I was at a conference in Ottawa recently. Not just any conference but the annual meeting of the Canadian Nuclear Association.
When I tell that to people, I get a blank look in return. Completely blank.
This is a not small meeting. There are 800 delegates from across Canada and likely more post graduate degrees per square inch than anywhere outside a university campus.
These people are not just involved in generating power but also mining, food processing, nuclear medicine and more. And it’s not just engineers. The nuclear industry directly employs 60,000 people in Canada. They are responsible for powering many of your laptops and proving the isotopes for your MRIs.
The nuclear industry in Canada directly employs 60,000 people, and puts $5B into the economy.
Yesterday was student day and I can’t tell you how many students stopped by our Women in Nuclear booth to say they really knew nothing about the industry, but someone told them they should stop by and check it out . Did I mention the free food? That could have been an incentive as well, I suppose.
So, here is an industry that is responsible for putting five billion dollars (yes, billion) into our economy and yet people don’t consider it as a career possibility.
How many other industries are out there under people’s radar?
If you are looking for something new to do, you have to stretch your horizon. It may be lovely to work for a Fortune 500 company but there are so many other interesting, stable, well-paying options.
How do you find these out about these industries? Stop where you are right now. Identify six things that are in your immediate area. Where do they come from? Who made them? Where did they get developed? That’s a good way to start.
For example, there is a banana beside my computer. It took a bunch of people involved in farming, logistics, transportation, export, inspection and distribution to get it to me.
Could I work in one of those industries? I don’t know but I think it’s time to find out.