What Qualifications are Needed?

[5872]

At School today we had a lesson of what we needed for certain jobs and what have you, I was wondering does anyone know what you need to work on the railways?, as I.e A cleaner or Station worker?.


Thanks Fred.

 

[devon_metro]

At School today we had a lesson of what we needed for certain jobs and what have you, I was wondering does anyone know what you need to work on the railways?, as I.e A cleaner or Station worker?.


Thanks Fred.

Doubt you need any for those jobs, but 0 GCSEs isn't going to show that you are a good worker is it

 

[5872]

Doubt you need any for those jobs, but 0 GCSEs isn't going to show that you are a good worker is it

I was just wondering, so I'm prepared.

 

[D306]

at least a C in English and Maths, in fact, you need those in any job. Bit of advice from me though. As you can't work on the railways till your 18 (16 for an apprenticeship with LUL) I've been told by a tube train driving instructor, it's best to do A-levels first then go for a job, as then you have more qualifications if you get fed up with it (ha!) and then you can get another job easily

 

[Gizmogle]

it's best to do A-levels first then go for a job

Not nessicaraly. A BTEC in public services would obviously be a much better qualification to have for a job as a station worker than A levels in Science, History and Maths for example.

You don't need C grades in english or maths to get a job, but most [good] jobs ask for them.

If you want to get into the railways, then there's a Network Rail apprenticeship in Gosport that you can join once you've finished school. That covers many different railway related skills, and you get paid for it.

 

[5872]

Not nessicaraly. A BTEC in public services would obviously be a much better qualification to have for a job as a station worker than A levels in Science, History and Maths for example.

You don't need C grades in english or maths to get a job, but most [good] jobs ask for them.

If you want to get into the railways, then there's a Network Rail apprenticeship in Gosport that you can join once you've finished school. That covers many different railway related skills, and you get paid for it.

Wheres Gosport ? .

 

[D306]

If you want to get into the railways, then there's a Network Rail apprenticeship in Gosport that you can join once you've finished school. That covers many different railway related skills, and you get paid for it.

Whoops, I forgot about that. I know someone who's on that. I'm mates with his brother, and he says that he's enjoying it. He's currently specialising in OHLE currently
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Wheres Gosport ? .

Portsmouth

 

[Mojo]

Wheres Gosport ? .

http://www.multimap.com

 

[djw1981]

The NRTec would be good, if you do very well on it. Some BTEc courses in customer services etc have been slated as being 'Granny egg sucking" and the people involved felt that it was not related to their subsequent employment. A lot deends on te collegem, and the staff. So choose carefully.

If The TOC / Nr thinks you have goo customer skills, then they may well put you through an NVQ as part of their Investors in people programmes.

 

[Tom B]

A C in English / Maths seems to be the "standard" for such things. If you can't get a C in GCSE English, you're not going to be of much use in trying to communicate with people (writing reports, notice boards, announcements etc). Unless your hamster died the night before and you got 5% special consideration .

 

[Mintona]

I got C in English and B in Maths...and as said above, I thought it'd be best to get my A Levels.
So I'm doing A Levels in Geography, Music and French before hopefuly finding a job in June/July. But I have started applying already.

 

[Coxster]

At School today we had a lesson of what we needed for certain jobs and what have you, I was wondering does anyone know what you need to work on the railways?, as I.e A cleaner or Station worker?.

Not sure if this old 'e-motion' magazine Q&A is of any use:- http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/SW...engersPanel/QA/_PPQandAIssue12TrainDriver.htm

"I want to be a train driver. Do I need to be really clever and work hard at school?

You don’t need to have lots of academic qualifications, however, it will help if you have English and Maths at GCSE, and you do need to work hard. Train drivers need to be able to concentrate, as well as understand and remember many rules and regulations. They must also be safety conscious, able to take responsibility and have good communication skills. Regardless of the qualifications they have achieved, all would-be train drivers at South West Trains have to go through a series of assessments of their concentration, reactions, co-ordination, mechanical comprehension and how well they cope with training. If they pass these tests, they then undergo two interviews.

Candidates successfully passing the assessment process and demonstrating the correct attitude are then trained to acquire all the skills necessary to be a good driver.

Pat Gillman, Recruitment Manager"
​

at least a C in English and Maths, in fact, you need those in any job.

Not at all true. Not only wrong in regards to 'any job', but also for the railways. Had a flick through a couple of recruitment pages and most don't list any required qualifications and say something along the lines of them recruiting for attitude. Those that do require specific qualifications state this. The Southern recruitment site seems to be the best example of what I'm trying to get across. Obviously the better your results the more attractive your application will look, and they're not going to employ someone who lacks basic numeracy or literacy skills.

Bit of advice from me though. As you can't work on the railways till your 18

Many companies state the lower age limit for ticket office clerks and cleaners is 16, with saefty critical roles (such as station assistant, depot driver, guard etc.) being 18, and 21 for mainline driving.

If you want to get into the railways, then there's a Network Rail apprenticeship in Gosport that you can join once you've finished school. That covers many different railway related skills, and you get paid for it.

There's an advert that regularly shows on this forum for it:- http://www.everydaybrilliance.co.uk

 

[djw1981]

You could of course look at the new Network rail apprenticeships which will be equal to A-levels, along with Maccy D's and Flybe.

 

[37412]

Basically, the better the grades, the better the job Now work hard

 

[Tom B]

Or you could click on the banner when it shows up .

As for cleaners, aren't most contractors now?

 

[ChrisCooper]

If you can't get a C in GCSE English, you're not going to be of much use in trying to communicate with people (writing reports, notice boards, announcements etc).

From some reports, notice boards and annoucements, it shows that not all people in jobs that require that to be done employ people with the "qualifications" to do it. My current job requires me to read a lot of reports, and some of them make me wonder if the person finished primary school, let alone got GCSEs. So often end up calling them in to go over the report in person to try and understand it and come out no better. Many time think I'd be better off going back to the other side of the desk, or getting a degree and moving up the ladder (i'm in what is pretty much the top position that isn't generally filled by graduates, and there are a few graduates in the same position). Actually, some of the management are the worst for poor communication.

 

[Respite]

To be fair when I went from Notwork Fail to ATW as a driver I had the standard application form. But at no point where my school results taken with much heed, mine are nothing special, just average (apart from an A in pottery!hock: ). I also know people who had a lot lower than my school results, were also straight off the street & they got in as well. But take into account that the first interview contained a fair few tests, mechanical, memory & general stuff like that. Plus concentration test (arrrgh the flippin dots!). Maths & english were not concentrated on at all apart from being able to read the exam papers & count dots!!

Second interview/tests were the same. But more intense & with the dreaded reaction, 'press lots of colour coded button's' test. All in all I thought it was a very good test as I have seen people on the railway with A levels coming out of there arseholes & still not be able to actually put that "knowledge" to any use whatsoever. Just look at 90% of Notwork Fails fast track managers! :?
At least these tests actually used situations that applied to what the job you were going for entailed. Although pressure was at an all time high as you only get two chances at it (for ever). Fail two & thats it until you are reincarnated. I got through first time thankfully.

I believe the signalman's( or signal woman, I despise the term signaller) test is similar to the drivers test now. I took mine in 1991 from a shunters position & it involved having a chat with the station manager "Hi, is there any signalling jobs going?"...Two weeks later in manchester in signalling school.:razz:

 

[djw1981]

Physics is always good (if you can stand it) if going into any mechanical subject. Maths also helps, especially if you wnat to get into the engineering side of life.

 

[me123]

^ Tech Studies as well, if your school offers it. In Scotland, the course is apparently simple and very fun (lots of practical).

 

[Mojo]

My current job requires me to read a lot of reports, and some of them make me wonder if the person finished primary school, let alone got GCSEs. So often end up calling them in to go over the report in person to try and understand it and come out no better. Many time think I'd be better off going back to the other side of the desk, or getting a degree and moving up the ladder (i'm in what is pretty much the top position that isn't generally filled by graduates, and there are a few graduates in the same position). Actually, some of the management are the worst for poor communication.

I'd have to agree with you there from my experience, but I believe the GCSE English Lit/Lang syllabus is pretty poor. I remember my GCSE English class could tell you anything you wanted to know about the book Lord of the Files, but couldn't tell you the first thing about correct use of apostrophes (apostrophe's) or sentence structuring.

 

[me123]

In our English exams, we got away with most apostrophe misuse and the same with colons (to an extent). In other exams, we used to be allowed to use txt spk, as long as the examiner understood the words and spelling was not being assessed. Thankfully, txt spk is now officially banned, but if you spell blue "bloo", they must give you the mark as it is phonetically correct.

Who says exams are getting easier?

 

[Daniel]

I've applied for the LUL apprenticeship scheme. It asks for a minimum of a C in English and Maths, but basically just get the best qualifications you can - the better you get the better you look, but don't worry if you don't do so good, you'll find a way in.

 

[RJ]

I was wondering does anyone know what you need to work on the railways?, as I.e A cleaner

Is that a serious question?

 

[37412]

Is that a serious question?

I would have aimed higher to be honest, wouldn't you?

 

[Tom B]

Entry requirements for cleaner are respiration .

 

[Gizmogle]

Entry requirements for cleaner are respiration .

And arms.

Or a tongue.

 

[O L Leigh]

...depending on what you are being expected to clean.

one TN

 

[class 313]

And arms.

Or a tongue.

I don't wanna know where you're going with that

 

[Mojo]

I would have aimed higher to be honest, wouldn't you?

Yeah, you can't go jetsetting to dictatorships in the Middle East on a cleaner's salary, Fred.

 

[HSTfan!!!]

basic maths and english is about all you need