Whether you’re a new graduate, just starting your career, looking to transition into a new field, or a seasoned NDT professional ready to take the next steps, the ASNT Career Center has resources and opportunities for you. Here are five ways you can use the ASNT Career Center to get the most out of your NDT career.
1. Explore the NDT Industry
If you’re new to NDT, the ASNT Career Center is a great place to start learning about the different opportunities in this vast industry. To get a primer on the different testing methods of NDT, check out the Introduction to Nondestructive Testing page. You can also watch Choose NDT, a video created by ASNT to share the opportunities available in this dynamic industry. For a quick overview of the various terms and acronyms you’ll encounter in your search, you can also review common NDT terms.
2. Find Opportunities to Advance your NDT Career
Maybe you’re already an NDT professional wanting to take steps to grow in your career. The ASNT Career Center has resources for you! If you’re not already an ASNT member, the Career Center includes information about the networking, educational, and mentorship opportunities ASNT membership provides, as well as a link to get you started. For those ready to level up their skill set, the Career Center also provides a link to ASNT Certification Services LLC, which provides information about the essential NDT credentials you can pursue with ASNT.
3. Learn from the Experiences of your Colleagues
Visitors to the ASNT Career Center can benefit from the knowledge and experience of fellow NDT professionals. The Practitioner Profiles highlight the careers of NDT professionals in a variety of roles and career stages, from those still early in the industry to those that have made a lasting legacy in the profession. You can also connect to someone directly by signing up to become a mentor or mentee through the Mentoring Program.
4. Advance your Education
While many NDT jobs do not require a college degree, pursuing coursework and other educational opportunities is a great way to start learning about NDT or refresh your skill set. The Career Center provides a link to ASNT’s Educational Directory, which provides self-reported listings of educational institutions offering NDT coursework, including technical colleges, junior and senior colleges, and industrial/corporate training. For undergraduate students currently enrolled in US universities and colleges with recognized engineering programs, the Career Center also provides a link to the Engineering Undergraduate Scholarship offered by ASNT.
5. Prepare to Land your Next NDT Job
Once you’re ready to start looking for your next opportunity, the ASNT Career Center is the perfect place to start. The Career Center provides many resources to help you craft your résumé and cover letter. You can read tips for writing your application materials and view a recorded webinar from the experts at Idaho Next Steps Coaching LLC. You can even take advantage of a free résumé review by creating your account with the ASNT Career Center portal (the Résumé Review appears on the homepage for job seekers, and can be accessed after you have created your account). The Career Center also features tips to help you prepare for an interview.
Once you are ready to begin searching for jobs, check out the “Job Search” tab in the ASNT Career Center. This will take you to the portal for job seekers (and for those who have a position available). Here, you can create your account and candidate profile, upload your résumé, and create job alerts specific to your interests and expertise. You can also view open positions that have been posted by employers in a variety of industries seeking NDT professionals. You can even apply to these positions directly from the site.
No matter what stage you are in your NDT career, the ASNT Career Center has professional development resources for you. New opportunities will continue to be added, so keep checking back for more ways to keep your skills sharp.
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Haley Cowans is the Educational Materials Editor at ASNT, hcowans@asnt.org.
Related links:
“Interviewing Strategies for NDT Career Success” ASNT Learn webinar hosted by Karen Bruer: https://www.pathlms.com/asnt/events/2742
“New Pathways to NDT: 21st Century Technical Education Connects High School Students to Real-World Career,” https://blog.asnt.org/new-pathways-to-ndt-21st-century-technical-education-connects-high-school-students-to-real-world-career/