Pest Control Technician Skills (original) (raw)

Pest control technicians learn how to choose the proper applicator and chemicals for the task.Getty

Pest control technicians call on clients to identify the particular pest infesting the customer's location, determine the best course of action and apply the chemicals needed. Most technicians occupy entry-level jobs and receive their training from their employers. Every state requires technicians to obtain a license before he can apply pesticides for the public. In addition to meeting the licensing requirements, pest control technicians need certain skills to be successful.

Attention to Details

Pest control technicians must pay careful attention to details. Some infestations leave only slight signs that can be observed without extensive intrusion. Chemicals might need to be mixed before application, and the technician must ensure that the proper balance is achieved; if the formula is too weak, the pest will not be eradicated, but too strong a mixture can be harmful to the environment, pets or residents. Technicians must submit a report to their employers detailing the chemicals used and where they were applied.

Article continues below this ad

More For You

Reasoning Skills

To complete a job successfully, the technician must first identify the type of pest, where it is concentrated and the best method to eliminate it. Physical evidence is sometimes scant or ambiguous. Based on available clues, the technician must apply logic to decide which pest is present. If more than one treatment option exists, he must determine which method is best for the particular circumstances. Pest control technicians must also evaluate potential costs and damages weighed against potential benefits.

Driving Skills

Typically, pest control technicians must drive from customer to customer, often in a truck bearing special equipment and chemicals. Technicians might need to make calls when weather conditions are poor, such as while streets are icy or during a thunderstorm. Some employers insist that technicians have a clean driving record before they are willing to hire them.

Article continues below this ad

Math Skills

Advanced mathematics are not necessary for pest control technicians. However, they do need to possess basic math skills. They must be able to adjust chemical mixtures according to how large a batch they need for the job, such as converting a gallon of pesticide to the correct formula to prepare a quart. Technicians must often measure an area to be treated to calculate how much pesticide is needed. In some companies, the technician is responsible for calculating the customer's bill and might have to accept payment.

Physical Abilities

Pest control technicians need both physical strength and stamina. Heavy personal protection gear is required for some jobs, and the technician might have to enter cramped spaces or contort himself into uncomfortable positions while wearing it. Technicians are physically active for much of their workday, with frequent walking, climbing, kneeling, stooping and crawling. Work may be performed outdoors, subjecting the technician to temperature extremes.

Article continues below this ad

Customer Relations

The pest control technician represents the company when he is working at a customer's location. He must be polite, professional and friendly. Customers are sometimes distressed by their pest problems or upset because a prior treatment failed to eliminate the pest. Technicians must be tactful if they need to explain to a customer how the customer himself is making the infestation worse or why a previous treatment did not solve the problem. While on the customer's premises, a technician should be respectful of the customer's property, taking care not to damage anything. When the job is complete, the technician must clean up after himself, leaving the area free of empty pesticide bottles or other debris related to his work.

References

Jeffrey Joyner has had numerous articles published on the Internet covering a wide range of topics. He studied electrical engineering after a tour of duty in the military, then became a freelance computer programmer for several years before settling on a career as a writer.