Wow! I really didn't expect all of this response. I think some have the wrong idea about what I did though. I wasn't being a wise-guy when I asked the question of "What sets yourselves apart from the rest?" I really wanted to know, and feel that every company deserves the chance to sell themselves to me.
As for being thankful that they interviewed me, and that I should take what I can get??? No, no, no, NO!!! I am not looking for a job. I am looking for a career; a place to settle down. I won't take a job that I don't think I will enjoy. I understand that the nuclear world has some form of inner ring of seniority that most fields don't. That doesn't mean that I'm going to accept a position that comes by, just because it's a higher step than most think a new commercial nuke should be offered. I want to work for a company that treats all of it's workers well.
Here is an example of another company's approach. They invited me up to interview for a RO position. After their head of Human Resources called me personally, I was contacted by one of their recruiters. The contact personnel stated that I must have impressed him, because they now wanted to interview me for supervisory positions. I let them know that I was married... I know that sometimes this is not a good idea, but I wasn't going to be taking off my wedding ring for the interview anyway. Well, I'm glad I let them know, because they then invited my wife to join me. I was then contacted by a Realtor that the company set me up with. She wanted to take my wife and I around to different houses and get a feel for the community. I have yet to meet with anyone in this company personally, but I'm already impressed.
I would take a NLO position from this group LONG before considering the other company's offers, even an instant SRO position. "Why?", one might ask. Because, I can earn seniority as time goes by. No matter how much effort and hard work I put into a company, I can't make them better to their employees (Aside from my own part). In the end, all that matters is how happy you are; and, your work environment is a big part of that.
I may or may not end up in a nuclear field. I have no doubt in my mind that the money is vastly superior in the nuclear power sector, but I may not be able to find a career that I can enjoy in it. I can tell you this. Where ever I find a position, they will be glad they hired me. A lot of the reason for this is that I will be happy there, because I was picky. A happy worker is a productive worker; so YES, I will have my tar-tar sauce!
As for comments about EWS not meaning anything... You're wrong. Dead wrong. Anyone who's ever put in the monumental time and effort it takes to qualify knows better. It may not mean that you have anymore experience that directly relates to a civilian position, I don't know. What I do know is that very few of us were offered the chance to pick up the qual card. Even fewer were able to stand before the Captain and prove to him that they had the knowledge and maturity to be the senior person in the Engine Room. Anyone that can do that, myself included, has earned better than to hear that their efforts were nothing. They may not be appreciated, sure. But those who can't appreciate it will be missing out.