Help for a new member

[Rocketman]

Hi there folks,

Looking for some advice on how I break into the rail industry.

I’ve been working in engineering roles (Royal Navy Subs, Manufacturing, Shipbuilding) for last 20 years (just turned 40). Majority of this time has been on the tools except for the last 5 years which has been spent working in a Project team responsible for outfitting the first new aircraft carrier.

I think my skills would be best suited to working on rolling stock (maintenance/faultfinding/commissioning) or maybe in a project engineer role.

I applied for a project engineer role with Network rail and never got an interview or any feedback. I’ve also applied for a hands on engineering roles at Virgin east coast (Rolling stock maintenance), Scotrail (Shunter/Depot Driver/Servicing and Hitachi Glasgow (Test Engineer). All with no interview or feedback.

I was thinking of trying to go through agencies for temp. roles uk wide to see if I can get my foot in the door somewhere to get that vital rail experience.

Advice on what agencies to register with and what rail courses I could put myself through that would put me in a stronger position when applying for roles. I’m based in Edinburgh but prepared to move for the right role.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[142094]

If you are not getting past the first sift then suggests that the problem may be your application rather than the experience you currently have. Every company will look for transferable skills, and from the sounds of it you should have plenty of them from your time in the shipping roles.

One thing I will say from recent personal experience is that a lot of maintenace roles in TOCs seem to go to internal applicants, who always have the advantage of working at the same depot and on the same traction as the advert is wanting.

Keep putting in the applications. Do you also have relevant qualifications from the roles you have previously done?

 

[Rocketman]

My hands on roles were as follows:

- 6 years on Subs, maintenance and fault-finding (80% mech. 20% elec.)
- 2 years working for a cherry picker/good hoists rental company, maintenance and fault-finding, (50% mech. 50% elec.)
- 8 years in a large factory covering installation, maintenance and repair of all machinery (80% elec. .20% mech.)

My current role is as follows:

-5 years in shipbuilding/outfitting. This is a white collar project support role providing support, guidance, planning and estimating to aid the completion of the project. Started at entry level management grade and have been promoted twice. Currently, my role is a planning manager and I hate it. Not driven by cash, just want to get back closer to engineering. I think my experience from my years on the tools best match working on rolling stock but I would be open to working on the railway infrastructure.

As previously mentioned, my preference would be to go back on the tools in a rolling stock maintenance role but would consider project engineering roles if related to my back ground skills (mechanical/electrical).

I'm looking at the railway industry as I'm genuinely interested in the railways and I'm used to working in highly regulated environments. I’m also looking for sustainable employment to see me through the next 25 years.

I'm currently knocking up a few CVs, one rolling stock maintenance, and one for project roles within the railway.

As for qualifications, see below - some relevant, some not.

• Royal Navy Submarines Weapons Engineering Mechanic apprenticeship - 1998
• HNC Engineering (Mechatronics) - 2004
• ILM Level 3 - Leadership and Management - 2015
• IOSH: Managing Safely Qualification - 2015
• British Safety Council Level 1 - 2013
• Qualified BSI Internal auditor for OHAS 18001 and ISO 14001 - 2012
• APMP: The APM Project Management Qualification (IPMA Level D, SCQF Level 7 Certification) - 2015
• IPAF (cherry picker licence) - now expired
• 3 1/2 tonne Forklift Licence - now expired

 

[tiptoptaff]

My hands on roles were as follows:

- 6 years on Subs, maintenance and fault-finding (80% mech. 20% elec.)
- 2 years working for a cherry picker/good hoists rental company, maintenance and fault-finding, (50% mech. 50% elec.)
- 8 years in a large factory covering installation, maintenance and repair of all machinery (80% elec. .20% mech.)

My current role is as follows:

-5 years in shipbuilding/outfitting. This is a white collar project support role providing support, guidance, planning and estimating to aid the completion of the project. Started at entry level management grade and have been promoted twice. Currently, my role is a planning manager and I hate it. Not driven by cash, just want to get back closer to engineering. I think my experience from my years on the tools best match working on rolling stock but I would be open to working on the railway infrastructure.

As previously mentioned, my preference would be to go back on the tools in a rolling stock maintenance role but would consider project engineering roles if related to my back ground skills (mechanical/electrical).

I'm looking at the railway industry as I'm genuinely interested in the railways and I'm used to working in highly regulated environments. I’m also looking for sustainable employment to see me through the next 25 years.

I'm currently knocking up a few CVs, one rolling stock maintenance, and one for project roles within the railway.

As for qualifications, see below - some relevant, some not.

• Royal Navy Submarines Weapons Engineering Mechanic apprenticeship - 1998
• HNC Engineering (Mechatronics) - 2004
• ILM Level 3 - Leadership and Management - 2015
• IOSH: Managing Safely Qualification - 2015
• British Safety Council Level 1 - 2013
• Qualified BSI Internal auditor for OHAS 18001 and ISO 14001 - 2012
• APMP: The APM Project Management Qualification (IPMA Level D, SCQF Level 7 Certification) - 2015
• IPAF (cherry picker licence) - now expired
• 3 1/2 tonne Forklift Licence - now expired

Have you considered driving? With your experience I feel you'd be able to make a strong application and wouldn't struggle to find examples for the competency based interviews

 

[danny9672]

My hands on roles were as follows:

- 6 years on Subs, maintenance and fault-finding (80% mech. 20% elec.)
- 2 years working for a cherry picker/good hoists rental company, maintenance and fault-finding, (50% mech. 50% elec.)
- 8 years in a large factory covering installation, maintenance and repair of all machinery (80% elec. .20% mech.)

My current role is as follows:

-5 years in shipbuilding/outfitting. This is a white collar project support role providing support, guidance, planning and estimating to aid the completion of the project. Started at entry level management grade and have been promoted twice. Currently, my role is a planning manager and I hate it. Not driven by cash, just want to get back closer to engineering. I think my experience from my years on the tools best match working on rolling stock but I would be open to working on the railway infrastructure.

As previously mentioned, my preference would be to go back on the tools in a rolling stock maintenance role but would consider project engineering roles if related to my back ground skills (mechanical/electrical).

I'm looking at the railway industry as I'm genuinely interested in the railways and I'm used to working in highly regulated environments. I’m also looking for sustainable employment to see me through the next 25 years.

I'm currently knocking up a few CVs, one rolling stock maintenance, and one for project roles within the railway.

As for qualifications, see below - some relevant, some not.

• Royal Navy Submarines Weapons Engineering Mechanic apprenticeship - 1998
• HNC Engineering (Mechatronics) - 2004
• ILM Level 3 - Leadership and Management - 2015
• IOSH: Managing Safely Qualification - 2015
• British Safety Council Level 1 - 2013
• Qualified BSI Internal auditor for OHAS 18001 and ISO 14001 - 2012
• APMP: The APM Project Management Qualification (IPMA Level D, SCQF Level 7 Certification) - 2015
• IPAF (cherry picker licence) - now expired
• 3 1/2 tonne Forklift Licence - now expired

Hi Rocketman, Tiptoptaff makes a good point.
I myself have a CV very similar to yours, military background, elec/mechanical and not really enjoying my work as much as I should be.

I have recently accepted a trainee driver role and am really looking forward to working in the industry.

 

[tiptoptaff]

Especially as you say you like working in a regulated environment - train driving is exactly that. There is also signalling, which depending on how you are as a person, may suit you better than driving

 

[TractiveEffort]

I don't mean this to sound flippant, but move south. Shortage of skilled Engineers/Technicians in the London area, Bristol and a few others. Don't undersell yourself and if you have been project managing it's likely that Engineering Managers might consider you'd soon get bored in a hands on rolling stock maintenance role, it's a largely planned maintenance environment, with the more experienced hands doing the fault finding and project work.

Cross rail have been recruiting, Hitachi in London and Bristol, Eurostar have roles come up now and again, GWR are going through some upheaval in Engineering, but are looking to expand Exeter depot and Penzance depot, with St Phillips Marsh taking on the 165/166 and keeping 158. Reading depot have 387 and some 165/166.

Lots of opportunities, keep trying.

 

[Rocketman]

Some really good advice from all, and will definitely keep trying. I will definitely look country wide.

I haven't looked seriously at driver roles as I hear they are difficult to get - number of applicants applying.

Maybe something I would consider in the future.

 

[Economist]

The numbers applying for driver jobs is high though when I was applying I got shortlisted on over half the opportunities I applied for. If you research the company/industry, get the spelling and grammar right, show a basic understanding of the role and meet any other requirements i.e. distance to depot, you stand in my opinion a reasonably good chance of being shortlisted.

From there on, research the tests, get a good nights sleep the day before and give it your best shot.

I personally found the DMI to be the toughesg part of the process because that's where the really strong competition is but if you get that far you can often take the aptitude tests from one TOC to another.

Personally, I'd apply for engineering and driving if I were in your position, you could always go for signalling too.