Career Path > Nuclear Operator

Potential OPS Job for a Newbie - Advice Needed

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JustinHEMI05:

--- Quote from: robby on Jan 24, 2008, 01:21 ---This is my first post here, so go easy on me. I’ve been reading as much as I can on this board, but it’s like trying to get a drink from a fire hose.

My background: I'm an ex-Navy nuke (EOOW-qualified) with a B.S. and an M.S. in engineering, and a licensed professional engineer (not in nuclear engineering, though). I'm currently working as an engineer for a civil/environmental consulting firm.

I’ve been getting sick of the consulting business, so I passed a resume along to a friend who works in Operations at a plant here in the northeast. I've now got an interview set up for a potential job in OPS.

I'm told (via my friend) that the plant is potentially looking to hire me for an STA position that could ultimately lead to a licensed operator position. I'm told that I'd work in OPS for a few months until the next class starts, which then takes a year or so. I'd then be back in OPS.

I’d very much appreciate any insight as to what to expect in this process. This would obviously be a career change for me. I'm wondering if I'm facing a pay cut while going through the training process. (I currently make ~$70K/year). What do plants typically pay people in the training pipeline? What do non-licensed STAs get paid? (For that matter, is this a good career path in the nuclear industry?)

My other options are to stay in consulting (which I hate) or to take a pending offer with a public water/sewer utility. The offer at the water/sewer utility is attractive, as far as pay and schedule is concerned (~$75K salary, 8-5 schedule, no overtime, no weekends), but the work sounds fairly mundane.

The nuclear work sounds really interesting, and the potential pay sounds excellent, but I've gathered that the OPS schedule can be grueling. My friend tells me they do 12-hour rotating shifts. I liked being a Navy nuke, except for the schedule. I never really considered the civilian nuclear industry before, because I thought the field was in decline. This seems to be changing, though.

I’ve read on these forums that people recommend working OPS at least for a couple of years, then look into other options if desired. I’m sure I don’t want to be on rotating shifts the rest of my life, so one thought I had was looking into an instructor position down the line. (Do operator instructors get paid well?) My last assignment in the Navy was teaching at a Navy school, which I liked a lot and was very good at.

Finally, do you all like the nuclear industry? Are you happy with your career choice? What would you do if you were in my shoes?

Sorry for the long post. Thanks for any assistance, and I’ll keep on reading the boards, too.

--- End quote ---

Robby my friend, the sky is the limit for you. All you need to do is figure out what YOU want to do in this industry, and go for it. Be it ops or engineering, there are great opportunities for someone with your qualifications. It really is up to you like the other said though... all depending on the kind of life you want to lead. In any case, you will WAY better off than you are now.

As you have stated, for jobs like operations instructor, it is best if you operated the plant first. You will make less money as an instructor, but your life will be easier too.

To answer your closing questions; I love my job, I am now happy with my career choice, and if I were you, I would go ops.

Good luck!

Justin

jjordan:
robby,
Progress Energy have lots of Engineering and Operator jobs currently posted. The plants are Shearon Harris near Raleigh NC, Brunswick at Southport NC, H.B. Robinson in Hartsville SC, and Crystal River 3 in Crystal River FL. Pretty  good areas to live and work in. Here is their employment link.

http://www.progress-energy.com/aboutus/employment/postings/jobs.asp

JJ 8)

robby:
Thanks for the replies, everyone. I got the offer from the water/sewer utility, and have decided to take it. If it doesn't work out, or I don't like it, I may reconsider the nuclear industry down the line.

B.PRESGROVE:
AAHHH, thats a load of "Crap" ;).  Good luck though on your job.

Don Obiyae:
I have questions about salary etiquette. The first job I was offered out of the Navy was little better pay than military, but I discovered soon after that I could have obtained more based on the set range and my quals. I was just too scared to ask. Now I'm in the market again.

What about ops or training jobs like Instructors, SRO, and Instant SRO? When someone is given an offer at  "x" salary, is it normal to negotiate/counter offer in the "nuke" world, or is it taboo?

I don't want to sound greedy or petty. I am just not sure if pay rates are locked in or flexible. If the former, I can deal with it because the pay (short and long term) is great. But if it's the latter, I see know reason why one shouldn't try to get the most they can for the job they can do. Thanks for any help on this matter.

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