Rhiana Hydes worked part-time with irregular hours in retail until she was laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Desiring a career with steady hours, higher pay, and growth potential, she enrolled in the 10-month HVAC program at Florida Career College.
During the week of graduation, BTF arranged an interview with One Stop Heating & Cooling in Tampa, Fla. She started work as an HVAC Installer Trainee the following week. “I went from not having a job on the Wednesday I graduated, to working the following Monday,” Rhiana said.
The entry-level pay for her first job in the residential construction industry was 30% higher than what she earned in retail. After 90 days on the job, she was eligible for a substantial pay increase.
Jolene Methvin, Regional Manager of Consumer Services at One Stop, said, “Rhiana is a hard worker and eager to learn.”