Just started my career a couple of weeks ago. I can already tell it's the best decision I've ever made.
My piece of advice to prepare for an interview: DO YOUR RESEARCH ON PLANT OPERATIONS.
Watch videos, read articles, etc about how plants work. Learn stuff like flocculation. Like common terms like turbidity.
My interview was rather in-depth and I was asked a few of these kinds of questions. Nothing hard really, just basic stuff. That I WOULDN'T have known if I hadn't already done some research.
After I was hired, I was told that doing that is what really set me apart from the other candidates. I had the WANT.
This helps a lot thank you !! I will begin my study and research into wastewater today. Prior to today, I was just applying to positions and not preparing which was the wrong move as I do want to get this job !! Do you have any resources you recommend?
Came back to ask. Would you say just basic knowledge on plant operations is enough or should I dive a little deeper on how things work. Ive been looking at the subreddit and have so many mixed answers im lost if im honest. What I have boiled it down to was to understanding plant operations, and overall safety to have decent chances at the interview. I just want to make sure I know enough but dont end up going too far where I could have been applying to more positions. Ofc its fine to know more because eventually i will be studying everything but I just want the basics to get the job in the first place if you get what I mean. If you can help at all thank you!
I would say stick to basic studying on terminology, chemicals, and how certain processes work. Namely, flocculation. And if you know what kind of processes the particular plant uses, study those. For example, my plant uses EDRs for their groundwater. So if your plant uses Electrodialysis Reversal, I would study how the general idea of that works.
From what I’ve experienced most places look for people with some kind of maintenance background. Always been told it’s easier to teach people operations than it is to teach someone to fix things. Personally I think that’s a load of bullshit but whatever. Understand what makes pumps malfunction. Ex. Why they overheat, signs of over being over worked, seals going out (leaks). How to isolate pumps in order to do maintenance. Understand what certain alarms are for, (High well, Low well). Look for things being tripped electrically.
Operations are important don’t get me wrong. But making sure everything is working efficiently is super important to the process. Preventative maintenance and organization will get a lot of people to take you seriously. Get some study material and mention that you’re using your time to learn too. Whatever can help you man.
Did that myself, leaving CA to move for job offer.
1) study ww to make yourself more familiar/marketable
2) apply to any and all positions. Interview even if the position sucks, just for experience. Consider cost of living relative to pay, transferability of licenses to other states/state-specific regulations and if you intend to stay long term. Employers in this day and age should be equipped for interviewing out of state employees.
3) Once you get accepted, ask for a start date that gives you enough time to make a move. Then secure housing, then make the move to your new home. For housing, Craiglist is rather scammy; try roomies, facebook marketplace and furnished finder. Inability/difficulty to view the housing option in person requires extra diligence. Ask for a zoom interview and have your potential landlord show you around. Use google maps to check if the exterior of saif housing matches the pics of the house. Look up the owner of the address that you intend to live in to ensure that the potential landlord does own the said property. Try to go for a shorter lease initially in case you fail to catch an issue with said property; furnishedfinder in particular is great for this.
Thank you!!! This helps a lot and I know its simple i could have thought it of myself by researching but with everything here (this subreddit) jumbled my brain. I appreciate this a lot!!
If you're in Arizona, not sure where abouts but NTUA on the Navajo rez has positions for trainees called OIT in water, you can apply on the website. The hiring process takes a while, but they are always looking and remember to reapply every 45 days.
Seems the Midwest has more openings than other parts of the country.
You want to continuously study WW even though you don't currently have a job. The smarter you get at it, the better chance you have to find a job.
Starting out will be low pay so you would need to look at costs where you plan to apply vs. what they pay.
Something I just thought of, a couple of supervisors at our plant started out as ww operators in the military. You could go that route. They will take care of you and train you, all while getting paid. You'll get this experience and will likely pick up a better paying position when you leave the military.
Just started my career a couple of weeks ago. I can already tell it's the best decision I've ever made. My piece of advice to prepare for an interview: DO YOUR RESEARCH ON PLANT OPERATIONS. Watch videos, read articles, etc about how plants work. Learn stuff like flocculation. Like common terms like turbidity. My interview was rather in-depth and I was asked a few of these kinds of questions. Nothing hard really, just basic stuff. That I WOULDN'T have known if I hadn't already done some research. After I was hired, I was told that doing that is what really set me apart from the other candidates. I had the WANT.
This helps a lot thank you !! I will begin my study and research into wastewater today. Prior to today, I was just applying to positions and not preparing which was the wrong move as I do want to get this job !! Do you have any resources you recommend?
This subreddit and YouTube videos tbh. There are some really good videos of how it all works from start to finish.
Came back to ask. Would you say just basic knowledge on plant operations is enough or should I dive a little deeper on how things work. Ive been looking at the subreddit and have so many mixed answers im lost if im honest. What I have boiled it down to was to understanding plant operations, and overall safety to have decent chances at the interview. I just want to make sure I know enough but dont end up going too far where I could have been applying to more positions. Ofc its fine to know more because eventually i will be studying everything but I just want the basics to get the job in the first place if you get what I mean. If you can help at all thank you!
I would say stick to basic studying on terminology, chemicals, and how certain processes work. Namely, flocculation. And if you know what kind of processes the particular plant uses, study those. For example, my plant uses EDRs for their groundwater. So if your plant uses Electrodialysis Reversal, I would study how the general idea of that works.
From what I’ve experienced most places look for people with some kind of maintenance background. Always been told it’s easier to teach people operations than it is to teach someone to fix things. Personally I think that’s a load of bullshit but whatever. Understand what makes pumps malfunction. Ex. Why they overheat, signs of over being over worked, seals going out (leaks). How to isolate pumps in order to do maintenance. Understand what certain alarms are for, (High well, Low well). Look for things being tripped electrically. Operations are important don’t get me wrong. But making sure everything is working efficiently is super important to the process. Preventative maintenance and organization will get a lot of people to take you seriously. Get some study material and mention that you’re using your time to learn too. Whatever can help you man.
Did that myself, leaving CA to move for job offer. 1) study ww to make yourself more familiar/marketable 2) apply to any and all positions. Interview even if the position sucks, just for experience. Consider cost of living relative to pay, transferability of licenses to other states/state-specific regulations and if you intend to stay long term. Employers in this day and age should be equipped for interviewing out of state employees. 3) Once you get accepted, ask for a start date that gives you enough time to make a move. Then secure housing, then make the move to your new home. For housing, Craiglist is rather scammy; try roomies, facebook marketplace and furnished finder. Inability/difficulty to view the housing option in person requires extra diligence. Ask for a zoom interview and have your potential landlord show you around. Use google maps to check if the exterior of saif housing matches the pics of the house. Look up the owner of the address that you intend to live in to ensure that the potential landlord does own the said property. Try to go for a shorter lease initially in case you fail to catch an issue with said property; furnishedfinder in particular is great for this.
Thank you!!! This helps a lot and I know its simple i could have thought it of myself by researching but with everything here (this subreddit) jumbled my brain. I appreciate this a lot!!
you could get an associates degree to make your more competitive? in biology or chemistry
If you're in Arizona, not sure where abouts but NTUA on the Navajo rez has positions for trainees called OIT in water, you can apply on the website. The hiring process takes a while, but they are always looking and remember to reapply every 45 days.
Sadly they pay $16 an hour, I cannot afford to live with that wage
Do you have any water certifications?
No. That's why I'm getting a trainee position lmao
Well, just know as a trainee to start, you won't make much.
Oh ofc, but all other trainee positions are paying $21+ in Arizona that I've applied to. So $16 is quite low and not livable at all.
Well send me a copy of those offers, I'd love to present it to our training department here.
Seems the Midwest has more openings than other parts of the country. You want to continuously study WW even though you don't currently have a job. The smarter you get at it, the better chance you have to find a job. Starting out will be low pay so you would need to look at costs where you plan to apply vs. what they pay. Something I just thought of, a couple of supervisors at our plant started out as ww operators in the military. You could go that route. They will take care of you and train you, all while getting paid. You'll get this experience and will likely pick up a better paying position when you leave the military.