Experience needed to get into railway?

[Zygotic_mychi]

Hello everyone,

As you can see from my post count, I've just joined this forum as I have a question regarding the experience that TOC look for when assessing applications for vacancies.

A little bit of background information on myself; Up until 5 years ago I worked for 3 years in admin for bookkeeping company. That business folded and my current job is working in retail as a customer service assistant. During this time I've done a couple of Open University modules, thinking about getting into a career in teaching. I have come tot he conclusion that a career in teaching is not for me. I've decided to stop the Open University and really apply myself for looking for work on the railways. I've always wanted to do it since I was a child so, at the age of 31, I think it's about I did that.

My nearest TOC are London Midland, First Capital Connect and London Underground, but unfortunately none of them have any vacancies for ticket office or gate staff. I do realise that there are 2.5 million unemployed and I'm lucky enough to have a job, but when/if vacancies do arise in these companies for the vacancies I'm looking for, what sort of experience will they be looking for?

Just any advice would be great. I'm currently updating my CV, so any advice would be fantastic!

Thank you.

 

[daddy_badger]

all depends upon which role you apply for. I would ask what transferable skills do you have that you could use in the industry? being in retail i suspect anything to do with ticketing or conductor/guard/train manager.

 

[scotraildriver]

Its more about your ability to pass the tests and interviews, as most railway jobs train you from scratch anyway. I joined as a trainee driver from a retail management job, others in my class were a fireman, postman, bus driver, RAF aircraft engineer, a courier and a helicopter pilot!!!

 

[TDK]

To answer your title - you do not necessarily need any experience however experience is very much recommended. It all depends on what role you are looking at. If you list the roles that are preferable to you I can give you a bullet point list on what experience is preferable for each role.

 

[Beveridges]

Experience though not essential is recommended. As does getting a role in the company and working up. For example, I got my position as MDD through an internal application. If I was external I know I wouldn't have stood a chance, as there would probably have been about 1500 applications for the 1 vacancy!

 

[RJ]

Hello everyone,

As you can see from my post count, I've just joined this forum as I have a question regarding the experience that TOC look for when assessing applications for vacancies.

A little bit of background information on myself; Up until 5 years ago I worked for 3 years in admin for bookkeeping company. That business folded and my current job is working in retail as a customer service assistant. During this time I've done a couple of Open University modules, thinking about getting into a career in teaching. I have come tot he conclusion that a career in teaching is not for me. I've decided to stop the Open University and really apply myself for looking for work on the railways. I've always wanted to do it since I was a child so, at the age of 31, I think it's about I did that.

My nearest TOC are London Midland, First Capital Connect and London Underground, but unfortunately none of them have any vacancies for ticket office or gate staff. I do realise that there are 2.5 million unemployed and I'm lucky enough to have a job, but when/if vacancies do arise in these companies for the vacancies I'm looking for, what sort of experience will they be looking for?

Just any advice would be great. I'm currently updating my CV, so any advice would be fantastic!

Thank you.

I've attended a number of assessment/selection days for roles in retail and revenue protection. It's often said that we were only there because we stated that we had prior customer service experience on the application form. That said, my first job on the railway was in a ticket office and I didn't have much in the way of customer service experience, save for a two week placement at John Lewis Oxford Street when I was 15.

If you live in or near London, you might want to broaden your horizons a bit by looking at all Train Operating Companies in the area. Just looking through the websites, First Great Western have vacancies for ticket inspectors based at Paddington if that tickles your fancy?

 

[Zygotic_mychi]

To answer your title - you do not necessarily need any experience however experience is very much recommended. It all depends on what role you are looking at. If you list the roles that are preferable to you I can give you a bullet point list on what experience is preferable for each role.

Well, there has recently been advertised a position for a Retail Travel Advisor - ticket office staff, in other words. Having worked in retail as a customer service assistant for the last 4 year I think I have the experience and manner that suits the job. But please, don't be shy in giving bullet points for the experience that they will deem preferable for that role.

Thank you.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I got my position as MDD!

MDD?

Sorry, I'm still getting to grips with these acronyms.

 

[SkinnyDave]

Well, there has recently been advertised a position for a Retail Travel Advisor - ticket office staff, in other words. Having worked in retail as a customer service assistant for the last 4 year I think I have the experience and manner that suits the job. But please, don't be shy in giving bullet points for the experience that they will deem preferable for that role.

Thank you.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


MDD?

Sorry, I'm still getting to grips with these acronyms.

Maintenance depot driver

 

[TDK]

Well, there has recently been advertised a position for a Retail Travel Advisor - ticket office staff, in other words. Having worked in retail as a customer service assistant for the last 4 year I think I have the experience and manner that suits the job. But please, don't be shy in giving bullet points for the experience that they will deem preferable for that role.

Thank you.

1. If the job involves shifts the past shif experience will hep
2. Experience in handling money and a good basic mathematical knowledge
3. A basic knowledge of the areas you are serving.
4. An hour from the location
5. Good communication skills

You 4 years experience in customer service will certainly help you.

 

[reapz]

1. If the job involves shifts the past shif experience will hep
2. Experience in handling money and a good basic mathematical knowledge
3. A basic knowledge of the areas you are serving.
4. An hour from the location
5. Good communication skills

You 4 years experience in customer service will certainly help you.

None at all

 

[Idiotic]

Ive come off the street to getting a job as a guard for SWT this year.

Only experience i really had before was customer service and a bit of rule following but nothing to major.

They also get to learn alot more about you in the assessment and see if you are capable through that.

For ticket office, Customer service will help and belongs if your good with some numbers then thats always good!

 

[TDK]

None at all

Don't understand your reply reapz

 

[E&W Lucas]

My nearest TOC are London Midland, First Capital Connect and London Underground,

If you're in that sort of area, you are also within range of Virgin, East Coast and Chiltern London depots.

Plenty of relevant experience on your CV; if you've a bit of supervisory/ management time under your belt, would certainly help too. Chin up, don't put yourself down, sounds like you have plenty to offer.

 

[reapz]

Don't understand your reply reapz

All i meant was to get a job on the railway you can start at the bottom with no skills other than life skills

 

[RJ]

All i meant was to get a job on the railway you can start at the bottom with no skills other than life skills

My recent experiences attending various assessment centres for customer service roles has seen an increasing amount of numerical, literacy and psychometric testing along with a stated preference for customer service experience.

 

[142094]

All i meant was to get a job on the railway you can start at the bottom with no skills other than life skills

Don't think that applies these days, with the amount of people going for the jobs that do come up.

 

[reapz]

Don't think that applies these days, with the amount of people going for the jobs that do come up.

Its a sad world we live in when u have countless people with degrees who apply for jobs on the railway.

 

[notadriver]

Its a sad world we live in when u have countless people with degrees who apply for jobs on the railway.

They wouldn't if payrates and conditions matched those of for example the bus industry.

 

[RJ]

They wouldn't if payrates and conditions matched those of for example the bus industry.

Says who?

 

[Silv1983]

They wouldn't if payrates and conditions matched those of for example the bus industry.

Spot on. Im walking proof of this.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Its a sad world we live in when u have countless people with degrees who apply for jobs on the railway.

Why? I have a degree and I recently started on the footplate.

I love the railways and I like to see myself in a senior role one day. I count myself very fortunate that I am in an industry where the pay and conditions allow me to experience the "shop floor" before trying to climb the ladder.

 

[TDK]

They wouldn't if payrates and conditions matched those of for example the bus industry.

Some on here would do the job for no pay

 

[A-driver]

Its a sad world we live in when u have countless people with degrees who apply for jobs on the railway.

It just shows how pointless a degree has become. I have a degree and have never used it. I love working on the railways and my only regret is that I didn't start sooner and wasted time at Uni.

On the other hand, my wife with no degree works in a managment role-she joined a company and worked up.

A degree really isn't what it used to be!

 

[Quickthorn]

It just shows how pointless a degree has become. I have a degree and have never used it. I love working on the railways and my only regret is that I didn't start sooner and wasted time at Uni.

I'd agree with this. In fact, I took my degree 30 years ago, and even then I'd say that I never used 70% of it. It opened a few doors to a few jobs, but that was it. Once in these jobs, having a degree sometimes became a hindrance when I had to work with people who didn't have degrees.

With hindsight, I'd never have gone to University: technical college and/or an apprenticeship would have been a better bet for me. The problem is that you don't necessarily know that when you're 16, especially when family and school put pressure on you to go down the degree route, to "do as well as you can".

Now, I see it only as proof that I could knuckle down and grind my way through huge amounts of work. I've put it down in any railway job I've applied for, because it's an engineering discipline, but I just hope it doesn't make me "overqualified".

 

[Beveridges]

Its a sad world we live in when u have countless people with degrees who apply for jobs on the railway.

How is it sad? I did my MSc and got a job on the Platforms several months later as it was the best thing on offer at the time. It lead to promotion to an exceptional role on the Depots.

I could have got a boring office job like most of the others on my course did. Even if the pay is more I'd rather work on the Depots as its so enjoyable. Working in an office is anything but that.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
A Degree is not useless as it shows you can acquire a lot of knowledge. A skill essential for certain jobs including my own. It may have been what secured the deal at the Interview.

 

[youngboy]

My daughter and son in law both did their degrees and both said the three years was a complete waste of time, the A level work was harder, and much of the degree had already been covered under A level anyway.

Neither of them work in anything to do with their degree !!!

 

[notadriver]

I guess it gets you past the paper sift.

 

[A-driver]

My daughter and son in law both did their degrees and both said the three years was a complete waste of time, the A level work was harder, and much of the degree had already been covered under A level anyway.

Neither of them work in anything to do with their degree !!!

I am not completely against Uni or degrees, just feel that as most people now have them employers don't view them like they used to.

Plus Uni is about more than the piece of paper-for many its the first opportunity to live independently-try to budget, shop, cook, pay bills etc and organise yourself enough to get to lessons on time etc. - stuff that is appealing to most employers over a school leaver who has always lived with mum & dad sorting all that out.

 

[Beveridges]

I would say a Degree is harder than three A Levels. But it depends what grade your going for. A first class BSc in a tough subject like Programming is far harder to achieve than three A Levels. An MSc harder still.
But both Degree and A Levels are far harder than the training needed for any job I have had on the railway. My training I would say is more like the equivalent to doing GCSEs in terms of the knowledge requirements.

 

[trentside]

I'm another person with a degree who works on the railways. The stumbling block for me was not wanting to go into a teaching position, having done an education focused degree - the though of applying for PGCE/GTP positions was a bit too much when I was no longer convinced that was what I wanted to do. It seemed a good idea when I set out, but really went off the idea as my degree progressed.

On the railways, I've found a good place to work with decent pay and shifts that suit me quite well. I've just applied for a position on the next rung up the ladder from where I am at present, I've also got an application in for a totally different position and am waiting to see what will happen. I don't know really where my career is going to take me, but I started on the railway with no customer facing experience and no real experience of anything other than education. I don't feel my degree was at all relevant in getting me to the position I'm currently in!

 

[jon0844]

My recent experiences attending various assessment centres for customer service roles has seen an increasing amount of numerical, literacy and psychometric testing along with a stated preference for customer service experience.

Perhaps some TOCs have realised that some current staff aren't so good in this department - as you've discovered on your travels!!