About 12 years ago, Amjad Khan was working toward his CompTIA A+ certification when he first heard about Field Nation. A guest speaker at a workforce training organization shared how independent technicians were building profiles, taking on work orders, and gaining real-world experience. Amjad was intrigued.

“I didn’t have any prior experience,” he says. “I was always good with computers, but didn’t really have any formal experience at the time.” Still, he created a profile and decided to try a project or two. Walking into that first assignment, he remembers feeling nervous, but he reframed it in a way that would define his career.

“I thought of it as, I’m being paid to learn this,” he says. “Instead of getting stressed, I’m being paid hourly to learn as I go.” What he discovered quickly was that technical knowledge was only part of the equation. Years of customer service experience in restaurant management had prepared him in another way.

Leveraging good communication to go above and beyond

“I think one of the key skills to have in field service is communication,” Amjad explains. “Having good communication skills, feeling confident, and not being afraid to try things is a good combination for field work.”

Field service work started as a side hustle while Amjad built his career in IT consulting and engineering. About a year ago, he made the leap to full-time independent work. Since then, he’s approached every assignment with a business owner’s mindset.

“I’m actually treating it like a business now rather than just a technician working on projects,” he says. “I’m focusing on the business side — giving the best customer service, turning in the work professionally, and making new connections.” That mindset earned him an Exceptional Provider Award in the Above and Beyond category, an honor he didn’t expect.

For Amjad, going above and beyond often comes down to composure and ownership. “Getting stressed out is not going to help at all,” he says. “If something happens, you just fix it instead of having an emotional response.”

The willingness to stay patient, document thoroughly, and push through uncertainty has also helped him expand his skill set. Amjad actively seeks out work that stretches him. “Putting myself in a new situation is the best way for me to learn.”

Advice for independent technicians who are new to field service

For technicians just starting out, Amjad is candid about the realities. Building a reputation takes time, persistence, and humility. He encourages newcomers to treat their profile like a first impression: complete background checks, upload certifications, and present skills professionally. In the beginning, he believes it’s about gaining experience and proving reliability, even if that means accepting lower rates and facing rejection. Strong communication, punctuality, and patience, he says, are what ultimately separate those who succeed from those who give up too soon.

“It’s not going to work out for everybody,” Amjad says. “You have to be mentally strong. You have to be willing to put yourself out there.”

Today, what began as a way to gain experience has evolved into a growing independent business built on trust, professionalism, and a simple philosophy: stay calm, keep learning, and never settle for the bare minimum.

Learn more about Amjad and other 2026 Exceptional Provider Award recipients.