A career as a signaller

[iwasyoungonce]

any passed online assessments would be valid for 12 months

YES

I was under the impression that you could re apply for a signaller position after 6 months from the previous failed application

YES

 

[Woody27]

YES

YES

Thanks, does that mean the tests I’ve already taken have been passed, but not passed as well as other applicants, and so I’ll have to wait until 12 months has passed to the take them

 

[iwasyoungonce]

Have you been told you met the required benchmark for the vacancy you applied for ?

 

[SussexSig]

Been told by a LOM there is a recruitment freeze ATM

Was told this by a LOM too.. he's offered me a position but can't get me in yet due to the alleged recruitment freeze.

 

[T-Karmel]

I thought it is only when you fail those tests you can retake them after 6 months, however if you passed them they are valid for 12 months at the benchmark you passed them on (some position might have higher benchmark) and even if you will fail any other stage (i.e. interview) you can still apply for other positions as normal.

 

[WL113]

A couple on the external list now. Tweedmouth (grade 5) and the Sandwich (grade 2)

There's a vacancy at Aston on the internal list. A nice steady grade 4 NX panel and one of the few signal boxes left in the West Midlands.

 

[Defenestrate]

Quick question regarding Bank Holidays - I have looked through the thread, but it's not clear.
Bank holiday RDW - HROP: 275% or LROP: 175% + comp day - all monies are "extra" as it's a rest day worked, right?
Bank holiday booked shift - HROP: 250% or LROP: 150% + comp day. Would this mean that if you chose for example HROP it's your normal daily rate (i.e. 100%) plus an extra 150% - so you essentially see an extra 150% for HROP/50% for LROP?

Apologies if that is confusing to read, I have tried to word it the best I can!

 

[Woody27]

Have you been told you met the required benchmark for the vacancy you applied for ?

When I applied in April, I was told I didn’t meet the benchmark, so guess I failed at least one of the tests, but this time, I wasn’t even offered the tests, just went straight to “thanks for completing the online assessment” then straight to unsuccessful! So I guess I’ll have to wait until April, and try and get better test results

 

[Sunset route]

Quick question regarding Bank Holidays - I have looked through the thread, but it's not clear.
Bank holiday RDW - HROP: 275% or LROP: 175% + comp day - all monies are "extra" as it's a rest day worked, right?
Bank holiday booked shift - HROP: 250% or LROP: 150% + comp day. Would this mean that if you chose for example HROP it's your normal daily rate (i.e. 100%) plus an extra 150% - so you essentially see an extra 150% for HROP/50% for LROP?

Apologies if that is confusing to read, I have tried to word it the best I can!

Looks about right to me.

 

[Tom Quinne]

Looks about right to me.

Isn’t it generally always better to take LROP? Nice extra 4 CLs over Xmas and NY thanks to being booked for work over it all

 

[High Dyke]

Quick question regarding Bank Holidays - I have looked through the thread, but it's not clear.
Bank holiday RDW - HROP: 275% or LROP: 175% + comp day - all monies are "extra" as it's a rest day worked, right?
Bank holiday booked shift - HROP: 250% or LROP: 150% + comp day. Would this mean that if you chose for example HROP it's your normal daily rate (i.e. 100%) plus an extra 150% - so you essentially see an extra 150% for HROP/50% for LROP?

Apologies if that is confusing to read, I have tried to word it the best I can!

Sorry if the file is a bit big.

 

[Defenestrate]

Thank you both!

 

[bouff34]

Isn’t it generally always better to take LROP? Nice extra 4 CLs over Xmas and NY thanks to being booked for work over it all

Depends really whether you want the extra time off or the money...

The only time where it does make a difference is a night turn on a bank holiday going into a normal day... If you opt for higher rater of pay you are only getting 2 hours at the higher rate and the rest is just normal rate... whereas if you opt for lower rate of pay you get a whole day of compensatory leave to take later on (instead of two hours worth of extra pay). Hopefully that makes sense??

 

[Tom Quinne]

Time off in addition to your allocation of AL is always better than giving HMG more money than you have to.

 

[Sunset route]

Isn’t it generally always better to take LROP? Nice extra 4 CLs over Xmas and NY thanks to being booked for work over it all

The only time I ever work overtime is covering Christmas Day and Boxing Day and this year I worked an extra Sunday plus rest worked bank holiday Monday, as every other rest day and non rostered Sunday throughout the year i take off.

 

[nom de guerre]

Isn’t it generally always better to take LROP? Nice extra 4 CLs over Xmas and NY thanks to being booked for work over it all

Personal preference - obvs - but I’m certainly LROP today

 

[Trackboy]

Need clarification I am working 13 nights 14th night was my working day but for obvious reason I am booked off. My question is as my 14th night is Saturday into Sunday. Will I get sunday and night allowance for the booked off 14th night.

Thanks.

 

[Sunset route]

Need clarification I am working 13 nights 14th night was my working day but for obvious reason I am booked off. My question is as my 14th night is Saturday into Sunday. Will I get sunday and night allowance for the booked off 14th night.

Thanks.

Should be just your flat 8hrs basic only (as part of your 35hr working week), you will need to chose carefully how you load your hours up so you don’t lose out financially as basically you volunteered yourself into this position.

 

[Tom Quinne]

Need clarification I am working 13 nights 14th night was my working day but for obvious reason I am booked off. My question is as my 14th night is Saturday into Sunday. Will I get sunday and night allowance for the booked off 14th night.

Thanks.

Jesus! 8hr roster I assume, thank god for 12s.

 

[Trackboy]

Should be just your flat 8hrs basic only (as part of your 35hr working week), you will need to chose carefully how you load your hours up so you don’t lose out financially as basically you volunteered yourself into this position.

Damn just shot myself on foot here.. never again

Jesus! 8hr roster I assume, thank god for 12s.

Yeh can't wait to go on 12hrs

 

[Sunset route]

Jesus! 8hr roster I assume, thank god for 12s.

Damn just shot myself on foot here.. never again

Yeh can't wait to go on 12hrs

I work an 8hr roster and love it, as I have an excellent work life balance, but then again not all 8 hours rosters are built equal and working in a multi panel, multi signaller location with meal relief helps a great deal when constructing a roster.

 

[JMH77]

When I applied in April, I was told I didn’t meet the benchmark, so guess I failed at least one of the tests, but this time, I wasn’t even offered the tests, just went straight to “thanks for completing the online assessment” then straight to unsuccessful! So I guess I’ll have to wait until April, and try and get better test results

I'm still not 100% sure whether there is a specific benchmark you have to reach or whether it's in comparison to the scores of other applicants. I guess it could be both. Once you've completed the tests your scores will be held on record for 12 months and used for any subsequent applications. After 6 months you can ask for them to be reset. That's what I did. Just drop HR an email explaining you feel better prepared etc and they should send you the links to complete the tests again. That was my experience so not sure if anything has changed.

 

[Woody27]

I'm still not 100% sure whether there is a specific benchmark you have to reach or whether it's in comparison to the scores of other applicants. I guess it could be both. Once you've completed the tests your scores will be held on record for 12 months and used for any subsequent applications. After 6 months you can ask for them to be reset. That's what I did. Just drop HR an email explaining you feel better prepared etc and they should send you the links to complete the tests again. That was my experience so not sure if anything has changed.

Thanks JMH77, will be sending an email to HR tomorrow!

 

[tommyb2687]

hi all i recently applied for a signaller job and have sat the online assesments. I received the generic thankyou for sitting the tests and we will be in touch when we have the results. The day after i received a thankyou again and my application was being considered further. Does this mean i must of passed the assesments as it never said anybody had anything similar before? cheers
Tom

 

[Woody27]

hi all i recently applied for a signaller job and have sat the online assesments. I received the generic thankyou for sitting the tests and we will be in touch when we have the results. The day after i received a thankyou again and my application was being considered further. Does this mean i must of passed the assesments as it never said anybody had anything similar before? cheers
Tom

Sounds promising! May I ask what position you have applied for?

 

[Signaller2020]

hi all i recently applied for a signaller job and have sat the online assesments. I received the generic thankyou for sitting the tests and we will be in touch when we have the results. The day after i received a thankyou again and my application was being considered further. Does this mean i must of passed the assesments as it never said anybody had anything similar before? cheers
Tom

It is likely just informing you that you have reached the required benchmark for the online tests.

 

[Trackboy]

Should be just your flat 8hrs basic only (as part of your 35hr working week), you will need to chose carefully how you load your hours up so you don’t lose out financially as basically you volunteered yourself into this position.

Hi I managed to get my Sat night into sunday back.. but instead having off tonight which was my working day to break the 13 day cycle. I am correct to assume that I will get paid just basic 8 hrs for today although I have been booked off and no night allowance obviously.

 

[Sunset route]

If your booked off on a rostered turn for a hidden day, then your still paid your 35hr basic as that can’t be taken away from you.

 

[tommyb2687]

Sounds promising! May I ask what position you have applied for?

grade 5 at tweedmouth im wondering now if i do get an interview most likely be via zoom etc rather than in person im assuming. That is if the position hasnt already been withdrawn with these new extra restrictions

 

[Signaller2020]

Just had call from LOM to say my in-box training has been suspended all well and good getting to stay home but really looking forward to passing out.

Anybody had the same?