A way in to driving

[Redahead]

Just of interest, who are you working for?

Southern Railway

 

[BestWestern]

At the risk of stoking the 'fllames' here, one point which hasn't been raised is that your attitude, trainability and job suitability etc are only of any relevance at all if you get shortlisted. As an external applicant you will be applying along with hundreds or possibly even thousands of others. To get looked at twice you need an exceptional application, or a good dose of luck. A colleague recalled once how we saw a manager involved in Driver recruitment split the pile of screened applications, and sling the top half in the bin. Yes, there are all kinds of fairness rules which apply to recruitment nowadays, and no, they aren't all followed to the letter! If you have 10 vacancies and 750 application forms, do they all get read in full and carefully sifted?!

Applying as an internal applicant with your existing employer does bring the benefits of having earlier notification of the positions available, and a fairer hearing if you do apply, as your company knows who you are, how your record looks, and can establish whether you are deemed by those superiors who know you to be worth interviewing. None of this means that you will be on a dead cert for the job by any means, but it does at least get you through the door, something which is devilishly difficult of you are just another Tom Dick or Harry applying online. However, I would totally agree that under no circumstances should anybody apply for a different job purely to get to driving. A very long wait and very possibly a huge dissapointment await anybody who does. But, if you're content to apply for a different role on the railway, Guard, fitter etc - and bear in mind that there are plenty who would give up their Granny for these jobs! - then there is no reason at all not to go for it, enjoy doing it, and perhaps consider Driver at some point in the future. A career has to have a starting point!

 

[313103]

Why does everyone seem to want to be a driver anyway ?

As a quote from a current popular song goes 'Its all about the money, money, money!

 

[HST Power]

As a quote from a current popular song goes 'Its all about the money, money, money!

Indeed so. The pay is considered excellent by most people, myself included.

 

[Legzr1]

It was oh so different only 10 years ago.

 

[313103]

Indeed so. The pay is considered excellent by most people, myself included.

That is the problem i have, at one time HST power me and you would have had a childhood dream to a drive a train. People like me were fortunate to get a job (any job) on the railway. Today it is oh so different people want to jump to the top of tree before the tree has any roots. When you say why don't you do another job and get your foot in the door, you get oh i don't want that, i cant afford that, why should i have to do that (something i can see in the OP) so if i can see it so can the Manager interviewing can.

It seems money and power (well the two go hand in hand really) are the (pardon the pun) driving factors in going for a driving job, which in my eyes are the wrong reasons to go for it.

You can see that through the derogatory comments on here about other grades.

 

[TMLB UK]

That is the problem i have, at one time HST power me and you would have had a childhood dream to a drive a train. People like me were fortunate to get a job (any job) on the railway. Today it is oh so different people want to jump to the top of tree before the tree has any roots. When you say why don't you do another job and get your foot in the door, you get oh i don't want that, i cant afford that, why should i have to do that (something i can see in the OP) so if i can see it so can the Manager interviewing can.

It seems money and power (well the two go hand in hand really) are the (pardon the pun) driving factors in going for a driving job, which in my eyes are the wrong reasons to go for it.

You can see that through the derogatory comments on here about other grades.

In my career i would like nothing more than to be a train driver in life, so many parts of the job appeal to me. The money is one small side of it, by no means is it the be all and end all.

I would like to go straight into driving because its what i want to do, if i wanted to become a police man id apply to be a police man. I wouldnt apply to be a parking attendant or a community support officer. This is a sign of the times, the old days arent the way TOCs obviously want to go otherwise they would only ever recruit from within.
However after a few years of watching every TOC in my areas website on a weekly basis and only seeing one post, i am now at a point where im willing to increase my chances when the oppertunity comes around. By doing this im showing flexibility and willingness to work my way up the tree. So i dont see why you think im not wanting to get a foot in the door. (plus the part you say about the manager interviewing is rediculous, im posting my open honest thoughts on a message board, im not in an interview situation)
The other point i made about money is a completely valid one. I have a house, a family and a mortgage. I earn good money now in an engineering role. I wouldnt ever take a large pay drop for any role other than the drivers job. The reasons for this are clear.... the shunters job which i mentioned is in no way a guarentee to getting what i want (as all the rest arent) so i wouldnt take a pay drop in that case. However the job im inquiring about now is a very small pay rise, so it makes sense to reduce the risk and apply for this job rather than a job that pays less well.... Common sense really! If i never get to apply for the drivers job ive only gained in salary and hopefully gained a good job in the railway.
If the drivers job meant training for free then i would do it! The reason being im gurenteed a very good salary at the end of it plus a job id love.
I may have come across wrong in the first post but im in no way trying to be negative in my aproach for the drivers job. Im willing to get into the industry first and gain an understanding into what it is i want to do.

 

[Rugd1022]

There's no gaurentee of a good salary at the end of it - only if you pass the rules exam!

I wish you all the best though, and the above wasn't meant as a put down.... once you have passed that final rules exam the sense of relief you'll feel will be immense, take it from me! I still have to pinch myself even now, and count myself very lucky to be back on the footplate a second time around. There are plenty who've left the job, regretted it and not been able to get back on. Since coming back into the grade there's been the odd moment when I've been stuck in a goods loop at three in the morning wishing I was somewhere else, but I wouldn't change a thing really, if it's what you really want to do it's a great life.

Best of British

 

[driver9000]

That is the problem i have, at one time HST power me and you would have had a childhood dream to a drive a train. People like me were fortunate to get a job (any job) on the railway. Today it is oh so different people want to jump to the top of tree before the tree has any roots. When you say why don't you do another job and get your foot in the door, you get oh i don't want that, i cant afford that, why should i have to do that (something i can see in the OP) so if i can see it so can the Manager interviewing can.

It seems money and power (well the two go hand in hand really) are the (pardon the pun) driving factors in going for a driving job, which in my eyes are the wrong reasons to go for it.

You can see that through the derogatory comments on here about other grades.

I too had the childhood dream of being a train driver and I'm thankful I was able to fulfil that dream. There is more to life than money, I was willing to work my way up to driving from cleaner if need be. Between my childhood dreams of joining BR and me actually joining the railway the system was changed and people were allowed to become a driver straight from the street. Obviously this worked to my advantage as a budding Driver and I still can't quite believe that I drive trains for a living especially after spending time in a job I absolutely loathed waiting for the opportunity (any railway opportunity) to come my way. I had years of rejections from the various TOCs who inhabited the railway over the years for just about every job available. We aren't all here for the money, some of us are here with a genuine want to work on the railway and a love for the job we do. Now that I'm on the railway, I'm here for as long as it will have me

 

[strange6]

I too had the childhood dream of being a train driver and I'm thankful I was able to fulfil that dream. There is more to life than money, I was willing to work my way up to driving from cleaner if need be. Between my childhood dreams of joining BR and me actually joining the railway the system was changed and people were allowed to become a driver straight from the street. Obviously this worked to my advantage as a budding Driver and I still can't quite believe that I drive trains for a living especially after spending time in a job I absolutely loathed waiting for the opportunity (any railway opportunity) to come my way. I had years of rejections from the various TOCs who inhabited the railway over the years for just about every job available. We aren't all here for the money, some of us are here with a genuine want to work on the railway and a love for the job we do. Now that I'm on the railway, I'm here for as long as it will have me

Your very presence on this forum, along with the many other railway staff, shows that you and they have a genuine passion in what you all do. Particular admiration goes to the ticket staff and conductors who, when they finish work, quite often come on these forums and continue their job for nothing, dispensing free advice and knowledge. If that aint dedication to your work and public service then I don't know what is. Full respect to you all