Work Experience

[ModernRailways]

Hi all,
After a quick search of the forums I couldn't find anything to give me any guidance.
I'm looking at doing Work Experience on the railways, however I'm currently 17.
I live in Newcastle so I am pretty limited as to the TOC's. So can anyone suggest any?
I don't attend college or anywhere else for education currently.
I can't do engineering and so it would be mainly operational, such as shadowing Train Managers etc.
Hopefully I've already given enough information, but feel free to ask any questions.
Thanks in advance!

 

[8J]

Hi all,
After a quick search of the forums I couldn't find anything to give me any guidance.
I'm looking at doing Work Experience on the railways, however I'm currently 17.
I live in Newcastle so I am pretty limited as to the TOC's. So can anyone suggest any?
I don't attend college or anywhere else for education currently.
I can't do engineering and so it would be mainly operational, such as shadowing Train Managers etc.
Hopefully I've already given enough information, but feel free to ask any questions.
Thanks in advance!

Hi Modern Railways,

To be honest, I'd say you are out of luck at 17. Also, all the TOC's I know don't do work experience, full stop.

You see, I am not a train spotter. I left school at 16. I wanted to be a tv presenter aged 17, but didn't want to take the risks, so saw a vacancy at merseyrail and got the job. That's were my interest grew. My experience was not directly related to the rail, but it coincidently focused on the 3 key elements of being a railway guard. Operational abilities, safety and customer service.

Sorry to sound like a letdown. My advice would be to get a small job in a customer facing role. I was a tour guide aged 16 and it was valuable for getting into the industry. Hope this helps, and any questions, please pm me, I'd be more than happy to assist.



Jtd

 

[burns20]

I did work experience in the booking office at Newark Northgate when I was 16. GNER were very accommodating. Contacted someone at Doncaster about it all.

So East Coast may be worth a try.

 

[ModernRailways]

Hi Modern Railways,

To be honest, I'd say you are out of luck at 17. Also, all the TOC's I know don't do work experience, full stop.

You see, I am not a train spotter. I left school at 16. I wanted to be a tv presenter aged 17, but didn't want to take the risks, so saw a vacancy at merseyrail and got the job. That's were my interest grew. My experience was not directly related to the rail, but it coincidently focused on the 3 key elements of being a railway guard. Operational abilities, safety and customer service.

Sorry to sound like a letdown. My advice would be to get a small job in a customer facing role. I was a tour guide aged 16 and it was valuable for getting into the industry. Hope this helps, and any questions, please pm me, I'd be more than happy to assist.



Jtd

I know a few TOCs down south do it, since my friends have told me about it, however I haven't heard of anyone from Newcastle doing it.

May I ask what other jobs/volunteering and other general things you had done before applying for the job at Merseyrail that would have boosted your chances of the job or was it just the Tour guide?

I did work experience in the booking office at Newark Northgate when I was 16. GNER were very accommodating. Contacted someone at Doncaster about it all.

So East Coast may be worth a try.

I'll send East Coast an email querying it, I have plenty of East Coast stations I can get too as long as I can find the cost's to travel/get a pass to travel to that station.

 

[8J]

I volunteered at the Grand National a few times, but I don't think that was noticed because in the interview, they focused on my tour guide job and how these skills were transferable.

I think tfL do apprentice schemes... But in Newcastle, not too sure. Have you tried the Tyne and wear metro?

 

[GNER 373]

Hi I'm also from Newcastle and I don't know of any Work Experience roles with any of the TOC'S that run through central. I'm not sure about the Metro you could email them and ask!

Good luck and let us know how you get on!

 

[ModernRailways]

I volunteered at the Grand National a few times, but I don't think that was noticed because in the interview, they focused on my tour guide job and how these skills were transferable.

I think tfL do apprentice schemes... But in Newcastle, not too sure. Have you tried the Tyne and wear metro?

Thanks! Any job would do me really! I just want to gain experience to help me out when I'm older. I've applied to a number of places, however when I've asked for feedback they've all said I don't have any experience. Obviously, I need a job to get experience and so it's just a never ending circle so far.

I asked Metro and they said that I needed to be in some for of education for insurance purposes? I thought it would just be some sort of reference to say how I act etc.

Hi I'm also from Newcastle and I don't know of any Work Experience roles with any of the TOC'S that run through central. I'm not sure about the Metro you could email them and ask!

Good luck and let us know how you get on!

I know Northern don't operate one, but as someone earlier mentioned GNER did with them at Doncaster. I've asked Grand Central, Cross Country, East Coast, and the Metro. Still waiting to hear back from them all, with the exception of Metro who told me they couldn't as I had to be in education.

Thanks, and I will do just in case anyone else checks this thread in thread looking for similar!

 

[Cab2Cab]

Hi,

Have you tried approaching Network Rail, planning dept etc, or failing any TOC's coming back to you the Tanfield railway, that's up round your way, they may be able to help to put something on your CV/application forms for future employment.

Cheers and good luck.