Six-Steps to Get Into Nuclear
This guide is tailored for those who are looking to get into nuclear but may be uncertain about specific roles to target or how to effectively prepare for job applications. If you're unsure whether a career in nuclear is the right fit for you, visit our page discussing the benefits of this field.
Once you've made choice and pinpointed your desired role, follow the six steps outlined below to kickstart your job search in the nuclear industry.
​
Grab a pen and paper, and get started below:
​
1
Know Who You Are
The initial step involves gaining insight into your interests, passions, skills, and experiences.
This phase is focused entirely on you. Before you begin your job search, it's crucial to understand your identity in relation to your background, skills, qualifications, likes, and passions. Reflecting on your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats will enhance your job-seeking success.
Call to action:
Grab something to jot down some notes and take some time to think about the following:
-
Your Background:
-
Your culture and experiences
-
Hobbies and interests
-
Sporting background
-
​
-
Your Skills:
-
Your qualifications and training
-
Job-related skills​
-
Skills that would find on a job spec (e.g. Project Management Qualification)
-
Transferable skills (e.g. Customer Service when volunteering at a local theatre)
-
-
​
-
Your (other) Achievements:
-
Expand on the above list; include everything. Did you earn a 30m swimming badge at age 9? Have the fire making badge from the Scouts? Won best cake at the County Fair? Add it here.
-
​
-
Your SWOT:
-
Evaluate your Strengths
-
Evaluate your Weaknesses
-
Consider your Opportunities
-
Consider your Threats
-
As an example, you can find mine [here].
​​
2
Know What You Want
The idea of ikigai - which means 'a reason for being' - is deeply engrained in Japanese culture and has gained popularity in global philosophy in recent years. While there are numerous books dedicated to this concept, discovering your ikigai involves pinpointing the overlap of four key areas:
-
What you excel at,
-
What you are passionate about,
-
What the world requires, and
-
What the world is willing to pay you for.
​
At the first step, we evaluated your strengths and began to explore your passions. In this second step, it's time to concentrate on what you truly LOVE.
What are your desires?
Step one has provided you with valuable insights into your abilities. Now, reflect on your motivation for seeking a career change. It's crucial to clarify what you want from a new position. This will enable you to articulate your needs and engage confidently in conversations that might lead to career opportunities.
Don't underestimate the significance of having a clear "why" for pursuing a new challenge and recognising that now is the right moment for change. You will undoubtedly present yourself more positively throughout the recruitment process, even if you don't realise it, as the language you use and your self-presentation will improve.
Call to Action
#1 - This is a perfect time to define what you want in your new career. Begin with your goals and jot down your desires and what you wish to avoid in your work life.
#2 - To prepare for Step four, compile a list of job roles that interest you, such as “Project Manager” or “hands-on work.”
#3 - As an extra step, consider taking a personality or behavioural test, like DISC or Myers-Briggs, to gain further into the types of work you would naturally enjoy.
These may seem like simple tasks, but investing time in them will yield valuable insights about yourself. Assessments like Myers-Briggs help you understand your individuality and appreciate the uniqueness of those around you.
​
3
Know The Business
As part of this particular guide, we are going to focus on the Nuclear Industry - however, you are welcome to substitute the below with other industries.
Call to Action
Like any industry, the nuclear industry incorporates many businesses across the globe working on all manner of projects. We will not be able to provide all that information here.
And, the good thing is that you don’t need to know everything.
It is good to get an overview of the industry within the country where you will be working and the demand for nuclear technology.
An excellent resource for this is the Country Profiles provided by the World Nuclear Association. Click on your particular country to get an overview of the nuclear industry within that part of the world.
For a more general overview of the nuclear industry, the uses of the technology and how nuclear energy forms part of a clean, sustainable future, head on over to our ‘what is nuclear’ pages on GetIntoNuclear.com.
​
Another good way to keep up to date with what's happening in nuclear is to create an alert on Google. This will feed news stories directly to your inbox on a daily basis using pre-defined search terms that you set. For example, 'Nuclear Energy News UK", "Mechanical Engineering Nuclear", or "Nuclear Jobs in US."
This should be all the information you need, plus info on the specific company you will be interviewing with.
We understand that the nuclear industry can feel big, complicated and daunting. You do need to be informed when you get to interview, but don't put yourself under pressure, you don't need to know the finite details of everything that's going on in the industry, just what is relevant to your the roles and business you are interested in.
​
4
Know The Skills
As you read this, it's essential to be clear about what you excel at, what you're passionate about, and what the world requires in the nuclear sector which has been covered in the previous sections. The final piece of the puzzle is identifying what you can be compensated for in the nuclear field.
Call to Action
Through our thousands of career conversations, we have been refining this process for years, experimenting with various skills mapping techniques. Interestingly, the most effective approach has proven to be the simplest.
#1 Visit a job board featuring nuclear job listings, such as Destination Nuclear, NuclearJobs and Energy Jobline, to explore the positions you identified in step two.
If you need more options, try searching “nuclear [insert your role] jobs” or “[insert skill/interest] jobs in nuclear” on Google for additional opportunities that may interest you.
#2 Select 2-4 job types you're interested in and highlight the key skills and qualifications mentioned in the job advertisement (e.g., "APM or equivalent qualification", "5 years experience in regulated industry").
Do not be discouraged by these, just note them down.
#3 Conduct a skills mapping exercise by comparing your skills and experience with those required for the role.
#4 Create a list of any gaps between the job requirements and your resume.
#5 If you feel ready to apply for live nuclear jobs based on your assessment, proceed below.
If you believe you need to enhance your skills first before applying, reach out to us using the chat below, message us on our Contact Page, sign up for a free CV review or check out our Nuclear Training Course Directory.
Plan for Success
As with the previous steps, don’t hesitate to share comments or ask questions in the Get Into Nuclear Reddit Group.
Note: Before moving on to the final two steps, it's wise to organise any notes taken during steps 1-4 for easy reference as you begin implementing your job-seeking strategy.
​
5
Know The People
The last two steps are often overlooked, yet they where the real transformation occurs. It's interesting that they get missed, especially since saying “it’s not what you know, but who you know” frequently comes up when talking to people about finding a job.
You've invested considerable effort in identifying your strengths, along with what the world needs and values. You should have 2-4 job opportunities that excite you, and you feel equipped to excel in these roles.
To secure a job, it's essential that you bring your valuable skills to the table. This doesn't involve submitting countless applications or sending your CV to every email address with the word 'nuclear' in it. Instead, focus on understanding the key influencers in the nuclear industry or job functions you are targeting.
​
The simplest form of 'becoming known' (the next Step) is to blindly submit your CV or fill out job application forms for positions in the sector. This is one way of getting noticed by nuclear employers, but it can be challenging approach, particularly if you're coming in cold. We have found that engaging online via Twitter and LinkedIn or attending a nuclear networking event, is a great way to break the ice, and increases the chances of landing a role in sector.
Call to Action
Identify individuals who influence your job in the nuclear sector. This could include a CEO of a small reactor start-up, a recruiter for a local project, or anyone in the field willing to assist—many are more open to helping than might think!
Tip - Consider connecting with people who have previously shared their career stories.
Here are some prompts to help you get started:
-
Bloggers or article writers in the press or on LinkedIn
-
Active social media accounts (Twitter and LinkedIn are particularly relevant mediums for the nuclear industry)
-
Podcasters
-
Recruiters
Select individuals who currently work for, or support ideal employers. For example, consider reaching out to a hiring manager referenced in a live vacancy on LinkedIn—start by simply liking or commenting on a recent post of theirs, making a connection request, and then asking for help in finding work in nuclear.
Alternatively, find a local nuclear event happening nearby and have a face-to-face interaction with people in the sector. Tell them you're interested in finding work in nuclear, and you'll be surprised at how collaborative and helpful the nuclear industry can be.
​
6
Be Known
We have seen some amazing success from people willing to put themselves in the frame of mind that they are now actively seeking work in the nuclear industry. During this step, there will be a need for massive action. And continued action.
Some of this may initially take you out of your comfort zone, which is an indicator that you're on the right track.
#1 Establish yourself as an expert;
At a minimum, update your LinkedIn profile and consider posting relevant post in your desired field. You may consider starting a blog or a podcast if applicable to the role you want.
#2 Engage with the people identified above;
Make a connection request, and like/comment on their relevant posts.
#3 Start a conversation;
Provide value in the first exchanges to open the door to explaining that you're looking for work in the nuclear industry and can they help you.
#4 Don’t be afraid to ask for referrals from connections;
This was a barrier I found difficult to overcome, but quickly you will realise that people are happy to help.
You may find a post on creating job opportunities useful here.
Prepare for success
This is a great topic to discuss in the Get Into Nuclear forum. Asking for help, and sharing experiences. We have even had the odd employer on the forum in the past.
It is worth watching this YouTube video to learn how best to start establishing yourself as an expert online. [apologies for the bad language in the video, but it is by far the best we could find.]
​
Not everyone will need to start a blog to land a role, and often reaching out to someone using the contact details on a nuclear job ad can be enough. But for those looking for management, leadership, marketing or sales types roles will benefit from putting themselves out there.
​
Next Steps
Okay, so maybe this makes it seven steps, but who's counting?
​
We understand the above is a little different, unorthodox and maybe unnerving to you. And we get that you have read this far with the thought, "yeah, sounds good but I won't be doing that...".
​
However, we've confirmed you would like to work in the nuclear industry (and why wouldn't you), you confirmed that you believe you have the skills and experience to land one of your identified roles in the sector, and you're ready to start applying for live job opportunities in the sector. You've come so far to give in now.
​
Although we highly recommend you follow the above, the following is the bare minimum route into nuclear:
​
-
Send us your CV for a Free CV review which includes live job recommendations.
-
Update your CV, or get us to do it by signing up to a Nuclear Career Builder subscription (£10pm).
-
Apply directly for live jobs, or (if you have the Nuclear Career Builder subscription) we can circulate your CV to selected recruiters in the nuclear industry.
-
Get invited to interview - again we can help prepare you if needed.
-
GET INTO NUCLEAR!​
​
Go for it...
So there you have it. It is time to take what you've learned and implement your career plan.
​
For most people, this means finding places to upskill and build career capital or apply directly for live nuclear jobs.
​
In all instances, feel free to get in touch and arrange a time to talk to us.