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A career as a signaller

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HamSandwich

Member
Joined
19 May 2020
Messages
68
Location
Earth
So after signalling school, training, rules verification, passing out and then being left to my own devices i've finally been offered a full term permanent contract (i was on a fixed term contract). Almost 14 months to the day since i officially started with the company. It's a long old ride but totally worth so keep at it people

Hey, that's great news, well done! Really helpful to see the timescale as well from starting to full term contract. I start in October and I'm so excited.
 

LincsBobby

Member
Joined
9 Aug 2019
Messages
17
Congratulations! How long was the original FTC?
Supposedly 12 months but they always go over in my neck of the woods by all accounts

Hey, that's great news, well done! Really helpful to see the timescale as well from starting to full term contract. I start in October and I'm so excited.
If you filter all my posts then you will get a real idea of the whole 'ordeal' shall i call it
 

89jordanbj

Member
Joined
16 Dec 2019
Messages
208
Location
Newport
Supposedly 12 months but they always go over in my neck of the woods by all accounts


If you filter all my posts then you will get a real idea of the whole 'ordeal' shall i call it
Great to see you got a permanent position in the end. Im on a 12 month FTC myself so always plays in the back of my mind. But as many people say if I put the work in and pass IST and show competency in the role then I should be okay. Good luck in your new position.

Hows signaling school?
Really enjoyed the first week. A LOT of information to take in but thoroughly enjoying it.
 

Bunnymomma

Member
Joined
6 Jun 2020
Messages
40
Location
Norfolk
Morning all,
Fired my pre-offer back to HR yesterday, so now waiting for the next few E-mails.
I'm off to Dorset for the next two weeks and just wondered if there's any info/details I need to take with me in order to complete the formal offer pack and the other emails?
Got my passport, DL, P45, etc packed....but Id like to double-check I have everything!
 

Defenestrate

Member
Joined
6 Aug 2019
Messages
130
Morning all,
Fired my pre-offer back to HR yesterday, so now waiting for the next few E-mails.
I'm off to Dorset for the next two weeks and just wondered if there's any info/details I need to take with me in order to complete the formal offer pack and the other emails?
Got my passport, DL, P45, etc packed....but Id like to double-check I have everything!

What do you mean by "pre-offer"?
When i joined (recently) there were 3 emails, with various attachments - some for info, some with instructions, some to be returned etc - Have you had that or similar from onboarding?
 

GMac1502

Member
Joined
19 Jul 2018
Messages
55
Morning, anyone know what happens with public holidays, i'm starting training on Monday but there are 2 public holidays whilst i'm training, will i be working or off?
 

Bunnymomma

Member
Joined
6 Jun 2020
Messages
40
Location
Norfolk
What do you mean by "pre-offer"?
When i joined (recently) there were 3 emails, with various attachments - some for info, some with instructions, some to be returned etc - Have you had that or similar from onboarding?
Hello,

Sorry, maybe I should have explained a bit more :)
I've had one e-mail, the first e-mail asking for employment/education history (think its called a 'capture'. Im aware they will be sending more: the formal offer pack, basic disclosure, a tax contribution form, and a contact from medical.
I only had two days to sign the pre offer employment capture, so want to double check in advance what I may need for the next emails as I'll be away from home whilst filling them out.
Thanks in advance :)
 

MrsP2010

Member
Joined
31 Mar 2020
Messages
105
Location
Ellesmere
Morning, anyone know what happens with public holidays, i'm starting training on Monday but there are 2 public holidays whilst i'm training, will i be working or off?
I'm starting IST on Monday but my LOM has other candidates who started 2 weeks ago. I was told that they were all off last week because whenever there's a BH, it's too difficult to catch up on the missing work that they always just give them the whole week off
 

GMac1502

Member
Joined
19 Jul 2018
Messages
55
I'm starting IST on Monday but my LOM has other candidates who started 2 weeks ago. I was told that they were all off last week because whenever there's a BH, it's too difficult to catch up on the missing work that they always just give them the whole week off
Nice one thanks for that will wait and see what they do then

What 2 public holidays?
Friday 18th and Monday 21st are public holidays where i am, Glasgow is the following week
 

7Paul7

Member
Joined
10 Feb 2020
Messages
96
Location
Billingham
Nice one thanks for that will wait and see what they do then


Friday 18th and Monday 21st are public holidays where i am, Glasgow is the following week
I started block school at the start of May and had VE Day and May Day during the course we had that day off and just had to catch up
 

Tigerned371

Member
Joined
8 Jul 2020
Messages
34
Location
Lincolnshire
That online NTAR induction course is doing my head in!

Nice one thanks for that will wait and see what they do then


Friday 18th and Monday 21st are public holidays where i am, Glasgow is the following week
I can only find St.Andrews day which is 30th november? Whats 18th and 21st September?
 
Last edited:

GMac1502

Member
Joined
19 Jul 2018
Messages
55
That online NTAR induction course is doing my head in!


I can only find St.Andrews day which is 30th november? Whats 18th and 21st September?
It's September weekend, always the friday and monday as its usually gold cup weekend at Ayr races here and most people off, Glasgow gets it the following week i believe.

I started block school at the start of May and had VE Day and May Day during the course we had that day off and just had to catch up
Nice one thanks for that, how you finding it?
 

CK1

Member
Joined
16 Aug 2020
Messages
14
Location
Rotherham
Yeah, I basically did the scenario had a cup of tea and polished off the deductive whilst awaiting the interview date. Interview with the wepow site was amusing to say the least, why they don't use teams or zoom who knows, the drop out and audio quality was not the best but we muddled on and made the interview a bit more relaxed in a weird way. Definitely did better in interview than my two tests, which were pretty bad especially deductive, and now it's just awaiting the scores as they add them up and whittle the applicants down. I did read correct earlier in the thread that people have applied 6,7 or more times for the signaller job? did that include getting to interview stage or was that just to get to interview stage? I'd have one more go at it but I doubt I'd be as persistent as that. Good luck all in the mix btw!
I did the scenario yesterday which went really well, the deductive test was terrible but that's the only thing I've not done well on. I've got my interview on the 10th then its a nervous wait for the outcome.. we've done all we can docand just have to hope its good enough
 

Tigerned371

Member
Joined
8 Jul 2020
Messages
34
Location
Lincolnshire
It's September weekend, always the friday and monday as its usually gold cup weekend at Ayr races here and most people off, Glasgow gets it the following week i believe.


Nice one thanks for that, how you finding it?
I’m guessing you will only get that if your IST is in Ayrshire? However if your box is in Ayrshire you may be getting a nice payday.
 

GMac1502

Member
Joined
19 Jul 2018
Messages
55
I’m guessing you will only get that if your IST is in Ayrshire? However if your box is in Ayrshire you may be getting a nice payday.
Here's hoping, my box is in Ayrshire but i'll be in Glasgow for my training at the time so see what happens.

Having come thru future opportunities, I'm now trying to find a permanent position the box I'm in is due to close in Feb, enjoying the work and not too concerned about being on a ftc yet
Thats good you enjoy it then, sure something will come up full time when the need arises.
 

jossh78

Member
Joined
3 Aug 2020
Messages
32
Location
Uttoxeter
I did the scenario yesterday which went really well, the deductive test was terrible but that's the only thing I've not done well on. I've got my interview on the 10th then its a nervous wait for the outcome.. we've done all we can docand just have to hope its good enough
Hi CK1 do you mind me asking which locations you chose ?
Asking as when I had my interview on Thursday they mentioned that I should find out within the next few days whether I was successful or not but I would be surprised if that was the case and they still had people to interview ? I chose Derby, Staffordshire area. Cheers
 

Defenestrate

Member
Joined
6 Aug 2019
Messages
130
Hello,

Sorry, maybe I should have explained a bit more :)
I've had one e-mail, the first e-mail asking for employment/education history (think its called a 'capture'. Im aware they will be sending more: the formal offer pack, basic disclosure, a tax contribution form, and a contact from medical.
I only had two days to sign the pre offer employment capture, so want to double check in advance what I may need for the next emails as I'll be away from home whilst filling them out.
Thanks in advance :)

Think you should have everything covered if you have your docs with you - the tax related stuff can be done via a link they'll send you to an hmrc page, so you should be able to do that from a smartphone or computer - i *think* they needed a print screen of what it shows.
 

Bunnymomma

Member
Joined
6 Jun 2020
Messages
40
Location
Norfolk
Think you should have everything covered if you have your docs with you - the tax related stuff can be done via a link they'll send you to an hmrc page, so you should be able to do that from a smartphone or computer - i *think* they needed a print screen of what it shows.
Brill thank you!!
 

_Odo_

Member
Joined
14 Jan 2020
Messages
31
Location
Lincolnshire
Just to add to that - the pension forms need printing and posting, so it would be useful to have access to a printer. I actually asked if I could email it and they said no. Also for the DBS check, which you do via a website, you need to have the exact same ID to hand that you used during the interview/assessment process (for me it was driving license and passport).
 

TLM

Member
Joined
31 Aug 2020
Messages
10
Location
United Kingdom
I did the scenario yesterday which went really well, the deductive test was terrible but that's the only thing I've not done well on. I've got my interview on the 10th then its a nervous wait for the outcome.. we've done all we can docand just have to hope its good enough

Good luck! Interview is about 45 mins depending on video connection :smile: tried to do as much STAR responses as possible but was knocked off my train of thought on several occasions due to dropping out of video connection, by far the best I did and interviewers were great. As you say it's done and all we can do is wait. Just to let anyone else know I applied for Derby, Leicester and Derby again as nearest to me, anywhere in Staffordshire would do me.
 

jossh78

Member
Joined
3 Aug 2020
Messages
32
Location
Uttoxeter
Good luck! Interview is about 45 mins depending on video connection :smile: tried to do as much STAR responses as possible but was knocked off my train of thought on several occasions due to dropping out of video connection, by far the best I did and interviewers were great. As you say it's done and all we can do is wait. Just to let anyone else know I applied for Derby, Leicester and Derby again as nearest to me, anywhere in Staffordshire would do me.
Did they also mention to you that they were planning to let us know in a few days if successful or not ?
 

Ben123

New Member
Joined
1 Sep 2020
Messages
3
Location
Derby
Did they also mention to you that they were planning to let us know in a few days if successful or not ?

Hi,
Just to jump in, I had my interview on Thursday and they said they will let me know in 2-3 days. I then received an email saying they will let me know by 30th September... so I'm a bit confused on timings now.
 

TLM

Member
Joined
31 Aug 2020
Messages
10
Location
United Kingdom
Did they also mention to you that they were planning to let us know in a few days if successful or not ?

I got told the 15th or around there but had an email saying the 30th. As with everyone else it's wait and see, not that confident that doing well in interview will be enough, I suppose back in the day it would've been, but hey ho. GL!
 

jossh78

Member
Joined
3 Aug 2020
Messages
32
Location
Uttoxeter
Hi,
Just to jump in, I had my interview on Thursday and they said they will let me know in 2-3 days. I then received an email saying they will let me know by 30th September... so I'm a bit confused on timings now.
Same here buddy, got the same email but I was wondering if it is a generic email for the whole East Midlands region but they have already done all interviews for Derby, Staffs area and we might find out in a few days time ? I guess patience is a virtue, as they say.
 

TLM

Member
Joined
31 Aug 2020
Messages
10
Location
United Kingdom
Hi,
Just to jump in, I had my interview on Thursday and they said they will let me know in 2-3 days. I then received an email saying they will let me know by 30th September... so I'm a bit confused on timings now.

I'm going with the 30th. Have other irons in the fire as waiting on a some what coin flip of a result may not be best. Good luck!
 

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