Turning up at a local depot to get advice ?

[Recce31]

Good morning all,
Being old fashioned i was just wondering if i should turn up to my local network rail depot (Wigan) to give a cover letter, get some advice on the recruitment process and show how keen i am at wanting to work for the company or would it be frowned upon. I am currently waiting to here back for two positions I've applied for in Preston. One saying awaiting 2nd assessment and the second one saying test completed. I know this use to be the way being punctual to actively seek employment and it has changed to being done online today. But as I've learned since leaving the army its more a employers market than a employees and you have to go the extra mile which im willing to do.
Any feed back would be much appreciated.
Thanks Ash

 

[Class2ldn]

It wouldn't make any difference I dont think.
Unfortunately you'll just be a number in a herd of people applying for positions.
Everything is online now so just wait to hear back.
Good on you for wanting to make the effort but everything is sorted out above local level to start with anyway.

 

[Recce31]

Thanks for the quick reply and i appreciate your advice.

 

[Ducatist4]

HR will deal with the recruitment process so i don't think the people in the depot would be much help in the regard but personally i think it would be a good idea to make contact, if they do give you some time at least you might find out a bit more about what the job entails which will help if you get as far as interview time.

 

[Chumba]

Good morning all,
Being old fashioned i was just wondering if i should turn up to my local network rail depot (Wigan) to give a cover letter, get some advice on the recruitment process and show how keen i am at wanting to work for the company or would it be frowned upon. I am currently waiting to here back for two positions I've applied for in Preston. One saying awaiting 2nd assessment and the second one saying test completed. I know this use to be the way being punctual to actively seek employment and it has changed to being done online today. But as I've learned since leaving the army its more a employers market than a employees and you have to go the extra mile which im willing to do.
Any feed back would be much appreciated.
Thanks Ash

If you get to the interview stage I would definitely ask HR to contact the depot/hiring manager and ask to visit the location. Then go with a list of questions to ask. On signaller interviews I've had I was asked what I knew about the box and area it covered. My knowledge was minimal but before my last interview I asked to visit the box and spent a couple of hours with a signaller. I learnt loads from him. When asked in interview what I knew about the job and location I was able to give lots of information and I'm sure it helped. I got offered the job ! So it cant hurt

 

[Aivilo]

Sadly your cover letter would most likely end up in the bin. Local management have nothing to do with the initial recruitment process.

I admire your approach and it would be best to seek out staff (like myself) on here. Generally pushed for time whilst on shift so can't give people out full attention for enquiries

 

[Recce31]

Chumba- I will certainly be asking that if i get through to the interview stage thanks.

Aivilo- I totally understand that with the cover letter and from the information I've read on here NR work all shift patterns and after a hard day/night graft find it difficult to reply on this forum which is totally understandable and i appreciate your feedback and taking time out of your day. I take it you currently work for NR ?

 

[Recce31]

HR will deal with the recruitment process so i don't think the people in the depot would be much help in the regard but personally i think it would be a good idea to make contact, if they do give you some time at least you might find out a bit more about what the job entails which will help if you get as far as interview time.

I appreciate the feed back. Do you currently work for NR?

 

[Ducatist4]

No, I’m an Architect with a local authority!

 

[kevconnor]

I work in health & social care but an anecdotal pattern I have noticed, even in the public sector, is those that show initiative to want to speak up and ask about the role and position have seemed to be thought of more, have higher scores at interview and higher chance of selection.

There may be a correlation with those who are predisposed to pick up a phone and ring to speak to someone and those who may thrive in a social way which assist ability at interview and to have more amiable characteristics but it is something which is noticeable.

This may only be of relevance however where the weighting for interview is higher than other aspects of the selection process and there is a greater push to try to regulate for unconscious bias.

Either way, I like the initiative and if you have an opportunity to speak to a decision maker in the recruitment process in a way which may help you or at least make you remembered by them I'd say go for it.

 

[LOM]

If someone turned up on my doorstep to ask about a job they were applying for I would certainly take the time to discuss things with them but there is nothing we (local level managers in Network Rail) can do with a covering letter handed over by a potential job candidate. All recruitment is dealt with by a central department in Manchester and is done online. You do get the chance to upload a covering letter if you like during the application process. It is great that you are willing to show initiative but sadly Network Rail’s recruitment processes do not take that into account.

 

[Stigy]

Nothing wrong with going to speak to people at the depot for which you’ve applied. This will also probably look good should you be offered an interview and when asked “what research have you done about the role?”. Handing in a cover letter locally won’t be much good though, as these will be dealt with by HR/Receuitment.

 

[henke7]

Good morning all,
Being old fashioned i was just wondering if i should turn up to my local network rail depot (Wigan) to give a cover letter, get some advice on the recruitment process and show how keen i am at wanting to work for the company or would it be frowned upon. I am currently waiting to here back for two positions I've applied for in Preston. One saying awaiting 2nd assessment and the second one saying test completed. I know this use to be the way being punctual to actively seek employment and it has changed to being done online today. But as I've learned since leaving the army its more a employers market than a employees and you have to go the extra mile which im willing to do.
Any feed back would be much appreciated.
Thanks Ash

Reece, what positions are you applying for? I wouldn’t bother about taking a cover letter to the depot but I’m sure somebody would be willing to show you around. I’m ex navy and I think that stood me good in stead with Network Rail signing the armed forces covenant. If you make it to the interview stages feel free to private message me with any questions.

Good luck.

 

[Fokx]

Most companies nowhere-days with the exception of independent business won’t be able to take your cover letter as it would breach GDPR.

I used to work occasionally in recruitment for a large Swedish retail giant and were not able to take any personal details except for online applications, where information is protected by encryption. Any physical data that a candidate completed would almost immediately be destroyed after inputting it onto the system.

I’d also presume you may be turned away as a member of the public for safety and security reasons. If you were to visit the best advice I would give you is to email and ask for permission first before attempting to do so. (At my company however this would be an absolute no unless you were an internal candidate, again for GDPR and data sensitivity)

 

[Juliet Barvo]

So I went to a Depot of a company I was interested in,
looked over the fence at their rolling stock to see what operated out of that depot,
came across a Driver and we had a chat,
If you get to interview then that knowledge can help.

But going to a Depot to give a cover letter ain't going to do any good IMHO. I'm a Driver

 

[Recce31]

Reece, what positions are you applying for? I wouldn’t bother about taking a cover letter to the depot but I’m sure somebody would be willing to show you around. I’m ex navy and I think that stood me good in stead with Network Rail signing the armed forces covenant. If you make it to the interview stages feel free to private message me with any questions.

Good luck.

I’ve applied for two jobs so far at the Preston depot both as operatives one off track and the other on track. I really appreciate that thanks and will more than likely be picking your brain when it comes to tips.

 

[Recce31]

Thanks for the reply’s gents really appreciate you taking the time out of your busy days.