Should I mention Degree when applying for train driver job?

[voldo]

I am thinking of applying for a train driver job. I am not sure If I should mention the Law degree in my application and cover letter. Any thoughts?

 

[SPADTrap]

I am thinking of applying for a train driver job. I am not sure If I should mention the Law degree in my application and cover letter. Any thoughts?

Why wouldn't you out of interest?

 

[Red18]

Although it's not necessary to mention qualifications in your covering letter you will be expected to list your qualifications and employment history on an application form at some point.
I assume you are concerned that you might be thought of as being over qualified for some reason.
Those days are long gone. I work with ex..... Police Officers (of various ranks), Psycologists, Forensic Scientists, Broadcast Engineers, Magistrates, Pilots to name but a few. So you can be a Cleaner or a Lawyer it makes no difference, everyone has to sit and pass the same assessments. The one positive thing a degree does show, however, is the ability to study and learn and believe me you'll need that skill fom day one.
Good luck.

 

[notadriver]

I am thinking of applying for a train driver job. I am not sure If I should mention the Law degree in my application and cover letter. Any thoughts?

Thousands apply for trainee driver jobs. Sometimes it might be easier to go for another job on the railway such as train conductor or platform staff. Would you consider such roles ?

 

[Johncleesefan]

I would definitely mention it, anything that will work in your favour. Even though not job related, it shows you can learn and stick something out, a question likely to come up in interview.

I wouldn't apply for other jobs (non driver) if driver is what you want, at least for a while. Concentrate your time and energy into a driver application

 

[Jace69er]

Most definitely. I know for a fact that first group are quite partial to someone with a degree

 

[A-driver]

Degrees are liked by TOCs as they believe that "educated" drivers will take it more seriously. Plus a degree can be used as proof you can cope with a training course etc so useful in things like the structured interview and DM interview.

You would be surprised how many 'ex-professionals' are now driving trains. I know ex lawyers, dentists, entrepreneurs and accountants who now work on the foot plates.

 

[Spankthemonkey]

Absolutely, proof of ability to learn. And then if you don't mention it, later, when it is discovered you do have one, your application will be stopped due to a major omission of info.

 

[razor89]

Yes, you should. While law in itself may not be directly applicable to driving trains, the various skills you acquired whilst studying for your degree could be. The trick is to work out which ones are applicable to the job and explain how/ why.

 

[Bald Rick]

Yes, do. And if you have a Masters in Industrial Relations, expect some homework.

 

[387star]

I have a degree in english (lit not lang) and mentioned the importance of spoken and written communication in the train drivers role as well as the ability to absorb a lot of information and recall and use that information

 

[voldo]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I was thinking I will come across as over qualified but after seeing the replies, I will mentioned the degree and try to use it to my advantage.

 

[A-driver]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I was thinking I will come across as over qualified but after seeing the replies, I will mentioned the degree and try to use it to my advantage.

As I say, nowadays for a driving job it's not possible to be overqualified! As long as you can come across that you want the job and will stock it, not just after a couple of years of quick cash then on to other things.

 

[JonathanP]

Definitely don't conceal your degree. Even if you think it might stop you from looking over qualified, if you did it as a full time student then you're going to look pretty silly if they spot the 3 year gap on your CV and ask you to explain.

These days, unfortunately it's pretty common for graduates to do jobs which don't really require a degree anyway.

I have never been interviewed for a train driver job, but my experience of applying for jobs for which I was 'overqualified' was that they were more concerned about how I would cope with going from being in a responsible, respected professional position like a Lawyer to a trainee considered junior to everyone and trusted to do nothing, than with the fact I happened to have a degree

 

[theironroad]

If you were a full time student, then there will be a nice gap to be accounted for, especially if you are a recent grad. If you were working full time and studying part time, then you could omit it unless the application asks all education and qualifications to be listed.

There are more drivers around with a degree, but I'm a bit undecided on how it's viewed. Certainly there is an increasing expectation for managers to have one if they want to get on, hence why a degree programmes are offered by the IRO and Glasgow Caledonian University.

Do you need a degree to do the job, of course not and the vast majority don't and are perfectly good drivers. Driving is a monotonous, often boring job and while it certainly has its challenges on occasions, its not intellectually stimulating.

I'm not sure there is a blanket answer tbh, much will depend on who is doing the interview and their attitude to the candidate and obviously the candidate's attitude to the driving role.

On a slightly different track, there is certainly some indifference and often hostility from drivers/guards to new managers who come straight from uni in shiny new suits with no job experience, let alone operating a railway and think they are Stevenson himself....

 

[happydoughnut]

I'm pretty new to this website (as you can see from the number of posts I've contributed) but I would suggest that it would be a good idea to include it. As mentioned it shows that you can commit to, and finish a long course, and also (given that the subject is law) that you can understand complex principals and concepts. At the very least this has to be a demonstration of your ability to handle the amount of learning required for the driver training.

 

[crehld]

I suspect a law degree is not a requirement for a train driver. Nevertheless do remember that if your degree comes from any reputable university much emphasis would have been placed on transferable skills as well as subject specific content. For example your degree might have required you to work as a team, or work independently. You might have been required to demonstrate your attention to detail or maybe even your initiative. Your degree might be evidence of commitment to training or long term commitments. I don't know the railway industry, but perhaps these are qualities railway companies look for in train drivers? Many graduates make the mistake of thinking the degree speaks for itself, but employers are actually interested in your abilities and experience... Your degree might be an example of this, but it's up to you to sell it that way.