Northern Rail Sheffield.

[MrsSundayMorn]

The job I applied for was originally pulled but then I got a call several months later saying the requirement had changed and was given a course date. Talent pools do work. Also those that don't want to wait or doesn't have the time to keep applying...the person behind you will thank you for it!

 

[red2005]

I think that's the proof if you persevere it pays off!! If not there's loads that will and will reap the benefits of a top career!! Mrssundaymorn is living proof of that!

But hey let's not forget there's loads of brilliant roles within the railway!

 

[302PS]

There's plenty of folk on here that are proof the pools have worked over the last two years, stay positive, we are on this earth a long time

 

[Wolf]

I notice you have a train number as your username, the railway don't employ trainspotters.

Rubbish. Plenty of people in the rail industry - drivers and guards are enthusiasts. To the rail company when looking at employing someone, their not concerned with what that persons interests are but whether they have the correct attitude, skills, aptitude and maturity to do the job. However Being an enthusiast wont really help you get a job as a driver because any knowledge is irrelevant since if you are given the position you learn everything you need to know on the training course. Its perfectly acceptable to be an enthusiast as long as you get your priorities right. I have a keen interest in railways but if i was in the cab at the controls of my train and a 37 goes by, at that moment in time the fact that it is it is a class 37 is totally irrelevant since my priorities are the safety critical duties im performing. The job comes first, hobby second.

 

[devinier]

What if 142092 goes past ?

 

[302PS]

Sticky mess

 

[Wolf]

What if 142092 goes past ?

i might even be driving it

 

[JCLeeds]

there's a lot of debate over this , some sensible some less so

promoting from within has value however it also leads to stale, groupthink ridden organisations full of people inculated into a particular mindset ...

I can see arguments both ways. Have worked for a company for over a decade that only ever promotes from within; they have done this for 40 years, so everyone who works there started on the 'shop floor' (which is actually customer service / inbound sales) all the way to the directors. It has its downsides. Primarily, people in marketing have no background in marketing, people in HR the same, etc etc. And the same goes for their superiors, so no one in the entire marketing dept (for example) has any idea how its done in other organisations. It can be a very closed environment. It also seems to result in unavoidable nepotism and jobs for the mates; it also often results in a major lack of candidates for certain positions in certain geographical locations, they might only have one candidate, who might be useless, but gets the job.

On the upside, I suppose it encourages loyalty. But making it an exclusive policy, is surely a bad idea from the perspective of the company itself. The situation with the railways currently seems the best balance; prioritise internals, but dont exclude externals.

 

[red2005]

I can see arguments both ways. Have worked for a company for over a decade that only ever promotes from within; they have done this for 40 years, so everyone who works there started on the 'shop floor' (which is actually customer service / inbound sales) all the way to the directors. It has its downsides. Primarily, people in marketing have no background in marketing, people in HR the same, etc etc. And the same goes for their superiors, so no one in the entire marketing dept (for example) has any idea how its done in other organisations. It can be a very closed environment. It also seems to result in unavoidable nepotism and jobs for the mates; it also often results in a major lack of candidates for certain positions in certain geographical locations, they might only have one candidate, who might be useless, but gets the job.

On the upside, I suppose it encourages loyalty. But making it an exclusive policy, is surely a bad idea from the perspective of the company itself. The situation with the railways currently seems the best balance; prioritise internals, but dont exclude externals.

no one ever said exclude externals! that would be just ridiculous! and from what I've seen "jobs for the mates" went out with the dinosaurs!....that might get you so far but HR have a big say in it now and they don't care who your brothers best mates sister is!......it's no good knowing the right people if you can't get through assessments which are handled a lot by outside companies now!

only point I made is for so many years now due to the recession biting hard and there being as much focus on redundancies as there was recruitment it's nice to see the internals who stood as much chance of getting the proverbial out of a rocking horse as getting a driving/guards job for such a long time finally being given their opportunity!......and it doesn't just bring loyalty it brings people who already have experience of a unique industry to progress their careers to the next level!

 

[Nevillehill]

Well some people say that and possibly it is true to some degree although as 455driver says I think it helps if you have an interest in what you do.

When I was younger I deliberately didn't look for a career in the Railways because it was my hobby and wanted to keep it separate, but now I don't have the same level of interest in Modern Units anyway so that's squared it.

And no I don't think the world owes me a living, although I am a bit ****ed off about the amount of effort and work I put in my last Job only to be outsourced and then made redundant in my early 50's and despite what the age discrimination laws might say these days that not a good age to be looking for a Job and nor can I afford to retire, and equally can I wait around for months to go through a selection process for a job which may get pulled or even if I am successful then sit in a talent pool without actual certainty you will get a job. Frankly I think you have to be realistic about things when you get to my age so if I don't get anywhere Railway Job wise then maybe its not for me, I've certainly never been a fan of this desperate want it mentality at all costs.

In a way it would help but not coming across as an anorak, it's about skills and knowledge I supose.
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So why am I a driver then?
They employ far more than most people think because having an interest in what you do can be a good thing, normally.

Yes if you tell them your a enthusiast, they will think that you will be watching trains instead of doing your job.

On the other hand its the knowledge you know from being a enthusiast.

 

[47802]

In a way it would help but not coming across as an anorak, it's about skills and knowledge I supose.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---




Yes if you tell them your a enthusiast, they will think that you will be watching trains instead of doing your job.

On the other hand its the knowledge you know from being a enthusiast.

If somebody thought that because I'm an enthusiast I couldn't be professional enough to do my job I would be bloody annoyed

 

[Beveridges]

I notice you have a train number as your username, the railway don't employ trainspotters.

Bollocks! The railway industry has loads of trainspotters.

 

[455driver]

Bollocks! The railway industry has loads of trainspotters.

455driver in agreement with Beveridges shocker! hock: hock:

 

[Clip]

In a way it would help but not coming across as an anorak, it's about skills and knowledge I supose.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---




Yes if you tell them your a enthusiast, they will think that you will be watching trains instead of doing your job.

On the other hand its the knowledge you know from being a enthusiast.

God you talk some rubbish.

 

[Nevillehill]

In a way it would help but not coming across as an anorak, it's about skills and knowledge I supose.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---




Yes if you tell them your a enthusiast, they will think that you will be watching trains instead of doing your job.

On the other hand its the knowledge you know from being a enthusiast.

455driver thanks for the Educated reply
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

God you talk some rubbish.

God another trainspotter

 

[Class2ldn]

Mate im a driver but not an enthusiast and I think you're talking crap, just because someone is interested in something more then another person doesn't mean they can't do the job as good as the non enthusiast.
Yes there is a bit of winding up about spotters etc but it's harmless and no way would I go and call a spotter unprofessional. That's what makes them professionals, being able to seperate the two. Plenty of non spotters who've had incidents because they've lost concentration.
I'm yet to see a report from someone having a spad because they were taking down train numbers lol

 

[Clip]

455driver thanks for the Educated reply
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


God another trainspotter

See, you;re talking mroe rubbish once again.

Ill give you a little tip though - I hire people to work on the railway so I have a far better insight than you do

 

[Nevillehill]

See, you;re talking mroe rubbish once again.

Ill give you a little tip though - I hire people to work on the railway so I have a far better insight than you do

Ok then if say a enthusiast came for a job, what would you ask?

 

[455driver]

See, you;re talking more rubbish once again.

Ill give you a little tip though - I hire people to work on the railway so I have a far better insight than you do

So you are saying that if you think someone is an enthusiast you wont hire them, yes?

I think that says far more about you than it does about anybody else!

 

[red2005]

See, you;re talking mroe rubbish once again.

Ill give you a little tip though - I hire people to work on the railway so I have a far better insight than you do

Bit of an assumption that really isn't it!? Without taking sides, how do you know you have more of an insight than Nevillehill!?? How do you know he/she hasn't also had some input into the hiring and firing process!??

Just a thought!

 

[bonelorry]

Just my two penneth on the Train Enthusiast/Internal applicants and not relevant to the Driver Role but...

I applied for the Trainee Conductor Role in Sheffield with Northern in May and was invited to an Interview in June, Upon Arrival to the Interview there where Three other people in the waiting area one of which was in fact a current Employee with Northern who worked at Sheffield Train Station and had applied internally looking to become a Conductor.

I could not help but wonder at the time if I stood much chance of getting offered a role especially when a current Northern Employee was also being Interviewed for the same post but I remained positive and believed they would ultimately hire who they thought was the best candidate for the job.

I had my interview which went very well and during the Interview was asked why I had applied for the role, I gave a detailed list of reasons which I wont mention but also that I have an Avid interest in Diesel Locomotives, Local Railway history and regularly attend the East Lancs Railway Diesel Galas.

To cut a long story short I passed my Interview, Then Passed my Psychometric Assessments and was offered the position. I start training on the 4th of August and cant wait.

As far as I am aware there where Two positions for the Sheffield job starting in August, I got One and another chap from Sheffield got the other who I might add was not the current Northern Employee!

So it just goes to show that a current Employee with Northern in this case was not favoured over outside applicants for the role and myself mentioning my interest in Rail had no negative affect on me getting offered the job.

Regards Simon

 

[Beveridges]

I never mentioned if to be honest and think a lot of spotters in the industry didn't mention it at interview but once you get the job you can talk about trains with other spotters inside/outside the brew room all day and take pictures of trains while on the job.

 

[driverop]

I can only think of one at Blackpool, and he keeps it very much to himself.

 

[455driver]

I can only think of one at Blackpool, and he keeps it very much to himself.

I know one at Blackpool and he certainly doesnt keep it to himself!

 

[Clip]

So you are saying that if you think someone is an enthusiast you wont hire them, yes?

I think that says far more about you than it does about anybody else!

I never said I wouldnt hire them - I would and indeed have. I have already mentioned such a thing on another htread in here when someone was wanting to join and how much they should let on that they are an enthusiast.

@red2005 v- I dont but they are claiming that the railway does not employ enthusiasts/spotters and I am saying that they do.

 

[47802]

As long as your not some mad trainspotting geek it you would have thought that it shouldn't make a difference really.

In my last job would I suddenly leave the office to go down to the nearest railway station if I knew such D9000 was due through, no I wouldn't so why should it be any different in a railway job.

If I ever get an interview for a railway job well possibly I might mention I have a general interest in railways as a reason for applying but I certainly wouldn't make a big deal about it or presume I knew more than anybody else, and from people say yes possibly it might be better not to mention it at all.

 

[455driver]

In my last job would I suddenly leave the office to go down to the nearest railway station if I knew such D9000 was due through, no I wouldn't so why should it be any different in a railway job.

Funnily enough a few years ago I was down at Basingstoke on a Company Brief and we had an early dinner so the trainer doing the course could go out and see some kettle fly through on a railtour!

 

[red2005]

I never said I wouldnt hire them - I would and indeed have. I have already mentioned such a thing on another htread in here when someone was wanting to join and how much they should let on that they are an enthusiast.

@red2005 v- I dont but they are claiming that the railway does not employ enthusiasts/spotters and I am saying that they do.

oh they most definitely do!...rightly so as well as it's great to have people on board with enthusiasm for the industry! it's what separates people that want the job for the joy of doing the job and being part of a secure (ish) industry and those who apply simply because the money is good and wouldn't care if the industry ceased to be tomorrow!

I've seen personally both sides to this argument in the flesh so to speak!...for example....there are quite a few staff within the industry that walk around with a face like a wet weekend in Bognor and can't wait to get home at night no matter what passes through the station traction wise, some do the job correctly in spite of this and some have incidents/complaints due to the lack of interest!

HOWEVER

I have also seen staff that are also enthusiasts walking around smiling from ear to ear getting praise from passengers doing the job to the best of their ability almost not wanting to go home at the end of the shift...and then.....a charter/steam train comes passing through and their focus is as much on that train as it is their safety critical duties!.

I have heard it said in the past that people have kicked the backside out of their railway enthusiasm in an interview and it has worked against them in the end so I can see the point the anti enthusiast brigade above are trying to make!(in a roundabout way) but to say they are never/shouldn't be employed is rubbish!.

If I was the enthusiast in the interview i'd use my hobby in regards of the safety/responsibility/customer service environment that I had been around and that's where it would stop!...my knowledge of every route/traction that i'd signed off would remain locked away as it's totally irrelevant!

personally the enthusiasts/spotters I encounter are a great bunch and everyone should have an interest its what makes us all different!

 

[Beveridges]

I've seen personally both sides to this argument in the flesh so to speak!...for example....there are quite a few staff within the industry that walk around with a face like a wet weekend in Bognor and can't wait to get home at night no matter what passes through the station traction wise, some do the job correctly in spite of this and some have incidents/complaints due to the lack of interest!

This type are a pain in the arse to work with. When you first start a job on the railway and work with these, they are teaching you to hate the job from day 1 before you've even made your own opinion of it. They do nothing but bring morale down and demotivate everyone who has to listen to them.

Unfortunately there are too many of them, seemingly in all grades.

 

[red2005]

That's why in my eyes the recruitment process is pretty good!!the people with that attitude are weeded out pretty early on!

These people are few and far between