Professional Nuclear Job Curriculum Vitae (CV) / Career Resume Compilation

You have the sufficient talent and the right experience, so your resume will have no problem in getting the dream job in the prestigious world of Nuclear Energy, right?... Well not exactly.  You can't really assume the possibilities of a successful job hunt in simply making a new, or revising an old CV or Career Resume.  While you are correctly representing the excellent employee and consummate Nuclear industry professional that you believe you are or could be, some competition will always be present and there will be always be hundreds of talented people applying for the same position that you're after.

An effective Resume for other industry sector professionals won't necessarily be effective for your Nuclear industry CV or Resume.  Usually, Resumes are arranged in chronological manner by way of relevant work experiences.  However in the Nuclear field, being safety-conscious and project or objective oriented will be a distinct advantage.  Special security clearance will be required for most positions.  This means that it would be advisable to list the important relevant project experiences you have had during your career in relation to the position that you're aspiring to, or applying for.  Of course don't miss out on the important skills you have acquired over your working experience, that cleary demonstrate your communication, management and people skills.

Let us explore the rest of the important tips you need to know on creating the eye-catching Nuclear Job career to date Resume or Curriculum Vitae:

• Be Specific - As a skilled, experienced, qualified professional, you're probably used to having multi-tasking multi-disciplined projects on the go and be able to think laterally and outside the box.  But don't bore future employers with the usual resume clichés and broad skills and experience descriptions.  It would be better to have one or two-line description for every project experience you have gained, in your list of abilities.
  
• Be Realistic About Your Salary/Rate - As we all know Nuclear professionals do make a handsome living, but salaries do have variables which include areas of specialisation and relevant experience onward specialist vocational education and higher qualifications. When a potential employer's specialist Recruitment Agency like ERS (www.ERSJobs.co.uk) contacts you, they would probably ask for your expected salary range/pay rate and/or your salary/pay rate history in your career to date.  Although you may not have thought about it, be sure to come up with a reasonable range based on certain variables in the Nuclear industry.  You can probably think of thinning out your expectations if the Company/Organisation offers other great benefits such as prestige, flexible hours/working arrangements, bonues, special allowances, a good pension or savings scheme, generous tax breaks, travel expenses, commuter loans, relocation packages, special working-away accommodation rates, company car, or great accommodation allowances, etc.  Be prepared with a degree of flexibility in your desired salary/pay rate range and in your future salary/pay rate expectations or else you might end up loosing the bid for the position you want.
  
• Words Used Are Just As Important! - Though it's important that your Resume be written in reader-friendly formatted language that makes sense to Managers looking to hire talented personnel, it's also very possible that your resume will be scanned for specific keywords, possibly electronically.  Electronic Scanning is becoming increasingly common—especially in technical professions such as those associated with IT, Construction, Technical, Safety, Quality, Medical and Scientific jobs, etc. where hundreds of Resumes might reach the specialist hiring Agency—and if your CV/Resume is found lacking, it may not move on from the initial sift.  Make sure you weave in your qualifications, certifications, major achievements, relevant experience and any relevant experience that has been outlined as desired in the job posting itself, mimicking the posting's language where it clearly makes sense to do so. 
   
• Clearly Define Your Objectives - Most CV's and Career Resumes nowadays have defined career objectives at the beginning.  If you have that, be sure that your objectives are in line with the position you are applying for, or aspiring to progress into after approriate training.  If you're aiming for Nuclear Civil Engineering, but your background or specified objectives are associated with Mechanical Engineering, the chances are, your Resume won't hold water and have much chance of progression and reaching the prospective employer, let alone get you Interviewed.  If it gives the impression that you are not paying adequate attention in your application, or to the job description, or it appears you're not really the type of employee/contractor that they want for that post, your application will most likely be declined.  Nor does an all too general fluffy objective such as "I will utilize my extensive skills to benefit your company/organisation" make an effective impression.  Prospective employers are looking for the best, most suitable person with the most extensive relevant/applicable experience, appropriate knowledge and level of qualification to succeed in the role with which they are entrusted.  If you have this, you owe it to yourself to project this in your CV or Career Resume submissions.

If you would like professional assistance in preparing your Career Resume or CV by a specialist Nuclear Recruitment Agency, or to discuss possible suitable jobs in the Nuclear field, or other related or similar posts, please contact Simon Turner, Senior Consultant at ERS on +44 (0)1454 203 460, or submit your CV to cv@energyrs.co.uk, to register your interest or apply for a position your have seen on www.ERSJobs.co.uk and Simon will be pleased to help you market yourself to the best possible effect to potential employers/Contractor hirers.

 

Interview Tips and Techniques

Quality Agencies like ERS always look to provide their Candidates with useful advice and tips on the Interviewing process, whether you're a seasoned old hand and professional of many years experience, or a fresh Graduate applying to a 'serious job' for the first time, you can never be to well prepared for an Interview. Highly experienced Agencies like ERS, know exactly how to identify the most suitable potential Candidates and how to help those Candidates sell themselves into a Client of the Agency, that's a prospective employer or Contractor hirer of that Candidate via a CV and at Interview. 

Even as a seaoned old-hand or hardened long-term professional, we recommend that you work through a check list with your recruiting Agent . Your Agent will have an inside knowledge of their Clients preferences, selection processes, must-haves, nice-to-haves, quirks, Interviewing and short-listing methods and techniques, likes, dislikes along with the make up and infrastructure of the team you are applying to join.

Obviously we can't promise to help you win over your prospective employer for you regardless of Career Resume / CV initial response or any subsequent Interview outcome, but the following general advice will prepare you and give you some foundations from which you can build and add your own experience and unique personal attributes.

Every Client and interviewing Manager will have differing approaches and there is no set format you can rely on.  However, in our experience of successful interviews that convert into offers, is that they generally will have followed a set criteria or formula, that we understand and interpret from our Client's provided feedback.  You should take into account the following areas when approaching every Interview, whether it is your first or your 3^rd Interview, adequate proper preparation is the key.

Company Background

You should prepare yourself with as much information as possible about the Company or Organisation and the particular position you are applying for.  Always make studious independent enquiries, either directly, or at very least by visiting the Company's or Organisation's website.  This should provide good information about the overall portfolio of the Company's products and services or Organisation's role.  If possible obtain an understanding of the structure of the Company or Organisation, along with a thorough understanding of the position the Company or Organisation holds within its specialised market or area of responsibility.

Interviewers

It is good practice to understand how many people you may be Interviewed by, as well as the format of the Interview, i.e. panel, individuals, methods, techniques, tasks, role-play, assessments, Psychometric evaluations, tests, etc.  Always show a keen interest in your Interviewer, as understanding their perspective and position always helps.

Location

Never assume - always talk either directly to the site, or establish for yourself that you understand the directions and visitor entry protocols / visitor site access arrangements with your Agent which site you will be expected to attend along with any special instructions relating to security and access.  Make sure you have a map and or directions relating to your mode of transport. You may have to provide your vehicle registration index number, so that your vehicle can be identified. 

Punctuality

Always allow more time than you expect.  It is better to arrive early and read the Company's or Organisation's literature and have familiarised yourself with the location of the visitor Reception area.

It is NEVER a good first impression if you turn up late.

If, for reasons beyond your control you are going to be late, you should always be armed with your Agents direct number (e.g. ERS' is 01454 203 460), as well as the Client's or Interviewer's direct line and main switchboard number.  Contact your Agent and the Company/Organisation you are Interviewing with, inform them of your expected time of arrival and let the person at the Agency that's arranged the Interview know that you have done this.

On arrival, apologise immediately and explain your reasons concisely.  Cars do break down and tyres do get punctures! 

Early is always better, collect your thoughts go over any last minute refreshers of you preparation notes, check your intended questions you have prepared.

Dress

Always dress to impress, your first impression is key.  Be aware of the Company or Organisation culture and standards, and ensure you dress appropraitely to convey the right message and to impress.  Never dress down unless you are specifically invited to do so.  Plan your wardrobe at least the night before, to avoid the last minute rush to wash your desired outfit, and if applicable dry clean your 'Interview Suit' and have a crisp shirt or blouse freshly washed and ironed. A good haircut in a worthwhile investment.  It adds to your feelgood factor and you probably sub-sonsciously convey that confidence to your Interviewer. 

CV

Make sure you have a copy of your own Career Resume or CV at the ready to refer to and present as necessary, an extra copy in case a further person sits in unexpectedly, is always a good plan. Interviewers are often assessed for the effectiveness by a senior staff member too. Deliver your references to your relevant and applicable experience, suitability and acquired pertinent qualifications in a concise, clear manner, understandable by either technical or non-technical Interviewers.  You should be well practiced in answering questions relating to your Career Resume or CV.  Practice this with a friend or colleague, as it will pay dividends if your are properly prepared and appear organised and polished.

First impressions on arrival

Greet everyone you meet with a warm smile, a firm handshake and be polite.  Interviewers consider it very important that you maintain good eye contact levels at all times, especially with the Interviewer(s) to whom you are directly responding.

In our experience, subtle mirror matching your interviewer by adopting the style of the interviewer, i.e. if they are formal, be formal, if they are informal, be informal, puts both parties at ease and enables you to convey your self-confidence and communication skills in relative comfort.  Beverages tend to get in the way and of course nervous hands have accidents!

Never allow yourself to be drawn into copying or obviously mirroring.  If your Interviewer curses or uses a profanity, swears, etc. never allow yourself to mirror and remain professional at all times. Sometimes, it's a test!

Interview Techniques

Remember you are selling yourself, it is absolutely vital that you understand what the Interviewer is looking for.  Try to steer the Interview towards your personal strengths and how they relate to your understanding of the Company's or Organisation's particular requirements and most suitable Candidate and potential employee.  It is also an opportunity to get the information you want from the Company/Organisation, afterall you must be sold on joining them too.

Always ask questions, as this demonstrates that you have a real interest in the position and the Company or Organisation.  Have questions prepared based on information you previously researched about them.  Make sure you also leave the Interview with enough information to make an informed decision on the mutual suitability to the role and confirm the desire to join the Company/Organisation or not.

Your questions should demonstrate an interest in their line of work or services, as well as your enthusiasm and interest in the role itself.  You should refrain from discussing sabbaticals, holidays, holiday entitlement, pensions, external commitments, etc. until you are firmly in the closing stages of your 2^nd or 3^rd Interview.

Remember your Career Resume / CV has been selected through a filtering process with very specific criteria in mind.  Regardless of your capabilities and proven background, you still need to put in a good performance in promoting why they should select you above others.

Remember it's a two-way-street.... 

ERS would like to wish you good luck in your 'Job Hunting' and remind you we are here to help our Clients find the best possible people for the job and to help our Candidates find the right job for them and enjoy ongoing career success.

 

Company Number 04689815, Registered in England and Wales.   

Registered Office, Orwell House, 25 High St, Yatton, North Somerset BS49 4JD

Tel: +44 (0) 1454 203 460,  Fax: +44 (0) 1454 203 330,  E-Mail:info@energyrs.co.uk