Rail courses

[Brian88]

Evening All.

Just wondering if anybody can recommend any courses that might make my rail applications a bit more of an edge. Looking at joining as a signaller or driver, I know the competition is always tough though.

I looked at some courses such as: http://www.rttrainingsolutions.co.uk/rail-technical-courses-sum/

If you apply to be a signaller then the toc would train me up anyway, so are they worth doing?

Thanks

 

[RBSN]

Evening All.

Just wondering if anybody can recommend any courses that might make my rail applications a bit more of an edge. Looking at joining as a signaller or driver, I know the competition is always tough though.

I looked at some courses such as: http://www.rttrainingsolutions.co.uk/rail-technical-courses-sum/

If you apply to be a signaller then the toc would train me up anyway, so are they worth doing?

Thanks

Honestly, I wouldn't recommend anyone wasting their money on courses. I've said it historically, no course will give you a relevant edge compared to any other applicant - life experience and the ability to put that into words (on your initial application) is what you need. Oh, and a good amount of luck to get past the paper-sift.

 

[deltic]

Honestly, I wouldn't recommend anyone wasting their money on courses. I've said it historically, no course will give you a relevant edge compared to any other applicant - life experience and the ability to put that into words (on your initial application) is what you need. Oh, and a good amount of luck to get past the paper-sift.

Isnt having someone who has some relevant training one way of standing out in the paper sift? As someone who sifts hundreds of CVs for non-operational jobs anything that makes you stand out from the crowd and shows enthusiasm always helps.

 

[RBSN]

Isnt having someone who has some relevant training one way of standing out in the paper sift? As someone who sifts hundreds of CVs for non-operational jobs anything that makes you stand out from the crowd and shows enthusiasm always helps.

Nope.

Or at least that's what I was told by one of our DTMs. Just because you have some relevant training doesn't make your application any better if, for example, you don't put any effort into the rest of your application.

You have to remember they get thousands of applications per trainee role and will only take the cream. Which means the very best applications, the very best answers to the aptitude questions and such.

They give full training so having some experience at that point is marginal.

 

[Brian88]

I have applied for a couple of roles, but not been lucky yet to get past a sift. Are these railway basic signalling courses mandatory? I've got a strong telecoms background anyway.

 

[RBSN]

I have applied for a couple of roles, but not been lucky yet to get past a sift. Are these railway basic signalling courses mandatory? I've got a strong telecoms background anyway.

You need to be competent in railway rules and regulations. The driver training academy is 4 months long (prior to gaining your license and having the ability to start learning to drive) and it's equivalent is completing a degree course in 4 months.

If you think it's basic then you're a better man than I am

 

[Brian88]

Do you have a link to the driver training academy courses?

 

[RBSN]

Do you have a link to the driver training academy courses?

No as they're internal courses set by standards.

 

[red2005]

Isnt having someone who has some relevant training one way of standing out in the paper sift? As someone who sifts hundreds of CVs for non-operational jobs anything that makes you stand out from the crowd and shows enthusiasm always helps.

In this case there's very little that can make you stand out from the crowd job/qualifications wise. one intake at our place had pilots not making it through the paper sift despite the training they have and yey cleaning staff did!. Just goes to show that qualifications etc can only get you so far and you will need a bit more than that to be successful in the application.

Its all about how you put the rest of your application across and make even the smallest amount of experience you have come across as extremely relevant.

 

[JohnFM]

Evening All.

Just wondering if anybody can recommend any courses that might make my rail applications a bit more of an edge. Looking at joining as a signaller or driver, I know the competition is always tough though.

I looked at some courses such as: http://www.rttrainingsolutions.co.uk/rail-technical-courses-sum/

If you apply to be a signaller then the toc would train me up anyway, so are they worth doing?

Thanks

Those courses are worthless and, literally, play on people's ignorance of the subject. It's like having a guy train you to pass your driving test then taking you on a test but, in reality, you still need to pass the DVLA test!

It is all down to your application and how you come across, not what courses you've done.

 

[alxndr]

Those courses are aimed at S&T, not signallers. Knowing the optimum drop shunt of a track circuit isn't going to help you. If anything I'd wonder if you knew what you were applying for.