Rachel Hilling broke into the HVAC industry and became a trusted source in the Canadian trades even when the odds were stacked against her. Despite being underrepresented in the trades as a woman and having two small children, she decided to pursue a career as an HVAC technician. Little did she know, a career as an HVAC technician would only be the beginning and would set the course for years to come.
Now mentoring women and minorities in the trades, Rachel Hilling has been involved in every aspect of the heating and cooling industry. She volunteers at a shelter for women who have experienced domestic violence and helps prepare them to undertake the gasfitter program at HiMark College.
She has leaned heavily on sales and marketing in recent years, selling products for Carrier, leading experts in the HVAC industry.
Hilling has also worked as a territory manager, meeting with dealers and training teams to sell HVAC products more effectively and to the right customers.
Aside from all these responsibilities, Rachel Hilling proved to be an excellent problem solver. Much of her role has been about troubleshooting products, and her background as a technician has been instrumental in her ability to deduce issues and mitigate them efficiently.
“I helped teams with technical issues with equipment, sales of equipment, business development and so much more.”
Rachel Hilling wants people to know that no matter their background, education level, life experiences or contacts that they can break into the HVAC industry with the right level of determination and focus.
“There’s going to be bumps in the road,” she adds. “If you stay focused, however, this can be a truly rewarding career.”
Hilling says that she has family and friends who sought college and university degrees and many of them still don’t make as much as tradespeople.
Tradespeople in Canada are highly sought after and the industry is calling for more representation. This means if you’re a woman, person of colour or come from a disadvantaged background, then it’s a good time to apply. The industry is currently eager for more diverse applicants.
Even if you don’t think you’re suited to the line of work, you might not know until you try.
“I wasn’t even a tomboy,” says Hilling, lightheartedly recalling when she first decided to take the plunge into the Canadian heating and cooling industry by becoming an HVAC technician. At the time, she had approached her parents’ neighbor and asked him for advice about the trades.
While becoming an electrician might have been a cleaner job, Rachel Hilling found a welcoming community in heating and cooling. It has been a career that has allowed her to continuously improve herself, grow and contribute to a wider cause
According to Hilling, if you want to enter the trades in Canada, you have the opportunity to make a profound difference in the lives of others – all while learning relevant skills that are in demand right now.
To learn more about career opportunities in the trades, about green energy products, EDI and more, you can visit the official website of Rachel Hilling for more information.
