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Railway Jobs

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Gizmogle

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28 Aug 2006
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Yes. But I certainly don't have the drive or ability to learn at the moment. It feels damn near impossible to do even the smallest of tasks.

If I can get myself sorted. More motivated and prepared to work hard. Then in a years time, I will start again with college.

But I'd need a job for the time inbetween. If I can get in with the railway, then at least I have that to fall back on.
 
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Mintona

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8 Jan 2006
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Don't quit college! I almost did, it would have been the wrst decision of my life. If nothing happens with the railways, many jobs will want A Level qualifications (or similar) and if you leave, you won't get them.

My motivation to succeed at college is:
"I don't want any future employer to think I'm a quitter"
If they do, they probably won't want me, and so if I can make it through, I hopefully stand a better chance of full time employment in the future which I will love.
 

O L Leigh

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In the cab with the paper
Without wishing to go over ground already well trod by others, I would encourage you to stick at what you're doing if it is at all possible. There are far too many folk out there who regret the lost opportunities in their lives because they dropped out of education too early.

Then again, if you've the right temperament for the railway there is no reason why you shouldn't make a go of it. The shift work can be a pain and you may find things tricky if in a few years time you decide to start a family. It can be hard to get a foot in the door, so be prepared to persevere. However, if you decide to try for driver once you've turned 21 you have one big advantage. Quite a few companies are actively recruiting women into the driving grade and you may get offered an assessment automatically, where male applicants will need to try harder just to get past the first sift.

Just a couple of recommendations. Firstly, wait until you've turned 18. This will give you a greater choice of jobs than you currently have. Secondly, if you can't rely on public transport, get your own personal transport sorted. You might end up working miles from where you live and you will be expected to get there on time and stay until the end of your shift, so you will need a reliable means of transport. If that means taking on some form of work and saving furiously so that you can pay for driving lessons, then so be it.

one TN
 

Zamracene749

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11 Dec 2005
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Judging from the couple of years posts on here, you seem intelligent and sociable, not least capable of arranging complicated (to many people) trips around the UK, with a good memory and independant too.

That gives you a head start over most folks in my experience- how many times have you watched (allegedly clever) uni students that were incapable of finding their platform in the station or buying a ticket, let alone finding the right seat and coach.

Just don't sell yourself short- the danger is that a year out will get you used to a little bit of cash in your pocket and then that will be it- twenty years down the line you will look back- like I have- and realise that you could have been buying tickets for the GAN, Rocky mountain express or whatever instead of the odd trip on the Tyne and Wear metro!

Again, you may never make a fortune but qualifications-any qualifications- help in the eyes of short sighted HR department staff, especially in big organisations like rail companies.

Good luck whatever you choose though!
 

Coxster

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I kind of went against beermaddavep's advice and went from education to a full-time job in the City (albeit nothing to do with banking - just nicely located :p) :oops:
 

Coxster

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I always thought you were a "merchant banker"! :shock: ;)
Nah - too easy to misspell ;) That's a thought though Gizzy - come down here and join the public transport team at Trafficlink! Everyone else is (isn't that right Ramel, Loader and Nick... bloody weekend-ing part-timers) :p You could take my Friday shift giving me a four day week, ridding me of my 05:16 train journey ;)
 

Coxster

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... evil.

Shame on you for trying to end your Putney top man ship.
But I'm risking my alarm clock's life when it rings at 04:45! I'm sure oneTN has felt like that... but much earlier! :lol:

anyway, now I've successfully hijacked this thread I shall hand the baton back to Gizmogle ;)
 

Zamracene749

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I kind of went against beermaddavep's advice and went from education to a full-time job in the City (albeit nothing to do with banking - just nicely located :p) :oops:

Ahh right, wondered about the oops thats all :)

Not a banker either by the way, I dropped out at 18 also, just regret doing it-had to do a further 2 years training now working at the controls of a large and potentially hazardous chemical plant- it's much less interesting than you might imagine for about 99% of the time........the other 1% is a mental time when everything that happens is your fault......
 

adambro

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2 Dec 2006
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Don't just think Giz that everything will be perfect next year, how can you be sure that you won't fall into the same trap or meet the same problems. I don't think your idea is completely stupid though but I'd want to be absolutely fixed on returning to college otherwise you could be persuaded into staying in work by whoever your manager is.

If you can go back next September which real experience of working in the real world then that would be useful. Equally though, working hard to resolve your problems will provide you with good experience.

However big the hole you are in there is a way out for you, bear in mind that there is likely to be people around you who are in a position to help if only you seek them out and ask them. No one is going to think bad of you, rather if you are working to better yourself they'll be happy to help.

It is important that you are happy at the end of the day but don't mistake a short term quick fix for a longer term solution which will make you happy on a broader level. Life is difficult and at times awful but hard work is rewarded.
 

Ascot

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26 Nov 2005
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Birmingham, UK
Best thing, your dad works in the railway, get in the know send emails around saying your very keen in working give your past experience and relate to the railway aspects such as:

1. Customer Approach
2. Sitting around doing nothing for long periods then having to use all your knowledge if something goes wrong
3. Adaptable to work individually then in a team and back to individually
4. Good arithmetic
5. Keep a cool head
6. Got some blinkin common sence to do the job.

Keep on at them if they don't give you a reply say once every 2 weeks maybe less, you'll probably get chucked around from Customer Relations to Human Resources to one of the Gaffers etc...

Also think about other options you don't get treated very nicely in the Railway Industry in the eyes of your Boss, it's very health and safety orientated now, which yes it should be, but common sence has now really gone out of the window.

Where do you want to be when your in years time? Yes it's a high pay job for start but there isn't much else to go apart from that few more places above Driver maybe? Don't expect once your 21, bang i'm in Driver training course, far from it. Get your A-Levels then start by getting your foot in the door and getting on the good side of your gaffer.

London's a bad place to work from Buxton and from 18, TOCs like SouthEastern have a "catchment" area and if you don't live within the area they'll say no whether your the brains of Britain or not. Cost of Living is crazy as well regardless if you have a TOCNE pass.

You'll be up against people with years and years of experience, internal vacancies, moved from another TOC, people who know the gaffer etc...

Bah this is long enough to be a WTFan post.
 

Gizmogle

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Hmmm....see, I can understand why everyone is telling me to stay in college, but again, if I drop out, I may go back.

But it's seeming very, very hopeless. I'm just not enjoying it at all. It's not something I can just bare and get through, because I'm getting further and further behind, and as I'm so unmotivated, I don't seem to do anything about it.

If I just try and get through the course, I'm gonna get kicked off it anyway eventually.

I'd like to just take a year to fix things.

*shrugs*
 

Crompton Karl

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14 Apr 2007
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404
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Kent
If your worried about getting too and from a potentian job go take your CBT, buy a scooter and join the rest of us scooter weilding maniacs.

Karl :)
 

Gizmogle

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CBT?

To and from isn't too much of a problem. Ideally I would like a job in Buxton and anywhere on the Buxton line to Manchester. Or even Macclesfield if there's nowhere else.
 

Crompton Karl

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Compulsory basic training - Basically a days training and small test to see if you can ride a Motorbike (even if you haven't riden before they'll get you from a non rider to road legal learner in a day) before you take the road with L plates.

Karl
 

Coxster

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If your worried about getting too and from a potentian job go take your CBT, buy a scooter and join the rest of us scooter weilding maniacs.
Yes! Yes! Do that :lol: I hear the Cygnus-X is a nice one (that does, however, seem like a Pacer's road-going brother at 60mph... *bump*) ;) CBTs are only valid for two years though so ideally you want to get your bike license within that period. A bloke from work tells me the slow-speed slalom you have to do will be part of the new test :shock: As for the 'figure of eights', well. Running it wide? That's an understatement! CBT day is easy to get through though - they even call it a "course" rather than a "test" and it seemed that no Highway Code knowledge was fine!
 

voyagerdude220

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Hey...working in a supermarket isn't necessarily dead end, there are plently of opportunities in retail management et cetera. I may be going to do a Morrisons retail management scheme soon.

However, I would much rather find a job in the railways - I will wait until I am 18 though before applying (it is less than 2 months now!)

Ditto that completely!

I did my work experience with a well known retail company, who don't just do food ;), and loved every minute of the two weeks I was there! I'd really like to go back there as well for a few years, until something which i'm suitible for comes up for a TOC. By the time I'm actually able to get into the railway career ladder, Virgin will have XC back, and i'll be able to my childhood dream- of being a VXC TM :lol:
 

laseandre

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Gizmogle, I'd stay in college. I'm only 13 but my dad left school as soon as he could. He said it was the worst decision he's ever made (and he's made a lot of bad decisions).

I did my work experience with a well known retail company, who don't just do food ;)

*cough* M&S *cough cough* ;):lol:
 

theblackwatch

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Hey...working in a supermarket isn't necessarily dead end, there are plently of opportunities in retail management et cetera. I may be going to do a Morrisons retail management scheme soon.

You're right there - when I was in sixth form, a few of us got jobs at a new local supermarket. One mate liked it so much that he joined the management trainee scheme after we finished our a-levels. Lost touch with him, but I know he became Assistant Store Manager at one store a few years later.
 

mrcheek

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11 Sep 2007
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I would just like to contradict the advice that most people have given here.

If you are not enjoying whatever educational course you are doing, then quit. Theres simply no point in doing something that you dont enjoy. Many people will advise against it, but the fact is these days, its much easier to get back into education later in life, after you have experienced the world of work.

Try working until you get bored with it. Then go back to college until you get bored with that again.

Education can be very valuable. But not always. This is from a guy who has a degree and fixes fruit machines for a living.
 

EE Type 3

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23 Mar 2006
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Llangollen MPD
I had two weeks with Arriva Trains Wales for my Work Experiance, must say I want to go back. I worked on the barriers, in the ticket office, a fitter, conductor, station staff and went in Severn Bridge Junction signalbox, and pulled for 6M73 (60019 was on the train;))

It was the best two weeks I've had, it really was. :)

Dave
 

voyagerdude220

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I had two weeks with Arriva Trains Wales for my Work Experiance, must say I want to go back. I worked on the barriers, in the ticket office, a fitter, conductor, station staff and went in Severn Bridge Junction signalbox, and pulled for 6M73 (60019 was on the train;))

It was the best two weeks I've had, it really was. :)

Dave

You lucky sod! Virgin and Northern wouldn't even have me for work experience in a crap office job..
 

Jord

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21 Jun 2007
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Aberdeenshire
I can remember 'Daniel' - memorex, told me he was going for a cleaning job at a Station, can't remember which, but to clean you could be 16, you fancy cleaning?
 

Coxster

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9 Jun 2005
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I can remember 'Daniel' - memorex, told me he was going for a cleaning job at a Station, can't remember which, but to clean you could be 16, you fancy cleaning?
Well, in the words of Jim Steinman/Bonnie Tyler, "(Loving you's) a dirty job but somebody's gotta do it". Afterall, imagine a life without cleaning staff! :shock:
 
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