Six-Steps to Get Into Nuclear
Curious about working in nuclear? Welcome to Get Into Nuclear.
Whether you are starting your career or bringing experience from another industry, we will help you explore the opportunities, see where your skills could fit and choose your next step. You do not need to know your ideal role yet.
Start with the industry and the roles below. Then, if nuclear interests you, explore jobs, check your readiness or find training that fits your goals. Already know what you need? Explore training courses or browse nuclear vacancies.
1
Explore the nuclear industry
Nuclear work covers much more than power stations. People design and build facilities, keep existing plants running, safely decommission older sites, manufacture equipment and support research.
It is a sector where safety, quality and teamwork matter. You might work on a site, in a factory, in an office or across several projects, depending on the role.
You do not need to understand reactor physics to explore a career here. Start by learning what the industry does and why people choose to work in it.
Discover why people work in nuclear | Learn the nuclear basics
2
Discover the roles you could do
Nuclear employers need a wide mix of people. Your starting point could be a practical trade, a technical qualification, business experience or the skills you have built in another sector.
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Engineering and technical: mechanical, electrical, civil, design and commissioning roles.
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Trades and manufacturing: welding, fabrication, machining, construction and maintenance.
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Project delivery: project management, planning, project controls, commercial and procurement.
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Operations, safety and quality: operating facilities, checking standards and managing risk.
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Business support: finance, HR, IT, administration, communications and legal services.
Pick one or two areas that sound interesting. You can narrow things down as you learn more.
You may already have useful experience: working safely, following procedures, coordinating people, solving problems or delivering good-quality work.
Explore career routes and role options. Look for a route that fits your background, whether you are a job seeker, career switcher, armed forces leaver or already working in nuclear.
3
Interested? Find your starting point
If the industry and roles appeal to you, the next question is simple: where are you starting from?
Think about your current experience, the kind of work you enjoy and practical needs such as location, travel and working hours. You may be ready to apply, or you may benefit from a little more industry knowledge or targeted training.
Take the Nuclear Readiness Check for a suggested next step. It is a starting point for exploring your options, rather than a recruitment assessment.
Prefer to keep exploring? Browse roles and vacancies below. You can return to the check whenever it feels useful.
4
Explore jobs and employers
You can browse jobs before you feel ready to apply. Vacancies show you the work employers need doing, where it is based and which skills matter.
Browse nuclear vacancies at Destination Nuclear. You can also explore NuclearJobs and Energy Jobline, or visit employers' own careers pages.
Choose two or three relevant adverts. Compare their essential requirements with your experience, and note any gaps. Check the location, working pattern and any role-specific eligibility requirements.
If you meet the essential criteria, tailor your CV and apply through the employer's stated process. If you spot a skills gap, the next step will help you find training for it.
5
Build the skills you need
Use the roles and vacancies you have explored to decide what training would help. You may already be ready to apply; further training should address a useful gap.
Explore the nuclear training course directory for courses from 360 Nuclear Skills Training and other providers.
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New to the sector? Look for nuclear induction and safety culture training.
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Interested in project work? Explore project fundamentals and relevant project qualifications.
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Targeting a technical or practical role? Check the qualifications and role-specific training requested by employers, including apprenticeship routes.
Compare course content, entry requirements, delivery format, dates and cost. Ask the provider about funding eligibility and whether the course suits your intended role before booking.
6
Apply and connect with employers
When you find a suitable vacancy, tailor your CV to its requirements. Use clear examples of what you have done, how you worked safely and the results you achieved. Experience from another industry can be relevant.
Follow employers that interest you, attend relevant careers events and ask recruiters specific questions about their roles. A helpful starting question is: “Which parts of my experience would be most useful for this position?”
Apply through the process stated in the advert. Keep a simple record of applications, deadlines and feedback, and use what you learn to improve your next application.
You do not need to become an online expert or know everyone in the industry before you begin. One suitable role and one clear next action are enough to get started.
Next Steps
You do not have to complete every step before doing anything else. Start wherever you are today: learn about the sector, explore a role, browse vacancies or find training for a specific gap.
Choose one small action that feels useful. You can come back to this guide as your interests and plans develop.
