ELT getting out at six years, looking for a NLO position I think.

[Zor]

First of all thanks for putting this website together. I feel better off already and I've just been lurking and reading previous posts. I'm getting out of the sub force after six years and it's time to start looking for jobs. I've read that I need a resume that makes me "stand out". Can anyone give me some advice on how to make myself "stand out" in a good way? I am not EWS qualified. Is that going to set me back? And I read that Palo Verde was on a hiring freeze sometime back for operators, is that still the case? And I guess my last question is do all plants post ads for operator positions? As I look through the job boards I see a lot of listings for engineers, planners, instructors and a lot of other high paying/high level of experience positions, but I don't see a lot of entry level positions. Can anyone help me get my foot in the door.

Thanks in advance,
Zor

[Flyer760]

San Onofre, northwest corner of San Diego County, will be starting to hire a new Operator class in the Spring. We usually get about 20-25 Operators for each class. You can do a web search online, www.edisonjobs.com. Search for Southern California Edison jobs and then wade through the menu and search on Nuclear Gen. There are several other openings now for supervision, and management.

[IPREGEN]

Even though it's a nuke forum does not mean you have to limit yourself to that. You can search any utility for a job. Resume - Make sure you include you computer competencies such as MS Word, Excel and such. Include any projects you were tied to that would showcase your abilities. Also when it comes time to interview brush up on the BEI format for an interview. It's pretty much standard questions that get asked. A couple of links for this http://www.asisvcs.com/bellsouth/pdf/710057.pdf
http://jobsearchtech.about.com/od/gettingthejob/a/Interviewing_3.htm

The first link is basic tips, the second is pretty much exactly what is asked.

Good luck

[Zor]

Thanks for the links guys.

[Adam Grundleger]

Interested in anything other than ops?  I might have something for you.  PM me for details.

[Zor]

San Onofre, northwest corner of San Diego County, will be starting to hire a new Operator class in the Spring. We usually get about 20-25 Operators for each class. You can do a web search online, www.edisonjobs.com. Search for Southern California Edison jobs and then wade through the menu and search on Nuclear Gen. There are several other openings now for supervision, and management.

I searched the site and I can't find anything that looks like an operator position. I saw some stuff for nuclear electrician, is that the job that's classing up? Or am I missing it altogether?

[Madcow43]

I searched the site and I can't find anything that looks like an operator position. I saw some stuff for nuclear electrician, is that the job that's classing up? Or am I missing it altogether?

They don't have any NLO positions posted at the moment.  The nuclear electrician is a maintenance position.  I've been watching SONGS, Diablo Canyon, and Palo Verde recently, trying to get back to southwest and back into the nuclear field.

[Zor]

I'm trying to go to the southwest also. I'm open to other areas since my goal is to have work when I get out, but I'm partial to the southwest. Does anyone on here work at Palo Verde? If so, are they going to be hiring for any NLO positions in the near future?

[M1Ark]

I read that Palo Verde was on a hiring freeze sometime back for operators, is that still the case?

No.  Hasn't been true in quite a while.  Utilities hire classes once a year.  You have to figure out each utilities hiring time.  Palo Verde likes to start NLO classes in March but they'll start to look in the fall.  They already have a large stack of resumes for the 2010 class.  They are just gathering right now and haven't actually started screening them.

[Zor]

No.  Hasn't been true in quite a while.  Utilities hire classes once a year.  You have to figure out each utilities hiring time.  Palo Verde likes to start NLO classes in March but they'll start to look in the fall.  They already have a large stack of resumes for the 2010 class.  They are just gathering right now and haven't actually started screening them.

That's intimidating. A stack of resumes already and they haven't even listed it yet. How do I get my resume in that stack? and what can I do to increase my chances of an interview?

[M1Ark]

That's intimidating. A stack of resumes already and they haven't even listed it yet. How do I get my resume in that stack? and what can I do to increase my chances of an interview?

Don't worry.  Most of the people on that stack has already moved on.  Submit your resume and you'll more than likely get called.

[jkgordon]

I work for B&W in Lynchburg, Va. My manager is looking for up to three new technicians. We do work primarily for the nuclear utilities. My manager would prefer ELTs, but we will consider all former navy nukes.

If you email me a resume, jkgordon@babcock.com I will forward it.

Don't worry about polishing it too much. I did 12 years as a mechanic on subs an I work with 5 former ELTs. We'll know what your qualifications, just highlight any special schools, skills etc.

Ken Gordon
former MM1/SS

[Stngray]

Palo Verde is starting to hire AO's now for next years class. Class should start around March 2010. The career page is down for a couple hours for maintenance, so I will edit this post later and provide a direct link. If you want to find it in the meantime, its www.pinnaclewest.com , and click on the careers link.

[Zor]

I just applied at Palo Verde. I haven't heard back from anyone else yet. Can anyone give me a timeframe that you might get a callback?

[jowlman]

There are more things to consider than power plant positions. I have recently been hired to tech at the Nevada Test Site. They had more positions posted since I was hired. You can look them up here if you are interested. The company is National Security Technologies. I hope that this helps..........Fred

[Stngray]

I just applied at Palo Verde. I haven't heard back from anyone else yet. Can anyone give me a timeframe that you might get a callback?

When I got hired here, it was a couple months after applying that I recieved a call. They interview in batches, so it could be awhile until you hear anything.

[Zor]

Thanks stngray. I'll try to be patient. I'm in TAP class this week. Are there any questions I should ask during TAP? or any information I should be specifically looking for?

[JustinHEMI05]

97% of TAP was useless to me. Of particular interest and usefulness, however, was the resume writing and VA transitional info.

Justin

[Neutron_Herder]

Agree with Justin...  For the most part TAP was a complete waste.  The resume writing stuff was pretty good, and the VA info is great. 

More than anything get contact info for the people involved.  Especially DAV, VA and the workforce development people if they're there.  You're going to have questions later, and if you have their contact info you can ask them!

Jay

[Timmy85]

Thanks stngray. I'll try to be patient. I'm in TAP class this week. Are there any questions I should ask during TAP? or any information I should be specifically looking for?

Best thing to do in TAPs class is to take the books and handouts to use as tools for writing you resume, and skip the rest of the classes.  I used my time to look for jobs rather than sit in a room listen to someone waste man hours who gets paid by the government for doing, what, I am not certain.  How do you get that job?

In summary, learn how to write resumes and take a paid week off.

[Zor]

Thanks guys,

So far I am getting the same vibe. I've got all the handouts and I wrote down all the VA, unemployment, department of labor and so on websites in one notebook so they are all together. If anyone has gotten out and wants an updated list of all these websites and contact info let me know since I should have the most up to date info.

Also I've scheduled an appointment with the VA to see if I am entitled to any disability or other compensation.

Well, back to the job search.

Zor

[Adam Grundleger]

The company I work for has three hot-fill positions for the midwest, one non-nuke and two nuke.  There are several others that I don't have details on yet.  The work is independent third party inspections and it's been a good deal so far.  You'd need to be hot on welding technology, NDE, and QA/QC admin, but it's a cinch to pick up that stuff if you can hack the Navy nuke program/fleet (Boiler techs, HTs, etc. welcome, too.)  PM me for details.  Decent money, good benefits, a little boring but mostly not too hard.

P.S.:  I'm not a recruiter, but the company needs people.  Yes, I get a bird-dog for bringing people in, but I'm mostly putting this out there because it took me a while to find this job and I wish someone had posted about it while I was job hunting.

[Nuclear NASCAR]

The company I work for has three hot-fill positions for the midwest, one non-nuke and two nuke. 

Have they considered posting them here on Nukeworker?  We have this really nice jobs board. 

[Adam Grundleger]

I have tried, but they have a really conservative attitude.  Translation:  I don't work at home office, therefore I should concentrate on field work.  Sooner or later they'll catch on.  In the meantime I'm just trying to help people who are now where I once was.  It's a good gig.  

[Zor]

Thanks for everyone's help and recommendations. I've been invited to take the POSS at Palo Verde at the end of the month. I also heard back from First Energy in Stratton, Ohio to take their test. How many plants did you guys test at? The reason I ask is that Palo Verde is covering my travel and accomadations and First Energy is not. If I take more tests I see myself racking up a bunch of travel expenses right before I have to sell a house and move. Is this normal? Well its time to study. I've looked at the info on this website and others and I think I should be sufficiently prepared when the day comes.

Zor