Current / previous jobs

[Adam87]

Hello

I have been reading a load of information regarding becoming a train driver and I'm interested in what jobs others do before they applied for a job, did this effect your chances or hinder you in the interview section. Also and train drivers on here , I would like to know what you did before. The reason I'm asking is that I'm thinking of applying when a job comes about that is but currently work in an office environment so don't really have anything I can use as safety examples as I work in a office. Any tips from any other people .

 

[ComUtoR]

Hello
Also and train drivers on here , I would like to know what you did before. The reason I'm asking is that I'm thinking of applying when a job comes about that is but currently work in an office environment so don't really have anything I can use as safety examples as I work in a office. Any tips from any other people .

I'd had a few jobs before joining and my emergency example did come from a previous job; although not initially. That said, I am also older and life experiences also play a significant part.

Nothing should stop you from applying and I would say that even in an office environment there is still a significant safety culture in the workplace. As TDK constantly highlights, people don't listen to the questions and are so busy trying to tell the interviewers what they want to hear that they miss the point entirely.

Don't be defeatist. Sit there and think logically about your current employment and all aspects that it entails rather than treating it like a Mc Job. We have Drivers who came from office work. Drivers have a varied background so I am confident that any background can still lead to you becoming a Driver. The only limitation is one you place on yourself.

 

[Dave999]

Also think about examples away from the work place that may fit, hobbies etc.

 

[red2005]

Also think about examples away from the work place that may fit, hobbies etc.

this is spot on

For example many don't have previous roles where they have had to keep concentration for long periods of time, I fortunately did have but i still used the cycling that i do in my spare time as another example.

Remember in the interview they aren't just grilling you for your previous roles and experiences etc they are also trying to gauge your personality as well to see whether you will fit in with the existing workplace. Bringing your hobbies/interests into the interview is a good way of mellowing the interview a bit, keeping you calm and maybe even finding some common ground .

 

[TDK]

Hello

I have been reading a load of information regarding becoming a train driver and I'm interested in what jobs others do before they applied for a job, did this effect your chances or hinder you in the interview section. Also and train drivers on here , I would like to know what you did before. The reason I'm asking is that I'm thinking of applying when a job comes about that is but currently work in an office environment so don't really have anything I can use as safety examples as I work in a office. Any tips from any other people .

There are previous jobs that give people the edge on application as there are previous experiences in your personal life and personal traits that will also help.

Below is a list (Red2005 knows about me an lists ) of previous employments and previous experiences that will make a candidate look favourable with the reasons why!

1. Long distant Lorry driver - working alone, concentration for long periods, mechanical background, shift work, time keeping, rules and regs., monotonous repetitive

2. Armed forces - Rules and regs, working in a team, possible shifts, mechanical background, compliance of instructions, emergency situation handling

3. Police force - Rules and regs, shifts, working in a small team, customer facing, emergency situation handling

4. Bus driver - Working alone, concentration, customer facing, rules and regs, shifts, monotonous repetitive

5. Post(wo)man - Shifts, working alone

6. Gas/electric engineer - rules and regs, working alone, time contraints

7. Factory worker - working in a team, shifts, time constrains, monotonous repetitive.

8. Supermarket/shop worker - Shifts, customer facing, working in a team

9. Hospital worker/nurse - Shifts, emergency situation awareness, customer facing, rules and regs

there are many others but this will give you an idea.

Personal life/hobbies.

1. Living alone - spending time alone

2. Angling - spending time alone, shifts, concentration, repetitive

3. Cycling/walking - spending time alone

4. Metal detecting - spending time alone, repetitive, monotonous.

once again there are may others.

If you know why the question is asked and all are asked for a reason directly related to the role you can then ascertain what answer you need to give that fits in with your past experience for example a train driver will be alone and need to concentrate for 4 hours plus, if you can think of a time where you have done this use it.

Emergency situation is ideally a matter of life and death - not forgetting to stack the beans in a supermarket before and audit is certainly not an emergency.

So Adam, think of your current role and past experiences and gather your thoughts on what you have that will be an asset to the role of a train driver.

 

[scott118]

above is a fairly defined reply, from TDK, that not many can embellish. As also stated, there is a wide variety of professions that now find themselves sitting in the drivers seat today. To be fair, where else would you be able to find such a job, where you haven't had to spend years in further education, to even be considered. That to me, speaks volumes about the diversity of the role, and the people who are in it.

Listening and understanding, the questions asked, seems to be most peoples failures. I'm pretty sure the application process has evolved slightly, since i joined 10 years past. I was lucky to be successful, and i can appreciate the disappointment of those who don't succeed. Everybody who applies has the relevant skill sets I'm sure. Afterall, as I have said, you don't need specific degrees or qualifications, to be considered in the first instance. Every job has examples that define you as a suitable candidate, it's down to you, as an individual, to portray them..

Good luck with your application, should you choose to submit one..

 

[Twedds74]

I'm a long distance lorry driver, and also worked previously as a Conductor/guard, so should be the ideal candidate?, and although have had limited success, and passed the assessments in full last year, I keep getting knocked back! I WILL crack it one day soon hopefully!!

 

[Adam87]

Wow some excellent replays to my question so thank you everyone for giving me the details . I have taken them onboard and beginning to think more about my current role and also hobbies thankfully I do a lot of cycling and fishing so the concentration area can be covered with that. I'm currently as sad as it sounds I'm reading up on evey aspect of being a train driver , for example there daily roles, interview pointers and assessment examples . all I have to do is wait for a potential job to come up for a trainee around my area which is West Sussex near Brighton or barnham are my nearest depots so have booked makes souterns website and check it everyday , might have to wait a long time before something comes up but in that time I am getting myself perpaired which is a good thing.

Thanks all once again for the tips made me feel better about the process .

Many thanks

 

[red2005]

Wow some excellent replays to my question so thank you everyone for giving me the details . I have taken them onboard and beginning to think more about my current role and also hobbies thankfully I do a lot of cycling and fishing so the concentration area can be covered with that. I'm currently as sad as it sounds I'm reading up on evey aspect of being a train driver , for example there daily roles, interview pointers and assessment examples . all I have to do is wait for a potential job to come up for a trainee around my area which is West Sussex near Brighton or barnham are my nearest depots so have booked makes souterns website and check it everyday , might have to wait a long time before something comes up but in that time I am getting myself perpaired which is a good thing.

Thanks all once again for the tips made me feel better about the process .

Many thanks

I can only assume that this is your first application mate because i can assure you there is nothing sad about doing your research on the role, Remember it is a tough tough process to get through successfully where small things can make big differences. Don't let anyone make you think doing anything it takes to get the job is a "sad" thing as you'll be driving trains whilst they are still getting rejected over and over again because they've tried to wing it.

One of the first questions you will be asked in an interview is what you know about the role and what you have done to prepare for the interview. What i will say is think about what answer you are going to give when asked why you want to be a driver,such a simple question which so many blow the interview on.

Get your backside down to the depot that you are looking to apply to and speak to some of the staff or even the managers, You never know you may end up being interviewed by a manager you have met and the fact you have used your initiative may not have been forgotten (little differences remember)

you will be fine i am sure

 

[E&W Lucas]

Been done before (largely to slay the myth that you have to work in the industry before you become a driver):

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=53918

Personally - post uni, I worked in hotel and retail management. Both gave experience in:

• Working under pressure
• Working to defined standards
• Adhering to safe practice, and ensuring that others did so too
• Attention to detail
• Shift work
• Dealing with the public
• Taking control of an emergency situation
• Working unsupervised
• Demonstrating that an employer would trust me with significant responsibility
• Completing a training programme of 12 months duration

Someone will be along to suggest working on a preserved railway soon. Nothing wrong with that in itself, but as someone who's done that since he was a kid, two observations from my own experience of the selection process:
1. During the structured interview, it was suggested that I answer with reference to my employment, not my voluntary work, as it would provide stronger examples.
2. It was discussed in the employer interview. Was told afterwards that they were looking for a recognition that I was starting from scratch. (I'd over a decade of steam footplate experience at the time).

 

[TDK]

Been done before (largely to slay the myth that you have to work in the industry before you become a driver):


1. During the structured interview, it was suggested that I answer with reference to my employment, not my voluntary work, as it would provide stronger examples.
2. It was discussed in the employer interview. Was told afterwards that they were looking for a recognition that I was starting from scratch. (I'd over a decade of steam footplate experience at the time).

Experience in voluntary work with a preservation railway system is a good pointer however there are just too many who apply and I have interviewed a few who actually think that they can do the job off pat and unfortunately that is certainly the wrong approach. I had one candidate who said in interview " I have driven trains before on a preserve railway so therefore my training will be minimal and there isn't much I don't know about train driving" This attitude unfortunately will land you in the "no thanks" pile. I am not having a dig E&W but folks who think they know it all before they even start don't make good drivers.

 

[E&W Lucas]

Experience in voluntary work with a preservation railway system is a good pointer however there are just too many who apply and I have interviewed a few who actually think that they can do the job off pat and unfortunately that is certainly the wrong approach. I had one candidate who said in interview " I have driven trains before on a preserve railway so therefore my training will be minimal and there isn't much I don't know about train driving" This attitude unfortunately will land you in the "no thanks" pile. I am not having a dig E&W but folks who think they know it all before they even start don't make good drivers.

We are in complete agreement, and we've tried to make exactly the same point. There are plenty of sensible "railwaymen", in the wider sense of the word, working in preservation. Many have gone in to the mainline driving grade. But you absolutely have yo recognise that you are entering a different world, and that you are starting at the beginning again. That was my approach.

Claiming transferable experience from the heritage world, will get you laughed out of the interview. I've friends who've been trying to get on the job, who could do it, but get nowhere, as they fill their application with preserved railway. If they cited their day job experience, they would get further. Blinded by clouds of lovely steam!

I landed the job based on my previous management career. Steam was a talking point in the interview, no more.