Station Environmental Operative?

[JohnC]

So here's my situation.

I currently hate my job in retail management and don't know how much longer I can do it. It's that bad. I decided several months back to pursue a career in Rail, with the ultimate goal of becoming a driver eventually. I've applied for a lot of roles with varying levels of success.

I've passed the Trainee Conductor tests with a local TOC and had my manager's interview. Waiting for hear off that but I'm getting married in four weeks and so had to let them know I needed some time off in December, so this might not pan out until the new year if at all.

I have applications in for track maintenance positions for Network Rail and am waiting to hear. I also have other trainee conductor applications pending.

About a month ago I spotted a vacancy for a Station Environmental Officer for Arriva Trains Wales. Being pretty desperate to leave my current job, i went for it and now have an interview coming up.

I'm not really sure what to expect from the job. Is it just a cleaner? I remember the pay looking pretty good (more than cleaners are usually on). Would you even consider this job 'in the rail industry'?

I've had lots of cleanliness and hygiene experience from retail but I've never cleaned exclusively.

Faced with my position, would you pursue this job as a way into rail or hold out for one of the juicier roles?

 

[Greenback]

I have spoken to an ATW SEO about their job, and they explained it as being cleaning and more! They said they also put timetables up, reported problems, got involved in light maintenance, customer service and anything else that was needed on the spot and could be done there and then.

I'm only passing on what I was told, I don't have any personal knowledge other than that!

 

[Bodiddly]

Sounds like a PC position.Station Environmental Operatives probably fall in to much the same remit as these. Ten points for guessing each one and at least one is made up!

Shovel engineer
Horticultural maintenance technical officer
Waste management and disposal technician
Communications executive (sales)
Surveyorship enumerating officer
Vertical transport operative
Wet Leisure officer
Leisurewear transfer technician

 

[E&W Lucas]

So here's my situation.

I currently hate my job in retail management and don't know how much longer I can do it. It's that bad. I decided several months back to pursue a career in Rail, with the ultimate goal of becoming a driver eventually. I've applied for a lot of roles with varying levels of success.

I've passed the Trainee Conductor tests with a local TOC and had my manager's interview. Waiting for hear off that but I'm getting married in four weeks and so had to let them know I needed some time off in December, so this might not pan out until the new year if at all.

I have applications in for track maintenance positions for Network Rail and am waiting to hear. I also have other trainee conductor applications pending.

About a month ago I spotted a vacancy for a Station Environmental Officer for Arriva Trains Wales. Being pretty desperate to leave my current job, i went for it and now have an interview coming up.

I'm not really sure what to expect from the job. Is it just a cleaner? I remember the pay looking pretty good (more than cleaners are usually on). Would you even consider this job 'in the rail industry'?

I've had lots of cleanliness and hygiene experience from retail but I've never cleaned exclusively.

Faced with my position, would you pursue this job as a way into rail or hold out for one of the juicier roles?

SELF BELIEF!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Retail batters it out of you. Been there, done that. I totally empathise with what you are experiencing.

Look at the skill set that you have, read the information posted by us experienced drivers about what our job entails, and you'll find you have most of the skills that you need. As long as you live in an area where drivers are recruited, you should be able to submit a strong application. You will also be in a very strong position to compete for any customer facing role, most of which will offer a better deal than i expect you are on now.

You shouldn't need to be putting in for cleaning jobs.

Good Luck.

 

[ItchyRsole]

General dogs body position it seems.

 

[Greenback]

JohnC, it's entirely up to you whether you apply for the role or not. The only things I will say are firstly, that the person I spoke to enjoyed their job and were out and about most of the time instead of being stuck inside. This may be something that appeals to you.

Secondly, I have learned from bitter experience that thinking you are 'too good' for some jobs doesn't get you very far. Don't assume you will be considered suitable for this job because of your previous experience, and don't assume that a more menial role won't provide job satisfaction. For many, myself included, a less responsible role after a period of time in a stressful and demanding job was the ideal change of pace!

 

[JohnC]

JohnC, it's entirely up to you whether you apply for the role or not. The only things I will say are firstly, that the person I spoke to enjoyed their job and were out and about most of the time instead of being stuck inside. This may be something that appeals to you.

Secondly, I have learned from bitter experience that thinking you are 'too good' for some jobs doesn't get you very far. Don't assume you will be considered suitable for this job because of your previous experience, and don't assume that a more menial role won't provide job satisfaction. For many, myself included, a less responsible role after a period of time in a stressful and demanding job was the ideal change of pace!

I totally agree and no way think I'm too good for this job. The only thing that worries me is that should I not get any of the conductor roles I'm applying for, next time I apply I'll be a cleaner and not a manager. I don't know if it would help or hinder my chances and whether I'd get any good Rail-based experience.

 

[Greenback]

I totally agree and no way think I'm too good for this job. The only thing that worries me is that should I not get any of the conductor roles I'm applying for, next time I apply I'll be a cleaner and not a manager. I don't know if it would help or hinder my chances and whether I'd get any good Rail-based experience.

I didn't mean to suggest you consider yourself as too good for the role, and I'm sorry if that's how it came across. I was just putting forward an alternative view to that of E&W Lucas! I'm not saying that what they said was necessarily wrong either, there's no right or wrong answer just different ways of looking at it.

Just my opinion, but I don't think it will hinder your chances. In my experience, the assessments for conductor roles focus on competences more than managerial experience, and you will still be able to refer to what you did in your previous managerial role in any case.

An additional benefit may be that you would be eligible to apply for internal only vacancies as well.

 

[JohnC]

Well, I went for the interview today anyway. ATW seems like a decent TOC and Chester Station is pretty nice. The pay is a little less than my current job but is 15 hours less per week (35 down from 50) and has paid overtime (which I currently don't get). Seems like an alright position should I not get anywhere with my more local TOC applications.
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Also, in case anyone is interested I have some more info about the job.

The pay is £19,XXX. You are paid for over time after the first 15mins.

The shifts are 6am - 1pm / 1pm - 8pm and occasionally 8pm - 3am to cover the permanent night shift worker's holidays / absences.

The core work is cleaning the station but as others have said there is a lot of other work to do such as assisting customers and answering queries, strimming grass in the summer, shoveling snow in the winter, painting, hanging things and really any other odd jobs around the station.

 

[Greenback]

It's nice to see that my info from a man doing the same thing in the south was pretty accurate!

It doesn't seem like a bad little number if you are fed up of having too much responsibility for too little reward and having to work unpaid additional hours!