How did Homer Simpson end up working in a ...
What credentials does he have?
What happens in Springfield stays in Springfield!
I don’t entirely remember, but I think Homer either saved Mr. Burn’s life or did him a personal favor so he hired him. There was an episode on it, but it was old.
EDIT: 12th episode of the third season, “I married Marge.” Had to search Wiki a little to find this.
“Homer’s wages at the miniature golf course are insufficient to pay for his new family so he attempts to get a job at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, but is unsuccessful…. Homer applies for a job at the power plant once more, this time marching into Mr. Burns’s office and telling him that he will be the perfect employee. Burns is so impressed that he hires Homer on the spot.”
I copied that bit of text from this Wikipedia page- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Married_Marge
You can read more about the episode in the “Plot” section.
On the Homer’s Enemy episode, I remember Lenny saying Homer just showed up the day they opened the plant. No Credentials. But in an earlier episode (Season 5) he has to go back to College to catch up, he has to take a nuclear physics class.
He actually started making safty sighns all over Springfield and when he said the nuclear power plant was not safe mr. Burns offered him a jop to keep his mouth shut.