Trying to become a Signaller

[Lou2006]

Hello everyone.

I was wondering if anyone could help me out with a few questions I have about trying to become a signaller. Just to fill you in on my background, I have been trying to become a signaller since early 2009 and rather unusually I went for the signaller assessment test in Euston without having applied for any jobs (however I had completed the application form which an area manager received). I passed the test at level/grade 3. Since then I have applied for many signaller jobs at low and higher grades and only had one interview near the box to which I was applying (the job was given to someone already in the industry).

At the moment I have two signaller positions that I am going for (or at least have not come back as unsuccessful), I have just completed a safety test via telephone and have been told that I will be doing a signaller assessment test. I am wondering (from your experiences), do they expect me to do this test again or is it a different one? And when you mention being interviewed, is this being interviewed by a generic Network Rail management team or by a manager who runs the signal box to which I have applied and has marked/shortlisted me out for this himself?

Thanks.

 

[Tufty]

I passed the Signallers assessment last year but my telephone test was a communications test, reading out long and short sentences. After passing both I was sent for an interviewe with the Area Manager whose area covered the box I had applied for. I already worked in the rail industry and had second thougths about the drop in pay, loss of travel privs and unsocial hours. Put that all together with the isolation and it was easy to pull out of the selection process. It's not for everyone. It would be helpful to get a reply from a Signaller/Signaller manager. All the best with the applications.

 

[francisoldfield]

i did the same and passed the assessment allowing me to apply me to apply for any grade signalling position. However, the job I was going for was put on hold because of finance reasons. Since then, every job I have applied for I haven't even passed the application stage for it. Network rail won't give me any feedback either...

 

[northofthesand]

Hello everyone.

I was wondering if anyone could help me out with a few questions I have about trying to become a signaller. Just to fill you in on my background, I have been trying to become a signaller since early 2009 and rather unusually I went for the signaller assessment test in Euston without having applied for any jobs (however I had completed the application form which an area manager received). I passed the test at level/grade 3. Since then I have applied for many signaller jobs at low and higher grades and only had one interview near the box to which I was applying (the job was given to someone already in the industry).

At the moment I have two signaller positions that I am going for (or at least have not come back as unsuccessful), I have just completed a safety test via telephone and have been told that I will be doing a signaller assessment test. I am wondering (from your experiences), do they expect me to do this test again or is it a different one? And when you mention being interviewed, is this being interviewed by a generic Network Rail management team or by a manager who runs the signal box to which I have applied and has marked/shortlisted me out for this himself?

Thanks.

Maybe try for a Croosing Keeper's post first just to get your foot in the door
i got a start as a Crossing Keeper and as i was waiting for a start date a Signallers job came up so the LOM put me in for that,so started in a box that way.........you might not need to take another assessment.

 

[Lou2006]

Cheers Tufty. Unfortunately one of the two positions I was going for has just come up as unsuccessful on my Network Rail account. Just to let you know the telephone test I said I did about 2-3 weeks ago was the safety communications test you mentioned. Sorry I was not very clear.
Cheers
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

i did the same and passed the assessment allowing me to apply me to apply for any grade signalling position. However, the job I was going for was put on hold because of finance reasons. Since then, every job I have applied for I haven't even passed the application stage for it. Network rail won't give me any feedback either...

Thanks for your reply. I certainly feel your frustration. When I went for my only interview I heard that it had gone to a crossing keeper, which I dont really have to much of a problem with. My problem was that if they needed interview fodder I wish they could have got someone local so I did not have to do a 100 mile + round journey for a job that in all essence I had no chance of getting anyway.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Maybe try for a Croosing Keeper's post first just to get your foot in the door
i got a start as a Crossing Keeper and as i was waiting for a start date a Signallers job came up so the LOM put me in for that,so started in a box that way.........you might not need to take another assessment.

Thanks for the advice. I have no probs with starting off as a crossing keeper. Unfortunately those jobs in my area (Medway/Swale) are very rare. I dont have any problems with travelling for the role, but the only ones (crossing keeper jobs) I have seen are too far away. What is your thought on achieving a level 3 grade for the assessment, does it actually hold any worth to an area manager?
Cheers

 

[northofthesand]

Cheers Tufty. Unfortunately one of the two positions I was going for has just come up as unsuccessful on my Network Rail account. Just to let you know the telephone test I said I did about 2-3 weeks ago was the safety communications test you mentioned. Sorry I was not very clear.
Cheers
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Thanks for your reply. I certainly feel your frustration. When I went for my only interview I heard that it had gone to a crossing keeper, which I dont really have to much of a problem with. My problem was that if they needed interview fodder I wish they could have got someone local so I did not have to do a 100 mile + round journey for a job that in all essence I had no chance of getting anyway.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Thanks for the advice. I have no probs with starting off as a crossing keeper. Unfortunately those jobs in my area (Medway/Swale) are very rare. I dont have any problems with travelling for the role, but the only ones (crossing keeper jobs) I have seen are too far away. What is your thought on achieving a level 3 grade for the assessment, does it actually hold any worth to an area manager?
Cheers

Yeah i think it would hold some worth maybe like you said you might have to
relocate for a Crossing Keeper then after that grade 2/3 Signaller i filled in a few applications over 2/3 Years before i got anywhere