The skills you need to be a maintenance worker has been listed and explained in this article, and other things you need to know.
When you apply for a job, some skills can improve your chances of being hired for maintenance and cleaning jobs. Most cleaning jobs don’t require a formal education and you usually learn on the job. Building maintenance work generally requires a high school diploma, but you can also receive on-the-job training.
However, the more skills and experience you have to offer a potential employer, the better your chances of landing the job. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts above-average job growth of about 4% over the next several years in the areas of cleaning and cleaning buildings, as well as general maintenance and repair. The healthcare industry, in particular, will grow, along with the need for these types of workers to clean and maintain their doctor’s offices and hospital buildings.
Maintenance mechanics are responsible for inspecting, repairing, and maintaining equipment at a job site.
In recent years, much of the equipment these professionals are responsible for has become more complicated. Today’s maintenance workers must be as comfortable with analog tools as they are with modern computer and electronic systems.
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What skills do you need to be a maintenance worker?
Whether you’re just starting or a seasoned maintenance mechanic, here are the seven essential skills to include on any maintenance resume.
Technical skills
Many technical schools, trade schools, and community colleges have degree and certificate programs for those curious about becoming a mechanic. These programs will typically offer classroom and hands-on mechanical training. Programs can take anywhere from six months to two years to complete, depending on the desired certificate or degree.
Detail-oriented
A maintenance mechanic should appreciate detailed work, as many tasks require intricate and precise technical work.
Also, with so many machines in a typical production facility, a maintenance worker should be able to quickly spot anything that upsets the overall flow. Now and then, an eye for detail could save thousands or millions of dollars in breakdown and/or accident costs.
Problem-solving ability
Maintenance mechanics are responsible for diagnosing the root cause of a mechanical problem and applying a solution. While some problems have an obvious solution, many problems are difficult to diagnose. This means that a maintenance worker must be good at finding both conventional and unconventional solutions. This is one of the most important skills of a maintenance worker.
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Organizational skills
Some maintenance workers, especially those with administrative responsibilities, are responsible for developing and implementing a routine maintenance program to keep a facility’s equipment running. Developing this program requires both technical knowledge and the ability to organize for maximum efficiency.
Physical ability
Maintenance workers often must enter tight spaces, climb overhead work areas, or perform maintenance tasks in strenuous conditions, such as extreme heat or cold. These requirements raise important questions about the physical ability of a maintenance worker. This is one of the most important skills of a maintenance worker
Additionally, maintenance work often involves heavy lifting or odd hours, both of which can be physically exhausting.
Able to work quickly under pressure
Time is money, as the saying goes, and when an important piece of production equipment breaks down, management knows it needs to get up and running as quickly as possible.
Maintenance workers must be able to work quickly under pressure to maintain production levels. If a maintenance worker cracks under pressure or does everything at a crawl, they will not thrive in most work environments.
Versatility
The job of a maintenance worker can be completely different from day today. They may be asked to arrive late at night to repair a vital piece of machinery. They may be asked to learn all about new equipment that has been brought in. They can be invited to a meeting to explain extremely technical matters to people in very basic terms. This is one of the most important skills of a maintenance worker.
The variable nature of the job requires a person who is effective in a wide range of situations.
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Maintenance worker job description template
It will inspect different equipment and perform basic repairs or preventive maintenance when necessary. To perform well in this role, you must have prior maintenance experience, be highly trained with various hand and power tools, and be able to read repair manuals and drawings.
Maintenance worker responsibilities:
- Conducting routine inspections of facilities and equipment.
- Performing preventive maintenance.
- Handling basic repairs and maintenance.
- Supervise contractors when professional repairs are necessary.
- Diagnose mechanical problems and correct them.
- Repair of machines, equipment, or structures as needed.
- Maintenance worker requirements:
- Proven maintenance experience.
- High school diploma or general education degree (GED).
- Related title from a technical school.
- Expert in the use of manual and power tools.
- Ability to disassemble machines, equipment, or devices to remove and replace defective parts.
- Ability to consult blueprints, repair manuals, or parts catalogs as required.
- Ability to use common tools such as hammers, forklifts, saws, drills, and wrenches.
- Experience with precision measuring instruments or electronic test devices.
- Routine maintenance experience.
- Strong organizational and follow-up skills.
- Be careful with the details.
- Presentation and professional attitude.
- Ability to maintain focus while working individually.
- Strong time management skills.
Administrative skills
Cleaning and maintenance work is not just about cleaning. Someone has to organize what work needs to be done and when and where to do it. Cleaning supplies should be tracked, schedules set, and records kept, including:
- Inventory
- Currency exchange
- Ordering supplies
- Permissions
- scheduling
- Prioritizing
- Registry maintenance
- Planning
Advanced maintenance skills
These advanced skills can give you an edge in securing work in companies that need more than basic cleaning. As part of a building maintenance team, you will be the go-to person for minor structural repairs and special maintenance projects, keeping the building in good condition, and making timely repairs, including:
- Carpentry
- Finishing / Refinishing Floors
- Brickwork
- Painting
- Plumbing
- Roofing
- Welding
Basic cleaning skills
Inform employers if you have specialized knowledge or experience with cleaning products. Some employers prefer to use “green” cleaning solutions, for example. Include this list of basic cleaning skills:
- Polished
- Chemical use
- Cleaning
- Dusting
- Mopping
- Furniture polishing
- Safety
- Sanitation
- Depuration
- Sweeping
- Floor washing
- Window washing
- Hair removal
Interpersonal skills
With a lot of cleaning and maintenance jobs, you will be working as part of a team, so you will need to get along with all the colleagues on your team. In some cases, you will also interact directly with a company’s customers, especially if you are at work during business hours. And if you have aspirations to rise through the ranks to a supervisor position, excellent interpersonal skills will help you get there, including:
- Communication
- Customer service
- Following instructions
- Interpersonal skills
- Service
- Supervising
- Teamwork
Repair and Maintenance
In larger businesses, you will need to maintain the equipment you use to clean and maintain buildings and grounds. The skills on this list tell potential employers that you will be their go-to person to keep their equipment running. If you have experience with specific brands of equipment that have special maintenance requirements, let employers know. Be sure to include these skills if you have them:
- Building repair
- Electrical repairs
- Equipment maintenance
- Fixing tools
- Land maintenance
- Maintenance
- Mechanical fitness
- Reconditioning
- Repair of electrical accessories
- Tools
