A career as a signaller

[RailNoob]

Hi all,

I am am scheduled to complete a grade 4 interview for Kilmarnock in the coming week.

I am looking to see what questions you may be asked, and what sort of studying you undertook.

I am studying up around Absolute Blocks and track Circuit Blocks as these related to Kilmarnock, what is new and upcoming in respect of the digital railway and how that impacts on Signalling. I have looked into the GSM-R communication aswell as ETCS, I am unsure if I am going to in depth.

I have read on other forums that the STAR model is used for questions. Being an external candidate I presume these will be generic ones such as tell me a time you have done XYZ along with why you want to join network rail, what is involved in role of a signaller etc.

Thanks

Hi mate, they aren't looking for you to be that clued up on the actual job, signal school is designed to take someone with 0 railway knowledge to being a signaller! Maybe some basic knowledge of what the role entails etc will help but don't go too overkill they are there to find out the person you are not that you know the job inside and out!

The future of the railway is also a good idea shows you've taken some interest, have examples of times you've used the non technical skills in other job roles & life guranteed the questions will involve them!! Also life saving rules memorise them and your a step ahead of alot of the competition and also the companies safety moto "everyone home safe everday" other than that first impressions count a shirt and a tie definitely set the scene in my opinion!

Good luck and let us know how you get on !

 

[Ferretrugby]

Hi mate, they aren't looking for you to be that clued up on the actual job, signal school is designed to take someone with 0 railway knowledge to being a signaller! Maybe some basic knowledge of what the role entails etc will help but don't go too overkill they are there to find out the person you are not that you know the job inside and out!

The future of the railway is also a good idea shows you've taken some interest, have examples of times you've used the non technical skills in other job roles & life guranteed the questions will involve them!! Also life saving rules memorise them and your a step ahead of alot of the competition and also the companies safety moto "everyone home safe everday" other than that first impressions count a shirt and a tie definitely set the scene in my opinion!

Good luck and let us know how you get on !

Nice one thanks for that.

With regard to the non technical questions do they say this relates to "communication", " willingness to learn" etc. or do they provide a generalised question that is relatable to the skill in question.

Does the interview cover all 8 skills or could it be a set number of them.

 

[The Puddock]

Nice one thanks for that.

With regard to the non technical questions do they say this relates to "communication", " willingness to learn" etc. or do they provide a generalised question that is relatable to the skill in question.

Does the interview cover all 8 skills or could it be a set number of them.

The interviewers aren't required to tell you which of the specific NTS areas the question relates to (though it isn't hard to guess!) and the questions won't necessarily cover all eight. Just answer the questions to the best of your ability as they're asked, without worrying about the scoring mechanism behind the question, and you can't go too far wrong.

 

[Reets]

Hi all,
Has anyone applied for the South Wales vacancies, and heard anything after the online tests? Indeed still have one vacancy showing with a closing date of 20th June??

 

[SuperLuke2334]

I've just been offered the position of G2 trainee signaller in the Hereford area! Very excited, and hopefully I will get my start date fairly soon!

 

[Reets]

I've just been offered the position of G2 trainee signaller in the Hereford area! Very excited, and hopefully I will get my start date fairly soon!

Congratulations

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Congratulations

Thank you very much

 

[jazzalaa]

Is anyone on here due to start WMSC on 16th Sept? Or IST on 1st Oct?

 

[TLR_uQ]

I've just been offered the position of G2 trainee signaller in the Hereford area! Very excited, and hopefully I will get my start date fairly soon!

Congrats! How did you receive your offer? I had my interview last week for the same role, but yet to hear anything.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Congrats! How did you receive your offer? I had my interview last week for the same role, but yet to hear anything.

A phone call. My interview was last Tuesday morning, I got the call yesterday about 1500. Formal offer came through today and paperwork subsequently completed.

 

[TLR_uQ]

A phone call. My interview was last Tuesday morning, I got the call yesterday about 1500. Formal offer came through today and paperwork subsequently completed.

Ah okay. I had mine last Tuesday afternoon. Assuming I may not have got it then since you’ve had your offer already.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Ah okay. I had mine last Tuesday afternoon. Assuming I may not have got it then since you’ve had your offer already.

Don't give up hope until its definitely a no!

 

[Ramrod93]

Is anyone on here due to start WMSC on 16th Sept? Or IST on 1st Oct?

I have start date confirmed of 16th Sept at WMSC and employee number provided, but not had any correspondence regarding IST as of yet. Did you chase this up or did they contact you?

 

[DC36]

I have start date confirmed of 16th Sept at WMSC and employee number provided, but not had any correspondence regarding IST as of yet. Did you chase this up or did they contact you?

If it's anything like mine you'll get your IST details about a week before you're due to go

 

[signalcat]

Hi All

Long time lurker, first time poster.

I have been offered G2 Trainee signaller. I am very excited to get started but I’m also a bit nervous about passing signalling school. It was a challenging recruitment process so I hope that means I have the aptitude but it’s a big risk especially leaving my current job.

Posts on here suggest many more people pass than fail but it feels like a huge leap of faith at the moment.

Any tips to help me get through or some reassurance would be welcomed.

Do others feel like this?

 

[Lpf93]

Hi All

Long time lurker, first time poster.

I have been offered G2 Trainee signaller. I am very excited to get started but I’m also a bit nervous about passing signalling school. It was a challenging recruitment process so I hope that means I have the aptitude but it’s a big risk especially leaving my current job.

Posts on here suggest many more people pass than fail but it feels like a huge leap of faith at the moment.

Any tips to help me get through or some reassurance would be welcomed.

Do others feel like this?

You’ll be fine, buy flash cards and revise from them in a group at a hotel and remember all of the acronyms. They’re very easy marks.

 

[signalcat]

You’ll be fine, buy flash cards and revise from them in a group at a hotel and remember all of the acronyms. They’re very easy marks.

Thanks for the tip

 

[RailNoob]

Hi All

Long time lurker, first time poster.

I have been offered G2 Trainee signaller. I am very excited to get started but I’m also a bit nervous about passing signalling school. It was a challenging recruitment process so I hope that means I have the aptitude but it’s a big risk especially leaving my current job.

Posts on here suggest many more people pass than fail but it feels like a huge leap of faith at the moment.

Any tips to help me get through or some reassurance would be welcomed.

Do others feel like this?

Congrats on the job offer! If you've got this far you've got what it takes keep your head down for signal school and put the time and effort in and you will get through it think of it as 3 months hard work for the rest of your life !

Good luck for the future.

 

[Jordan4321]

Hi All

Long time lurker, first time poster.

I have been offered G2 Trainee signaller. I am very excited to get started but I’m also a bit nervous about passing signalling school. It was a challenging recruitment process so I hope that means I have the aptitude but it’s a big risk especially leaving my current job.

Posts on here suggest many more people pass than fail but it feels like a huge leap of faith at the moment.

Any tips to help me get through or some reassurance would be welcomed.

Do others feel like this?

What everyone else has said pal

It’s no cake walk but if you put in the time and effort you will be fine(flash cards were a god send for me) but is also recommend that you relax on the weekends especially if your course is far away from home, as you may only get the Saturday to relax

 

[jazzalaa]

I have start date confirmed of 16th Sept at WMSC and employee number provided, but not had any correspondence regarding IST as of yet. Did you chase this up or did they contact you?

Ahh Cool. Nice to meet you. Yeah I have the same details as you. They contacted me.

 

[signalcat]

Congrats on the job offer! If you've got this far you've got what it takes keep your head down for signal school and put the time and effort in and you will get through it think of it as 3 months hard work for the rest of your life !

Good luck for the future.

Thank you. Good advice!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2024 ==

What everyone else has said pal

It’s no cake walk but if you put in the time and effort you will be fine(flash cards were a god send for me) but is also recommend that you relax on the weekends especially if your course is far away from home, as you may only get the Saturday to relax

Thank you. Don’t have details of how far away it will be yet. I’m definitely willing to put the work in. This is such a good opportunity.

 

[muz379]

Hi All

Long time lurker, first time poster.

I have been offered G2 Trainee signaller. I am very excited to get started but I’m also a bit nervous about passing signalling school. It was a challenging recruitment process so I hope that means I have the aptitude but it’s a big risk especially leaving my current job.

Posts on here suggest many more people pass than fail but it feels like a huge leap of faith at the moment.

Any tips to help me get through or some reassurance would be welcomed.

Do others feel like this?

The recruitment process is definitely used to pick out the candidates that have what it takes .

As others have said , it is not an easy course by any stretch of the imagination but it is totally achievable with the right focus and effort . Make sure you are putting time in reinforcing what you have been taught in class and practicing on the simulator in the "free" time you get as well . You are trusted a great deal to spend the time doing this and it really will show if you have not . But also try and enjoy your weekends particularly early on , I did do some revision at weekends in the later weeks as final exams and observations drew closer .

When you get there take as much effort to learn the simulator as quickly as possible . And if you are not sure about something being taught ask the trainer especially early on because they will put in every effort to make sure you understand something but if people don't ask they assume everyone gets it and move on swiftly to the next topic because they have lots to cover . You will see that rules are often built on some of the fundamental things you are taught early on so make sure you clarify anything you are not sure of .

 

[signalcat]

The recruitment process is definitely used to pick out the candidates that have what it takes .

As others have said , it is not an easy course by any stretch of the imagination but it is totally achievable with the right focus and effort . Make sure you are putting time in reinforcing what you have been taught in class and practicing on the simulator in the "free" time you get as well . You are trusted a great deal to spend the time doing this and it really will show if you have not . But also try and enjoy your weekends particularly early on , I did do some revision at weekends in the later weeks as final exams and observations drew closer .

When you get there take as much effort to learn the simulator as quickly as possible . And if you are not sure about something being taught ask the trainer especially early on because they will put in every effort to make sure you understand something but if people don't ask they assume everyone gets it and move on swiftly to the next topic because they have lots to cover . You will see that rules are often built on some of the fundamental things you are taught early on so make sure you clarify anything you are not sure of .

Thank you, that’s really helpful practical information. I presume from this we can get access to the simulator outside of class time so I will make sure I use the opportunity. 10 weeks away from home is a big commitment so I want to make the best of it.

 

[muz379]

Thank you, that’s really helpful practical information. I presume from this we can get access to the simulator outside of class time so I will make sure I use the opportunity. 10 weeks away from home is a big commitment so I want to make the best of it.

I don't know if the setup is the same at all centres , but we had access to the simulator whenever we wanted . Some of us would go back to the hotel in the afternoon when done with class and have some downtime ,then go back for an hour or so after eating dinner . Some of the morning people on our course would get over there for 6/7am and have a few hours before class . Find people on your course that are as willing and work with them .

10 weeks away from home was hard for some people on my course , especially the people that lived further away so travelled in on the sunday . They only really had a Saturday at home with family/friends . I dont really have any practice advice for that as I wasn't as far away so travelled on the Monday morning .

 

[signalcat]

I don't know if the setup is the same at all centres , but we had access to the simulator whenever we wanted . Some of us would go back to the hotel in the afternoon when done with class and have some downtime ,then go back for an hour or so after eating dinner . Some of the morning people on our course would get over there for 6/7am and have a few hours before class . Find people on your course that are as willing and work with them .

10 weeks away from home was hard for some people on my course , especially the people that lived further away so travelled in on the sunday . They only really had a Saturday at home with family/friends . I dont really have any practice advice for that as I wasn't as far away so travelled on the Monday morning .

Thank you

 

[Open_G]

Thank you, that’s really helpful practical information. I presume from this we can get access to the simulator outside of class time so I will make sure I use the opportunity. 10 weeks away from home is a big commitment so I want to make the best of it.

We were split into groups and allocated slots. I think it worked out as 3 slots each week either before or after teaching hours. The better one I found was after class as you didn’t have a time to quit by. There were also general gathering on Sunday evening at times and it is just about possible (once you know what you are doing) to run the sim by yourself if noone else is around. Especially with elements that are more focussed on anomalies rather than just signalling trains. (It’s a last resort though.)

 

[SuperLuke2334]

I've just received my start date of 5th August, going off to Signalling School on the 19th Aug in Bristol. Anyone else on here going to school at that date?

 

[jazzalaa]

I have start date confirmed of 16th Sept at WMSC and employee number provided, but not had any correspondence regarding IST as of yet. Did you chase this up or did they contact you?

Just received confirmation that IST is Walsall. Have you had the same?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Jul 2024 ==


Also... Has anyone done IST at Walsall and know what the hotel is likely to be? Even if it is close to home, I take it that it is still residential? I know that 10 weeks away is hard for some, but I like the idea of it being residential so I can fully focus on studies / sim etc.

 

[rcuk]

Just received confirmation that IST is Walsall. Have you had the same?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Jul 2024 ==


Also... Has anyone done IST at Walsall and know what the hotel is likely to be? Even if it is close to home, I take it that it is still residential? I know that 10 weeks away is hard for some, but I like the idea of it being residential so I can fully focus on studies / sim etc.

I’ve had the same email this afternoon to. Will be good to meet you both come September. Be good to get started!

 

[jazzalaa]

I’ve had the same email this afternoon to. Will be good to meet you both come September. Be good to get started!

Amazing stuff! Yes be good to get going!