Interest or Career

[thetom22]

If you have an interest in Trains and Railways is it a good incentive to pursue employment in the Rail industry? I know not all people who wear the Virgin Trains or Freightliner hi-vise jackets go home and build model railways every night. I'm sure some do though.

 

[PudseyBearHST]

I have always had a strong interest in the railways and I intend on making a career out of it. My dream job has always been to be a HST Class 43 Driver and HSTs was where my interest in railways began.
Instead of playing on a simulator on my iPad or computer, I want to do it in real life and hopefully I will be able to do so in a couple of years albeit not on HSTs.

 

[SignallerJohn]

Don’t be too passionate about trains in your interviews.

 

[bb21]

Don’t be too passionate about trains in your interviews.

Depends on the job applied for.

Some functions see far more enthusiasts than others.

 

[uww11x]

In my experience if you say you like trains you don't get the job. I must try and say I hate them next time lol.

 

[FlyinScotsman]

Reason for applying; "I like trains" was mentioned. But I certainly made the point that there was a multitude of reasons for applying at interview.

 

[Busandrail]

I don't have a massive passion for trains but I do love anything with a decent engine, stuff that's fast etc. Trains are pretty big and that's what draws me to the job. I didn't mention liking trains at all in any point in the selection process and I was successful.

There was some right train geeks on the assesment day mind

 

[RJ]

Stating a like of trains won't score anyone any points in a recruitment process, unless that's listed as a requirement in the job advert. If anything, it might lose you points if you try to go down the road of acting like you know everything about the railways and the job, just because you can identify the class of a train by sight only.

The trick is to demonstrate throughout the recruitment process how you meet the skills, knowledge, experience and core competency requirements shown in the advertisement. Then once you're in, you'll find the show is run by more than its fair share of enthusiasts, at all levels. But sad to say, "I like trains" isn't going to automatically going to tick all of HR's boxes.

 

[Dieseldriver]

A point to make, and I'm not trying to sound condescending if that's what this looks like.
Railway jobs such as Train Driver and Signaller etc are safety critical. You have to behave in a professional manner, make lifestyle choices to ensure fitness for work, retain and apply a large volume of information and carry quite a bit of responsibility. The Railway as a job is much different to a hobby.
I love Railways and have made a career of Train Driving which I enjoy (on the whole), however, the knowledge required to be a professional Train Driver is different to Railway knowledge as a Railway enthusiast. I still have times where I don't like going to work, I have had experiences at work which haven't been so great and when things go wrong, it can be a stressful job.
I'm not trying to put anyone off in any way, as I said I have a massive passion for Railways as do a lot of my colleagues but if anyone applies for a Safety Critical Railway role because of their Railway enthusiasm, they should be aware of the reality of working in the industry.

 

[Cavan]

Also be prepared for endless "and why is my service so ****" type comments from friends and family

 

[Jonfun]

Do also bear in mind you may well find it kills your passion for the bl**dy things after a few years on the job!!

 

[Caad12]

I'm trying to change my career from frontline A&E ambulance to train driver. My current role means I have to have utmost concentration, be aware of changes, long periods of doing the same routine, is safety critical, lots of information to retain, etc.

I am not a 'train aficionado' by any stretch of the imagination but it is a role that interests me (being a driver), and has done for around 4 years now.

Time will tell.

 

[Dieseldriver]

I'm trying to change my career from frontline A&E ambulance to train driver. My current role means I have to have utmost concentration, be aware of changes, long periods of doing the same routine, is safety critical, lots of information to retain, etc.

I am not a 'train aficionado' by any stretch of the imagination but it is a role that interests me (being a driver), and has done for around 4 years now.

Time will tell.

Judging by that, your previous work experience would be desirable as it fits in with the qualities needed for Train Driving. Best of luck

 

[Bromley boy]

Depends on the job applied for.

Some functions see far more enthusiasts than others.

Very true.

In my experience train driving is the railway role with the fewest enthusiasts, which I find surprising.

 

[Caad12]

Judging by that, your previous work experience would be desirable as it fits in with the qualities needed for Train Driving. Best of luck

Thank you. I’d love the opportunity.

 

[Johncleesefan]

Thank you. I’d love the opportunity.

I would second that. You have very desirable experience that driver managers will jump at

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

In my experience train driving is the railway role with the fewest enthusiasts, which I find surprising.

It varies by depot. There are some which are well known for being "crank-heavy"!

 

[Up_Tilt_390]

From what I've heard, some occupations would find rail enthusiasts to be particularly undesirable. I wouldn't blame them for worrying about a trainspotter working at a signalling centre trying to catch the number of the train that he was meant to have stopped a mile back so it doesn't plow into the local service up ahead. Obviously that's probably not gonna happen, but railways love safety, and you really can't be too careful these days. I'd have thought some mild interest in railways is at least appreciated, but I've not heard the best things about enthusiasts in certain occupations.

 

[Caad12]

I would second that. You have very desirable experience that driver managers will jump at

Thank you. Let’s see what happens.

 

[Bromley boy]

It varies by depot. There are some which are well known for being "crank-heavy"!

True cranks aspire to freight in my experience. I consider myself an “enthusiast” but I know one driver in the “true crank” category - a mate of mine, a driver in his early 20s, who has been known to turn up to work in a heritage BR shirt - I think he was born around the time of privatisation!

He wants to get a job on the freight as soon as possible.

Good luck to him, I say - although I can’t see the appeal of endless nights, rubbish shifts, sitting on cold locos in possessions at silly o clock etc. .