What am I doing wrong? Application to be a signaller

[Applecore]

Good afternoon, I'm new here and wanted to ask if anyone would be so good as to offer some insight into the application process at Network Rail. In a nutshell I have applied, over the last 18 months, for over 25 jobs (mostly to be a signaller though I have tried for some manual work too) at Network Rail, but despite passing the benchmark in the online tests I have never received an interview. I'm uncertain to what extent this may be normal since this after all an excellent and very competitive industry. Yet I feel somehow that I must be missing something obvious and probably serious for my application to be put aside each time managers are considering applicants. Is it for example unusual for someone to seek a major career change to the rail industry in their mid30s?

I did try contacting recruitment for advice, they told me to rewrite my CV which I promptly did. I have a sister in recruitment that has looked at it. I've tried rewriting my answers to as many of the 70 questions in the questionnaire of competencies that they have for the role, but this doesn't appear to have changed my luck either. I have also considered applying for jobs in more remote areas and the lowest grades in the hope of just being able to get my foot in the door, but somehow nothing seems to work. Am I just feeling sorry for myself? I know its hard for any of you to comment a great deal without seeing all the information I submit, but any kind of insight would be welcome. Thanks.

 

[headshot119]

Certainly there is a wealth of information in the sticky thread at top of this board "A career as a signaller" it's up to 102 pages, but contains a wealth of knowledge of the application process.

In short you apply, get invited to do three tests and the scores are kept on record. Each position you apply for they will select around the top 8 test scores (the number varies slightly up and down) to go forward for an interview. Then in the interviews the top person (or persons if there are multiple vacancies) get the position.

 

[Darandio]

What is the NR policy on repeat applicatiions? Many organisations will reject applications made again within a certain timeframe if you have previously been turned down, this is often 6 months. This would make 25 applications in 18 months really excessive.

 

[headshot119]

What is the NR policy on repeat applicatiions? Many organisations will reject applications made again within a certain timeframe if you have previously been turned down, this is often 6 months. This would make 25 applications in 18 months really excessive.

There's no issue at all with multiple applications. (Not with Network Rail anyway)

 

[Applecore]

Hi. Thanks for the replies. When I was initially thinking about applying to be a signaller, after a friend had suggested it to me, I spent a great deal of time consuming just about every piece of material I could find on the web about signallers and network rail, what they do, how the role developed, the history of the profession and some of the other roles in the rail industry like the role of a guard that I'd actually been really ignorant of. There is indeed some invaluable information in that thread at the top of the forum about much of that. I guess I just wanted to know if my experience was typical or atypical.

What I actually like about the rail industry is that people clearly love their jobs. You have forums of enthusiasts discussing their role, their decisions, the problems they face, their industry, the legal consequences and so on. I haven't looked, but would suggest there aren't any such forums for my current profession as a housing officer.

 

[choochoobacca]

Good afternoon, I'm new here and wanted to ask if anyone would be so good as to offer some insight into the application process at Network Rail. In a nutshell I have applied, over the last 18 months, for over 25 jobs (mostly to be a signaller though I have tried for some manual work too) at Network Rail, but despite passing the benchmark in the online tests I have never received an interview. I'm uncertain to what extent this may be normal since this after all an excellent and very competitive industry. Yet I feel somehow that I must be missing something obvious and probably serious for my application to be put aside each time managers are considering applicants. Is it for example unusual for someone to seek a major career change to the rail industry in their mid30s?

I did try contacting recruitment for advice, they told me to rewrite my CV which I promptly did. I have a sister in recruitment that has looked at it. I've tried rewriting my answers to as many of the 70 questions in the questionnaire of competencies that they have for the role, but this doesn't appear to have changed my luck either. I have also considered applying for jobs in more remote areas and the lowest grades in the hope of just being able to get my foot in the door, but somehow nothing seems to work. Am I just feeling sorry for myself? I know its hard for any of you to comment a great deal without seeing all the information I submit, but any kind of insight would be welcome. Thanks.

I feel your pain buddy. You've just got to keep plugging away! There are a few guys on the 'career as a signaller' thread (myself included) who have experienced similar - applying for dozens and dozens of roles and getting little success. For instance, I applied for in excess of 60 signaller positions, across a couple of dozen locations, over the course of 10 months. My background means that I believe I am a decent candidate for the role and I found it soul destroying to continually get the 'unsuccessful' email and started believing that I must be doing something really badly wrong or my cv is garbage. I changed nothing and over time, I managed to get a few interviews, spread far and wide, and eventually I got lucky and am waiting to get started. It seems difficult to get to interview stage and there are various reasons why, but if there are plenty of qualified signallers applying for a role then the chances of getting an interview as an external appear to be quite slim. For starters, they can answer 'yes' to the specific signalling questions which instantly means they score higher on their application, and rightly so. I'm certain there is also an element of prioritising the looking after of internal staff who need to be relocated due to all the shuffling/box closures etc that's going on, and that's completely understandable.
You've got to not get too downhearted and keep going for it, if you really want it. That's a message I've seen a few times on this forum - some folk end up giving up and believing it's just not meant to be but it may simply be nothing more than a case of a bit of luck is required - you have to keep going and eventually, you'll apply for a position where you are in the top scorers and your interviews will come.
I wish there was a simple answer to make yourself more attractive but I would say don't be too hard on yourself and keep going! Apply to everything that you are prepared to relocate to. Reading the career as a signaller thread, there are plenty of stories of people who went through similar to yourself and persevered despite losing a bit of hope, and got there in the end. And I guess once you're in, you're in and the struggle to get there will be forgotten!

 

[The One]

It’s all down to safety might sound obvious but they need to see and hear this.Also being a signaller you have to demonstrate that you can work well under pressure at same time making decisions quickly in a safe professional manner.As well as being a team player also have to be comfortable working on your own.In your application form try and come across as a excellent team player at same time working on your own.And all time your totally safety conscious.If you was in a situation where you had to think on your feet and keeping calm and dealing with the situations.

 

[Tom Quinne]

On a busy single manned workstation you can have the landline ringing off the hock, GSMR phone also going, plus the actual incident happening on the panel, the noise and hussle of the ops floor to deal with. Being able to work under pressure is a must, throw being on your 12th 12hr turn in 14 days at 0300 when your hanging out your arse is all great fun...

That’s not in the brochure...

 

[Supercoss]

As a ‘hiring’ manager for the signalling grade, I take the time & trouble to read every CV, quite high numbers for each advertised position. Sifting through 70+ cv’s shortlisted for interview typically.
You can do more to ‘ sell yourself’ really make YOUR cv stand out to hiring managers attention.
Some Include fancy graphics ! Some are single page some are multi page but as the saying goes “ If you are good - your are welcome”
Consider the content of your CV, what you have achieved so far in life, your attitude & outlook in life. The correct CV length and content always a difficult balance between post it note & manuscript
I have never met you before , shaken you by the hand or looked you in the eye, can you express your work ethic and showcase your life experiences via two sheets of A4 paper ?
Some things you may feel not worth including may be exactly what i’m Looking for, but if you never say - I’ll never know.
Good luck