Re: HP as a career & qualifications

[Hulltmsr@aol.com]

Sandy,

In a message dated 99-02-16 17:26:20 EST, you write:

<< 
 As the old saying goes .. "He who holds the gun makes the rules"..
 
 The topic of qualifications, educational degrees and certifications, 
 has been kicked around many times. I have always believed that 
 the person who has the most experience in performing the job, 
 accurately, efficiently and cost-effectively, is the person that I want 
 on my team. Having a degree and a certification is just a "nicety". 
 Unfortunately, most HR depts. and high level executives can't see 
 that.
  >>

Please forgive the previous reply...the ol' double click on the mouse button
"habit" caused it to send before I wrote my reply.   With that said, I feel
the need to add my two cents about the qualification/certification thread.  

I received my basic rad safety training as a Navy Nuke, then shortly after
leaving the Navy, I began working at a nuclear power station were I was
further trained in radiation safety while in training to be a Reactor Operator
and Operations Supervisor.  After completing training I was certified as an
Operations Supervisor (equivalent to NRC license as SRO) by the AEC in
December 1970.  At that time, operations personnel were trained to be their
own radiation safety coverage.  We only had Health Physics technicians to
oversee maintenance personnel and do surveys on the day shift.  In 1972 I
became a training instructor training and retraining Reactor Operators,
Operations Supervisors, and other station personnel.  Somewhere between 1973
and 1975 it was decided there should be health physics coverage on all shifts.
I, as a secondary function, became the health physics instructor.  I have
since then developed and presented many types of training with several years
designated as a Senior Training Specialist training Health Physics Technicians
to perform all functions pertaining to their job.  

My Problem:

I am a substitute school bus driver...This is the first job I have been hired
for since being laid off from a high pay contract position in September, 1997.
I have sent out at least 400 resumes for various positions for which I know I
am qualified.  The interviews have been few.  Experience doesn't seem to mean
anything especially since my BA degree is not related.  I've even been told I
don't meet the minimum eligibility requirements for a GS-9 engineering
technician position I held in 1979 and 1980 and I was not degreed then.  I was
once turned down for a job prior to earning my degree because I didn't have a
degree.  The Ops boss who wouldn't give me the job didn't have a degree
himself.  So what does one do??

Certifications are nice to have, but they don't tell beans about
qualifications of an individual.  Some folks are all book knowledge and can't
do the job when it comes down to it.  Experience once counted...It doesn't
seem so anymore.


Standard disclaimers...

Tom 

hulltmsr@aol.com
509/374-8408
************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html