Transferring from the Airline Industry

Hello,

I am currently within the airline industry, I am really wanting to move into the rail industry.

Is anyone on here from a similar background? Any advice?

Looking at either conductor roles or trainee driver

Not from the airline world myself, but I know quite a few colleagues who used to work at Gatwick or Heathrow.

There are quite a few ex-cabin crew at the TOC I work for, mainly guards but one or two drivers. Most seem to miss the airlines and the travel but are happy they made the move across.

There are loads of transferrable skills from airline to railway, not just obvious things like being used to killer shifts, customer service, cash handling and being responsible for safety, but also soft skills such as situational awareness and prioritising tasks, conscientiousness etc.

Best piece of advice I can give if you want to come across is read this https://www.rssb.co.uk/Library/improving-industry-performance/2012-leaflet-non-technical-skills.pdf
And start to work out how you can demonstrate meeting some of the NTS criteria shown

Class-jnr said:

Hello,

I am currently within the airline industry, I am really wanting to move into the rail industry.

Is anyone on here from a similar background? Any advice?

Looking at either conductor roles or trainee driver

Click to expand...

The 'airline industry' is a pretty broad term, could be doing 9-5 for BA processing payroll , 24/7 chief mechanic repairing 737s or a host of other jobs.

Not all airline roles involve shift work or safety critical work, so hard to advise really.

Class-jnr said:

Hello,

I am currently within the airline industry, I am really wanting to move into the rail industry.

Is anyone on here from a similar background? Any advice?

Looking at either conductor roles or trainee driver

Click to expand...

Hi, I'm ex cabin crew. I joined the railway in 08 as a guard. I'm now a driver and have been driving for 6 years now.
They're a lot of staff from all different back grounds on the railway.
I say to anyone join and start a new career..

I know a few ex handling agency staff and aircraft dispatchers who have moved into railway Control jobs.

Driver84 said:

Hi, I'm ex cabin crew. I joined the railway in 08 as a guard. I'm now a driver and have been driving for 6 years now.
They're a lot of staff from all different back grounds on the railway.
I say to anyone join and start a new career..

Click to expand...

Brilliant thank you.

I was a passenger service agent for easyJet, left to become a guard in 2005 then a driver in 2007.
As the railway is all about following rules I used that as my transferable skill. And highlighted it throughout the requirement process.

westcoaster said:

I was a passenger service agent for easyJet, left to become a guard in 2005 then a driver in 2007.
As the railway is all about following rules I used that as my transferable skill. And highlighted it throughout the requirement process.

Click to expand...

Brilliant thank you, I have been in the airline industry for 13 years and thinking it’s a good time to change. I have worked a number of roles but currently a duel role safety and cabin service trainer whilst still flying.

Hi there

I don't really know too much about the aviation industry but one of my friends is training to become a pilot.

I know that their medicals and alcohol/drug testing is by far the most thorough and strictest of any work role. My friend says that in some jobs, such as becoming an air traffic controller, you have to disclose your full medical history from birth. I would assume that if you've had any issues with mental health and even alcohol misuse from years gone by, I think any role of that nature is a no no.

I don't think the railway industry is that intensive but certainly any medical problems need to be addressed. If you're already working in the aviation industry then this is something you've nailed already and will not be a problem in getting a railway job.

C J