Women working outage

[A. Hogan M]

I am a young woman doing research about a career in nuclear and considering working temp jobs in the outage industry (to start out). What types of jobs do women usually have during outages? I'm aware this field is primarily dominated by men. I have previously worked as an admin support full-time for a local nuclear plant. But I am looking to expand my skillset and maybe pick up a trade. I have no prior outage experience and I also do not have any technical or mechanical experience; all of my work experience is administrative. I do have a 4 year degree in economics, but I am on the search for a career in nuclear that provides variety and the potential for travel. Not married, no kids. Just a gal looking for a new career path.

[Marlin]

   First you should not assume that it's a man's world. Coming in with a victim's mentality will not go over well, come in as a coworker giving and expecting respect. Second nuclear is a broad field do some research, if you are wanting to travel that will limit you as an entry level worker. As for not having any technical background that puts you in a deep hole in competition for a position. Have you considered additional education? Your post is a bit vague and unfocused, spend some time browsing some of the getting in threads to get a better idea of what you really want.
   Sorry to be so blunt but it is difficult to help someone who has only a vague idea of what she wants.

[SloGlo]

a. hagan m. first, go modify your poll too allow at least to answers fore each question. second,   often yins wanna due outages without any training oar experience, ya got an uphill trudge. find a company hiring laborers four a plant near yew.

[scotoma]

You say that you worked admin support at a nuclear plant. Contact their HR department, they already know you. They can give you some info or may be able to direct you to someone who does.

[A. Hogan M]

No victim mentality here. Entry level work is fine. I am open to additional education. What types of jobs do women usually have (that you've personally seen) during outages? Are they mostly firewatch, ect.? Again, I have never worked an outage. So far I have only heard of "deconner" and "hp." Although I am not sure what hp workers do. Do women usually work in these positions?

1. Are there other types of entry level work?
2. Are there entry level jobs that are not physically demanding/require a lot of muscle?

[Tabby]

What kind of career are you looking to start, and how about giving a shot at applying for full time permanent jobs? Just curious why the focus on temp jobs?

[Marlin]

What types of jobs do women usually have (that you've personally seen) during outages? Are they mostly firewatch, ect.?

Any and all of them to one degree or another. 

So far I have only heard of "deconner" and "hp." Although I am not sure what hp workers do. Do women usually work in these positions?

1. Are there other types of entry level work?

For outage work on a regular basis not many.

2. Are there entry level jobs that are not physically demanding/require a lot of muscle?

Decon and HP would not be physical in the sense I think you mean but potentially long periods of time in protective clothing and respirators.


Outage work is staff augmentation do not expect to get a cozy job in that situation.


Dosimetry, if there is still a demand for that, may be what you want to get into. It is primarily an admin job. Probably not an easy entry level job to get.

[A. Hogan M]

What kind of career are you looking to start, and how about giving a shot at applying for full time permanent jobs? Just curious why the focus on temp jobs?

I'm curious about temp jobs because I want to stay within nuclear but not be tied down to one place just yet. I'd like to see more of the USA before going permanent. My local nuclear plant is 50 miles away in the desert and I dont want to live here permanently. Just an idea.


Also, how much could someone make a year just working outages?

[A. Hogan M]

Dosimetry, if there is still a demand for that, may be what you want to get into. It is primarily an admin job. Probably not an easy entry level job to get.

I didn' think contract companies hire dosimetry for outages? Seems like more of a permanent job.

[RFaunt]

I didn' think contract companies hire dosimetry for outages? Seems like more of a permanent job.

When I was at Harris in 2015, they had contractors (BHI) in working Sentinel and in the dosimetry office. Not sure how many other places do this as well, but that's fairly recent for context.

[SloGlo]

aye yam thinking that dosimetry temp jobs are taken by friends n family of hp, as they usually were, back in the day.
hp is a technical discipline that now requires education, quals, and time.
decon may knot be taxing via heavy lifting, butt has a strenuous aspect..
it wood be moor simple two get hired as a temp office worker for a contract company whose going to be on sight four the outage.

[Rennhack]

No victim mentality here. Entry level work is fine. I am open to additional education. What types of jobs do women usually have (that you've personally seen) during outages? Are they mostly firewatch, ect.? Again, I have never worked an outage. So far I have only heard of "deconner" and "hp." Although I am not sure what hp workers do. Do women usually work in these positions?

1. Are there other types of entry level work?
2. Are there entry level jobs that are not physically demanding/require a lot of muscle?

There are NO jobs in a nuclear plant that are men only.  My nuclear plant's Plant Manager is a well respected, and very nice Lady.  The pipe-fitter and iron workers unions have very capable ladies in them.  Security has many ladies.  Your remark just dumbfounds me.  I don't know of any department or trade that is male only.

All jobs have an entry level version, and a manager or above version, and many levels in between.  Find something you are interested in, and do that.

You mentioned above the 'typical, foot in the door jobs'.  Those are typically laborers out of the local union.  Some times Deconners are laborers, some times they are specialists.  Fire watch, FME monitor, confined space monitor, etc are typically laborer jobs.  You could join the local laborer union, and travel that way.  You could try other options, but without experience, or a reference, you may have a hard time.

As others mentioned above, talk to the HR at the plant you were at (Why did you leave??) and ask them to help you get an outage job there.  Whatever you get in, try to do that else where.

Nuclear power doesn't have very many jobs that don't require skill and experience. 

[Rennhack]

I didn' think contract companies hire dosimetry for outages? Seems like more of a permanent job.

Yes, many of them do hire help for outages.  In fact, most of them do.  Again, they are going to want some one with experience.  So it's not likely they would give you that job.

[Tabby]

Just to add my own experience as I'm a female that is currently trying to get into the nuke field, don't let your gender limit you.  I recently had a chance to go on a tour in a nuke plant and the first field employee I saw was a female operator. 
I've been working at a fossil power plant for the past four years, I was hired immediately after graduating with a degree in chemistry. There are parts of the job that are physically demanding, but getting the job done is not a problem. If I think I can't perform the job in a safe manner, I have no shame in asking for help.
Look for jobs that interest you first, perhaps take a few courses to compensate for the lack of experience. I am looking for chemistry related jobs, but if I were to do coursework and pursue a different path it would be I&C work.  I have worked closely with I&C technicians on several jobs and it's fascinating work.

[scotoma]

If you have some time, and are bored, you can go to the JOBS heading, Job Seeker sub heading, and select "all Companies. It's right here on Nukeworker. I know that there are a lot of them and only a small percentage may be relevant. There are job listings, and links to their websites. Most websites have an employment section. Unfortunately, many of the low skill or entry level jobs do not get posted because they get filled locally or by nepotism. Happy surfing.

[TVA]

Huh I have seen plenty of women in great jobs

[fiveeleven]

Me too.

[L SQRD]

I am a woman who has been doing nuclear since the late 70's. It was hard for a woman at that time but not now. The best time for you to get your foot in the door is when there is a heavy outage season and recruiters are having a hard time staffing. Ask about entry level jobs. One that comes to mind is fire watch. You may not get paid much at first but you get your clearance and it becomes easier after that. And more advice- show up on time, don't miss work, do the job as well as you can, and don't complain or whine. A good attitude and friendly disposition will get you a long way. Hope this helps.

[SloGlo]

I am a woman who has been doing nuclear since the late 70's. It was hard for a woman at that time but not now. The best time for you to get your foot in the door is when there is a heavy outage season and recruiters are having a hard time staffing.

bean inn lion wit this thought, this f.o.s. (fall outage season) They're are 28 domestic u.s. outages scheduled.