New grads getting hired at nearly 100% rate?

[automodeler@comcast.net]

I was a Navy nuke, ELT, then worked at Hanford as Sr RCT, have DOE core and NUF exam, Bachelors in Science and can't find an opening.

How can this be?

www.gaffneyledger.com/news/2008-05-14/​front_page/001.html (Grads of radiation protection tech program find instant employment)

or

http://chronicle.augusta.com/latest-news/2010-04-22/aiken-tech-grads-head-jobs (Sixteen graduates of Aiken Technical College's radiation protection program will enter the work force - mostly at Savannah River Site - six months ahead of schedule.)

Just to clarify, I'm not picky. I tell the recruiters I'll go anywhere, anytime, for any position. Global, domestic, etc.

[cheme09]

In case you've forgotten, we are less than two months away from 2012.

[automodeler@comcast.net]

Your point being that the market has changed?

I agree it has changed, but has it been that drastic of a change from 2-3 years ago?

If so, how long before it picks back up? Any guesses

[HydroDave63]

I was a Navy nuke, ELT, then worked at Hanford as Sr RCT, have DOE core and NUF exam, Bachelors in Science and can't find an opening.

How can this be?

www.gaffneyledger.com/news/2008-05-14/​front_page/001.html (Grads of radiation protection tech program find instant employment)

or

http://chronicle.augusta.com/latest-news/2010-04-22/aiken-tech-grads-head-jobs (Sixteen graduates of Aiken Technical College's radiation protection program will enter the work force - mostly at Savannah River Site - six months ahead of schedule.)

Just to clarify, I'm not picky. I tell the recruiters I'll go anywhere, anytime, for any position. Global, domestic, etc.

Paying for the development of newly minted RP locals eliminates the whole "can't find decent local housing/momma don't like the weather/the recruiter lied about paying for the move/I'm worth 3x what this place is paying/I'm gonna drag up and go to a plant next to a nice sunny beach/I'm gonna go take a POSS test at Plant Bulldog because Ops pays big and I was a Navy nuke, what's on the POSS test anyways?"  drama that the HR departments have endured for the last 30 years.

When will it pick up? 2003. That's when there were more jobs than techs, with major projects coast-to-coast. Or 2023, when enough of us from catering-truck induced arteriosclerosis go <MDA. Until then, the best job postings are found on a Google search of 'nuclear jobs', and the first non-sponsored link leads one back..... to Nukeworker!

[Fermi2]

Virtually every plant in the country is adopting a TVA style 60 mile rule. Also the utilities are assisting with Nuclear Entry courses at various community colleges as it makes pure economical sense and in the long run saves them money.

[mdanner423]

There isn't a nuclear power plant close to me, so it's going to be pretty hard to get a job as someone who doesn't live close?

--Matthew

[HydroDave63]

There isn't a nuclear power plant close to me, so it's going to be pretty hard to get a job as someone who doesn't live close?

--Matthew

Not saying it is fair, just saying how it is.

[jams723]

Virtually every plant in the country is adopting a TVA style 60 mile rule. Also the utilities are assisting with Nuclear Entry courses at various community colleges as it makes pure economical sense and in the long run saves them money.

But not all utilities... And it also depends on the position. Entergy still looks outside 60 miles.

[automodeler@comcast.net]

The 60 mile rule applies to house techs not outage work, right?

[Fermi2]

But not all utilities... And it also depends on the position. Entergy still looks outside 60 miles.

Agreed but as a rule utilities are going that route!

[Already Gone]

Outage work is seasonal.  You're not going to get work when there are no outages.  If you need steady employment, you should look at taking a house gig.  Those might be tough too, since it's getting easier to grow their own than to hire out-of-town help.

Broaden your field a little.  Depending on where and when you look, there are often more openings in operations, training, QC, or maintenance than RP.  They might be willing to go beyond 60 miles if you are willing to move at your own expense.