How to become. Buy or not?

[bassethound77]

What do you all think of this book? Worth buying?

https://www.how2become.com/careers/train-conductor/

This 150-page career guide contains all the information you need to succeed during the selection process for becoming a Train Conductor. It provides tips on how to complete the application form, where to apply, assessment centre tests and it will even provide you with sample interview questions and answers.

 

[Flamingo]

Well, given that the primary responsibility of a guard is the SAFE running of the train, and SAFETY is our priority, the fact that the only time I saw the word safe used in the webpage was about " promoting a feeling of safety", would make me wonder if whoever wrote this really knew what the job entails.

They seem to think the primary role is customer service and projecting a positive image of the TOC (important, but not the reason the Guard is there - that's what we have Purple Pixies for).

But, I haven't read the book so I am judging it by it's cover - maybe somebody who had can give a better idea if it is worth the money

 

[PermitToTravel]

I'm not and have never been railstaff, and know nothing of the contents of that book; but my instincts say not to touch any book sold by that website with a bargepole. There's career-specific application advice you can pick up from this forum, and ditto for other industries and similar fora

 

[beavercreek]

i bought a few books from this company and they were very useful.

 

[Greenback]

I'm not in favour of such books myself. In my experience they can contain irrelevant and out of date advice. Remember that their real purpose is to make money, not to help people into jobs.

 

[W230]

I'm not in favour of such books myself. In my experience they can contain irrelevant and out of date advice. Remember that their real purpose is to make money, not to help people into jobs.

Spot on. There is plenty of free info and advice out there. Far more useful than that provided by any of these books. Give them a wide berth in my opinion...

 

[SkinnyDave]

I bought a couple of things from him and found them very useful in the whole process, I would not do course but pick and choose what you feel will help you

And I am a Driver now

 

[W230]

I bought a couple of things from him and found them very useful in the whole process, I would not do course but pick and choose what you feel will help you

And I am a Driver now

I avoided all the "become a train driver" etc drivel using the resources and advice offered on forums and people kind enough to help me along the way.

And am also a driver now. So which is right?

 

[Greenback]

I think the question for SkinnyDave is how much do you think that the things you paid money for actually help you to become a driver, as opposed to your own skills, experience and the advice you got from free sources?

 

[SkinnyDave]

I think the question for SkinnyDave is how much do you think that the things you paid money for actually help you to become a driver, as opposed to your own skills, experience and the advice you got from free sources?[/QUOTE

My own skills helped of course they did but the original book was a good resource for me as was the application form resource that they provided..I also downloaded the tests from them and the group b test from on here so a mixture of both
The interview itself can't really be described on here or in a book for my TOC it was very intense and I have had some intense interviews in my career but nothing like good cop bad cop routine I got here. Only thing I can suggest for interview is just because you got that far doesn't mean it's a done deal
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I avoided all the "become a train driver" etc drivel using the resources and advice offered on forums and people kind enough to help me along the way.

And am also a driver now. So which is right?

Whatever works for the individual mate, the stuff I got from them helped me personally as did here and t'other forum.

I only got a couple of things from them but in hindsight was a good investment for me anyway

 

[SWTH]

Well, given that the primary responsibility of a guard is the SAFE running of the train, and SAFETY is our priority, the fact that the only time I saw the word safe used in the webpage was about " promoting a feeling of safety", would make me wonder if whoever wrote this really knew what the job entails.

They seem to think the primary role is customer service and projecting a positive image of the TOC (important, but not the reason the Guard is there - that's what we have Purple Pixies for).

But, I haven't read the book so I am judging it by it's cover - maybe somebody who had can give a better idea if it is worth the money

I agree. Given that the book doesn't seem to be written by an experienced railwayman (according to the blurb the author is a professional career coach), I'd be wary of buying it. When I was applying for conductor vacancies the first bit of advice given to me was "make safety your priority and demonstrate that right from your initial application". This was from several people already on the railways, and has stood me in good stead all the way though.

 

[Greenback]

Thanks for the answer Skinnydave. I think it's a good summary to say that if you are happy with the information you got and felt it was helpful to you, then it was worth it.

Others may get more, or less, benefit from these types of books, as you point out, whatever works for the individual! Everyone should make up their own minds, while heeding all of the opinions on here.

 

[Sirgerbil]

Having never been involved with the Train driver process, I also debated wether to buy one of these books.

Having passed my first assessment and second upcoming, I found the information on this forum most valueble and easy to access.

But it's individual preference!

 

[Greenback]

But it's individual preference!

Absolutely, it's possible that having bought and read these publications someone may get the confidence needed to perform well in the tests and interviews.

They don't work for me, and I do have genuine concerns about the quality of the information, but if anyone thinks they will help them, go for it.