Firefighter looking at career change

[Firefly]

Hi guys/girls,

I'm currently a firefighter with blue light driving qualification (not that this is really relevant), and considering a career change to become a train driver.

This is due to dedundancies heading our way due to budget cuts.

Can anyone offer advice or guidance on the best way forward?

Many thanks in advance!

 

[Aivilo]

Go onto to your local operating companies website and set up job alerts for trainee driver roles

 

[red2005]

Hi guys/girls,

I'm currently a firefighter with blue light driving qualification (not that this is really relevant), and considering a career change to become a train driver.

This is due to dedundancies heading our way due to budget cuts.

Can anyone offer advice or guidance on the best way forward?

Many thanks in advance!

oh it is relevant mate! jobs with qualifications like that prove that you are used to working to strict rules and regulations whilst keeping your concentration.......might not seem relevant but looking from the inside out those qualities are a human resource and driver managers w*t dream trust me!

the railway loves employing people from emergency services or forces backgrounds......as said above just keep an eye on your local toc websites......i know that MTR and Scotrail are both actively recruiting trainee drivers at the moment mate, not sure if you are in the vicinity of either of those but a lot of the time your best chance is having the flexibility to relocate if possible

not sure what your current situation is mate in relation to timings etc but if there are no driving vacancies around you maybe look at other routes in such as conductors or platform staff......a lot of companies like to promote from within and making a good name for yourself within another role may also aid you

 

[Liddybird]

With your background of health and safety and rules/procedures you've got a great chance. Good luck

 

[scotraildriver]

Plenty of ex firemen work here!

 

[oxoneil]

oh it is relevant mate! jobs with qualifications like that prove that you are used to working to strict rules and regulations whilst keeping your concentration.......might not seem relevant but looking from the inside out those qualities are a human resource and driver managers w*t dream trust me!

the railway loves employing people from emergency services or forces backgrounds......

Ha, I wish, did 23 years doing the latter and currently nearly 9 doing the former and it'll be 2 years since my initial application next month.

The wait continues.....

 

[Saltire]

Hi guys/girls,

I'm currently a firefighter with blue light driving qualification (not that this is really relevant), and considering a career change to become a train driver.

This is due to dedundancies heading our way due to budget cuts.

Can anyone offer advice or guidance on the best way forward?

Many thanks in advance!

Same here mate, I've been through the driver selection process successfully however due to a "change in operational requirements" the company were unable to recruit in my area. Feel free to pm me if you want some info relative to your firefighter experience (you'll need to get your posts up to 5 before you can pm)
Out of interest how long have you been in the job and which frs are you in?

 

[Firefly]

Thanks for all the advice so far.

I've been in the fire service for 18 years, and the army for 5 years previous to that.

I'm based in Leicestershire.

 

[Dottypea]

As Saltire says get your posts up to 5 then I can pm you with info. I'm currently a firefighter and it certainly helps with the mmi and dmi. I'm have my medical very soon.

 

[Saltire]

As Saltire says get your posts up to 5 then I can pm you with info. I'm currently a firefighter and it certainly helps with the mmi and dmi. I'm have my medical very soon.

It's a sign of the times when guys with decades of experience in the fire service are looking to leave - I've done over 20years.
On my first day in the station one of the old hands said "the job's f*€$%d" - I wonder what they'd think of it now?
Well done Dottypea, where are you starting on the railway?

 

[Dottypea]

It certainly is a sign of the times! Thank you

 

[happydoughnut]

Job alerts for all your local TOCs. Research what is involved at each stage of the aptitude testing so you're good and prepared (there's not a whole lot you can do to boost your performance but knowing what tests are coming at least makes the day a little less stressful. GB practice is useful). Solid preparation for the interview is a must though. Make sure you know a lot about the company structure, what future plans there are in the pipeline, what rolling stock they run, where they go (routes + stations etc). that sort of thing.

 

[Firefly]

Really good advice guys, thanks.
I'm up to 3 now!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Up to 100 redundancies heading Leicestershires way over the next 3 years

 

[TimmyJ20]

I'm a FF with Hampshire, just completed 20 years and had enough. Hoping to gain a trainee drivers job with South West Trains, recently passed the aptitude tests and awaiting the next stage. Been waiting 3 years to get to this point, patience is an absolute must....

 

[Firefly]

Please feel free to send me any info, I'm up to 5 now.

Cheers

 

[red2005]

Ha, I wish, did 23 years doing the latter and currently nearly 9 doing the former and it'll be 2 years since my initial application next month.

The wait continues.....

it's a pain isn't it mate.......i was lucky enough to get a guards job first time of asking but it took 7 years before i got a driving job so i definitely feel your pain!....stick with it though mate.

 

[Dottypea]

I'm out and about this morning, so will pm you the info this afternoon
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
PM sent mate

 

[Firefly]

3 lads from leicestershire have just transferred to Bedfordshire.
I've heard they were short as a few from there have moved to drive trains, or possibly on the tube?

As I look at what's available at the moment, a lot of vacancies all require the applicant to live within a set distance.

I'm happy to do that if there was a job offer, but its not really feasible to move house just to start the application?

 

[plastictaffy]

Ifv you wanted to apply for a job that requires you to be a certain distance from the station you'd be based at, just state your intention to relocate if successful. With your background, that should still hold water.

 

[Firefly]

Thanks for that advice, I'll bare that in mind. Cheers

 

[Leebob34]

With regards to relocating .i didn't live within specific distance from depot I applied for but made it clear that I was willing to relocate IF A job offer was made .i did get offered the job and have now been asked to relocate closer to the depot otherwise the job offer could be withdrawn .ive spoken to HR about it and they said I don't need to have moved before I start my course but within a specific time that will be on the conrtact when I get it.. Hope this helps , just go for it ,because you can be sure someone else is ??????.goodluck

 

[NX]

Hi guys/girls,

I'm currently a firefighter with blue light driving qualification (not that this is really relevant), and considering a career change to become a train driver.

This is due to dedundancies heading our way due to budget cuts.

Can anyone offer advice or guidance on the best way forward?

Many thanks in advance!

DB listed firefighters, police and service personal as people they'd like to hear from in relation student driver roles last year, so I'd say your in a good position.

The application process is all about competency, so your skill sets and experience will do you no end of good when it comes to answering the competency questions at interview and assessment centre.

Bookmark ALL the TOCs and FOCs local to you, and check them EVERYDAY, set up accounts now so your ready to go, sometimes adverts are in for hours ! Have general notes ready to amended to the actual question.

Things like, working as part of a team.
Working to rules and regulations.
Working under pressure.
Working in an out of course or emergency situation.
Delivering outstanding service to a customer

Things like that.

Good luck mate

NX

 

[StandFromUnder]

14 years WT. Tried for my local TOC earlier this year. They required enhanced passes. I got 2 enhanced passes and only a standard pass for the dots test annoyingly. Now waiting my 6 months to pass.
I was told it's not classed as a fail for other TOCs however there is only one in my local area that takes on drivers and that is initially as depot drivers.
There was a train managers job advertised but I'm unsure if they than take internal applications from that position to train driver. Any info would be great.
It's EMT
Thanks

 

[Snakedoc]

I'm also a fire fighter looking to get into the train driving career. I'm with West Midlands. Done 6 and a half years, time for a change for sure.

 

[notadriver]

If you can't get straight into train driving would you consider being a train guard or platform staff which would make it easier to apply for the job internally ? As the recent debacle with Scotrail shows getting in the grade is very competitive.

 

[Ciel]

If you can't get straight into train driving would you consider being a train guard or platform staff which would make it easier to apply for the job internally ? As the recent debacle with Scotrail shows getting in the grade is very competitive.

Are these jobs similarly advertised on the ToC's sites?

 

[red2005]

flipping eck you guys don't know how lucky you are........i used to be a retained firefighter and tried everything to get in wholetime to no avail!.......a firefighter is the only job i'd even consider leaving my driving job for lol.

 

[notadriver]

Are these jobs similarly advertised on the ToC's sites?

Yes they are.

 

[Snakedoc]

flipping eck you guys don't know how lucky you are........i used to be a retained firefighter and tried everything to get in wholetime to no avail!.......a firefighter is the only job i'd even consider leaving my driving job for lol.

Yea it's not the same job that I joined 6 n a half years ago mate. I duno what it's like in other services but I'd imagine it isn't a million miles different. Public sector is being smashed, all the perks are gone or going. Pension, shifts, earlier retirement age... all going.

I'm open to change but when it's complete breach of a contract it's a bit different. But hey, it's paying the bills and it's still rewarding amongst all the politics

 

[Saltire]

flipping eck you guys don't know how lucky you are........i used to be a retained firefighter and tried everything to get in wholetime to no avail!.......a firefighter is the only job i'd even consider leaving my driving job for lol.

Swap you??
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Yea it's not the same job that I joined 6 n a half years ago mate. I duno what it's like in other services but I'd imagine it isn't a million miles different. Public sector is being smashed, all the perks are gone or going. Pension, shifts, earlier retirement age... all going.

I'm open to change but when it's complete breach of a contract it's a bit different. But hey, it's paying the bills and it's still rewarding amongst all the politics

Totally agree with Snakedoc, I've done 20+years so I've seen the job completely turn on it's head, but tbh I don't think we've had the *****t!est end of the stick. I've got lots of mates in the police and Ambulance service who appear to have it worse.