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A career as a signaller

Habitat

Member
Joined
17 Nov 2016
Messages
88
Applied for 2 x Grade 2 vacancies, the boxes for which are only 5 miles apart. Recently had my interview resulting in being offered the 12m fixed term vacancy which of course I have accepted, and I have also been listed as the reserve for the other permanent role :D

A big thanks for all the information and advice on this thread which has been very helpful!

Great news!
Congratulations!
I start sig school at York in November, the closer the date approaches, the faster the time seems to be going!
 
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Amanda

Member
Joined
5 Mar 2018
Messages
197
Hey everyone... I'm gradually making my way through this thread (currently on page 64) and I have a question.

I'm about to do the online assessments on my laptop at home... Just wondered if I need a mouse?

It isn't mentioned in the email but I recall doing what sounds like similar assessments for a train driver application and it specified I needed a mouse, which I borrowed from my work's IT department. If I recall correctly, it was possible to use the mouse pad but more beneficial to use an actual mouse.

Just wondering if anyone would agree with that, if so I can probably get one from work tomorrow, my 5 days are up over the weekend.
 

Chumba

Member
Joined
13 May 2019
Messages
164
Hey everyone... I'm gradually making my way through this thread (currently on page 64) and I have a question.

I'm about to do the online assessments on my laptop at home... Just wondered if I need a mouse?

It isn't mentioned in the email but I recall doing what sounds like similar assessments for a train driver application and it specified I needed a mouse, which I borrowed from my work's IT department. If I recall correctly, it was possible to use the mouse pad but more beneficial to use an actual mouse.

Just wondering if anyone would agree with that, if so I can probably get one from work tomorrow, my 5 days are up over the weekend.


You can use a mousepad, but my advice is to use a mouse. They are timed and you need to be accurate.
 

Amanda

Member
Joined
5 Mar 2018
Messages
197
Thanks.... I think I've screwed it all up. :'( At the end of my numerical reasoning test it said, "this page cannot be displayed".... So I don't know if it's done it or not! And like a fool I tried the verbal reasoning one and that's done the same thing! :frown:
 

Chumba

Member
Joined
13 May 2019
Messages
164
Thanks.... I think I've screwed it all up. :'( At the end of my numerical reasoning test it said, "this page cannot be displayed".... So I don't know if it's done it or not! And like a fool I tried the verbal reasoning one and that's done the same thing! :frown:

You’ll get an email stating the test has been completed but that can take up to 72hrs. I’d ring HR first thing and see if the tests were completed and explain. You may have to do them again, and I’d suggest a different browser.
 

Amanda

Member
Joined
5 Mar 2018
Messages
197
Thanks @Chumba. I've fired off an email to them but yes, I ought to give them a call first thing! My 5 days expire over the weekend so if they haven't got the results then I don't want the time limit to lapse, but I can't see anyone letting me redo it having done the entire thing, which may be seen to be having an advantage over other candidates!

To be honest I think I did badly anyway, even on verbal reasoning, which is what I'm naturally good at! However I remember feeling like that about the tests I did for train driving but the difference there is they never said if it counted or not or what the outcome was so I assume I just passed it at whatever level they were looking for.
 

NewtoNR

Member
Joined
30 Aug 2019
Messages
16
Location
N/A
I have been accepted for a position and passed the medical. My line manager is now applying for my place at signalling school. Does anyone know when signalling school may be?
 

North123

Member
Joined
19 Jun 2019
Messages
19
I have been accepted for a position and passed the medical. My line manager is now applying for my place at signalling school. Does anyone know when signalling school may be?

When I got the job in June I was told Feb. But I am now starting on Monday. It all depends if people drop out and spaces become available
 

Amanda

Member
Joined
5 Mar 2018
Messages
197
Did the last of the tests, the situational judgement one, on my work PC this morning. Good job it's not timed as I had a colleague coming over and asking me why I was in early in the middle of it. :lol:

Then at 8am I called recruitment and they said all 3 tests are showing as completed so fingers crossed that all's well....

The lesson learnt from this is that my laptop probably needs binning. :p
 

Trackboy

Member
Joined
31 Oct 2017
Messages
106
Does anyone know how long does it take for reference check to complete after you send your Employement history capture form.

Also one more thing it mentions about checking last 3 years employement through tax deduction, does that mean they don't really need to contact your references unless they can't verify the details through tax deduction.

Can someone please explain this. Thanks.
 

Qball

Member
Joined
5 Sep 2018
Messages
105
Does anyone know how long does it take for reference check to complete after you send your Employement history capture form.

Also one more thing it mentions about checking last 3 years employement through tax deduction, does that mean they don't really need to contact your references unless they can't verify the details through tax deduction.

Can someone please explain this. Thanks.

Yh they didn't contact anyone for reference so they must just use tax details.
 

ScotWestern

Member
Joined
13 Aug 2019
Messages
14
Just wondering if anybody has heard anything regarding the various Scottish positions that they were interviewing for in July (Ayr, Girvan, Kilmarnock, Glasgow, Stirling and Perth)?

Last communication I received was a couple of weeks ago saying my application was still under consideration and HR have yet to reply to my email (politely) requesting an update.

I have been offered a position from this vacancy up in the Perth area, just awaiting pre-employment checks and medical now
 

Neo9320

Member
Joined
17 Feb 2019
Messages
233
Location
Somerset
Fuming.....meant to have medical today in Sheffield at 10:20am.....text message at 8:50am to say they have to cancel. Lucky for me I was just about to walk out the front door. Now have to rearrange thus making the process even longer :(
 

Chumba

Member
Joined
13 May 2019
Messages
164
Did the last of the tests, the situational judgement one, on my work PC this morning. Good job it's not timed as I had a colleague coming over and asking me why I was in early in the middle of it. :lol:

Then at 8am I called recruitment and they said all 3 tests are showing as completed so fingers crossed that all's well....

The lesson learnt from this is that my laptop probably needs binning. :p


Glad you got it sorted :smile: PSSTT wanna buy a new laptop ! :D:D:D
 

NewtoNR

Member
Joined
30 Aug 2019
Messages
16
Location
N/A
When I got the job in June I was told Feb. But I am now starting on Monday. It all depends if people drop out and spaces become available
Thank you. HR have asked me for a provisional start date. I explained to them that my Line Manager is applying for my Signalling School place but they've responded to say they require a date from me to see if the date "will be suitable from a business point of view"!
 

Amanda

Member
Joined
5 Mar 2018
Messages
197
LOL @Chumba, think I'd better be legit about it and source one properly! :E

Anyway, for some reason I seem to be getting a flurry of emails from Network Rail... Lots of "Thank you for completing your tests" and "you have reached the benchmark" but they keep coming, and some of the "test completed" e-mails are AFTER the "you have reached the benchmark" one which is a little perplexing... :s But I logged into the website and the benchmark completed letter is definitely there, after the tests completed one, so I'm taking it that that's not a mistake and I've passed it?! Odd but I can live with that. :p
 

Habitat

Member
Joined
17 Nov 2016
Messages
88
Thank you. HR have asked me for a provisional start date. I explained to them that my Line Manager is applying for my Signalling School place but they've responded to say they require a date from me to see if the date "will be suitable from a business point of view"!

Haha
I had the same from HR.
I rang my new LOM to check, he confirmed my start date, I emailed HR, they then emailed my LOM to tell him!
 

WestCoast88

New Member
Joined
20 Aug 2019
Messages
4
Location
Scotland
Just wondering if anybody has heard anything regarding the various Scottish positions that they were interviewing for in July (Ayr, Girvan, Kilmarnock, Glasgow, Stirling and Perth)?

Last communication I received was a couple of weeks ago saying my application was still under consideration and HR have yet to reply to my email (politely) requesting an update.

I'm still waiting to hear too. When was your interview?
 

Curtis

Member
Joined
30 Jan 2019
Messages
27
Location
West Yorkshire
Great news!
Congratulations!
I start sig school at York in November, the closer the date approaches, the faster the time seems to be going!

Thanks @Habitat! You too!
Signalling school is most probably going to be early next year for me now, but I'm not in a rush and like you say, time flies!
 

High Dyke

Established Member
Joined
1 Jan 2013
Messages
4,267
Location
Yellabelly Country
Fuming.....meant to have medical today in Sheffield at 10:20am.....text message at 8:50am to say they have to cancel. Lucky for me I was just about to walk out the front door. Now have to rearrange thus making the process even longer :(
Sorry to hear that. If it's any consolation they also do that to those of us already in the job, or re-book the appointment in a different location miles from your home or workplace.
 

Ian Smeeton

Member
Joined
5 Aug 2019
Messages
23
After lurking on the forum for a couple of weeks, and spending my time reading (mostly) this thread, I think that I have a chance at one of the three live applications that I have running.

One that I have applied for is the Relief Signaller at Oakham.

Being fairly local, I am aware of:

Ketton,
Manton Junction,
Oakham,
Langham Junction
Ashwell
Whissendine Crossing,
Wyfordby Crossing
Melton Mowbray.

Have I missed any?

Do they all come under the Oakham position?

Would the two crossings also be covered by the relief job?

Sorry for all the questions.

Keen to get on board!!

Regards

Ian
 

Chaz T

Member
Joined
6 Jun 2019
Messages
41
Location
The Shire
Hi ladies and gents.

I hope someone can offer some advice here. I have uploaded my CV to my account. The thing is, no matter what I do, it will not upload cleanly or in the format that I laid it all out to when I look at the preview.

Then to add insult to injury when I download the file I have added it ends up with the formatting messed with and text missing

Do I just trust that the true document appears clean and correctly formatted when it is looked at by HR?

This is really screwing with my head as I want to present myself as well as I can
 
Last edited:

Chaz T

Member
Joined
6 Jun 2019
Messages
41
Location
The Shire
What format did you use? A PDF shouldn’t change when you upload.

I only have a Chromebook so the document has to downloaded from Google Drive as a Word emulation. That looks fine on my laptop.

I have downloaded my CV as a pdf but when I use the preview tab on my account it will not preview at all.

Think this could be a message to the IT team at Network Rail
 

Curtis

Member
Joined
30 Jan 2019
Messages
27
Location
West Yorkshire
Hi ladies and gents.

I hope someone can offer some advice here. I have uploaded my CV to my account. The thing is, no matter what I do, it will not upload cleanly or in the format that I laid it all out to when I look at the preview.

Then to add insult to injury when I download the file I have added it ends up with the formatting messed with and text missing

Do I just trust that the true document appears clean and correctly formatted when it is looked at by HR?

This is really screwing with my head as I want to present myself as well as I can

Chaz, I had the same issue and (correctly or not), went with the "trust that the true document appears clean and correctly formatted when it is looked at by HR" option. It hasn't affected anything for me, and I guess we'll never know if it appears correctly on their side, but I imagine they'll be aware of it being an issue (IF it is an issue on their side!)

I suppose it's either that or simplify it for peace of mind (if you're anything like me however, then you'll want it to be perfectly formatted!)
 

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