Supporters of nuclear energy claim that it is a safe and sustainable energy source that not only reduces carbon emissions, but also lowers our dependence on foreign oil. However, critics have had a hard time accepting nuclear power as truly environmentally friendly. While they have never disputed its obvious efficiency, they contend that radioactive waste storage can have deleterious effects on the environment.
But as the saying goes, you can't stop progress. And until something cheaper and more efficient comes along, nuclear power is clearly the most effective energy source available to us. That is why the industry is growing, especially overseas. France, for example, gets nearly eighty percent of its electricity from nuclear power, and China plans to build 100 new power plants over the next few decades.
Though the United States hasn't built a new power plant in more than a decade, plans to build thirty new plants are currently being discussed. As you can see, the worldwide trend seems to be headed toward nuclear power, which is a safer and more efficient energy producer than any other method we now know.
In the next few paragraphs we will be discussing employment opportunities in the field.
The first concern most people have when it comes to working in a power is of course safety. They many also want to know what power plants do. Well, that's easy-they use nuclear fission to produce electricity.
Getting back to the safety question, the answer is yes, they are safe. In fact, there have only been a handful of incidents at power plants over the past decade, and no one was hurt or injured during any of them.
Nuclear Power Plant Jobs
Nuclear power plants need qualified teams of responsible individuals to ensure that everything runs smoothly and that production levels are met. As you might expect, working in a power plant is a position that carries with it a great deal of responsibility. Though plants have demonstrated their safety over the years and there is minimal risk of a serious incident, lawmakers and officials don't play around when it comes to nuclear power; and even a small hiccup in operations could result in an indefinite shutdown.
That is why the job screening process at nuclear power plants is extremely rigorous. Whether you are applying for a position as a shift supervisor, control room operator, load dispatcher, or for an administrative job, you can expect to be thoroughly vetted.
Because experience is an absolute, job opening for nuclear power plants are almost never advertised. The company almost always promotes from within because they need to know that the entire staff is cognizant of all safety rules and regulations.
So, what do they do when they need to hire something new? Well, since they don't advertise, most new hires are the result of referrals from experienced employees. That means it is almost impossible to get a job at a power plant unless you meet someone who actually has one, or had one.
But don't despair. If you are a college student, it is quite possible that a representative of a local power plant will attend campus recruitment events. This is probably the best and possibly only way to get your foot in the door at a power plant.
Educational Requirement
As you might expect, the educational requirements for working at a nuclear power plant are high. While there are a few entry-level positions that only call for a high school diploma, oftentimes these are only blue collar jobs that include storage and disposal of nuclear waste.
All candidates for higher level positions are expected to have a strong and distinguished background in science, math or computers. Plants are also always on the lookout for employees that have the ability to obtain security clearance, which means that your background must be unblemished.
For obvious reasons, if you do land a job at a nuclear power plant, you will have to submit to random and periodic drug and alcohol testing.
Benefits
Since it is an extremely stressful position that requires years of training and an impressive educational background, nuclear power plants tend to compensate their employees quite well. They also offer a full benefits package that is the envy of the energy industry.
