Advice for getting into Outages

[BigDrew7]

Hello all-


I was looking for any advice to get my foot into nuclear outages. A little background about me. I am 22 years old. I was attending college as an Information Science major. During the summer of 2017 I applied for an internship with Exelon in the Nuclear Application Support IT department. I completed the 10 week internship and was invited to return in the summer of 2018. At the end of the second internship, I was extended for another 4 months, my last day was 12/31/2018.


Unfortunately, due to some issues last semester with grades, I got into a big argument with my father, who was paying for school and got kicked out of the house. Without his financial support I will be unable to finish school so I am looking to get into outages. I have a couple friends that have worked Decon in previous outages and they told me to look into it, so here I am.


Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

[SloGlo]

if yore buddy's are dune outages, talk too them, get there contacts, get on they're cruise, and go make the big bux.

[tagline]

The most important thing to do is build back your relationship with your Father. Outage jobs come and go but Family is always Family. I wish you luck with future employment and finishing school, but first things first. Call your Father, extend the olive branch, and then look for work.
Just my $.02.

[SloGlo]

The most important thing to do is build back your relationship with your Father. Outage jobs come and go but Family is always Family. I wish you luck with future employment and finishing school, but first things first. Call your Father, extend the olive branch, and then look for work.
Just my $.02.

watt he sayed.

[Rennhack]

Unfortunately, due to some issues last semester with grades, I got into a big argument with my father, who was paying for school and got kicked out of the house. Without his financial support I will be unable to finish school.

I started to reply last night, then didn't.  Mostly because I believe that what I had to tell you, you were not going to want to hear. 

You need to be the the mature man you believe yourself to be.  You need to be honest with yourself.  You need to realize that the man with the money, makes the rules.  If you had such an issue with your father, you likely will have a hard time in the nuclear industry.  It is all about doing things you don't agree with.  Things you think are silly, stupid, and a waist of time.  It's about doing what you are told, and then getting a paycheck.

Think about how many hours you father has to work to pay for that education.  Think about what he would like to do for himself with that money.  Consider his sacrifices for you.

I believe your reaction to my statements will be that I don't understand.  I urge you to step back, and reflect.  Search for any truth in my words.

I am looking to get into outages. I have a couple friends that have worked Decon in previous outages and they told me to look into it.

Ok, now that that is off my chest... on to answering your question.

There are sever ways into Decon.  I believe BHI has the exelon contract. 800-225-0385.  Ask your friends that worked decon for the contact info they used.
There are other companies that do decon that also advertise on this site.  Register in the job board and tell it to send you emails when a decon job is posted.

[scotoma]

You didn't say what the argument with dad was about and it is really none of my business, so you don't have to tell. If it concerned something illegal, or something unethical, it could affect your ability to get a clearance for unescorted access in which case this pursuit may be futile. You don't have to tell, just park it in your memory bank.

[ipregen]

Working outages is not like joining the French Foreign Legion. make good with your pops, finish school, study. You'll have more opportunities if you finish.

[TVA]

You didn't say what the argument with dad was about and it is really none of my business, so you don't have to tell. If it concerned something illegal, or something unethical, it could affect your ability to get a clearance for unescorted access in which case this pursuit may be futile. You don't have to tell, just park it in your memory bank.

Huh? You do have to tell..

[shehane]

Rennhack hit it on the nose!

[scotoma]

Sorry, TVA, what I meant is that he does not have to tell the people on the Nukeworker forum.

[homer7g]

Stay in school.  Outage work is long days of manual labor and standing around waiting.  12 hour days, 7 days a week - no break until you're released from that particular outage.  Day or night for 3-4 weeks and off you go to another plant if you feel like joining the traveling circus of outage workers.  The plant employees will hate you by default because just about every safety/OSHA and screw-up is done by an outage contractor (or outage rats as we like to call them)... not to mention the conditions that outage workers leave the locker rooms / bathrooms... parking in our spots, etc.  You're usually working out of temporary trailers or rooms full of picnic tables.  It's crappy, dirty, hot, sweaty work.  But most get good coin and they move on to another job. 

But if you go into outage work - just be respectful of the facilities because the year-round employees have to use them too.  Also - follow the rules, safety is everything and safety comes first, little tolerance for mistakes, never assume anything, don't come in acting like you know it all (you don't), shut up, listen and learn. 

[RDTroja]

... just about every safety/OSHA and screw-up is done by an outage contractor (or outage rats as we like to call them)...

Perhaps that is because they are actually doing something?

[Rennhack]

The plant employees will hate you by default  rats as we like to call them... not to mention the conditions that outage workers leave the locker rooms / bathrooms... parking in our spots, etc. 

I'm guessing you work in Illinois....

[retired nuke]

I'm guessing you work in Illinois....

Could be Pilgrim too.... another s**thole

[hamsamich]

I was treated pretty good at Pilgrim.   Larry Anzalone.  Not about the plant, about the people.

[SloGlo]

...  The plant employees will hate you by default because just about every safety/OSHA and screw-up is done by an outage contractor (or outage rats as we like to call them)... not to mention the conditions that outage workers leave the locker rooms / bathrooms... parking in our spots, etc...

wholly cow! have knot herd a rant like that outta any buddy butt old school union types back inn the ate tees.