Career Path > Getting in

Young and new grad needs advice.

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Quantum:
It is hard to get hired with no experience. That is what college interviewing and career fairs are for. Your best bet is to inquire companies like Exelon or Dominion about any nuclear position openings availalble. Talk to the department supervisors, not HR people. Lately the nuke industry has been on a hiring spree for nuclear engineers, from what I have seen. Once you get your foot in the door it is not hard to laterally move from engineering to ops.

thenuttyneutron:
Just an update.  I interviewed at Davis-Besse and passed the POSS there.  I took their job offer and am in the middle of the hiring process.  I don't know how well I did on the test but I think I nailed it.  I was confident on all the questions I answered and failed to finish the long math part by 4 questions and the graphs part by 8 questions.

I was not to worried about that test because I have raped every standardized test ever thrown at me, but I was worried about my grades.  I worked through school, about 30 hours a week and managed to get a low 2.xx gpa in Nuclear Engineering.  I am so glad they did not ask what my gpa was, they focused more on my extra-curricualar activiteies in school.  During the interview I stood up straight on the edge of my chair, smiled a lot, hammered my point acorss about wanting to learn everything about the industry and kept the answers to the interview questions short and sweet.  I so badly wanted a job and tried to not show that I was ultra desperate on the advice from my dad.

One thing that did puzzle me was the poor preperation of the other people there.  8 people took the test and interviewed.  Only one other person was in a nice suit and tie besides me.  Maybe I am wrong but I got this feeling of an "entitlement attitude" from some of the other people.  It was almost like they did not want the job adn that it was owed to them.

BuddyThePug:

--- Quote from: thenuttyneutron on Jun 27, 2005, 02:42 ---  During the interview I stood up straight on the edge of my chair, smiled a lot, hammered my point acorss about wanting to learn everything about the industry and kept the answers to the interview questions short and sweet.  I so badly wanted a job and tried to not show that I was ultra desperate on the advice from my dad.

One thing that did puzzle me was the poor preperation of the other people there.  8 people took the test and interviewed.  Only one other person was in a nice suit and tie besides me.  Maybe I am wrong but I got this feeling of an "entitlement attitude" from some of the other people.  It was almost like they did not want the job and that it was owed to them.

--- End quote ---

You hit on some key points. Interviewing is a lot like dating. Looking interested and attentive, with appropriate level of ey contact is great. Being desperate, staring at the interview panel like a hungry dog and waiting to hear "you're hired" like some cheesy TV show, will almost certainly ruin your interview. Your dad gave very good advice there.  Sitting on the edge of the chair gives good posture, which shows an interviewer your energy and alertness. Slouching is always a no-no. Overdressing for an interview may look a bit silly, but nowhere near the downside of underdressing. I always like to dress one paygrade higher than the job for which I'm applying; even though operators don't wear a suit and tie in the control room, a tie , good shirt and some sort of jacket would be a good idea. Dressing, speaking and behaving like a knowledgeable professional works to one's favor. Good luck and good hunting!

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