A career as a signaller

Southernsig · 29 Sep 2018

GingerRH said:
What he said ^^

There’s too many people on here giving poor advice of trying to get in, which frankly ruins this whole thread as your diamonds soon become hidden in the rough.

Don’t look at any rule book until you’re handed the module at signalling school, even then don’t read ahead. Chances are you’d either enterpret it wrong, or miss out parts that go with it as rules are spread all over the place. That being said, rules are changing all the time which is another reason to not read ahead.

I agree, don't read ahead, poor advice given!

There is a reason for the saying 'We are payed for what we know, not wht we do'. The rules are extremely complex and an underpinning knowledge of many other rules are requied to understand even the simpler ones. Just having flick through andtrying to looselyunderstand them is likely to tie you up in knots and and make any further learning should you be successful even harder!

Resist temptation and only pick them up if you get to school.

RailUK Forums

Highlandspring · 29 Sep 2018

It’s likely that you’ll dig yourself into a very deep hole if you start talking about rule book stuff at interview without any actual knowledge, understanding or first hand experience of the subject. And your interviewers are likely to sit back and let you...

Sinistah · 30 Sep 2018

GingerRH said:
What he said ^^

There’s too many people on here giving poor advice of trying to get in, which frankly ruins this whole thread as your diamonds soon become hidden in the rough.

Don’t look at any rule book until you’re handed the module at signalling school, even then don’t read ahead. Chances are you’d either enterpret it wrong, or miss out parts that go with it as rules are spread all over the place. That being said, rules are changing all the time which is another reason to not read ahead.

Too be fair with you it is true what the guys say. As long as you show a keen interest you will be fine. From my own personal experience reading the definitions and terminology gave me confidence and the lom was impressed with my knowledge during the interview as I had done many observations in signal boxes etc. It helped me to understand what the role was about and to piece together parts of the puzzle that I didn’t understand before I leap into a job I know nothing about. At the same time he said not to read any more as it would confuse things come signalling school as the course is designed for new entrants who have no experience what’s so ever. The forum is designed for you to utilise peoples experiences on here and for you to take bits and pieces of what you read on here to help you on your journey to get your dream role. What works for some may not work for others.

Sinistah · 30 Sep 2018

I would listen to the guys already working here and that have been through the course. It may or may not have helped me to get the job but for me the journey is just beginning.

GingerRH · 30 Sep 2018

Sinistah said:
Too be fair with you it is true what the guys say. As long as you show a keen interest you will be fine. From my own personal experience reading the definitions and terminology gave me confidence and the lom was impressed with my knowledge during the interview as I had done many observations in signal boxes etc. It helped me to understand what the role was about and to piece together parts of the puzzle that I didn’t understand before I leap into a job I know nothing about. At the same time he said not to read any more as it would confuse things come signalling school as the course is designed for new entrants who have no experience what’s so ever. The forum is designed for you to utilise peoples experiences on here and for you to take bits and pieces of what you read on here to help you on your journey to get your dream role. What works for some may not work for others.

In the interview process for non-signalling staff, there are no questions which have anything to do with the rule book or that which require any previous knowledge other than network rail safety vision.

The thing I find amusing is the fact that not only current signallers on here, but even the LOM in the interview have told you that reading ahead is not advisable and will only lead to further complications down the line, and you’re still recommending people read the rule book?

Sinistah said:
..Most of the internals I came up against when I went for a previous grade 3 role had nothing on me and I was actually a little more confident about getting the role after seeing some of them at my assessment centre..

With this attitude you won’t last 5 minutes in the ASC your going to. I really hope this is just a misjudgment of character on my part.

Sinistah · 30 Sep 2018

Sinistah said:
The internals I went up against did not have signalling experience at the assessment centre as they were from other areas or just worked on the railway. Not sure about for the grade 7 position though. When I went to my interview I had a lot of knowledge through talking to the helpful people on here as well as visiting and observing in every signal box I had interviewed for in the past. Plus visiting the box Prior to my interview. I read parts of the signalling rule book and tried to understand the terminology as best as I could so that I knew for example the difference between an nx panel, West cad etc as well as the other basic terminology that I felt I should be expected to know if I was serious about getting the job.

GingerRH said:
In the interview process for non-signalling staff, there are no questions which have anything to do with the rule book or that which require any previous knowledge other than network rail safety vision.

The thing I find amusing is the fact that not only current signallers on here, but even the LOM in the interview have told you that reading ahead is not advisable and will only lead to further complications down the line, and you’re still recommending people read the rule book?

With this attitude you won’t last 5 minutes in the ASC your going to. I really hope this is just a misjudgment of character on my part.

i think you guys instead of attacking me and my character need to read my quote. I never once said I advise you read the rule book. I mentioned that I read parts of it to understand what a signaller does and understand the terminology. This helped improve my confidence for the interview as you get asked what the role of a signaller is and what you know about the role. For those of you who do not know I never worked on the railway before so did not want to go into the interview blind. So decided to do a bit of research on the role and came across the rule book. “I read the definitions and terminology section” Oh father for I have sinned in doing this. Please do not jump on the band wagon and take my quote out of context and let’s get back onto the actual subject of the thread. If anyone wants to continue this topic pm me if you have taken offence to anything that I have said.

leomc1627 · 30 Sep 2018

Is anyone else having trouble with the network rail website it won't let me access the jobs page for applying keep getting a link it's moved follow it to that and it repeats the same sequence

Dave Tasty · 30 Sep 2018

leomc1627 said:
Is anyone else having trouble with the network rail website it won't let me access the jobs page for applying keep getting a link it's moved follow it to that and it repeats the same sequence

I had this issue on Friday, it just kept going round in circles. It did finally work for me when I clicked on the job I was looking at on the main careers website, a second window then opened up with a job description and the option to apply now. Clicked on that logged in and completed my application. However, previously I had logged in to my carriers account and tried to use the job search button which sent me round in circles and was frustrating to say the least. Hope this may help. They have just upgraded the applications website and I think there may be one or to things they are still ironing out.

GingerRH · 30 Sep 2018

Dave Tasty said:
I had this issue on Friday, it just kept going round in circles. It did finally work for me when I clicked on the job I was looking at on the main careers website, a second window then opened up with a job description and the option to apply now. Clicked on that logged in and completed my application. However, previously I had logged in to my carriers account and tried to use the job search button which sent me round in circles and was frustrating to say the least. Hope this may help. They have just upgraded the applications website and I think there may be one or to things they are still ironing out.

A program NR have on their intranet, which includes recruitment was updated around a week ago and was off for 4 days, which may have been the reason why.

Peterperfect · 1 Oct 2018

Yes emails sent with new jobs. The links take you to a log in page that doent accept my NR job search account.

Youd think they would have tested this change beforw going live.

Tom Quinne · 1 Oct 2018

Jobs page back online, both internal and external sites have been refreshed.

Narom · 1 Oct 2018

Tom Quinne said:
Jobs page back online, both internal and external sites have been refreshed.

Indeed. But you can't actually apply for anything if you wanted to.

I can see three signaller jobs nationwide, if I wanted to apply it just takes me to a holding page saying the page I want has moved.

Thankfully I wouldn't apply for them anyway

ag51ruk · 1 Oct 2018

Narom said:
Indeed. But you can't actually apply for anything if you wanted to.

I can see three signaller jobs nationwide, if I wanted to apply it just takes me to a holding page saying the page I want has moved.

Thankfully I wouldn't apply for them anyway

Maybe try clearing your browser history - it's working okay for me

Bob smith · 2 Oct 2018

So i now have Doncaster Unsuccessful and York still at Test Passed. Looking out for more but not much going within a 60 min drive of york. Still looking everyday in hope tho.

If i do get to nect stage there are lots of good advice reading this from page 1. Lets hope i get to use the info

GingerRH · 2 Oct 2018

Bob smith said:
So i now have Doncaster Unsuccessful and York still at Test Passed. Looking out for more but not much going within a 60 min drive of york. Still looking everyday in hope tho.

If i do get to nect stage there are lots of good advice reading this from page 1. Lets hope i get to use the info

I’d be careful about applying for jobs which are more than 60 minutes away, especially with 12 hour shifts. If you have a busy day, the last thing you will want is a long drive home with potential traffic and then to have to do it a few hours later to get back again!

Pembs88 · 2 Oct 2018

Morning
Just seen jobs advertising signaller x 3 Carmarthen
Going through the application there is around 60 questions to answer around any previous experiences in dealing with certain situations...
A bit excessive? Did you guys have this when going through application

GingerRH · 2 Oct 2018

Pembs88 said:
Morning
Just seen jobs advertising signaller x 3 Carmarthen
Going through the application there is around 60 questions to answer around any previous experiences in dealing with certain situations...
A bit excessive? Did you guys have this when going through application

This is standard for any signalling position.

Most of which you will not have experienced, however, the initial sift is the only time* these questions are scored. The highest scorers will pass the sift.

(May also be referred to after interview if two applicants have the same score and will/may be used as a deciding factor*)

Peterperfect · 2 Oct 2018

GingerRH said:
This is standard for any signalling position.

Most of which you will not have experienced, however, the initial sift is the only time* these questions are scored. The highest scorers will pass the sift.

(May also be referred to after interview if two applicants have the same score and will/may be used as a deciding factor*)

Can you elaborate please. When at sift is it straight 1 point for each yes and a point for the "explain/describe" answers.
Passing this allows a candidate to do the tests?

Top 25 from tests get sifted for interview?

5 interviewed for each available job?

Is that more or less the process.

nom de guerre · 2 Oct 2018

GingerRH said:
I’d be careful about applying for jobs which are more than 60 minutes away, especially with 12 hour shifts. If you have a busy day, the last thing you will want is a long drive home with potential traffic and then to have to do it a few hours later to get back again!

OTOH, if you can't avoid a long commute - i.e. anything over 60 minutes each way - a larger 12hr box is arguably the least worst option.

A 14 hour-plus working day sounds grim, but you may only be on duty for eight of those. Perhaps more importantly, you'd be doing it 150 times a year, rather than 230: lower fuel costs, less mileage. And you’d only ever have to endure it for a maximum of four days in a row - not the seven consecutive shifts required up to twice a month on many 8hr rosters.

The 3/4-day week on a 12hr roster also offers the possibility of lodging away during each block of shifts. I know colleagues who have parked a caravan in the box car park, or block-booked cheap Airbnb rooms.

Pembs88 · 2 Oct 2018

GingerRH said:
This is standard for any signalling position.

Most of which you will not have experienced, however, the initial sift is the only time* these questions are scored. The highest scorers will pass the sift.

(May also be referred to after interview if two applicants have the same score and will/may be used as a deciding factor*)

Thanks for the reply. I’d best make a start with these questions. Think it’s going to take some time

GingerRH · 2 Oct 2018

Peterperfect said:
Can you elaborate please. When at sift is it straight 1 point for each yes and a point for the "explain/describe" answers.
Passing this allows a candidate to do the tests?

Top 25 from tests get sifted for interview?

5 interviewed for each available job?

Is that more or less the process.

Essentially, 1 point yes but to get a yes you have to put text into the describe box. You could literally put anything in there as long as there is text in the box. If no, then 0 points added.

I’m not sure how many get sifted, but you have a minimum benchmark and then a top number from that again.

nom de guerre said:
OTOH, if you can't avoid a long commute - i.e. anything over 60 minutes each way - a larger 12hr box is arguably the least worst option.

A 14 hour-plus working day sounds grim, but you may only be on duty for eight of those. Perhaps more importantly, you'd be doing it 150 times a year, rather than 230: lower fuel costs, less mileage. And you’d only ever have to endure it for a maximum of four days in a row - not the seven consecutive shifts required up to twice a month on many 8hr rosters.

The 3/4-day week on a 12hr roster also offers the possibility of lodging away during each block of shifts. I know colleagues who have parked a caravan in the box car park, or block-booked cheap Airbnb rooms.

You know what, I never thought of it like that! From that perspective it does make a lot more sense than an 8 hour roster!

gareth386 · 2 Oct 2018

Pembs88 said:
Morning
Just seen jobs advertising signaller x 3 Carmarthen
Going through the application there is around 60 questions to answer around any previous experiences in dealing with certain situations...
A bit excessive? Did you guys have this when going through application

Make sure you save your answers to a word document as you do them, as you'll probably time out and lose the questions you've already done. You can then reuse these answers for another application.

Narom · 2 Oct 2018

ag51ruk said:
Maybe try clearing your browser history - it's working okay for me

Just going to by my phone i think. Works fine on my pc, my phone despite removing all cookies will not have any of it!

Pembs88 · 2 Oct 2018

gareth386 said:
Make sure you save your answers to a word document as you do them, as you'll probably time out and lose the questions you've already done. You can then reuse these answers for another application.

Thanks, I have just attempted to do the first page of questions and it timed out and I lost everything.
Will retry again later

Tom Quinne · 2 Oct 2018

nom de guerre said:
OTOH, if you can't avoid a long commute - i.e. anything over 60 minutes each way - a larger 12hr box is arguably the least worst option.

A 14 hour-plus working day sounds grim, but you may only be on duty for eight of those. Perhaps more importantly, you'd be doing it 150 times a year, rather than 230: lower fuel costs, less mileage. And you’d only ever have to endure it for a maximum of four days in a row - not the seven consecutive shifts required up to twice a month on many 8hr rosters.

The 3/4-day week on a 12hr roster also offers the possibility of lodging away during each block of shifts. I know colleagues who have parked a caravan in the box car park, or block-booked cheap Airbnb rooms.

This is what I did for 18 months, it wasn’t as bad as it sounds once your in a routine - even better if the box has a secure parking area you can camp in.

choochoobacca · 2 Oct 2018

Pembs88 said:
Thanks, I have just attempted to do the first page of questions and it timed out and I lost everything.
Will retry again later

Recommend you take a look through it, right the way to the end, and record each question. Then write all your answers down in a word document and copy and paste them in to your applications. The system doesn't allow enough time to put any comprehensive answers in. Plus you'll probably need up applying for quite a few positions so best to have the answers stockpiled and ready to go...

Tom Quinne · 3 Oct 2018

I think we’ve all fall down that hole when making our first applications.

What most of us ended up doing was copy and pasting the questions from the app onto a word document, then writing them out,

Once your happy with it all copy and paste back onto the app.

There are about 70 questions, but if your not a signaller (we have to do them to) you won’t be expected to evidence at least 50% of them.

There’s no word limit on each question so write as much as you feel relevant, that’s the key keep it to the point and evidence again the NTS.

It’ll taken many dozen applications in some people’s journeys (I was 34 apps) so keep plugging away.

Sunset route · 3 Oct 2018

nom de guerre said:
A 14 hour-plus working day sounds grim, but you may only be on duty for eight of those. Perhaps more importantly, you'd be doing it 150 times a year, rather than 230: lower fuel costs, less mileage. And you’d only ever have to endure it for a maximum of four days in a row - not the seven consecutive shifts required up to twice a month on many 8hr rosters..

Now apply that ratio of breaks into a 8hr roster and we are also smiles as well

But what is best when it comes to rostered hours is what actually fits in best with your home life. When they split our location from the existing 65 person/week 8hr roster into two separate links, 2/3rds 38 signallers opted for the 12hr link and 1/3rd 24 signallers opted to go into the new 8hr link (we were also carrying some vacancies as well, which ended up on the 8hr link afetr the split). All those that remained were either die hard 8hr fanatics, medically restricted, or were ones that couldn’t work 12hrs because of the domestic arrangements wouldn’t work.

There are a couple that are looking to transfer back to the 8hr link as the travelling is beginning to take its toll on them and the days off are not balancing out the long commutes. I don’t think there is one solution that fits all. Just get the best conditions you can get via your local LDC reps when it comes to rosters and conditions.

Tom Quinne · 3 Oct 2018

Roster are like you say down to how it fits you really, I’d hate 8s and love 12s as it fits nicely into my home life.

The reduction in commuting time since I moved to my new location has helped now end, even after being on 12s at both locations.

But 12s rule

GingerRH · 3 Oct 2018

Tom Quinne said:
Roster are like you say down to how it fits you really, I’d hate 8s and love 12s as it fits nicely into my home life.

The reduction in commuting time since I moved to my new location has helped now end, even after being on 12s at both locations.

But 12s rule

8 hour roster with 12 hour Sundays are the best

A career as a signaller

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