A career as a signaller

[olilee2]

Afternoon, waiting times between stages vary hugely between locations and candidates.

It really isn’t any indication whether you hear something days after you hit submit, or joe down the road doesn’t hear for 6 weeks.

Patience really is the key to the whole process, and the job. You see the same thing 100s of times per thread in driver jobs, with people “have you heard anything” “I was told xx weeks” “I was told Monday next week” etc.

The one thing which is good about the NWR recruitment process is you WILL be told one way or the other, they won’t just let you hang until you give up.

I don’t know about other people (not a personal dig at you mate, generally speaking) but I’m getting less and less interested in this thread over the last few months, I can’t put my finger on it but the tone seems to have changed or something?

Maybe Im just going through the male change, or something I don’t know.

I won’t take it personally don’t worry I can imagine posts like my last can seem a bit repetitive. I suppose for us playing the waiting game it can be quite comforting to hear from people in the same boat as us even if we know it doesn’t actually change our prospects after we’ve hit submit. When there’s nothing else to go on sometimes then everything that gets said can be quite uplifting to hear, but point certainly taken mate

 

[baz962]

It is not just you Tom. Maybe there is just not much more left to say.

I do enjoy reading this thread ( driver here )
And you guy's are really great at giving advice and of your time. I know people keep asking the same questions , but there are now over 10,000 post's. Not all question's will have been answered and of course , some will have been done to death . The search function isn't great either. I searched for a specific question on a different thread and got everything with any linked word's. Quite a lot of people losing job's , due to this covid and possibly many worried people. If we were to go by the way of everything you need is in this thread , then it may as well just be locked.
You signallers are awesome , us driver's love you really ( mom's and Lom's too ).
You give great advice and I'm sure people really appreciate it. Please don't get down on this thread . Have a break and brush up on the rulebook . You are appreciated. Driver out.

 

[headshot119]

Afternoon, waiting times between stages vary hugely between locations and candidates.

It really isn’t any indication whether you hear something days after you hit submit, or joe down the road doesn’t hear for 6 weeks.

Patience really is the key to the whole process, and the job. You see the same thing 100s of times per thread in driver jobs, with people “have you heard anything” “I was told xx weeks” “I was told Monday next week” etc.

The one thing which is good about the NWR recruitment process is you WILL be told one way or the other, they won’t just let you hang until you give up.

I don’t know about other people (not a personal dig at you mate, generally speaking) but I’m getting less and less interested in this thread over the last few months, I can’t put my finger on it but the tone seems to have changed or something?

Maybe Im just going through the male change, or something I don’t know.

It is not just you Tom. Maybe there is just not much more left to say.

Maybe we should all get together and write out a FAQ for the most common questions, and ask the mods if they can pop it in the first post of the thread, or in a suitable place.

I think I've lost track of how many times the FP question comes up.

 

[endofthetunnel]

Maybe we should all get together and write out a FAQ for the most common questions, and ask the mods if they can pop it in the first post of the thread, or in a suitable place.

I think I've lost track of how many times the FP question comes up.

This thread has been invaluable to me but it is constantly growing with repeat questions and I think therefore diluting it’s usefulness rather than increasing it.

Wannabe drivers have 3 separate pinned threads, is it worth doing the similar? For drivers, 1 just does depots, 1 testing, 1 generic info.

Having a dedicated thread with info about individual boxes/hours/traffic would be much easier to search/skim through when you need that info and remove loads of posts from the main thread.

 

[ROCsteadycrew]

Afternoon, waiting times between stages vary hugely between locations and candidates.

It really isn’t any indication whether you hear something days after you hit submit, or joe down the road doesn’t hear for 6 weeks.

Patience really is the key to the whole process, and the job. You see the same thing 100s of times per thread in driver jobs, with people “have you heard anything” “I was told xx weeks” “I was told Monday next week” etc.

The one thing which is good about the NWR recruitment process is you WILL be told one way or the other, they won’t just let you hang until you give up.

I don’t know about other people (not a personal dig at you mate, generally speaking) but I’m getting less and less interested in this thread over the last few months, I can’t put my finger on it but the tone seems to have changed or something?

Maybe Im just going through the male change, or something I don’t know.

You too?!

The 'FAQ pinned post' has been suggested quite a few times, that would probably help.

I wonder if there's a way to split the thread into two in the future - searching, applying for jobs, rosters at specific signal boxes and the recruitment process. (Probably this thread going forward).

Then another thread for questions when in the grade, issues, rules, NR policy etc. (A new pinned thread).

It would be a shame to lose the wealth of knowledge that people contribute to the forum. (Too many people to mention as I've read the whole thing twice)!

 

[Katey89]

Hi everyone. I have a quick question.
I applied for the signaller role at Liverpool st, I completed all 3 online tests and received an email saying I’d met the benchmark.
I’ve since applied for three more posts, I’ve just received an email for one inviting me to do the tests. I’ve been sent a link to only complete the complete instrument test. Is this normal? I assumed once I completed the tests I wouldn’t need to re-do them for 6-12months.... tia

 

[WL113]

Perhaps there is a level of repetition regarding the questions being asked on here but there are still some new topics coming up. Some of the answers found on the search may be outdated or not as relevant now.

Something I always say to trainees.."There's no such thing as a stupid question."

 

[Tom Quinne]

I definitely think a few pin posted like others have said eg general recruitment questions, signalling school info, individual box info would be great.

Hopefully the new guys can still add to whichever form the thread takes as their info will be more upto date than us battered and bruised lot who did the recruitment process years ago.

 

[Tom Quinne]

Hi everyone. I have a quick question.
I applied for the signaller role at Liverpool st, I completed all 3 online tests and received an email saying I’d met the benchmark.
I’ve since applied for three more posts, I’ve just received an email for one inviting me to do the tests. I’ve been sent a link to only complete the complete instrument test. Is this normal? I assumed once I completed the tests I wouldn’t need to re-do them for 6-12months.... tia

To be honest the very best way to answer your question would be to call HR helpline, they can then check your account for you.


I know when I did the process about 4 years ago now....you’d complete one online test battery and theyd use that for your all your applications for the next 6 months.

Ideally you’d smash them so you’d go go text complete for the other apps, which used to usually get you to the assessment centre or if you already had that under your belt consideration for interview.

 

[Katey89]

To be honest the very best way to answer your question would be to call HR helpline, they can then check your account for you.


I know when I did the process about 4 years ago now....you’d complete one online test battery and theyd use that for your all your applications for the next 6 months.

Ideally you’d smash them so you’d go go text complete for the other apps, which used to usually get you to the assessment centre or if you already had that under your belt consideration for interview.

Thank you for your reply Tom, I appreciate it.
just seemed unusual compared to others experiences from what I’ve read so far.
but I shall give HR a ring and find out for certain.

 

[Tom Quinne]

Thank you for your reply Tom, I appreciate it.
just seemed unusual compared to others experiences from what I’ve read so far.
but I shall give HR a ring and find out for certain.

The guys and girls on here are great, but the final word of advice when it comes to actual recruitment, and completing assessments should come from HR.

Very best of luck.

 

[Cerebral]

Hi everyone. I have a quick question.
I applied for the signaller role at Liverpool st, I completed all 3 online tests and received an email saying I’d met the benchmark.
I’ve since applied for three more posts, I’ve just received an email for one inviting me to do the tests. I’ve been sent a link to only complete the complete instrument test. Is this normal? I assumed once I completed the tests I wouldn’t need to re-do them for 6-12months.... tia

When you go to do the new tests you will most likely just be taken to a screen that says something like "You have already completed these tests and your current scores will be used".

You likely won't have to redo them, just go to start them and you will see. Unless it has changed dramatically in about the last 12 months.

Regards.

 

[Katey89]

The guys and girls on here are great, but the final word of advice when it comes to actual recruitment, and completing assessments should come from HR.

Very best of luck.

Thank you

 

[Katey89]

When you go to do the new tests you will most likely just be taken to a screen that says something like "You have already completed these tests and your current scores will be used".

You likely won't have to redo them, just go to start them and you will see. Unless it has changed dramatically in about the last 12 months.

Regards.

I’ve spoken with HR and they’ve said that the complete instrument test can vary between areas and so I will have to complete this one as well as it’ll be slightly different to the first one I completed.

 

[Katey89]

When you go to do the new tests you will most likely just be taken to a screen that says something like "You have already completed these tests and your current scores will be used".

You likely won't have to redo them, just
Regards.

Duplicate

 

[SignallerJohn]

I think all I’m interested in is whether Gradient got a signalling job or not...

 

[Kraken]

I think all I’m interested in is whether Gradient got a signalling job or not...

Haha yes, I wonder what happened to all the original applicants? @TRain87 is still a regular.

I drove to one of the boxes I will be covering the other day to see what it was like and saw it at the bottom of a cutting with a tunnel and a derelict old station. I thought how amazingly atmospheric it must be down there at 2 in the morning with nobody for a mile in any direction. Has anyone got any good tall tales about giving themselves a fright on a night turn?

 

[Tom Quinne]

I think all I’m interested in is whether Gradient got a signalling job or not...

Was the chap who was only interested in the money?

 

[WL113]

Haha yes, I wonder what happened to all the original applicants? @TRain87 is still a regular.

I drove to one of the boxes I will be covering the other day to see what it was like and saw it at the bottom of a cutting with a tunnel and a derelict old station. I thought how amazingly atmospheric it must be down there at 2 in the morning with nobody for a mile in any direction. Has anyone got any good tall tales about giving themselves a fright on a night turn?

Sounds like a scene from this classic!

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6c73c3

 

[SignallerJohn]

Was the chap who was only interested in the money?

I’m not sure in fairness Tom, I might have a look through his posts later but if that’s true he unintentionally helped out a lot of people!

 

[33056]

Has anyone got any good tall tales about giving themselves a fright on a night turn?

Kew East was interesting, in a shallow cutting next to the busy Chiswick flyover with a cemetery behind. Despite the location it felt quite remote and I remember being rudely disturbed whilst "reading section Z of the rule book" around dawn one morning by a lot of noise outside which turned out to be a couple of the local squirrels scampering across the felt roof!

There was also another time, during daylight this time, when I went to the door (which was at the rear of the box and had no window) to be greeted by the sight of a group of people in Victorian dress gathered round an open grave in the cemetery. It took a couple of moments to realise that it was a film set!

 

[Tom Quinne]

Sounds like a scene from this classic!

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6c73c3

Love this film, filmed on the Severn Valley Railway I think, the box was a total mock up built for the film fantastic attention to detail.

Im sure over history there’s been some weird stuff go on at signal boxes, the isolated nature of the role its surprising there isn’t more incidents or stories really.

I’m sure there where tales about Blea Moor getting silence calls from isolated STP in the middle of the night....

 

[Kraken]

Sounds like a scene from this classic!

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6c73c3

The very first thing that came to my mind - I couldn’t see if there was a light at the entrance to the tunnel but I rather hope not!

 

[Kraken]

Kew East was interesting, in a shallow cutting next to the busy Chiswick flyover with a cemetery behind. Despite the location it felt quite remote and I remember being rudely disturbed whilst "reading section Z of the rule book" around dawn one morning by a lot of noise outside which turned out to be a couple of the local squirrels scampering across the felt roof!

There was also another time, during daylight this time, when I went to the door (which was at the rear of the box and had no window) to be greeted by the sight of a group of people in Victorian dress gathered round an open grave in the cemetery. It took a couple of moments to realise that it was a film set!

Ah yes, being on your own next to a cemetery at night will certainly do the job!

 

[Kraken]

Love this film, filmed on the Severn Valley Railway I think, the box was a total mock up built for the film fantastic attention to detail.

Im sure over history there’s been some weird stuff go on at signal boxes, the isolated nature of the role its surprising there isn’t more incidents or stories really.

I’m sure there where tales about Blea Moor getting silence calls from isolated STP in the middle of the night....

I bet those isolated moorland boxes are stunning on a summer’s day with the birds singing - but when the wind is howling in the middle of a winter’s night......

 

[Jaysub]

Ahhh I’ve just got to under consideration for app 2 but it seems everything happens at different times for each application

Yea every takes it time in here...did you get invited to a fourth test as well?
Never had that before.

 

[Kinglewood]

Haha yes, I wonder what happened to all the original applicants? @TRain87 is still a regular.

I drove to one of the boxes I will be covering the other day to see what it was like and saw it at the bottom of a cutting with a tunnel and a derelict old station. I thought how amazingly atmospheric it must be down there at 2 in the morning with nobody for a mile in any direction. Has anyone got any good tall tales about giving themselves a fright on a night turn?

That will be Manton box then

 

[olilee2]

Yea every takes it time in here...did you get invited to a fourth test as well?
Never had that before.

Nope I just did the three and it recently changed to that

 

[Jaysub]

Nope I just did the three and it recently changed to that

The fourth test was only for haslemere relief and farncombe

 

[olilee2]

The fourth test was only for haslemere relief and farncombe

Was it a repeat of one of the others or something different?