General

A new, real-world testing tool for OPPD power plant technicians 

OPPD’s newest testing tool for a group of specialized job seekers is an 18-ton concrete bunker buried in the ground. 

In March, the utility installed a pre-cast manhole at its Nebraska City Station training site to ensure that aspiring steamfitter mechanics and instrumentation and control (I&C) technicians have what it takes to work at an OPPD generation plant. 

“It helps us with the hiring process,” said Trevor Fiala, supervisor of Maintenance Services at OPPD’s Nebraska City Station. “We do these assessments to see how well they work and how safe they are in a confined space.” 

For years, applicants for steamfitter mechanic positions and other technical roles would undergo a traditional job interview and written test. But OPPD managers learned over time that good interview skills and a nice resume don’t always translate into real-world, hands-on ability. 

Now, job seekers in those fields will have to fix a simulated problem in the underground manhole while OPPD evaluators watch. The underground vault simulates the tight quarters where all craft workers operate. 

The new skills test reflects a practice already in place in many other OPPD departments. 

Aspiring line technicians who want to join OPPD must pass through a similar hands-on assessment where seasoned managers and employees gauge their skills, communication and ability to work under pressure. Similar programs are in place for aspiring street light workers and other trades. 

OPPD’s underground construction workers also use a manhole similar to the one at Nebraska City Station for their own testing and training. 

Preparing for the real thing

Steamfitter mechanics rebuild all types of valves, from 1-inch ball valves to 3,000-psi steam valves. They operate all heavy equipment on site, such as mobile cranes, with precision. They fabricate long runs of pipe (cutting, shaping and welding it) for new equipment. And they also lead the charge whenever a boiler leaks or needs extensive repairs.  

I&C technicians work with instruments, circuit controls and related equipment within power plants and substations. 

Some of their work sites are hard to reach. On any given day, they may have climb and descend ladders into tight areas and situate their tools properly. The work demands safe, efficient work in awkward, confined spaces. Proper experience is a must, and competition for those OPPD positions is strong. 

“I tell people that anything they put on their resume can be questioned,” said Drew Ray, an OPPD recruiter who helps evaluate potential plant employees. “Be honest and transparent about your abilities, as interview panel members are likely to ask follow-up questions regarding the qualifications and skills you’ve shared. If you say you can do something and you can’t, that’s going to be a strike against you.” 

A realistic, simulated test in the manhole helps highlight strengths and weaknesses in candidates, Ray said. Are they safe? Claustrophobic? Do they possess the skills that they claimed on their resume? 

“If you say you’re OK in confined spaces, this allows us to put you into that type of situation and see how you handle it,” Ray said. 

The best candidates

The new test area will help show who is well-suited for a job. It will give strong candidates the opportunity to differentiate themselves, Fiala said. 

OPPD evaluators look for technically skilled team players who mesh well with their coworkers and show a willingness to learn. Safety is paramount. In the training area, evaluators will look for applicants who can descend safely, lower their tools in a proper bucket and tie knots correctly, among other attributes. 

“It’s sometimes the simplest of things that can catch an applicant off-guard,” Fiala said. “We’re trying to make it as real as possible.” 

The number of job candidates varies, but OPPD sometimes receives hundreds of applications for just a handful of openings. 

Fiala said OPPD plans to start using the underground vault assessment with its next round of hires. 

“I just think it’s a pretty innovative way to go about hiring potential candidates,” he said. “It really shows the skill of a person and puts them in the kind of environment they could face inside one of those units.”