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A career as a signaller

Dan 2513

Member
Joined
29 Sep 2019
Messages
31
Location
Uk
Morning all,

Recently applied for a grade 2 signaller position at Wigton sb and have just been sent the online tests, anybody have any tips on how best to prepare for them? Does the situational judgement one require any knowledge of the rail? Cause I really don’t have much of that bit of a blank canvas in that respect, also anybody know if that box is on 8 hours or 12s?

Any help would be hugely appreciated thank you!

morning.

congratulations.

I’d recommend looking online for verbal reasoning practice tests and the same with the numerical reasoning. Look at how to read and answer both types.
If you do a few of these online you will get a good feel for how it will go plus do some refresher research on how to work with % that will help a lot for the numerical side of things. On that test I didn’t answer all the questions and Ive been offered an interview, so don’t panic if you don’t get them all done.

the judgement test I’d say you can’t really practice. It’s one of those things that’s designed to figure out your character and how you react in different situations, Look at the questions and answers them honestly. don’t try second guess it by thinking,
‘ how do they want me to answer it’
if you do that you will likely mess it up.

just take your time with it and you will be fine.

good luck!
 
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RailUK Forums

headshot119

Established Member
Joined
31 Dec 2010
Messages
2,052
Location
Dubai
Morning all,

Recently applied for a grade 2 signaller position at Wigton sb and have just been sent the online tests, anybody have any tips on how best to prepare for them? Does the situational judgement one require any knowledge of the rail? Cause I really don’t have much of that bit of a blank canvas in that respect, also anybody know if that box is on 8 hours or 12s?

Any help would be hugely appreciated thank you!

It's a 9hour ish roster.
 

SignallerJohn

Member
Joined
19 Dec 2017
Messages
160
thank you
I recommend it to anyone looking to get a job on the railway as a signaller is to email the LOM and try to have a look around the box with their permission of course. Might be worth doing.

Typically you will be in when there’s no incidents and it looks fairly calm, but it’s good to ask questions to the signallers who are on duty.
 

Dan 2513

Member
Joined
29 Sep 2019
Messages
31
Location
Uk
I have my first interview for a role in this industry in a few weeks time so I am starting to prepare for that.

One topic I’ve found in the past to be an awkward one is progression,
I am naturally progressive but I know sometimes that might not be what the manager wants to hear as they have just spent time employing you, why would they want you to move on in a few years.

does anyone know what’s the best way to play that topic with NR??

thanks.
 

Dan 2513

Member
Joined
29 Sep 2019
Messages
31
Location
Uk
I recommend it to anyone looking to get a job on the railway as a signaller is to email the LOM and try to have a look around the box with their permission of course. Might be worth doing.

Typically you will be in when there’s no incidents and it looks fairly calm, but it’s good to ask questions to the signallers who are on duty.

Would you not recommend bringing up the fact that i have visited the box already an interview?

At the time didn’t know I’d needed permission.
The chap in the box was great. He really helped me out and I’d hate to get him in trouble.
But id like to highlight the fact that I’ve taken to time to get to know a bit about the box area as I feel that’s important.
 

felicita

Member
Joined
2 Oct 2019
Messages
61
Location
London
I got interview soon and I'm a little nervous if the job is for me, I worry that I will make mistake and go to prison lol
 

Dan 2513

Member
Joined
29 Sep 2019
Messages
31
Location
Uk
I got interview soon and I'm a little nervous if the job is for me, I worry that I will make mistake and go to prison lol

I am in the same boat about an interview. I am not too worried if the job is for me though.
I did a fair bit of research before I applied. I am guessing you will have good and bad days the same as any other job.
I’ve applied for a G2 job. I went to see a chap who’s doing it and he said
“for you to make a mistake that hurts/ kills people, you would have to want to do that”

so I guess they probably have many fail safes in place. As I am at the same stage as you I don’t really know much about it the role as a whole.
I guess higher grades are more stressful so if you are going for a high grade and are worried at this stage I’d maybe do some serious research on that grade so you can make the best informed decision. you will have come a fair way to reach this stage so I would not be chucking it in unless you really need to.

best of luck for the interview.
 

SignallerJohn

Member
Joined
19 Dec 2017
Messages
160
I have my first interview for a role in this industry in a few weeks time so I am starting to prepare for that.

One topic I’ve found in the past to be an awkward one is progression,
I am naturally progressive but I know sometimes that might not be what the manager wants to hear as they have just spent time employing you, why would they want you to move on in a few years.

does anyone know what’s the best way to play that topic with NR??

thanks.
They will probably ask you about progression. Most managers I’ve encountered encourage you to progress if you want to. Some of our newer guys say they are on a 1 year type deal before they can leave to other places?

RE the signal box visits, think it’s been discussed in this thread before. I think it depends on the location, workload etc. It also puts the signaller in a bit of a situation too. This is all just my opinion though.
 

felicita

Member
Joined
2 Oct 2019
Messages
61
Location
London
I am in the same boat about an interview. I am not too worried if the job is for me though.
I did a fair bit of research before I applied. I am guessing you will have good and bad days the same as any other job.
I’ve applied for a G2 job. I went to see a chap who’s doing it and he said
“for you to make a mistake that hurts/ kills people, you would have to want to do that”

so I guess they probably have many fail safes in place. As I am at the same stage as you I don’t really know much about it the role as a whole.
I guess higher grades are more stressful so if you are going for a high grade and are worried at this stage I’d maybe do some serious research on that grade so you can make the best informed decision. you will have come a fair way to reach this stage so I would not be chucking it in unless you really need to.

best of luck for the interview.
thank you and to you too :)
 

Dan 2513

Member
Joined
29 Sep 2019
Messages
31
Location
Uk
They will probably ask you about progression. Most managers I’ve encountered encourage you to progress if you want to. Some of our newer guys say they are on a 1 year type deal before they can leave to other places?

RE the signal box visits, think it’s been discussed in this thread before. I think it depends on the location, workload etc. It also puts the signaller in a bit of a situation too. This is all just my opinion though.

Thanks for your reply.
I’ve already been to the box a few weeks back before I found this forum.
The chap was fantastic.
It’s a very quiet G2 line so I wasn’t in his way.

I just didn’t want to drop him in it at my interview if it could get him in trouble.
But I want them to know I’ve been so they know I am serious about the job and know what I am going into.
 

Dan 2513

Member
Joined
29 Sep 2019
Messages
31
Location
Uk
how can you visit box? just turn up? ;)
I was thinking to ask on the interview if it would be possible


I didn’t know until a few days ago that they are not supposed to let you in without permission so I’d advise against it until you have permission.
 

Dan 2513

Member
Joined
29 Sep 2019
Messages
31
Location
Uk
Oh...you’d have been in his way alright, he was just being a nice guy

most likely so... he said you get used to being on your own.
He was a really nice guy though. I am extremely grateful to him for taking the time to talk to me about stuff.
 

9tfrizzco

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Joined
17 Oct 2019
Messages
115
Location
worthing
Hi I've applied for a couple of positions in Surrey. Recieved an e-mail with test links today and have been practising today.
I think some of the SHL verbal questions are worded absolutely horribly. Sometimes they're just worded so lazily and making things vague in a way that is unintentional- sometimes I believe no single answer is truly correct and you could reasonably argue for more than one.
 
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ljmac

Member
Joined
13 Feb 2019
Messages
36
Hi I've applied for a couple of positions in Surrey. Recieved an e-mail with test links today and have been practicing today.
I think some of the SHL verbal questions are worded absolutely horribly. Sometimes they're just worded so lazily and making things vague in a way that is unintentional- sometimes I believe no single answer is truly correct and you could reasonably argue for more than one.

That's the whole point of the verbal reasoning! You may know the answer, but if it isnt in the text in front of you, you "can not say".

You need to approach it as though you know nothing other than what the short passage says
 

9tfrizzco

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17 Oct 2019
Messages
115
Location
worthing
That's the whole point of the verbal reasoning! You may know the answer, but if it isnt in the text in front of you, you "can not say".

You need to approach it as though you know nothing other than what the short passage says
I'm well aware of the point of verbal reasoning. My point is sometimes I don't believe any of the three answers are ''correct'' and it comes down to subjective interpretation. Note how I said vague 'in a way that is unintentional', some of the questions are just sloppily worded and vague or don't actually give you enough info to make a fair call , imo.
 

Dave 5-5-5

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23 Sep 2019
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21
Location
Grimsby
Did anyone have an interview for the Kirton Lindsey box? If so, have you heard anything? I was interviewed over 2 months ago but have heard nothing. Emailed HR but no luck and still showing as Assessment 2 Scheduled.

I know the process takes a while but interview results seem to be the quickest part of the process for a lot of roles.
There are currently two of us in signalling school, started this week and at least one that finished recently. The vacancy is out again so I've been told. Keep at it. Assessmet 2 scheduled means you should get an invite to take part in an online question session, then an interview.
 

Dave 5-5-5

Member
Joined
23 Sep 2019
Messages
21
Location
Grimsby
Signaller school end of the month for me. Does anybody know when you usually receive the joining instructions? Is it during the week before?
I got a start date and was told on the first day I'd be going down Wednesday for the Thursday and Friday induction.
 

Tom Quinne

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8 Jul 2017
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2,225
I'm well aware of the point of verbal reasoning. My point is sometimes I don't believe any of the three answers are ''correct'' and it comes down to subjective interpretation. Note how I said vague 'in a way that is unintentional', some of the questions are just sloppily worded and vague or don't actually give you enough info to make a fair call , imo.

You wait until you have to do you signaller rules exams with a similar format of exam !!!
 

Tomnick

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10 Jun 2005
Messages
5,826
You wait until you have to do you signaller rules exams with a similar format of exam !!!
Do you still have Cognisco or whatever it might be called now? I remember spending far more time working out how a misplaced comma changed the whole meaning of the question than the technical content of the question.

“Yes I know you’re right, but you have to choose that one [the wrong answer] or it’ll say you’re not competent!”
 

9tfrizzco

Member
Joined
17 Oct 2019
Messages
115
Location
worthing
Honestly the more I study it the more I think the practice verbal reasoning test on the SHL site is appallingly badly worded. Hope the real thing is better.
 

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