I'm not looking to skip NLO. Basically if they were to ask me "where do you see yourself in five years?" my answer would be somewhere along the lines of, "about to head off to RO classes, somewhere in RO classes, or maybe just finishing up RO classes."
It's not unreasonable to figure on getting hired into operations, spending 8-10 months training in classes for NLO, then spend 12-24 months working as an NLO, and then spend 24 months in RO/license classes, and thus becoming an RO about 4-5 years after the time of initial hire, is it?
When I interviewed at Peach Bottom in December, they asked me the "Where do you see yourself in five years?" question and my response was pretty much word for word the same as yours. I had a lot going for me already, so I doubt this answer alone got me the job, but I know that right now having a desire to go to the room is a good thing if you're looking to get hired as an NLO.
As far as a timeline of progression, my EO class is slated to go 15 months. I believe the minimum time before you can start license class is 36 months, and license class itself lasts 18 months here. I'm looking at 6-7 years (minimum) from initial hire to sitting on a hot license. Class lengths may vary wherever you get hired, but I'm pretty sure the 36 months on the floor is industry standard.
Of course, I'm still just a nub in this industry, so if someone more senior tells you that everything I just wrote is BS, I'd listen to them.
