Comments on: It Takes Extra Energy to Find Talented Nuclear Workers http://www.ere.net/2008/04/03/it-takes-extra-energy-to-find-talented-nuclear-workers/ Recruiting News, Recruiting Events, Recruiting Community, Social Recruiting Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:03:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Ed Voelsing http://www.ere.net/2008/04/03/it-takes-extra-energy-to-find-talented-nuclear-workers/comment-page-1/#comment-3626 Ed Voelsing Tue, 08 Apr 2008 05:06:00 +0000 http://www.ere.net/2008/04/03/it-takes-extra-energy-to-find-talented-nuclear-workers/#comment-3626 There are valuable lessons to be learned from the nuclear/conventional power industry. It is one of the first large industries to hit significant workforce aging issues. It is also an industry where there is a long training ramp-up for new employees. So much so that the industry for years has found it easier to head-hunt experience than develop new talent. A consequence is the average age in the industry crept up and up while net gain was zero. Other industries should take heed and also learn from the the comprehensive efforts the industry is undertaking to solve the problem. The Nuclear Energy Institute and Center for Energy Workforce Development is actively getting all parties moving in the same direction. For many it will be the recruiting challenge of a lifetime. -Ed There are valuable lessons to be learned from the nuclear/conventional power industry. It is one of the first large industries to hit significant workforce aging issues. It is also an industry where there is a long training ramp-up for new employees. So much so that the industry for years has found it easier to head-hunt experience than develop new talent. A consequence is the average age in the industry crept up and up while net gain was zero. Other industries should take heed and also learn from the the comprehensive efforts the industry is undertaking to solve the problem. The Nuclear Energy Institute and Center for Energy Workforce Development is actively getting all parties moving in the same direction. For many it will be the recruiting challenge of a lifetime.

-Ed

]]> By: Maureen Sharib http://www.ere.net/2008/04/03/it-takes-extra-energy-to-find-talented-nuclear-workers/comment-page-1/#comment-3610 Maureen Sharib Wed, 02 Apr 2008 11:30:00 +0000 http://www.ere.net/2008/04/03/it-takes-extra-energy-to-find-talented-nuclear-workers/#comment-3610 I sure didn't pay attention when the subject was taught but you made chimes go off for me - this is one thing I LOVE about sourcing - each new job gives me an opportunity to learn about another industy - not alot, mind you, but enough to sate my curiosity and keep things interesting around here...I remmeber my early days in sourcing and discovering what they were doing at ParcXerox in nanotechnology - I couldn't get enough reading about it while I was chasing down those physics folks - I have to physically restrain myself from lingering over those fascinating research papers and patents and articles and nowadays, BLOGS that reveal so much...and this list goes on. The shortage of engineers across the board in this and in the defense sector (so many in that 50s range with a real lack of replacement crop) is a real threat to our national and economic security. Bill Gates asked a question last month over on LinkedIn about what we could do as a nation to encourage more people to study the sciences and thousands answered... But in the short term, and I know Rob knows this - the available talent is working inside those 104 plants and for the most part one sure way to find them is to call in and ask! It's so simple it's stupid but believe me, it works! I really enjoy your articles Elaine. Thanks. Maureen I sure didn’t pay attention when the subject was taught but you made chimes go off for me – this is one thing I LOVE about sourcing – each new job gives me an opportunity to learn about another industy – not alot, mind you, but enough to sate my curiosity and keep things interesting around here…I remmeber my early days in sourcing and discovering what they were doing at ParcXerox in nanotechnology – I couldn’t get enough reading about it while I was chasing down those physics folks – I have to physically restrain myself from lingering over those fascinating research papers and patents and articles and nowadays, BLOGS that reveal so much…and this list goes on.

The shortage of engineers across the board in this and in the defense sector (so many in that 50s range with a real lack of replacement crop) is a real threat to our national and economic security. Bill Gates asked a question last month over on LinkedIn about what we could do as a nation to encourage more people to study the sciences and thousands answered…

But in the short term, and I know Rob knows this – the available talent is working inside those 104 plants and for the most part one sure way to find them is to call in and ask! It’s so simple it’s stupid but believe me, it works!

I really enjoy your articles Elaine. Thanks.

Maureen

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