Getting your application noticed

[ra1lukf0rum]

Hi there

I have passed my psychometric test in June 2014 but wasn't taken on by Southern something to do with them gaining their recent franchise. Trainee positions are few and far between but they don't seem to be filtered to find people who have passed the test - how can I get noticed? I am emailing companies with more persistence than Andy Dufresne from the Shawshank Redemption but they cant hold my application on file. Any suggestions? I would be happy to work anywhere in the South - freight or passenger. I am not working in the rail industry at the moment but have a degree but not in any discipline that allows me to apply comfortably for a graduate scheme. suggestions on a postcard please

 

[SPADTrap]

If you've sat the assessments already then your application must have something, don't forget that! Just apply to what suits you and persevere! You'll get there! Best of luck.

As a side note - there are often boxes where you can say why you feel suited to the role or add anything worth noting, perhaps that's the place to say!

 

[ra1lukf0rum]

Thank you spadtrap - I am trying to stay positive! Am armed with the info so the second a trainee position appears I am whamming in an application!

 

[pdeaves]

Thank you spadtrap - I am trying to stay positive! Am armed with the info so the second a trainee position appears I am whamming in an application!

If you want to be noticed, don't "wham" anything! Take your time, fill in the boxes carefully, think about what you are writing. Try and read your application as if you were the recipient: what makes this candidate more worthy than that one? If possible get someone else to read your responses before the final 'send'.

A hurried application will contain errors or badly phrased answers, which will make your application stand out for all the wrong reasons (if at all).

 

[ra1lukf0rum]

Hi.. sorry, maybe I should explain - whamming is a technical term meaning posting in seconds. The application has been typed, checked, triple checked, etc but I know that after a certain number of applications have been approved the remainder are not even read and get reject letters so "whamming" is merely an attempt to beat this deadline, not to give the application short shrift... there seem to be so many hurdles to overcome to even get the application read.

 

[TomBoyd]

My advice would be to not necessarily focus on the south. I applied for jobs all over the country in the industry, to gain experience (and get on the internal job list) and after 9 months in the north, I'm back in London where I wanted to be all along.

Also, have you thought about Network Rail?

 

[TDK]

Thank you spadtrap - I am trying to stay positive! Am armed with the info so the second a trainee position appears I am whamming in an application!

Did you know that at least 40% of applications are refused due to the form not being or the application not being completed correctly? If you rush the application you run the risk of missing something so take a chill pill!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Hi.. sorry, maybe I should explain - whamming is a technical term meaning posting in seconds. The application has been typed, checked, triple checked, etc but I know that after a certain number of applications have been approved the remainder are not even read and get reject letters so "whamming" is merely an attempt to beat this deadline, not to give the application short shrift... there seem to be so many hurdles to overcome to even get the application read.

If you are not getting through with your current application style you need to change it obviously as there is something on there that they don't like!