Finding NDT employment in the USA

Even since before COVID-19 changed the employment landscape for practically everyone, the process of finding a job within the skilled industrial trades has been evolving for quite some time. Résumé uploading and online professional profiles are now the ‘new normal’ for industry veterans and new graduates alike. Non-destructive testing (NDT) technicians and inspectors need to be mindful that data plays an increasingly important role in the job hunt and, as with all data, the details, most importantly completeness and accuracy, matter.

For example, a trade-specific profile that lets industrial inspectors easily include work and training experiences, industry certifications and qualifications and on-the-job (OTJ) hours associated with individual inspection methods ensures the profile data can be used to match inspectors with best-fit employment opportunities.

The résumé should be carried out in reverse chronological order, including accurate job titles, dates of employment and concise job responsibilities.

Professional networking in NDT has moved online as well. A staple for white-collar professionals for almost a decade, LinkedIn has become an invaluable resource for industrial employers and workers. It allows inspectors to connect and engage with their peers around the world, stay current on the latest non-destructive trends and technology and develop their professional brand for prospective employers.

LinkedIn is a professional networking site and as such it can be used to share relevant professional articles and updates related to the NDT field. Any content shared on social media is generally viewed by prospective employers.

Though there are many differing perspectives on what makes a résumé stand out, keywords are a trend that is here to stay. What are keywords exactly? They are the words and phrases that are unique to an employer’s job posting. For example, if an employer seeks a Level 3 ultrasonic testing non-destructive evaluation (NDE) technician in the oil & gas industry, then an applicant’s résumé needs to reflect those words somewhere in the résumé. Even in a tight labour market, résumés containing keywords often land on the top of the recruiting pile. Candidates need to tailor not only their résumés but also cover letters and introductory emails when applying for work, emphasising their work experiences and skill sets relevant to a given job opportunity.

Résumé formatting can prove equally important: avoiding graphics and complex layouts gives it at least a fighting chance of being properly processed by an applicant tracking system (ATS). For example, many ATS systems do not recognise PDF résumé files; use .doc, .docx, .txt or .csv files instead. In addition, use a traditional circle bullet point instead of small squares or arrows. An ATS recognises square or arrow bullet points as a special graphic and résumés containing those will be blocked.

Despite applicants’ best efforts, résumés today typically end up being scanned by document parsers and stored away in a candidate database and are often never reviewed by a recruiter or hiring manager.

Marybeth Miceli CEng, NDTMA Executive Director, emphasised: “The main benefit of the digitisation of the talent sourcing and hiring processes in NDT is that technicians are no longer wholly dependent on their own personal networks. Inspectors have much better access to opportunities in other regions or industry sectors. And technology makes it easier for companies to find candidates who have the methods, skills, certs and experience that best fit their needs. When it is done responsibly, online talent sourcing can be a win-win for all involved.”

The above article has been extracted from an article by Jill Lutz, Founder of Let’s Build Talent, and Christopher Brenchley, CEO of Surehand, a hiring platform.