5:06 AM on November 9, 2023

While I appreciate the director who hired me, he can be vague and dismissive when I ask him detailed operational questions. He's a bit on the older side and approaching retirement. He's not a bad boss, but not really a reliable resource.
posted by es_de_bah at 5:07 AM on November 9, 2023