Author Topic: Where to start? (Read 20962 times)

AlmostCivilian · « **on:** Apr 20, 2006, 11:11 »

I've been actively looking for job opportunities in the nuke power industry since my 1 year point in the Navy. It seems that most of the jobs posted here are only temporary and I can't find another decent site for jobs. I'm interested in working in North Carolina but am open to other ideas. I've been told that to get a job I have to "know somebody." Is this true? Could someone give a little help?

AlmostCivilian · « **Reply #1 on:** Apr 20, 2006, 11:39 »

Honeycomb,
I get out August 28. I'm an EM2 and will be qualified EWS probably in the next 2-4 weeks. I'm servin my 6 and gettin out. I want to be an operator. I'm open to other possibilities though. I just found a whole new list of forums just for this topic. LOL. ohh well...
Thanks,
Brent

AlmostCivilian · « **Reply #2 on:** Apr 20, 2006, 11:57 »

Jason,
I'm glad this post hasnt gone unnoticed. Any help as to where to start from anyone is much appreciated. I just registered with Bartlett. Hope that was useful...

Brent

Roll Tide · « **Reply #3 on:** Apr 21, 2006, 07:14 »

Brent,
Welcome!
Bartlett would be a good idea if you can work as a Junior RadConTech for the Fall outage season. Many people love to work the outages (Spring and Fall) and then draw unemployment during the off-months. It is good money.
If I remember correctly, Bartlett has more employees at the Duke plants in other things, but I don't think they have electrical maintenance.

You need to check the websites for the companies you would like to work (permanent) very often. Weekly is good for most, but TVA has started posting some on Friday and close on Monday (even on holiday weekends!)

Keep up the work on EWS; it will be valuable when the time comes for moving up to licensed positions.

AlmostCivilian · « **Reply #4 on:** Aug 18, 2006, 07:43 »

I am now 10 days out and still not alot of opportunities. Man, this job searching isn't near as easy as I hoped it would be... Oh well. I qualified EWS and EDPO, not sure if that is gonna help much. We'll see. If anyone has any other ideas about where an electrician might like to go and do, let me know.

Fermi2 · « **Reply #5 on:** Aug 18, 2006, 08:18 »

Why would EWS/EDPO be of any significance?

Mike

ChiefRocscooter · « **Reply #6 on:** Aug 19, 2006, 01:11 »

As harsh as Mike makes it sound,he is actually a nice guy, when TN has a good football team (which is why he has been grumpy for so long) anyway if you just qualified and then got out then you did not stand the watch and thus really have no experience standing it. It is going to show to those who know as you got a kiss goodbye from your boat, kind of like they give everyone a early promote on thier transfer eval evne thought they got a promotable on thier last regular eval!! Not that you did not work hard to get the qual and you most likely know your stuff to get it, but I am not sure how much a "paper" qual will carry. Do you have a degree? What else have you done?

Good Luck
Rob

M1Ark · « **Reply #7 on:** Aug 19, 2006, 10:53 »

You have a great resume for an NLO job. I just checked monster.com and searched for nuclear operator. There are 4 companies hiring as of today. Washington State, NJ, PA and SC. Submit your resumes there and also check hotjobs.com. Don't look to nukeworker.com for operator job leads. This site is for nuclear support staff positions and views and opinions are slanted that way.

PWHoppe · « **Reply #8 on:** Aug 19, 2006, 11:01 »

Quote from: M1Ark on Aug 19, 2006, 10:53

Don't look to nukeworker.com for operator job leads. This site is for nuclear support staff positions and views and opinions are slanted that way.

Not to say don't cover all your bases and check everywhere when looking for jobs. However a quick check of the job board here @ NukeWorker popped up 5 operations jobs being posted.

Good Luck!

scrub · « **Reply #9 on:** Aug 20, 2006, 02:35 »

We're looking to hire AOs now and next year. This years class will start in October so there is still time to test and interview.

I sent you an email with specifics.

ChiefRocscooter · « **Reply #10 on:** Aug 20, 2006, 07:52 »

Why do you think they are having trouble hiring there?

Rob

scrub · « **Reply #11 on:** Aug 20, 2006, 09:46 »

Quote from: ChiefRocscooter on Aug 20, 2006, 07:52

Why do you think they are having trouble hiring there?

Rob

The entrance tests. We lose over 50% of the candidates after the POSS.

ChiefRocscooter · « **Reply #12 on:** Aug 20, 2006, 10:59 »

Wow!! Are any of the one who do not make past test Navy nukes?

Rob

Fermi2 · « **Reply #13 on:** Aug 21, 2006, 08:49 »

The POSS Test usually nails about 60% of the Navy Nukes that take it.

Mike

ChiefRocscooter · « **Reply #14 on:** Aug 21, 2006, 02:01 »

WOW!!! Why so bad? What is it about the test that can knock such a high percentage of people who should already have the basic skills forthe job?

Rob

Fermi2 · « **Reply #15 on:** Aug 21, 2006, 03:10 »

I'm still not sure why people think Navy Nukes have any more basic skills that anyone else to be a successful commercial nuke. Fact is it's not true.

I'm NOT a big fan of the POSS. The intent is to put you in a high pressure situation and make you work quickly. You have to answer a lot of questions quickly in order for it to even be graded, if you don't you fail. It's so Anti Ethical to how a nuke thinks its not even funny, then again as a test of adaptibility I guess it does its job. Most Navy nukes aren't all that adaptable. They become victims of their training and not products of it.

I took the POSS 7 times and completed it everytime but I read and think quickly. During 3 of the times I took it guys I graduated nuke school were there, and I mean guys who did 3.6 or better. I was the only one of the group of guys I knew who passed. Since they were escorted out immediately after the test I don't know what tripped them up.

I think a much harder test is the one that So Cal Edison gave for Chemistry Technician. It was tougher than any Chem test I took in the Navy and as an ELT.

Mike

ChiefRocscooter · « **Reply #16 on:** Aug 21, 2006, 03:49 »

I was going under the basic premsis that the Navy nuke have had to take so many tests and given his (and now adays her) basic educational level they should not be rattled... But I do conceede that they are not used to being really pressed for time on thier tests and I can also imagine that many of them go in blind (assuming they already know it all). If you do not take the tie to look into it (like those of us wanabes here on this board) I guess you could get burned.

I guess the followup question I would have is how many of them knew it was coming and still bombed it, and do you think they were unprepared or uncapable.

On one level I can relate to the basic concept because when I was on recruiting duty I saw several guys kill the coding speed, and math knowledge section but get killed in the Arithmatic Resaoning (alg math). Then another guy would do the oppsite.

Rob

Fermi2 · « **Reply #17 on:** Aug 21, 2006, 05:45 »

I'm just amazed the nuke industry, which stresses good careful work uses a test where speed is the utmost.

As for the guys who failed it... One was a very sharp guy from my nuke school section named Mark P. He had a 3.7 Nuke School Average and I though was one of the brightest people I met in the Navy. When he failed the POSS at DTE it was the 3rd time he'd failed it within a year. So he knew what was coming.

Another guy named Dave, who was a student of mine at Prototype walked into a POSS test without knowing what was gonna be on it, he hadn't been in the industry since 1990, hasn't taken a test since 1989 and damn near aced the thing.

Mike

ChiefRocscooter · « **Reply #18 on:** Aug 21, 2006, 05:53 »

So I guess that means it is a least a good aptitude test for what it tests for! Now as to weather that aptitdue is what is requierd to be a good operator, I will have to defer to your judgement.

I plan on busting my butt to be prepared! I often have trouble with my brain being faster than my hands and mouth so I hope I can over come it. I have read the threads on preping and think most of the key are things I am good at but we shall see.
Hopefully I am more like Dave than Mark!

hamsamich · « **Reply #19 on:** Aug 21, 2006, 06:58 »

Quote from: Broadzilla on Aug 21, 2006, 03:10

I'm still not sure why people think Navy Nukes have any more basic skills that anyone else to be a successful commercial nuke. Fact is it's not true.

that's silly. so you are saying picking anybody off the street and trying to train him to be a Commercial Nuke is going to be just as easy as an Ex-Navy Nuke.? C'mon now, please anybody trying to glean info disregard this post. Let's get real here. Re-Phrase that one or explain it. An Ex-Navy nuke has worked in a nuclear plant whereas some other random guy hasn't even worked with nuclear... i think it is good to have some navy guys and some non-navy guys but you've made a silly statement that you may need to edit, right?

Fermi2 · « **Reply #20 on:** Aug 21, 2006, 09:10 »

Uh No. Why would I edit what I've found to be true? That by the way is not a shot at Navy nukes, I was a Navy nuke and am very proud of it, however in the commercial world I haven't found much difference between the Navy nukes and the people with no previous naval experience. I never once said it wasn't good to have Navy mixed with Non Navy. I'llk take a former deconner without Naval Experience over an EWS just getting out of the navy just about any day.

Mike

ChiefRocscooter · « **Reply #21 on:** Aug 21, 2006, 09:51 »

How about former Navy guys who were conventional operators, I have met quite a few MM (some not even not former nuc rocks) and BT who were sharp operators. Ever run into any?

Rob

hamsamich · « **Reply #22 on:** Aug 21, 2006, 11:14 »

but a former deconner isn't just "anyone else". anyone else means anyone else. I could see your point with a former deconner, he already has commercial experience, that makes sense, but to say I'd take anyone else over a navy nuke seems crazy. maybe that's not what you really meant.

hamsamich · « **Reply #23 on:** Aug 21, 2006, 11:36 »

yeah, I've seen some, rocks and non-rocks. they were all pretty good as far as I can remember.

Rad Sponge · « **Reply #24 on:** Aug 22, 2006, 09:38 »

Let's get back on topic here please. If you want to discuss the merits of new nukes with or without Navy experience based on your personal experience, please start a new thread.

JMK

Author Topic: Where to start? (Read 20962 times)

AlmostCivilian

AlmostCivilian

AlmostCivilian

AlmostCivilian

Fermi2

M1Ark

scrub

scrub

Fermi2

Fermi2

Fermi2

Fermi2

Rad Sponge