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Top 10 Characteristics of a Successful Field (Nation) Technician

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Tim

ely

Stro

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Skill

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Prof

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Knowle

dgea

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Go th

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Self-

suffi

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Consist

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Good

Custo

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Ser

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Thor

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/Det

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Flexi

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Top 10 Characteristics of a Successful Field (Nation) Technician

Level of Importance

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The number one trait that stood out across

the board from Field Nation contractors

who “exceeded the expectations” of a

client, was that of being timely. Clients

prefer working with freelancers who not

only show up on-time (if not early), but are

also efficient in completing the scope of

work within the requested time-frame.

Being prompt and having a fast turnaround

without sacrificing the quality of work

speaks to the experience of a field

technician. Knowing they can rely on and

trust someone to get the job done is one of

the first things a buyer looks for when

hiring a technician.

1Timely

Having a large repertoire of “hard skills” is as important

a trait as any; but contractors that have equally strong

“soft skills” are a rarer breed. Taking the time to

communicate any on-site issues or delays immediately

helps establish a sense of trust and eliminates any

confusion or possible disagreements that may arise if

noted at the end of the work order; even if a job cannot

be completed due to insufficient information, discussing

this with the buyer or project manager will help save the

project or improve future explanations. Good

communication is a pillar of any successful relationship

and the one you have with a buyer and/or project

manager is no different.

2StrongCommunicatio

nSkills

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Whether dealing with a grouchy client or

last-minute change to a work order, seeing

adversity through the lens of opportunity has

been described as the mark of a true

professional. Being able to maintain

composure while expressing concern and

care showcases an ability to think rationally,

not emotionally, and allows you to

understand the politics and unpredictable

dynamics that lie behind business decisions.

Keeping your cool not only enables the

formation of educated decisions and puts

you in the best position to tackle a problem

head-on, it also shows the client that you

can handle any type of situation and will be

a mature representative for their company.

3Professional

Knowledgeable4 Technicians that are knowledgeable in their line

of work and can make educated decisions are

often the ones that get repeat business from

their clients and are recommended to others.

For example, a Field Nation contractor was able

to identify a manufacturing defect in a separate

piece of equipment than the one he was hired to

fix. After discussing the issue with the client’s

project manager, he was able to correct the

problem while on-site and eliminated the need

for a return trip and additional work order from

the buyer. The technician’s knowledge enabled

him to offer additional services and exceed the

expectations of the client (who gave him a

stellar review and bonus payment).

A majority of Field Nation freelancers that exceeded the client’s

expectations went above and beyond the requested scope of work.

Taking the time to review the work order and required materials

beforehand helps ensure prompt and efficient job completion, as

well as showing up prepared and with a full understanding of what

needs to happen. In one case, a technician that showed up on-site

to fix an analog issue went on to inform his client of an unused line

that was then able to be disconnected. Not only did this save the

client monthly expenses, but the contractor won himself repeat

business and a strong recommendation from a major client based

on his ability to go above and beyond what was asked of him.

5Go theExtraMile

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Self-Sufficient6 Completing a job with minimal, if any,

supervision or guidance is of high value

to a buyer or company. Proving to be a

competent worker is especially important

for independent contractors, considering

that many buyers turn to contingent

labor so they do not have to invest time

in educating or showing an employee

how to do a job – after all, they hired you

to benefit from your skill and expertise!

Contractors that can come in and

complete a job with minimal disruption to

the rest of the company are the types of

technicians a buyer wants to do business

with again and again.

Whether it is a one-off break-fix or a

several weeks-long project, field

technicians that consistently complete

quality work are of higher desirability than

those who do not. Performing good work

regardless of scope, pay or length of the

project shows the client that you care

about the success of their, and by

extension, your, business. Consistency and

reliability are perhaps two of the best

endorsements a contractor can have and

is sure to attract other clients – in addition

to putting you on the speed-dial of the

buyers you already work with.

7Consistent

Good Customer Service8

At the end of the day, satisfying the client is

the name of the game. Another soft skill that

many struggle with is that of good customer

service – personal touches like smiling upon

introduction, having a firm handshake and

being easy to work with tend to have

significant effects and oftentimes outlast the

quality of the work performed. Displaying an

ability to collaborate with others and be a

team player helps boost your profile with a

company and shows them that your skills and

business are imperative to their success.

Make your interactions memorable for the

right reasons.

Being thorough is a critical part of any work order – that is because

sometimes even one missed step can result in the entire delay of a

project or payment, or even worse, a cancellation. Technicians that

consistently upload required documents, enter detailed closing notes

and mark a work order as complete are some of the best on Field

Nation. In almost every case where a provider exceeded a client’s

expectations, they marked the work order as complete within 24 hours

of performing the service. Thoroughly completing the work order and

required steps enables the buyer to close out the job quickly and easily

and issue immediate payment to you - making everyone happy.

9Thorough

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The contingent workforce is full of unknowns – a shipped part might be

delayed, a site might change, a project manager might get sick – and all

without warning. Technicians that understand these realities continuously

prove to be the most successful. Being flexible when a change is made to

a work order directly ties in with your professionalism – knowing that

there are some decisions outside of your (and even the buyer’s) control

will help keep you calm in the moment and show off your cool

collectedness. Patience is a virtue and will help to promote yourself as a

technician who can roll with the punches while still performing the best

work for your client.

10

Flexible

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Top 10 Characteristics of a Successful Field (Nation) Technician

Contractors who exceed the expectations of their clients…

1 …are Timely.

2 …are Knowledgeable.

3 …have Strong Communication Skills.

4 …are Professional.

5 Go the Extra Mile.

6 …are Self-Sufficient.

7 …have Consistency.

8 …have Good Customer Service.

9 …are Thorough.

…are Flexible.10

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