Metrology Job Prospects in USA

[clacoste]

Hi Gang,

I'm an American/Australian ex-Marine PMEL and have been down in Australia, or working in Saudi Arabia for their national airline, for the last couple decades.  Demand for PMEL people down here (particularly Perth) is virtually zero.  It's a very nice place, but there is bugger-all metrology work here.  I've been strongly considering returning to the US soon and working there for a few years to do some serious calibration work.  I've been working at Perth universities for the last ten years doing some low-level calibration and repair work as a part of IT support in science sections.  It aint what I'm used to.  And the pay and unpaid work hours aren't wonderful either.

What I'm curious about is whether PMEL technicians in the US have had any problems finding employment lately.  Are you competing against an army of applicants, or is it fairly easy?  Just curious about what I can expect when I get back.

[photoflash]

https://ww2.afpc.randolph.af.mil/resweb/job_search_results_nlo.asp?Submit=Search_States&State_List='NM'

Should be several job vacancies posted this week for the Albuqueruqe, NM area.

Steve

[farmerrd2]

You should fill out a profile at www.monster.com.  Once you have done that use the search criteria metrologist, calibration technician, instrument technician.  You will get an idea of what jobs are, and where they are available.
Another good resource is callbabmag.com.

good luck

[clacoste]

Thanks for the suggestions.  The monster one was particularly helpful.  Got a couple applications churning...

[ken91379]

There are a lot of job openings here in Southern California. Like farmerrd2 said try monster. About a month before I left separated from Nellis, I went down to SoCal for a couple days and had six interviews, two in LA, two in the San Diego area, one in Riverside and one in Orange County. One of the Presidents of a company that I turned down called me last week asking me to refer people to him. He loves PMEL people, and his lab was the closest out of the six labs that looked like the Nellis lab. So if you or anyone else is interested, feel free to pm me.

[Thraxas]

Clacoste, did you have any luck finding a job in the US?

[clacoste]

Thanks....I did manage a couple bites, but salaries weren't much better than what I'm making here.  And their benefits weren't too wonderful.  Say hi to Randall at Happy ranch.  I've had a few pay raises since 2004, and my benefits package is awesome - so I think I'll stay where I'm at for the time being.  My wife (works in aged care) was looking at a substantial pay cut in the US as well...with zero benefits.  Calibrating pH and conductivity meters isn't very thrilling....but the lifestyle here is fine...

Now that we have a free trade ageement with the US I can get a case of Bud for almost the same as that good Aussie beer we've got here.  Funny though, last year I priced Foster's (an Australian beer) at 10% cheaper in the US than it is here...and that was at Safeway in North Pole, Alaska (just outside Eielson).  I think we're getting ripped off here - must be the taxes...

[Thraxas]

I usually avoid the happy ranch if possible. I'm sure Australia will get that beer situation sorted out sooner or later.

[docbyers]

I miss the "Kool-Aid" at Ramstein, the kind that complied with the Reinheitsgebot (German Purity Law) adopted in 1516...

"Herewith, we decree, order, express and wish, together with the Privy Council, that from this day forth everywhere in the Principality of Bavaria, in the countryside as in the towns and marketplaces, wherever no other specific ordinance applies, from St. Michael's Day until St. George's Day a measure or head of beer shall not be sold for more than one pfennig Munich currency and from St. George's Day until St. Michael's Day a measure shall not be sold for more than two pfennigs of the same currency, nor a head for more than three haller. Violators of this decree shall be punished as prescribed below. Whoever should brew a beer other than Maerzen, is forbidden, under any circumstances, to serve or sell a measure for more than one pfennig. We especially wish that, from this point on and everywhere in the countryside as well as in the towns and marketplaces, nothing is to be added to or used in beer other than barley, hops and water. Whosoever knowingly disobeys this decree will be severely punished by the court having jurisdiction over him by having his barrel of beer confiscated whenever this offense occurs. Whenever an innkeeper buys beer at the prescribed price from any brewery in the countryside as well as in the towns and marketplaces, he is allowed to resell it privately to the lowly peasantry for one haller more than the price of the measure or head of beer stipulated above."

(Translator's note: "measure" and "head" were units of volume and "pfennig" and "haller" were monetary units in use at that time. "Maerzen" was a somewhat stronger beer brewed in late winter, which is still brewed today.)

[PMEL_DEVIL-DOG]

Clacoste,
The first thing I'll do is start a profile on Monster, Career Builder, the more the merrier. Those have been very helpful in getting me interviews (but due to some family issues, that's been out on hold). Anyway, the competion is not that bad. I have a ton of contacts esp. former Marine Cal guys. What area are you trying to move to?


In LikeFlynn, you're right...Doc Byers does rule!!!!!