Signaller - Grade 2

[samoyed76]

I applied for a Signaller vacancy at the Thornhill box recently and after completing the situation test online I received an invitation to interview later this month.

Has anyone else on here applied for this position?

Any advice would be appreciated, the search function only throws up sparse info compared to some other railway jobs.

I assume it would be a good idea to try and visit the box. What would be the best way of arranging this?

Thanks,

 

[kbreen]

Hi there, is it the interview or the signaller assessment you've been invited to? After the SJT it should be the signaller assessment or have you already done that?

 

[TomBoyd]

Hi there, is it the interview or the signaller assessment you've been invited to? After the SJT it should be the signaller assessment or have you already done that?

I'm hoping that they've done away with this... but if they haven't, there's a few threads, including one recently, about it. Have a scroll through the first few pages,

As for general advice, do visit the box. The application page should have the name and number of the LOM, so give him a call. Keep trying until he picks up. You could also try emailing him (that's how I got in touch) using the general rule that it's firstname.lastname@networkrail.co.uk

Get as much information as you can about the box, it probably won't be covered in depth at the interview, but it would reassure them to know you took an interest.

Other than that, look up the 8 non-technical skills that NR is so keen on, and plan answers based around those (eg. "tell us a situation when you have maintained your attention on a dull or repetitive task.)

The NTS list should be available on Google, but if you can't find it, I'm sure I could dig it up.

Other than that, some confidence, assertiveness and politeness, and you'll be fine!

 

[kbreen]

I believe they still do the signallers assessment as all signallers who haven't done it will have to do it, but it is just pass or fail, not graded in levels.

Also i believe the new signallers application process started on the 4/12/13, so there are new interview questions, the first of which is knowledge of signallers and specific box.

 

[samoyed76]

Hi there, is it the interview or the signaller assessment you've been invited to? After the SJT it should be the signaller assessment or have you already done that?

Yes, signaller assessment not interview. Don't know where I got that from.

 

[kbreen]

To be honest i cannot stress enough how easy the assessment is! Considering being a signaller is a safety critical role, the platform staff test was about 10 times more difficult.

There was a thread recently about the assessment, if you read that it will give you some idea about what the assessment entails. I would just say read and practice the booklet they sent you and concentrate on the day and you'll be just fine! Good luck with it!

 

[samoyed76]

To be honest i cannot stress enough how easy the assessment is! Considering being a signaller is a safety critical role, the platform staff test was about 10 times more difficult.

There was a thread recently about the assessment, if you read that it will give you some idea about what the assessment entails. I would just say read and practice the booklet they sent you and concentrate on the day and you'll be just fine! Good luck with it!

I haven't received any booklet yet. Is it via email or post?

One other query, the job was listed as Signaller Grade 2 (Mauchline) - Thornhill Signal Box.

I am therefore assuming it is Thornhill signal box, it doesn't really make much difference to me but I did wonder why it say's Mauchline in the title as it's around 35 miles away from the Thornhill box. Mauchline does have a signal box though.

 

[kbreen]

When they called you to confirm your attendance they should have emailed you the booklet soon after.

It should be the thornhill box, but mauchline they could put as the area.

 

[samoyed76]

When they called you to confirm your attendance they should have emailed you the booklet soon after.

It should be the thornhill box, but mauchline they could put as the area.

Only had my 'assessment confirmed' email after the phone call so far. I'll give them a call tomorrow.

That's what I thought about the signal box, Mauchline is tiny and there are far closer villages so a bit strange. It also listed the location as being in Ayrshire, Thornhill is in D&G. I'll ask tomorrow just to be 100% certain.

 

[kbreen]

There is normally an attachment to the "assessment scheduled" email, but if it's not there i would say it would be best to ring up and confirm!

 

[TomBoyd]

kbreen has said it all. The assessment is so easy i'd start thinking about the interview.

Breen, do you have any more info about the new signalling interview? I've got two coming up for grade 8 jobs...

 

[Donachie]

Only had my 'assessment confirmed' email after the phone call so far. I'll give them a call tomorrow.

That's what I thought about the signal box, Mauchline is tiny and there are far closer villages so a bit strange. It also listed the location as being in Ayrshire, Thornhill is in D&G. I'll ask tomorrow just to be 100% certain.

Log into Network Rail Recruitment page, where you applied Samoyed and the practice material PDF file is there for you to download.
It is Thornhill Dumfriesshire that the job is at. Its 12 hr shifts but closed from 16:00 Sat until M/N Monday morning.
Good luck with assessment.
Donachie.

 

[samoyed76]

I sent an email asking if I could visit the signal box and received the following reply,

"Given the location of the signal box and the safety critical nature of the work of a signaller, we are not able to make such arrangements. In terms of preparation for the signallers assessment, the advice would be to go over any advanced paperwork you may have been sent, prior to the date of your assessment."

 

[carriageline]

Who did you email that too?

And personally mate, only try and arrange a visit when you get through to the interview stage.

 

[TomBoyd]

Yeah, that reply is bollocks.

 

[Jones]

Can someone tell me what is the secret to getting a signallers job?

So far I've not got past the online test I did on the first application.

 

[TomBoyd]

Sadly I think that sticks for future applications.

Do you mean the online situational judgement test?

 

[samoyed76]

I had my visit to the assessment centre on Tuesday, got my results back today and I passed all 5 assessments. The lift tone's were a bit tricky but outwith that I found it quite easy.

Email then says I will be contacted in due course to let me know if I have been selected to progress to the next stage (interview).

Fingers crossed I'll get an interview.

 

[High Dyke]

I had my visit to the assessment centre on Tuesday, got my results back today and I passed all 5 assessments. The lift tone's were a bit tricky but outwith that I found it quite easy.

Email then says I will be contacted in due course to let me know if I have been selected to progress to the next stage (interview).

Fingers crossed I'll get an interview.

Best of luck matey. Don't be surprised if it takes a while to hear anything else. The system doesn't always tend to work that fast.

 

[GB]

Yeah, that reply is bollocks.

Not sure why you think that reply is bollocks?

 

[Donachie]

I had my visit to the assessment centre on Tuesday, got my results back today and I passed all 5 assessments. The lift tone's were a bit tricky but outwith that I found it quite easy.

Email then says I will be contacted in due course to let me know if I have been selected to progress to the next stage (interview).

Fingers crossed I'll get an interview.

Well done with the assessment pass Samoyed.

Donachie.

 

[samoyed76]

Best of luck matey. Don't be surprised if it takes a while to hear anything else. The system doesn't always tend to work that fast.

Well done with the assessment pass Samoyed.

Donachie.

Thanks guys, just hope it will lead to more.

There was only 4 people at the assessment day for this position which was quite encouraging, as far as I know we were the only one's asked to assessment. I was expecting a lot more.

 

[carriageline]

Not sure why you think that reply is bollocks?

It's just a standard reply from HR. A lot of managers do support, and suggest visiting the box before interviews. There isn't a great deal of boxes without an authorised walking route. My box involves walking through a yard, and I still managed to get a visit!

 

[TomBoyd]

Not sure why you think that reply is bollocks?

Yeah, a grade 2 box is NEVER busy enough to preclude a visit...

 

[Tomnick]

Yeah, a grade 2 box is rarely busy enough in normal working to preclude a visit...

Slight correction for you . Even in a normally quiet box, the last thing you'd want to do with, say, an inexperienced signalman dealing with a degraded working situation is throw unnecessary distractions into the mix.

I can understand HR's reply, but a more helpful and sensible response would have suggested contacting the LOM to arrange a visit. It's rarely a problem, in my experience.

 

[carriageline]

Yeah, a grade 2 box is NEVER busy enough to preclude a visit...

You really do know it all don't you!!

 

[kbreen]

Hey Sam,

Congrats on passing the assessment! Did they just tell you , that you passed or what "level" you achieved, I'm not sure if they do the levels anymore or actually best scores when it comes to interview, just wondering! Hope you hear about a interview soon

 

[TomBoyd]

You really do know it all don't you!!

I might have overstated slightly, but tomnick's correction sums it up