Best Practices in Recruiting For A Technical Industry

Elizabeth McAndrew‐BenavidesSenior Manager, Strategic Workforce Initiatives

Nuclear Energy Instituteemb@nei.org202‐739‐8143November 2015

#@$!

Tactic 1: Build and Align a Competency Model

You can’t successfully recruit, educate, train or retain a new employee unless you understand 

what the job requires  and where the job is heading 

in the future. 

Tactic 2: Understand Your Audience

Tactic 3: Develop Your Pipelines

Tactic 4: Educate Others About Your Careers

Hiring Target• Students• Displaced Workers• Military• WomenInfluencers• Parents • Diversity Groups• School OfficialsAlliances• Local Government • Higher Education• Elected Officials

Tactic 4: Engage and Inspire YPs

Tactic 5: Plan for the Long TermIt took 12 years for the nuclear energy industry to begin to get younger.

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

18‐22 23‐27 28‐32 33‐37 38‐42 43‐47 48‐52 53‐57 58‐62 63‐67 67+

% employees

Age Range2013 2015

Appendix

Energy Competency Tier Model for Skilled Technician Positions in Energy Efficiency,Energy Generation and Energy Transmission and Distribution

Stackable Credentials

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

Tier 6–8 Job Specific Skills/Credentials• Associate Degree• Boot Camp / Apprenticeship for College Credit

• Accelerated Associate Degree 

Tier 4–5 Industry Fundamentals• Energy Industry Fundamentals Certificate

Tier 1–3 Basic Training• Energy Industry Employability Skills Certificate

• National Career Readiness Certificate

Occupation‐Specific Requirements

Occupation‐Specific Technical 

Occupation‐Specific Knowledge Areas

Industry‐Specific Technical

Industry‐Wide Technical

Workplace Requirements

Academic Requirements

Personal Effectiveness

U.S. Nuclear SectorWorkforce Needs

Nuclear Utilities

60,000 Employees

Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Nuclear)

Maintenance (Mechanical, Electrical, I&C)

Operations (Operators, Chemists, RP Techs, Health 

Physicist)

Nuclear Suppliers

60,000 Employees

Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Construction, 

Nuclear)

Maintenance (Mechanical, Electrical, I&C, Welding, RP Techs, Health Physicist)

Construction (Schedulers, Drafters, Craft)

DOE, Labs and 

Contractors

~80,000 Nuclear Employees

Scientists (Nuclear, Physics, Chemistry, Biology)

Engineers (Nuclear, Mechanical, Electrical)

Support (RP Techs, Maintenance, Operators)

Professionals (Health Physicist, Policy, Legal, Regulatory)

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

4,000 Employees

Scientists (Nuclear, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Specialists)

Engineers (Nuclear, Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Specialists)

Professionals (Health Physicist, Policy, Legal, Regulatory)  

Military Nuclear 

Enterprise

~600,000 Personnel

Scientists (Nuclear, Biology, Chemistry, Specialists)

Engineers (Nuclear, Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, Marine,  

Specialists)

Maintenance (Mechanical, Electrical, I&C, Welding, RP 

Techs)

Professionals (Health Physicist, Policy, Legal)  

U.S. Nuclear Sector Pipelines

Nuclear Utilities

Universities

Community Colleges

Apprenticeships

Military

Suppliers

Closed Nuclear Plants

Nuclear Suppliers

Universities

Community Colleges

Apprenticeships

Military

Utilities

Closed Nuclear Plants

DOE, Labs and 

Contractors

Universities

Military

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Universities

Military

Industry  

Military Nuclear 

Enterprise

Universities

Grow Their Own

Nuclear Uniform Curriculum ProgramNovember 2015

NationalCoordinatorsINPO & NEI

Midwest• Lakeland (GAC)• Dakota  (GAC)• Lake Michigan (GAC)• State Technical College of   Missouri (GAC)

• Monroe County (GAC)• St. Cloud (GAC)

Northeast• Onondaga (GAC)• Salem (GAC)• Southern Maryland (GAC)

Northwest• Bismarck State (GAC)• Columbia Basin (GAC)• Metropolitan (GA) 2016• Southeast (GAC)

Southeast• Augusta Tech (GAC)• Aiken Tech (GAC)• Chattanooga State (GAC)• Indian River (GAC)• Miami Dade (GAC)• Midlands Tech (GAC)• Spartanburg (GAC)• Wallace (GAC)

Southwest• Brazosport (GAC)• Cuesta College (New)• Estrella Mountain (GAC)• Texas State Tech (GAC)• Wharton County (GAC)

G – Gap Analysis Submitted A – AOU Submitted  C – Challenge Board Completed       Date – Challenge Board Planned

NUCP Graduation Placement

77% 74%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Percent of Graduates Who Found Employment at Graduation2013 2014

A recent Accenture study found that 39% of college graduates  had employment at graduation. Graduates from NUCP well exceed that national average.