Have you been looking for a new job? Maybe you lost yours during the pandemic. Maybe you’re burnt out from your current job. Maybe you’re just looking for a change of pace, a change of careers.
We’ve compiled all of the evidence of what makes an amazing pest control technician so you can determine whether or not you would enjoy and be good at pest control. (Plus, check out our bonus FAQs about working as a pest control technician at the bottom of our post.)
We are currently looking for a full-time pest control technician, so we’d love to meet you. Give us a call at 651-342-9489 or email us at hiring@donerightpestsolutions.com. We would love to start a conversation with you! Be sure to check us out if you’re looking for jobs in Minneapolis, jobs in Saint Paul, or pest control jobs in MN.
Table of Contents
- What is Pest Control?
- 16 Reasons Why You Would Make an Amazing Pest Control Technician
- Next Steps
- Conclusion
- P.S. Here Are Some FAQs About Working as a Pest Control Technician
What is Pest Control?
Pest control is kind of a loaded title because it looks differently to different companies. Yes, there are specific requirements and guidelines from each state and at the federal level about what is allowed product wise, etc. But overall, each company has individual standards and guidelines for their employees to follow.
That said, pest control in essence is the regulation or management of a species defined as a pest; any animal, insect, plant, or fungus that impacts adversely on human activities or the environment. From that definition, companies often emphasize on a specific category: there are animal control companies, those that only regulate insects or mosquitoes, many that manage rats and smaller, and those that manage insects that damage crops, etc.
The Too Long; Didn’t Read version is this: pest control involves using a variety of techniques, products, and methods to control a particular pest issue determined upon inspection to produce a desired result. Read on to learn 16 reasons why you would make an amazing pest control technician.
16 Reasons Why You Would Make an Amazing Pest Control Technician
1. You don’t like going into an office.
Maybe you worked in an office for years. Maybe you are more antsy and enjoy moving around more while you work. Offices aren’t for everyone. If you don’t like going into an office everyday or if you don’t like office work, you would make an amazing pest control technician.
2. You enjoy working out of your home.
Maybe you’ve been a pest control technician in the past, or other type of technician, where you had to drive to the office every morning to get your company vehicle. That is not the case with pest control. As a full-time, licensed pest control technician, you will be responsible for a company vehicle. You will leave from your house to go to your first stop of the day and at the end of the day you will return home. If you don’t like having to go pick up your company vehicle on a daily basis, you would make an amazing pest control technician.
3. You like to drive.
Let’s be real, when it comes to pest control, you may have to drive all around the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro area, including surrounding suburbs. While our office staff strives to ensure your daily routes make sense, you will be driving quite a bit, so it’s best if you like driving or don’t mind driving. We also try to start your day with the appointment furthest from your home and work your way closer to home. If you like to drive, you would definitely make an amazing pest control technician.
4. You’re looking for a job near you.
The nice thing about pest control is that it’s fluid. You work out of your home and drive around the metro area. That said, eventually you will have a specific region, to help lessen the driving on any given day. If you’re looking for a job near you, you would make an amazing pest control technician.
5. You’re looking for seasonal work.
Maybe you’re looking to just work during specific seasons. Maybe you appreciate seasonal work with the changes that come. Pest control is pretty demanding in the spring, summer, and fall seasons — especially fall. As a result, the schedules are more relaxed in the winter season. If you’re looking for seasonal work, you might make an amazing pest control technician.
6. You don’t scare easily.
While many are grossed out by bugs, rodents, or snakes, maybe they don’t creep you out. Maybe you liked bugs or snakes as a kid and never really grew out of it. As a pest control technician, you would encounter pests on a daily basis. While we do a lot of preventative pest control, a lot of what we do is reactive pest control: people calling in when they know they have a pest issue. If you don’t scare easily, you would make an amazing pest control technician.
7. Heights don’t really bother you.
Speaking of not being easily scared, occasionally a pest control technician may have to climb onto a roof to perform a squirrel removal job. If heights do bother you, we can certainly work around that. But if heights don’t really bother you, you might make an amazing pest control technician.
8. You enjoy working with your hands.
Pest control is a hands-on approach. We use different application methods, techniques for baiting and killing insects and rodents. From moving items out of the way from walls and foundations, to setting traps and placing bait, pest control technicians work with their hands. If you enjoy working with your hands, you would definitely make an amazing pest control technician.
The Too Long; Didn’t Read version is this: pest control involves using a variety of techniques, products, and methods to control a particular pest issue determined upon inspection to produce a desired result.
9. You like learning new things.
Pest control is a fast-paced, ever-changing industry. What worked to control, manage, and eradicate pests a couple of years ago, might not work next year. Like illnesses, pests evolve, adapt, and overcome some pest control techniques. The most effective pest control companies understand this and continue their education in techniques and products throughout the industry. If you like learning new things, you would make an amazing pest control technician.
10. You enjoy solving puzzles.
Pests can be very smart. Sometimes solving a rodent issue or squirrel issue involves thinking like the rodent or squirrel. It can be like solving a puzzle. You gather clues or puzzle pieces upon inspection at the first visit and follow-up visits, you piece together the information, and you solve the issue at the source: where they are getting in from. If you enjoy solving puzzles, you would make an amazing pest control technician.
11. You thrive working with others.
While a lot of pest control jobs are done on one’s own, occasionally you will need to work with others for large apartment complex cleanouts. Done Right Pest Solutions emphasizes in multi-family housing pest control, because it is so needed, and so sometimes you will need other team members to assist in the pest control measures being taken. You will also work closely with office staff in communicating with customers. So, if you thrive working with others, you might make an amazing pest control technician.
12. You are a self-starter.
Like alluded to in number 11, most pest control jobs are completed on one’s own. You need to be motivated to get to your first job on time, to complete your jobs in order, and finish the day’s work. If you enjoy working alone; if you are a self-starter, you would definitely make an amazing pest control technician.
13. You enjoy working outside.
Maybe you love the outdoors. Maybe you enjoy going for walks, sitting outside, experiencing seasons. A lot of pest control jobs have an aspect of working outside. Most pests started on the outside and got inside somehow. Part of the job as a pest control technician is working outside to close these openings and or treat the exterior of the building to prevent it from happenings again. If you enjoy working outside, you would make an amazing pest control technician.
14. You are moderately healthy.
Maybe you’re super active. Or maybe you’re not super active. Maybe you’re in between. Whatever your activity level, a lot of pest control is moving around, lifting things, inspecting foundations, and placing traps. If you can get around on knee pads to inspect foundations, place bait in kitchen cabinets, and place traps under or behind stoves and foundations, you could make an amazing pest control technician.
15. You enjoy making a positive difference in people’s lives.
It is important to know that you make a difference, to know that you’re doing a good job. Pests cause anxiety and stress that wouldn’t otherwise be there. Pests take away joy and security from residents and business owners. Our clients who call in are often stressed, anxious, and have many questions. Having a pest control technician inspect and care for a client’s home or business takes a weight off of their shoulders. You have the power to put someone’s mind at ease. So, if you enjoy making a positive difference in people’s lives, you would make an excellent pest control technician.
16. You have excellent customer service skills.
Customer service skills are essential to most jobs and pest control is no different. At the end of the day, we answer to the client. We perform the first service, follow-up services, or routine pest control inspections. We are responsible for eradicating pests that can be eradicated (infestations), controlling pests that can be controlled (yard pests), and managing pests that can be managed (minimizing pest outbreaks in apartment complexes). If you have excellent customer service skills, you would make an amazing pest control technician.
Next Steps
If you connect with half or more of those 16 reasons above, and are interesting in learning more, we’d love to talk with you. You have a couple of different options to proceed.
1. You can email us an introductory email to get the process started: hiring@donerightpestsolutions.com.
2. You can fill out our easy application online, or visit our Careers page.
3. Or you can skip the line and give us a call at 651-342-9489.
Ultimately we just want to have a conversation with you, no resume needed. We have a list of introductory questions to ask you, you can ask us questions. Basically we get to know each other a bit. The next step would be to set up a ride-along, where you get to meet one of our senior technicians and help them for the day, learn from them, see what you would be doing on any given day on the job.
From there, you would know way more in a hands-on sort of way if you would make an amazing pest control technician, and if you’d like to become a pest control technician. After receiving an offer from us, you’d begin training with our techs every day and you’d study in the evenings. We pay for your training and your licensure testing. Once you get fully licensed, you’ll receive a raise and responsibility of a company vehicle. In no time you’ll have your own accounts and jobs to do. You’ll be a good pest control technician, and it all just starts with an email, an easy application, or a phone call.
We can’t wait to connect with you.
Conclusion
Thank you for reading! You got a brief look at the broad subject of pest control. You got to read through a list of 16 reasons why you would make an amazing pest control technician, and you learned the next steps to make your dream a reality.
If you’re looking for a job near you, why not give pest control a shot? It’s a competitive and rewarding field. There is something new every day. You get to meet so many people, work with your hands, and make a difference in people’s lives. Pests steal joy and security of home; we give joy and security back by eliminating pests.
Shoot us an email at hiring@donerightpestsolutions.com, call or text 651-342-9489 today! We can’t wait to meet you.
P.S. Here Are Some FAQs About Working as a Pest Control Technician
Is pest control worth it as a job?
This is a question you will have to answer yourself after researching the job, and maybe even riding along with one of our technicians. We thoroughly believe it is! Pest control technicians eradicate illness and disease carrying bugs and insects from homes and businesses. We help prevent people from getting sick, increase quality of life, and take away stress and anxiety from our clients. The satisfaction in knowing you made a difference in someone who was scared, nervous, and anxious is par to none.
How much does a pest control worker make per hour?
The average pest control wage in Minnesota shows about $38,000. Some make more, some make less. Done Right Pest Solutions pays technicians differently, and we agrue better. Let us explain. Pest control technicians get a base salary and then get production bonuses based on the number of jobs they complete per month. In the summer or fall a month’s paycheck could be $6,000 or $7,000, but then the winter months see less, like $2,000 or $3,000.
Done Right Pest Solutions is setting the bar higher. We do not pay a production bonus because we want our techs to be focused on each and every job. We pay a steady wage throughout the year, so you get paid the same in the winter as in the summer. Our wages are higher once you become licensed, but we pay a steady wage up to *$52,000 per year, or $1,000 per full week worked.
*Cost is based on a full-time salary, not a part-time salary.
What skills do you need for pest control?
You can find everything we require of our employees on our Careers page. Ultimately, aside from customer service skills and critical thinking skills, most everything can be taught. We don’t require pest control experience, though if you have it, great. Skills that are helpful for pest control are: attention to detail, problem solving skills, communication skills, etc. After having conversations with you, and you riding along with our technicians, both parties typically know whether or not you’d be a good fit for the pest control world.
Is doing pest control hard?
The short answer is yes and no.
The long answer is that once one learns how to inspect a property well and draw conclusions based on those findings, the process can become routine and more simple. But each case is different, meaning that the treatment method, amount of product to use, technique, etc. could be different. Because there is so much variety, it makes pest control more of a challenge.
Take for example a pharaoh ant. Let’s say you went out to a client’s home and misidentified a pharaoh ant as a common ant. Your treatment would not be effective because pharaoh ants are more intense, industrious, colonized ants than common ants. You would get a callback in a few weeks from the client. And if you treated the second time in the same manner as you did the first time, you would get another callback and the issue would not be solved. Great attention to detail upon inspection is essential to a successful pest control job.