It really is impossible to say how long it can take at the moment simply because of the number of people they can put in each course. You might be get offered a course date at very short notice if someone drops out.... and then you might have to wait 6 months. None of this is helped by Covid 19 of course
The course is demanding simply due to the amount of information you need to absorb in what is quite a short amount of time. If you put the effort in then you will be fine and if you do slip up then there is help to get you through, but its certainly not a turn up and you'll pass course
I don't think there's any chance of waiting to get a place a school near you. The policy does seem to be to try and keep people local at the moment but its not a given I think.
Wondering if anyone can help me with a few questions I have:
1) Currently, how long is the application process for signaller roles taking, from completing the 60+ questions to first day of training? What's the best and worst-case scenario?
2) How tough is the training? Does everyone get through it, or is there also the option of you being let go if you fail a module / exam / test?
3) I've seen the training called "residential training" - but is it possible to commute in to the training on a daily basis?
Thanks!
I’m on IST at the moment. I interviewed in Jan, job was offered early Feb but Covid also played a part in the delay on course start dates.
The course is hard, I’d go as far to say it’s the hardest course I’ve ever done and I previously held senior management roles in Financial Services, so I’ve been on a fair few courses in my time.
It’s certainly not a turn up and pass. I’d say I’m putting in well over 50 hrs a week (others are doing more - and doing better than me it has to be said).
There are people from all walks of life on my course, from military, aerospace, engineering, teaching, police and manufacturing and none of them are finding it easy. I hear a lot of pilots are now trying to get into signalling too, so there’s plenty of capable people chomping at the bit to get into it.
You will be binned if you don’t put the effort in to pass the assessments. 2 people have been asked if they want to carry on after just scraping through on one of the assessments - it’s gets harder too.
The selection process is tough but easy in comparison to the course itself, it’s there to sift out those who don’t have the basic requirements of the job but in no way is it an indicator of how well you’ll do on the course - or in the job itself.
If you can, stay at the hotel, you’ll need all the free time you can get to work without distractions of hone life.
You’ve got to want to do it and be prepared to commit yourself to completing the course - if you’re not then you won’t succeed.