Career Path > Coming Back

Yet another Newbie thinking about getting back into Nuclear power

<< < (2/3) > >>

hamsamich:
I know at Brunswick (97-00) they paid SROs OT, it was the job to have!  Once you became a CRS or STA, you were company cannon fodder.  Salem (00-02) SROs HATED IT because they were just used up.  The only problem with looking for a plant that pays SROs OT is if you find one and get a job and like it there, they could always make SROs salary out of the blue...

Another route to go is become a maint, I & C, HP, Chem Tech or QA guy.  these guys won't make as much as an Operator (SRO) but there is a reason why they pay those guys more, and one of the reasons is rotating shift work is not for everyone, including me.  You could go that route and possibly become a supervisor making 70-90k depending in one of those departments.  Alot of guys work a good amount of OT in one of those depts and make close to 100k.  Some guys work crazy amounts of OT and top the 100k mark.

Getting a lic. isn't for everyone, and I've heard quite a few people complain about getting pigeon holed with one, stuck in ops.  once you get a lic. you have it for better or for worse, USUALLY for the better.  However, the more mobile you are, the more you are in control of your own destiny.  there are plenty of good people stuck with a job they wouldn't stay with if it weren't for the fact that they don't want to move their family.  so if you want to settle down some where and STAY, if the company knows this, they may not let you go where you want to go.

i think getting a lic. is a great way to go if you know what you want, but it isn't for some and for sure not for me.  just an alternative view.

Fermi2:
hamsamich is correct. Before you go up for a license you want to make sure you

1: Want to be a licensed Operator

2: Realize that License can come with handcuffs especially in todays day and age where Licensed Operators and partticularly SROs are at a premium.

3: You know the training program is EXTREMELY wearing and at times exhausting. Your family has to work their schedule around you. You have to work with your family.

4: Post license you better be ready to take heat and justify everything you do, hopefully with a procedure.

5: Remember, you'll get second guessed by a LOT of people who have no clear idea what you or an Operator does, the best thing to do is accept their input realizing everyone wants to be the Star Quarterback but very few of us are willing to face the pass rush.

I never wanted to be anything but a SM so it worked out for me. On the other hand if I was told I had to be an NLO again I'd do that too.

Matt I'll answer your PM later. It was nice hearing from you I'll tell you about my first few days as an SM later bud and shoot ya some advice. Sorry you had such an interesting intro to the SM world!!

Mike

StuckRod:
Gatordad,

I think the senior posters in this thread covered your questions very well.  I just wanted to add another "be wary of Exelon" opinion.  Realize this is an opinion, and not bad blood, but they do tend to work you senseless.  Of course, generalities don't cover the exceptions to the rule!!!

License class is a lot of work.  The toughest part is learning the legal regulations that you will sign your life away on a day to day basis once completed.  The systems will be challenging but surprisingly will make logical sense.....unless you are talking ice condensers....then nobody understands they the ____ they exist.  ;)

Pay, pay, pay....it will come.  Matching your 85K should not be a problem except maybe during your training but I'm not up to speed on the "latest" (past 3 years) SRO salaries.  Nuclear pay has been going up in all industries it seems.

tr:
Another way to look at it is that you are getting your foot into the door at a company with a lot of intersting, high paying jobs.  Once you are in, there is usually a process to try for other jobs within the site/Exelon (not sure as I don't work for Exelon).  Thus, if you get started, and figure out that Ops is not really where you want to be, there is a good chance you can move to another department.  As the others said, Ops can be rewarding, but there are a lot of aspects that some people do not like (shiftwork, unbelievable oversight and monday morning quarterbacking, enormous responsibility, etc.).

Roll Tide:

--- Quote from: tr on May 30, 2007, 05:33 ---Thus, if you get started, and figure out that Ops is not really where you want to be, there is a good chance you can move to another department. 
--- End quote ---

Let me give a disclaimer here: never get an active SRO license if you want to get off-shift. Anyone saying otherwise should be selling swamp land.
If there is an opportunity later on after plant staffing needs have been met...
The plants would love to have previous SROs in many other positions, but it will be after the on-shift needs are met.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page