The Secret to Energy Jobs
40% of workers in the energy sector now will retire or leave their jobs over the next 5 years. How you can replace them.
By Kathleen Ganster 

It’s no secret that veterans make ideal employees for numerous careers thanks to the combination of skill sets and leadership skills learned during their years of military service.

What fewer people know, however, is that several energy companies that recognize the value of veterans have teamed with the national Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD) to launch the Troops to Energy Jobs initiative. The two-year pilot project will help veterans obtain the skills needed to enter careers in the energy industry. 

Win-Win
The program will actually fulfill two needs. With projections that over the next five years nearly 40 percent of the energy work force will retire or leave their jobs, there will be a demand for well-trained personnel for these vital positions. It also will help veterans find meaningful employment, often utilizing the skills they learned in the military.

The five energy companies involved in Troops to Energy Jobs include American Electric Power, Dominion, Southern Company, PG&E, and Pinnacle West/Arizona Public Service. 

The Value of Hiring a Veteran
Matt Kellam, supervisor of strategic staffing at Dominion, knows the value of hiring veterans through his role with the company. As a veteran, he also knows how daunting returning to civilian life can be.

“Dominion is really happy to be part of this initiative. With the ultimate goal of providing veterans employment in the rewarding energy industry, while providing the companies well-trained employees – it is a win-win situation,” he said.

The Troops to Energy Jobs program will help veterans identify colleges and training programs that will provide the education needed for the various positions in the industry.

Kellam, a 35-year-old resident of Virginia, said the skills aren’t just technical. “They may need help with interviewing skills, how to go through the hiring-testing process, how to write a résumé, things like that,” he said. 

Onboarding Included
Through an online system developed by CEWD, veterans can take assessment tests to identify what career field would line up well with their military occupation and experience. Career coaches will assist with the other skills and training, along with the college and technical school programs.

The program doesn’t stop once they are hired, Kellam said. After veterans complete training and are placed in jobs, they will be paired with a veteran mentor who will help them acclimate. 

Jobs Available Now, Too
While the Troops to Energy Jobs program will help fill many job openings projected for the energy industry, there are still plenty of opportunities now for those who already have the training and experience.

Kellam said Dominion has openings for technicians (both electrical and mechanical), pipefitters, utility/line installers, engineers and auto mechanics. There also are jobs available in the company’s nuclear operations.

While salaries vary widely depending on skill level, location and experience, entry level technicians can initially expect to start at about $30,000, while nuclear engineers typically start at $50,000 to $80,000, Kellam said. There are positions available in all 14 states where Dominion operates in the Midwest, mid-Atlantic and Northeast. 

The Triangle Approach
American Electric Power (AEP) is another energy company involved in the Troops to Energy Jobs Program.

Joe Cisneros, director of workforce diversity, said they are working closely with the local educational partners to ensure veterans are properly trained for the jobs at AEP. “We actually helped them develop the curriculum,” he said.

The project, as Cisneros explained it, is a “triangle approach,” with the energy companies, educational institutions and veteran outreach organizations collaborating. “It takes all of the components to make it work,” he said. 

Building on Military Skills
AEP has a history of hiring veterans. “We know they have strong skill sets, but they also come with a strong work ethic and know the importance of safety in our culture – it is important to the military too,” he said.

AEP has openings for engineers, technicians, pipefitters and welders, security guards and plant operators, just to name a few. Salaries vary with experience and skills, but entry-level line mechanics can expect to start at about $32,000 a year; engineers start at about $50,000; plant operators earn about $40,000; and technicians begin at $25,000 and up.

“The leadership and communications skills that veterans have make them ideal in any position,” Cisneros said. “If they have the skills, that is great, but with the new initiative, we can build on their other skills.” 

Seabee Lands Smoothly
William “Wesley” Null, 41, is a Navy veteran. His construction skills as a Seabee in the Navy tie in nicely with his line mechanic role at AEP. “The discipline, detail and leadership qualities learned in the Navy allowed for a smooth transition,” he said.

When he separated from the service, he wanted a career that built upon his military skills. “Considering a retiring work force, the opportunities in this field are in high demand,” he said. “The energy sector provides security and opportunities for advancement.” 

Southern Support
Southern Company is also one of the five pilot companies for Troops to Energy Jobs.

“The Troops to Energy Jobs program is another way we can help support our service men and women and bring their valuable training, operational skills and leadership ability to the industry,” said Susan Story, CEO.

According to Story, veterans comprise about 11 percent of the company’s current work force. “We believe their proven commitment to pride, duty, honor and discipline add significant value to Southern Company’s overall success,” she said. 

Workers Needed in Georgia and Mississippi
In addition to its participation in the program, Southern is currently hiring for a wide variety of positions in the generation, transmission, distribution and corporate departments, including engineers, security officers, line workers, power plant operators, technicians and reactor operators. Southern has openings in several geographical areas but are actively hiring for two of its newest facilities in Georgia and Mississippi.

Salary and benefits vary according to experience and skills. Southern Company offers a competitive base salary, plus an incentive pay package and benefits, company officials said. 

Sweet Home Alabama
Veronica Weaver-Rivers, 28, is an Army veteran working for Southern as a civil engineer in Birmingham, Ala.

As an engineering student, she decided to do a cooperative education program with Southern. “I knew that I wanted an energy career and Southern is very visible here in Alabama,” she said. “The company had so many great opportunities and was recommended by another co-op student.”

Weaver-Rivers said the discipline, both physically and mentally, she learned in the military helped her achieve success in a tough academic program. “I was focused and able to seek mentors and adapt to change quickly – all thanks to the military.”

In addition to its reputation in the energy industry, Weaver-Rivers values Southern for the company’s reputation in hiring and working with veterans. “They value those of us who have served in the military and our experience,” she said. “This is a great match for me.” 

Job Opportunities Now
Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) is ready to hire veterans already equipped to work in the energy field.

According to Sally Nadler, college relations manager, there are openings at PSEG “from operations to electronics.” Job opportunities in New Jersey and Connecticut include technicians, engineers, training specialists and supervisors.

“The opportunities are mainly in the power area – the generation of energy in the fossil and nuclear areas,” she said.

What makes some veterans such a good match, according to Nadler, is their skills and experience in the power generation area. Veterans also are well-equipped through their military training with the skills needed to pass pre-employment testing, and they have security clearances and high ethical standards that PSEG values, she said.

Salaries vary by the level of experience and education, but can start at $50,000 to $90,000, said Nadler, for many positions. 

You Can Lead Them
Karen Noe, 55, an emerging technology and transfer consultant at PSEG, said her Army experience provided her with the “can-do attitude” that helps her research and analyze various issues for clients.

Noe was a prime power production specialist in the service. Since she operated generators, that experience transferred directly into a career in the energy industry. But she urges other veterans, even those without energy experience, to consider the career field.

“The energy industry is full of a variety of occupations,” she said. “Ask yourself what you enjoy doing – building things, repairing things, or perhaps a more innovative green jobs focus.

“Don’t underestimate the skills you learn in the military – it is tough to manage someone up the hill, but you can lead them up the hill,” she said.  

Opportunity Beckons
“This industry is full of opportunities,” said Michelle Buczkowski, supervisor of workforce development & planning for CONSOL Energy.

CONSOL has positions in both the coal and gas production areas, as well as support services such as accounting, human resources, supply chain, land services and water management. There are opportunities in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Buczkowski said salaries at CONSOL “vary dramatically based on position, but range anywhere from $60,000 to $100,000 in field operations.”

CONSOL finds veterans attractive due to their attention to safety, high work standards and ability to take positions with a great deal of responsibility, according to Buczkowski. 

Prepped for Corporate America
Anita Victor, 54, is a recruiter for CONSOL in the company’s Pittsburgh office. She’s also an Air Force veteran.

“My military service prepared me for a position in the corporate world by teaching me to adapt to quickly changing circumstances, reinforcing a solid work ethic and giving me confidence in my abilities,” she said.

Victor said her military experience gave her an edge in the work force over her colleagues. “Upon my return, I actually felt older than my peers because of all that I had experienced during my military time,” she said.

Gary Bluhm, 59, manager of human resources, said his experience in the Air Force taught him that he was good at working with people, something he continues in his role at CONSOL. “This probably stemmed from my past personnel office experience and also from my experience working as a technical training instructor in the Air Force,” he said.

Bluhm also took advantage of his military benefits to pursue a higher education. “I earned two associates degrees and continued taking classes toward earning a bachelor’s degree while on active duty,” he said. “That paid dividends.” 

Troops to Energy Jobs
Troops to Energy Jobs will accelerate the training and employability of veterans for key energy positions. With their extensive military training and experience, many veterans already have the skills and knowledge required for energy careers. They just need a pathway to successful job placement and career advancement. 

How Veterans Benefit
Troops to Energy Jobs will provide veterans the opportunity to enter the industry seamlessly, regardless of their geographic location or targeted company. The specific veterans’ benefits that distinguish the program include:

• A customized approach for each individual veteran
• The opportunity to learn about careers that match their military training and experience
• College credit for their military training and experience
• Connection to other veterans who have transitioned to the energy industry through mentoring and virtual networking
• Accelerated training opportunities as veterans shift to industry careers
• Stackable credentials that are portable from company to company
• An availability of extensive resources in one place 

For more details, visit
www.gijobs.com/energy 

Energy Jobs in Demand
Through Troops to Energy Jobs, veterans will be eligible for employment in a variety of positions within the energy industry. High-growth energy careers in demand today include:

• Engineers
• Line workers
• Plant operators
• Technicians
• Pipefitters/pipelayers/welders
• Security officers 

Source: Center for Energy Workforce Development