Author Topic: Trying to make the jump from radtech to supervisor. (Read 17018 times)

Lip2303 · « **on:** Jun 08, 2012, 03:29 »

I am trying to make the jump from technician to supervisor right now. I am looking for advice on ways to make myself more attractive to companies and even resume advice if someone would be willing to rip mine apart. I will post the highlights....any advice would be appreciated.

Navy Engineering Laboratory Technician - only served 3 years 7 months due to medical issues, discharged honorably.
Department of Energy D&D sites (Hanford and West Valley) - 2 years of high contamination and high dose experience.
Private Nuclear Waste Facility - 1 year (current job)
NRRPT since Feb 2011
BSAST from TESC in Nuclear Engineering Technology (I know...no ABET)
Working towards Masters from TESC (money works with GI bill so I dont pay)

My self assesment says that I would need commercial power plant experience (ie work some outages) to get into power plants. Is it a lack of experience that is currently hurting me? Poor resume (I can post if needed)? Or further qualifications? Thanks!

retired nuke · « **Reply #1 on:** Jun 08, 2012, 04:35 »

So far, all you have is skills describing a potentially good tech.

Nothing showing leadership, ownership, or contribution above the neck.

Take charge of a project. Do something above and beyond. NRRPT and a degree shows you can take tests. I know this because I have the same credentials... although mine are a couple decades old...

Stand up and grab something by the horns. That will help make the jump. Or leave bloody holes in your midsection and backside from said horns...

edited to add:
I'll add one other thing - ability to deal with people. People skills are even more important than technical expertise. The ability to get people to do their best, when you are not watching, is unbelievably important. I don't have it... usually my people skill is gone by 0930. That's why I stick to technical specialist - I can plan, write, identify problems, and work out solutions. But I'm grumpy, and don't deal well with the shallow end of the gene pool.
I was reminded of this last nite, as I watched my stepson (class VP, Honor Society, Drama Club, Football Captain, etc) graduate from HS. He has these skills. In bushels. Made me humble....

Good luck

let-it-ride · « **Reply #2 on:** Jun 08, 2012, 04:53 »

Most of my experience has shown that supervisors and site coordinators got their positions for being loyal to the company (contract) or being in the good old boy network.
With that said, I think most of the time they did a good job. However it is almost impossible to get in to their ranks.
I was made an HP supervisor when I was a Sr. for less than 3 years. Why? Not that I was smarter and a better tech. (I think I was a better tech that was willing to put in the work)
I was made a supervisor because of my past career. I was lucky that I could use my past management and people skills to benefit the company. I was a supervisor for 3 outages and was given summer jobs with supervisor pay.
Try to do the best job you can and do more than is asked. If a job starts at 12, be ready and set up at 11:30. Anticipate what will be required and what problems could arise. Always have whatever supplies at hand. I lost count of the times the crew come to a job and are not ready. Don't let them say "HP Holdup".
You may or may not get the chance to supervise, but you will be a good tech that at the end of the shift can leave knowing you are one of the few.

Lip2303 · « **Reply #3 on:** Jun 09, 2012, 07:13 »

I am very aware that in some places it's not what you know, but who you know. I appreciate the first reply and will try to distinguish myself in another way that shows leadership. I had leadership positions while going through power school and prototype, but I don't know if those things would be worth anything. The problem with my current position is that two of the three supervisors are only in their position because they have been loyal (based on knowledge and leadership skills they should not be there). I do not want to wait around for something to happen and possibly move up in 5-10 years. It seems like I need to find a house position at a plant or company I would like to be at for a long time or retire from and try to move my way up internally. Thanks again!

GLW · « **Reply #4 on:** Jun 09, 2012, 08:24 »

Quote from: Lip2303 on Jun 09, 2012, 07:13

I am very aware that in some places it's not what you know, but who you know.....

Obviously you know somebody as you need 5 years to sit for the NRRPT and based on your experience as you posted it here you barely have it now, so somebody you know went out on a limb for you concerning the 5 year requirement before you sat for the test.

Quote from: Lip2303 on Jun 09, 2012, 07:13

....The problem with my current position is that two of the three supervisors are only in their position because they have been loyal (based on knowledge and leadership skills they should not be there).....

Again, based on time, you should not be NRRPT, I know for a fact there are a lot of people who would have a problem with that current situation. When the "who you know" pendulum swings in your favor and you take it, don't begrudge others when that pendulum works for them.

I couldn't care less, but, I may observe it, but I don't care.

Your self assessment is right, you do not have the experience, and working "some" outages is not going to make it happen. There are a lot of NRRPT, former NNPP, degreed people serving in the Health Physics and Radiation Protection discipline with decades of experience in front of you. Folks cognizant in REMP/RETS, Dose Reconstruction, Refueling, Large Component Removal and Inspection, ALARA, SSC, Instrumentation, Dosimetry, "Count Room", and too many others to bother listing. You are not going to beat out any of those people for a supervisor job based on merit, not until they all retire or leave the RP/HP workforce.

You will probably make supervisor within 5 to 10 years if you really want to because you're going to take the job for cheap and you do not have to actually be the best RP or HP type out there to be an effective supervisor. The "man" likes a cheap, effective supervisor, most times he likes a loyal, effective supervisor just as much. And there's really nothing wrong with that either, with guys like HouseDad et al backing you up you can only really screw up if they let you, and the vast majority are too professional to let that happen, even if you deserve it and a part of them wants to let it happen.

This was also knocked around a bit some time ago;

http://www.nukeworker.com/forum/index.php/topic,25273.0.html#top

Good luck, it's good to have a goal,...

Lip2303 · « **Reply #5 on:** Jun 09, 2012, 09:21 »

I understand what you are trying to say, but when I took the NRRPT test I had three years and my Bachelors degree. The NRRPT gives two years of experience for a Bachelors degree. Nothing "swung my way" for that. I do appreciate your input and will take what you said and try to use that as well.

ArthurRyan · « **Reply #6 on:** Jun 10, 2012, 01:04 »

You are exactly right Mr.Lip. It's not what you know, but who you know. HP I have been working with for 6 months, only 21 years old, shows up late all the time, gets busted for sleeping all the time, and hasn't got a clue what he's doing. They were going to get rid of him, now he's the our supervisor!? Does not have a degree. To beat it all, because he only has 6 months experience, he's not even considered a Sr yet. The reason they gave for this conclusion: he has great leadership qualities.... So he went from getting fired to our HP supervisor pretty much over the weekend. We soon found out, that he just married the RSO's daughter?

Good Stuff! But, hey I'm just lucky to have a job!

RRhoads · « **Reply #7 on:** Jun 10, 2012, 10:15 »

Quote from: Lip2303 on Jun 09, 2012, 09:21

I understand what you are trying to say, but when I took the NRRPT test I had three years and my Bachelors degree. The NRRPT gives two years of experience for a Bachelors degree. Nothing "swung my way" for that. I do appreciate your input and will take what you said and try to use that as well.

For what its worth, an not trying to offend, but as the previous posted stated, you are barely a 3.1 Sr HP and you want to be a HPS??
My advice would be to get more experience in the Commercial world (if thats where you are trying to be a HPS)....Dont know where there are many DOE HP Supervisor postions available.
Would you be comfortable with your current level of experience being the Supervisor of Technicians with 20+ yrs experience??

Lip2303 · « **Reply #8 on:** Jun 10, 2012, 11:35 »

That is something I have thought about and discussed. I work with a 30 year senior who worked half his time in commercial and half in DOE. He told me I should consider trying for supervisor positions. I will always have more to learn, but I feel confident in my ability. There are always supervisors with less experience than techs simply because some techs never want to be supervisors. I appreciate your advice and don't take offense at all. I am looking for tech positions at commercial power plants as well so I can move up internally.

Marlin · « **Reply #9 on:** Jun 10, 2012, 02:42 »

Quote from: Lip2303 on Jun 10, 2012, 11:35

That is something I have thought about and discussed. I work with a 30 year senior who worked half his time in commercial and half in DOE. He told me I should consider trying for supervisor positions. I will always have more to learn, but I feel confident in my ability. There are always supervisors with less experience than techs simply because some techs never want to be supervisors. I appreciate your advice and don't take offense at all. I am looking for tech positions at commercial power plants as well so I can move up internally.

It is a misconception that the best or most experienced technician/mechanic/operator is the best candidate for supervision, management, or engineer. They are not the same job, a supervisor in some cases may not even have experience in the area of expertice he is supervising. Supervision is the first step into the management world of people management and lifting your head above the day to day tasks toward the big picture. As a supervisor it is probably healthy to think that there is far more experience and knowledge in your work force as a whole and potentially with individuals to perform your job effectively.

One might add that some of the traits of a good supervisor or manager are innate but may be acquired to a degree through experience and training.

HydroDave63 · « **Reply #10 on:** Jun 10, 2012, 03:23 »

Quote from: Marlin on Jun 10, 2012, 02:42

They are not the same job, a supervisor in some cases may not even have experience in the area of expertise he is supervising.

That model may have worked for Mullally going from Boeing and saving Ford, but bear in mind Mullally brought decades of experience in how every aspect of Boeing worked, and was competent in applying similar efficiencies in supply chain and production pipeline to save Ford.

In the context of this conversation in a general sense, light-speeding the promotion to management of people with lesser time on the taskset and possibly not even competent in all aspects of the position description is not only illogical, but probably a wide-open opportunity EEOC complaint by others passed up, either for age or other demonstrated preference. Let's think about it, what do you communicate to the entire rest of that workgroup..."none of y'all could EVER be as good a supervisor as this here new fella". That shows a failure of management to develop its internal workforce, a failure to motivate the crews and also betrays management's lust for youth and/or personal relationships.

What would W. Edwards Deming do ?!?

Marlin · « **Reply #11 on:** Jun 10, 2012, 04:31 »

Quote from: HydroDave63 on Jun 10, 2012, 03:23

That model may have worked for Mullally going from Boeing and saving Ford, but bear in mind Mullally brought decades of experience in how every aspect of Boeing worked, and was competent in applying similar efficiencies in supply chain and production pipeline to save Ford.

In the context of this conversation in a general sense, light-speeding the promotion to management of people with lesser time on the taskset and possibly not even competent in all aspects of the position description is not only illogical, but probably a wide-open opportunity EEOC complaint by others passed up, either for age or other demonstrated preference. Let's think about it, what do you communicate to the entire rest of that workgroup..."none of y'all could EVER be as good a supervisor as this here new fella". That shows a failure of management to develop its internal workforce, a failure to motivate the crews and also betrays management's lust for youth and/or personal relationships.

I said some supervision, in context of a varied work force and minimal management staff there will frequently be that situation. For example a small HP staff supporting a small project could easily have a tech with primarily countroom/spectrography experience, one with a lot of field experience in surveys and job coverage, and one with primarily a dosimetry background. Which should be the supervisor? The pick would not relate to the experience but to the acumen of the individuals to lead and the emphasis on project goals.

Quote from: HydroDave63 on Jun 10, 2012, 03:23

What would W. Edwards Deming do ?!?

As a statistician he would have taken into account the population being evaluated.

Lip2303 · « **Reply #12 on:** Jun 11, 2012, 11:27 »

Some things I am going to try and do (from the comments given to me)....

I am taking the Safety Trained Supervisor exam
Talking to my RSO to see if I can be a permanent member of our Radiation Safety Committee
Thinking of joining our company Safety Committee and possibly become an officer

GLW · « **Reply #13 on:** Jun 11, 2012, 11:31 »

Quote from: Lip2303 on Jun 09, 2012, 09:21

I understand what you are trying to say, but when I took the NRRPT test I had three years and my Bachelors degree. The NRRPT gives two years of experience for a Bachelors degree. Nothing "swung my way" for that. I do appreciate your input and will take what you said and try to use that as well.

Okay, I'll take that at what you say it is, we're good....

Quote from: Lip2303 on Jun 11, 2012, 11:27

Some things I am going to try and do (from the comments given to me)....

I am taking the Safety Trained Supervisor exam
Talking to my RSO to see if I can be a permanent member of our Radiation Safety Committee
Thinking of joining our company Safety Committee and possibly become an officer

None of that can hurt,...

SloGlo · « **Reply #14 on:** Jun 11, 2012, 01:22 »

Quote from: Lip2303 on Jun 08, 2012, 03:29

I am trying to make the jump from technician to supervisor right now. My self assesment says that I would need commercial power plant experience (ie work some outages) to get into power plants. Is it a lack of experience that is currently hurting me? Poor resume (I can post if needed)? Or further qualifications? Thanks!

you want to be supervisor? put in for supervisory positions only. reright your resume for supervisor postions, put tek stuff in a generic 'experience' listing; same for certs and school- 'education'.

AuraReagan · « **Reply #15 on:** Mar 03, 2016, 05:15 »

I agree adding a bit of more skills will be a great help.

Laundry Man · « **Reply #16 on:** Mar 03, 2016, 07:06 »

Prior to my current position which is great, I was a Rad Engineer (house) working for a major utility. Seeing what the supervisors had to go through you couldn't pay me enough to take that position. I put in my notice on Friday afternoon and that evening my supervisor called that evening and asked if we could meet with HR Monday morning. Of course I said. They offered me a $10k raise and outlined my progression path to Rad Engineering Manager. I already worked way more than enough and knowing how much my manager worked I had no inclination to accept their offer. Fortunately I work 40 hours a week now and no weekends unless I am traveling. Be wary what you ask for.
LM