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| |  Posted 8/15/2007 8:14:11 PM | |
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| Andrea:
I think the WEF chapter @ SJSU was created by the Environmental Engineering department because I can't find a trace of it anywhere on the chemistry, biology OR the environmental sciences departments! Weird huh?!? I also couldnt really find any info on the group except a contact email for somebody in charge. I wen't to SJSU for about a year so I still have acess to the restricted pages 
By the way, do you work for a city somewhere in the bay area?
The conference in Redding and the career fair in San Diego look tempting & microscopy workshop in Seattle sounds fun.. |
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| | | Posted 8/24/2007 2:28:15 PM | |
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| Still no luck yet guys!
I applied to 3 Operator in Training jobs which have just past their application deadlines and I am awaiting their "we're sorry to inform you.." letters  haha. The funny thing is that I just applied for a few biotech/pharmaceutical jobs during this week and I now have 2 interviews next week. Pharm companies trust me enough to conduct toxicology in vivo studies & regular QC lab work, but not for the duties of a wastewater operator+ inspections? 
Oh well, I'm sure the competition is plenty for these jobs and HR choose very wisely so I will wait for a more technical position and finally just start working. The wastewater field can wait, but I will definitely keep applying, except maybe this time I'll look for a lab/field/compliance only positions. I just got a paper in the mail informing me that I passed the grade 1 operator test too  |
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| | | Posted 8/24/2007 6:51:56 PM | |
| Supreme Being
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| | You are kind of coming off like a college boy. You know a clean hands kind of person. Wastewater can be a dirty job and if you don't come off like a guy that will be there when the influent hits the bar screen you are not going to get the job. Every one is going to figure your smart, college boy that you are, but a lot of wastewater operations are mundane cleaning tasks. So after you tell the interviewer that you can kick it in the lab it might be good to mention that you mop floors better than a sailor fresh from boot camp. Smart isn't a bad thing, but it is not the only thing. You need to get across to the interviewer that you are willing to do the mundane and learn the things that college didn't teach. The sad thing is I once hired an operator II that couldn't fill a grease gun. He looked good on paper, but when push came to shove his hands stayed clean. So, stop and think about how you are coming off in interviews. Mark |
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| | | Posted 8/24/2007 8:48:48 PM | |
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| Actually the only job in the wastewater field that I have interviewed for was a lab chemist and a compliance inspector (informal interview). I really do understand what you mean when you say I can mess up the interview by coming off as a "college boy" and really, I don't think I have that problem at all, but its definitely a good suggestion. One of the things I have thought brining up are my hobbies which can really make an impression that I'm a big hands on person that can work an industrial setting. I'm really involved in the whole car scene which often has me fabricating parts using tons of tools such as mills, welders, cutting torches and a bunch of other hand tools that you would find in somebodies automotive shop. I love that stuff and plan to adding more tools to the hobby.
Oh yeah, one time I had a job where i was taking care of lab animals and I would literally pressure wash i'd say about 10-15+ gallons of actual feces/urine from different kinds of animals down into a drain. I had to shower immediately after that task because there would be so much aerosolized poo in the air that I would just reek! I bet all the microbes at the wastewater plant were just loving all that juice? Must be nice to get a peek in bod
I'm just making discussion BTW. Definitely not complaining..Every dog has their day |
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| | | Posted 8/27/2007 7:03:38 PM | |
| Supreme Being
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| | That whole car thing and the part on fabrication is exactly the kind of stuff I look for in an interview. Get a CDL and you would be an entry level dream. At least for the small places I've hired for. Mark |
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| | | Posted 9/21/2007 12:24:13 PM | |
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| | Siccished, you've described me about 30 years ago. I also went the lab analyst route at a wastewater plant. Along with wastewater, you might also look at water treatment plants also. There's plenty of overlap so that you would get good experience if you still ultimately wanted to go to wastewater. Also, you might find something with industrial plants. Many of them have pretreatment systems. Downside of that is, they may have very small facilities, or very specialized one step treatment such as metals precipitation as opposed to a full scale treatment plant. Still, it would be good experience. Good luck with the job hunt. You've got an interesting time to be getting into the industry. Water availability is only going to get tighter and tighter, and the treatment industry will have to grow hand in hand with the increased demand. |
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| | | Posted 9/26/2007 8:57:58 PM | |
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| | Sorry, everyone - it's been a little while. Yes, I do work for a bay area city - San Jose actually. And.... I think I have found something worthwhile to look into. The Santa Clara Valley chapter of CWEA is having their monthly training meeting and the topic is "Job Market Assessment:..." There's more but I think the most important part is that it is preceded by a (drum roll please) Student Career Fair from 2pm - 5pm. It is on October 18th down here in San Jose (RSVP by the 12th!) and you might be able to swing a student rate. I don't know if you can post attachments, but I have a Pdf flyer with the info. If you want it, email me through the listserv and I can send you an attachment. It might take some smoozing skills (which I tend to be uncomfortable doing, but, man, is it helpful! I am going to WEFTEC so hopefully that will help), but I would think it is a good opportunity. You mentioned San Diego - I assume you've seen all the Student/ Young Professional activities at WEFTEC? |
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| | | Posted 9/28/2007 10:30:43 AM | |
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| | Like Victor, I too stumbled into the field some 30 years ago -- haven't left since and lovin' every minute of it! The advantage you have over us is that you are directed, motivated, and have a vision. Our advantage (which you seek now) is that we fell into a job. I agree with all of the fine suggestions from my colleagues but would like to add.....just get in ANYWHERE! Would your present talents be better suited to being a lab tech rather than an entry operator? Probably so. But wherever you get in will provide a more diverse background for wherever you go to -- and consequently make you in more demand. Be an operator then mosey into the lab after your shift or be an inspector and spend some time in the headworks. Knock on doors and apply for positions. Be persistent. And though it may go without saying, I'm going to say it: As with any application or interview, heavily research everything that you possibly can about the potential employer beforehand! |
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| | | Posted 10/1/2007 3:38:57 PM | |
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| andrea (9/26/2007)
Sorry, everyone - it's been a little while. Yes, I do work for a bay area city - San Jose actually. And.... I think I have found somethingworthwhile to look into. The Santa Clara Valley chapter of CWEA is having their monthly training meeting and the topic is "Job Market Assessment:..."There's more but I think the most important part is that it is preceded by a (drum roll please)Student CareerFair from 2pm - 5pm.It is on October 18th down here in San Jose (RSVP by the 12th!) andyoumight be able to swing a student rate. I don't know if you can post attachments, but I have a Pdf flyer with the info. If you want it, email me through the listserv and I can send you an attachment. It might take some smoozingskills (which I tend to be uncomfortable doing, but, man, is it helpful! I am going to WEFTEC so hopefully that will help), but I would think it is a good opportunity. You mentioned San Diego - I assume you've seen all the Student/ Young Professional activities at WEFTEC?
I'm wayyyyy ahead of you Andrea! I got the flyer last week and I will be there. I was very suprised that they were holding a student career fair! I actually live in san jose too... I missed the lab tech job application deadline that they recently had an announcement for.
I actually just got a job (biotech) but I have two interviews for an operator III & OIT position. The search will not end
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| | | Posted 10/1/2007 3:48:31 PM | |
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| Bill Gaines (9/28/2007)
I agree with all of the fine suggestions from my colleagues but would like to add.....just get inANYWHERE! Would your present talents be better suited to being a lab tech rather than an entry operator? Probably so.But wherever you get in will provide a more diverse background for wherever you go to -- and consequently make you in more demand. Be an operator then mosey into the lab after your shift or be an inspector and spend some time in the headworks. Knock on doors and apply for positions. Be persistent.
Well said! My dad has always told me the same thing & I definitely agree.
There will be a ton of demand in the future for business of conserving natural resources so I'd like to start early in the public sector and go back to school to learn new things (gis, enviro modeling, field assessments, hydrology, maybe engineering).
Soon my children.. Soon
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