Career Path > Outages

Trying To Get Into Outage Work - No Experience

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jstorm1140:
Hi all,

My friend has been talking to me about outage work for awhile, and its always sounded like a good opportunity. Im 24 and have only done factory work since I was 18. Neither of us has real experience in this field, but we are trying to get our foot in the door and do the traveling roadtech thing. Is this possible with no real experience? And how do we go about getting the jobs? Ive found the websites for some of the companies but they can be a little difficult to navigate.

Any help is appreciated

Already Gone:
Well, lets see.  No experience.  Not able to navigate the websites.  Just what the nuclear industry is looking for.  You are "FRESH MEAT".  That means that you can be trained.  You need to be trained, but at least you may be trainable.

Nobody is going to put up an ad or job posting for entry-level outage work.  Too many applicants already, so why bother paying to attract more?

What you need to do is CALL those companies directly.  You want to be a decontamination technician, but you can't say that because it is a dead giveaway that you have never done it.  You want to say "deconner".  That is where you start.

To get that relatively simple job with no prior training or experience, (you don't really need to be trained for the bulk of it, and the rest of it requires training that they will give you even if you have already had it, so it isn't a problem) you need to have a clean police record and be able to provide a drug-free urine sample that is your own and still inside your body up until donation time.  Meaning --- you can't fool this drug test at all, and you will not pass if you have used drugs any time in the past year.
If any of that is a problem for you, or even if it is "iffy", don't bother.

jstorm1140:
The drug test is no problem, never used never will.

From what else Ive read around here, Ive gathered that you call the companies and ask for the recruiter?

What do I tell them then? Just that I am looking for any deconner positions they have available? Should I not mention that Ive never done it before?

Sorry for all of the questions, my friend made it seem like he knew this process but it turns out he really doesnt have any kind of clue besides finding the websites of the companies that hire for outages....

Already Gone:
Yep.  Call and ask for a recruiter.  It doesn't matter which one.  Tell the recruiter that you will go to any outage that they can't staff.
There is your foot in the door.  The easily staffed outages are easily staffed for a reason.  They won't go to the expense of your initial background investigation when they don't have to.  But, they gladly will if it means getting your body to a site where all the previously badged people are not wanting to go.
A lot of decon jobs pay per diem if you must travel to get there.  A lot do not.
If they are paying per diem for decon, paying even modestly well, and will accept you -- take it.  Take it and don't bitch even once, even if you hate it.  After the outage, decide if you can stomach it again.  If so, welcome to the club.  If not, thanks for trying.  But, DO NOT be the newbie who gets into something new and complains about it.  Nuclear power plant deconner has been rated as one of the best jobs in America.  It pays pretty well for the skills required.  There is lots of overtime when you are working, and lots of unemployment checks to add to it so you can have a nice summer.  There is only as much stress as you put on yourself.  After all, every job is temporary.
It is physical, but not like, say, firefighting or crab fishing.  It is a little more technical than being a janitor but not as gross, because that is what it is with a little added clothing and no clogged toilets to clean.
Try it.  Have fun.  Learn something whenever you can.

Ksheed:

--- Quote from: jstorm1140 on May 12, 2012, 11:49 --- Im 24 and have only done factory work since I was 18.
--- End quote ---
If that 6 years of factory work included maintenance on equipment you have some experience worth mentioning on your resume. You may want to look into applying for a helper position for the maintenance side of things. It is usually broke down to mechanical, electrical, or instrument and controls. Every plant brings in "bucket toters" to help their maintenance shops. The pay is good, and you will gain experience. Most of the companies that supply the HP/RP techs also supply these workers to the plants. Make sure to list any mechanical/electrical experience you have on your resume. Of course, if you have your heart set on being a Rad Tech, deconner is the way to get started. There are other jobs in the nuclear industry that pay as well. It helps if you are doing something that you will enjoy. If there is a plant close to you and you know someone that works there, that can help you out a lot. Ask to use them as a reference. If you know them well, they may be willing to speak to the on-site recruiter on your behalf. Good luck.

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