Have you ever wondered about becoming an instrumentation Service Technician? Interstates’ Hakim Rashid answers questions below about his career path and what you might expect in the daily work life of an embedded maintenance Service Tech.
What is your role at Interstates?
I am a Service Technician doing embedded maintenance at a mega distribution center.
How did you come to work at Interstates?
My wife and I lived in Florida and North Carolina as I gained experience in the electrical field, then a friend I had worked with told me I should check out a company called Interstates. He said the job would be perfect for me because I like order, and Interstates was a well-oiled machine.
What made you want to pursue being an instrumentation Service Tech?
I started at Interstates as an electrician and soon got my journeyman’s license. After a few years, electrical controls lost its glamour for me, and I wanted to get into instrumentation. At Interstates, they want you to be happy and are very accommodating. They encourage you to pursue new opportunities within the company. They know that if a person is satisfied with what they are doing, they will do a good job. I worked alongside some instrumentation people and found it very interesting, so that’s why I made a change.
What is your typical day like?
Doing embedded maintenance at a facility is pretty much waiting for things to break so you can fix them, and in the meantime doing preventative maintenance, so things don’t break. A typical day includes daily meetings, discussing any issues from the night before, ordering parts, creating and maintaining spreadsheets that track types of solenoids* to see their performance and health over time, and fixing problems as they arise. I’m lucky that we have such a great team with excellent cooperation. It’s really like a home away from home.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
Chemistry. When dealing with electricity, there is always certainty if you follow the guiding principles. In instrumentation, there are so many other factors to consider, such as temperature or pressure. In this kind of facility, a lot of the problems boil down to chemicals and chemistry, which is new for me. I’m learning as I go, and I’m glad that I have great resources here to ask for help.
What do you find rewarding about your job?
Solving problems is always rewarding for me. When you first encounter an issue, you’re kind of anxious, especially if the fix is expensive. But after you investigate and it turns out that you are right, that’s extremely rewarding.
What personality traits are suited for life as a Service Tech?
The best people for this job will be detail-oriented, like to work with their hands and enjoy problem-solving. You can’t be opposed to heights or working outside, and you should always be learning and doing your homework to get better at your job.
What advice would you give someone considering this career?
Consider shadowing an instrumentation Service Tech or being an intern so that you can see what the job truly requires and see if it’s for you.
*A device comprised of a coil of wire, the housing and a moveable plunger (armature).
Find out more about current job opportunities at Interstates.
