Well done and thank you for all the info. What did the medical entail please? Sight, hearing, drink and drugs I assume, anything else? Thank you - plus you've made me feel like a spring chicken at 44!So yesterday I finally had my Signaller Medical and have met the standard to be a signaller
I have had loads of good information from this site and really I want to give some thing back to help contribute and help others trying to get into the signalling world.
My experience is from a internal prospective but I think it would apply to external applicants too. Here's my thoughts and I welcome anybody to add to this which will help others
1. Age is not an issue. - I've noticed people come into signalling roles from all walks of life and at all ages. While I've been working for NR for 2.5 years I've just got into signalling at the age of 46!
2. Apply Apply Apply! - I've done loads of applications and got nowhere with them. Don't give up and keep applying. Plenty of vacancies don't get many applications because people think the competition is too fierce. People accept jobs and change their mind after really seeing what's involved, people get better grade jobs in other boxes etc. You never know what the situation is regarding recruitment.
Think of it this way. NR advertise higher grade jobs externally and its likely they advertised them internally beforehand. The fact they are shown externally suggests internally they had no suitable candidates or little interest. Go for it, eye of the tiger s**t. Why not you???
3. Application - Signaller jobs used to have 70 questions and internally its now changed to 21. (Not sure on external jobs). Either way go into the application and cut & paste the questions into a MS Word document which then can be saved.
This gives you the chance to really look at the question properly and structure a suitable answer. Some are yes/no and simple stuff. Some questions ask you to give an example of when you demonstrated a skill or behaviour and there is a word limit on these. all this can be checked and sorted in your word document.
When it comes to applying you have a document you can simply cut and paste your answers into the application saving time.
4. STARR - Whether you are asked to demonstrate a skill or behaviour in your online questions detailed above or in your interview, try to answer your questions using the STARR method.
S- Situation. E.G I was working with the NR Aspro team at X Level Crossing . I was there as a representative for NR as some road resurfacing work was taking place alongside the crossing and station by Rotherham Council. I was there to ensure NR assets were unaffected by the councils work and to address any query's from motorists, railway users and lineside customers. While I was there a car broke down on the level crossing.
T - Task - E.G Remove the vehicle from the level crossing safely without affecting the rail services.
A - Action E.G I rushed over to the vehicle in a attempt to push the vehicle clear of the crossing. The vehicle behind had also entered the crossing too so I instructed the driver to reverse clear of the crossing and with the help of the driver was able to move the first car clear of the crossing.
R - Result - E.G I was able to move the vehicle into a position of safety without affecting train services and without making a emergency call to the signaller to stop trains.
R- Reflection - E.G I felt I would make the decision again and probably should have been positioned myself closer to the crossing to react quicker to the situation.
5. CV - If you can try and demonstrate some of the keys skills. - E.G Communication, Following rules, standards, procedures, working in regulated environment, Commitment to safety or working in a safety environment etc etc.
Look at the key skills for the job and tailor your CV to demonstrate these skills.
6. Research - I would recommend if your applying for a particular box, it does no harm to go and visit it and understand the job.
Things you may want to write down or take of:
ELR - Engineering Line Reference . EG NSS.
Lines At Site - E.G Up Stoke, Down Stoke.
Line Speeds - E.G 60 mph for both.
Is there any points to control?
What are the neighbouring Signal Boxes?
How many signals are you controlling?
7. These are some examples of the questions that may be asked:
What skills and attributes can I bring to the role?
What do you think you would enjoy about the role?
What do you think the challenges will be to be successful?
Why do you want to become a Signaller?
What things do you feel you will be dealing with on a day-to-day basis?
What do you know about the box you have applied for? Have you visited it?
What do you know about Signaller School (IST)?
Tell us a time when you have had to deal with a difficult situation or make a difficult decision?
Tell us a time when you needed to stay alert for long period of time?
Tell us a time when you have needed to communicate a important message?
Please explain what diversity and inclusion means to you?
Please note this is from memory and a external interview may be different and the questions are from memory and not word for word. I'm sure there's questions I've missed too.
Last thing is to remember that safety is a key indicator. Let me say that again. SAFETY is a key indicator. Know NR's safety vision and learn the 10 lifesaving rules. If your examples demonstrate your commitment to safety, speaking up if you feel something is wrong, making decisions which follow procedure and safety at the forefront, then you are on a good start.
Hope this helps somebody.
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gator op
Member
Lol no problem.
The medical starts with a questionnaire they go through and as you mentioned, eyesight, hearing, drink and drugs, weight and height to measure BMI.
It was the same as a normal safety critical one but with the added questionnaire which is there for looking at any medical issues you may have had recently or any medication that someone may be on.
Leedslad0113
Member
Hi bud, I’m waiting to get an email about my medical so I’m interested in this too.
For my conductor medical it was pee in a cup, listen to beeps, look at letters from across the room, colour blind disc things and I think a inflatable blood pressure thing on the arm… is that about accurate for this too?
Is the questionnaire like “do you have any family history of x y?”
Cheers
gator op
Member
Hi,
Yeah exactly the same stuff you have mentioned. Questionnaire is more about you, any medical conditions you may have and any medication you may be taking.
This is fantastic. Thanks for sharing.So yesterday I finally had my Signaller Medical and have met the standard to be a signaller
I have had loads of good information from this site and really I want to give some thing back to help contribute and help others trying to get into the signalling world.
My experience is from a internal prospective but I think it would apply to external applicants too. Here's my thoughts and I welcome anybody to add to this which will help others
1. Age is not an issue. - I've noticed people come into signalling roles from all walks of life and at all ages. While I've been working for NR for 2.5 years I've just got into signalling at the age of 46!
2. Apply Apply Apply! - I've done loads of applications and got nowhere with them. Don't give up and keep applying. Plenty of vacancies don't get many applications because people think the competition is too fierce. People accept jobs and change their mind after really seeing what's involved, people get better grade jobs in other boxes etc. You never know what the situation is regarding recruitment.
Think of it this way. NR advertise higher grade jobs externally and its likely they advertised them internally beforehand. The fact they are shown externally suggests internally they had no suitable candidates or little interest. Go for it, eye of the tiger s**t. Why not you???
3. Application - Signaller jobs used to have 70 questions and internally its now changed to 21. (Not sure on external jobs). Either way go into the application and cut & paste the questions into a MS Word document which then can be saved.
This gives you the chance to really look at the question properly and structure a suitable answer. Some are yes/no and simple stuff. Some questions ask you to give an example of when you demonstrated a skill or behaviour and there is a word limit on these. all this can be checked and sorted in your word document.
When it comes to applying you have a document you can simply cut and paste your answers into the application saving time.
4. STARR - Whether you are asked to demonstrate a skill or behaviour in your online questions detailed above or in your interview, try to answer your questions using the STARR method.
S- Situation. E.G I was working with the NR Aspro team at X Level Crossing . I was there as a representative for NR as some road resurfacing work was taking place alongside the crossing and station by Rotherham Council. I was there to ensure NR assets were unaffected by the councils work and to address any query's from motorists, railway users and lineside customers. While I was there a car broke down on the level crossing.
T - Task - E.G Remove the vehicle from the level crossing safely without affecting the rail services.
A - Action E.G I rushed over to the vehicle in a attempt to push the vehicle clear of the crossing. The vehicle behind had also entered the crossing too so I instructed the driver to reverse clear of the crossing and with the help of the driver was able to move the first car clear of the crossing.
R - Result - E.G I was able to move the vehicle into a position of safety without affecting train services and without making a emergency call to the signaller to stop trains.
R- Reflection - E.G I felt I would make the decision again and probably should have been positioned myself closer to the crossing to react quicker to the situation.
5. CV - If you can try and demonstrate some of the keys skills. - E.G Communication, Following rules, standards, procedures, working in regulated environment, Commitment to safety or working in a safety environment etc etc.
Look at the key skills for the job and tailor your CV to demonstrate these skills.
6. Research - I would recommend if your applying for a particular box, it does no harm to go and visit it and understand the job.
Things you may want to write down or take of:
ELR - Engineering Line Reference . EG NSS.
Lines At Site - E.G Up Stoke, Down Stoke.
Line Speeds - E.G 60 mph for both.
Is there any points to control?
What are the neighbouring Signal Boxes?
How many signals are you controlling?
7. These are some examples of the questions that may be asked:
What skills and attributes can I bring to the role?
What do you think you would enjoy about the role?
What do you think the challenges will be to be successful?
Why do you want to become a Signaller?
What things do you feel you will be dealing with on a day-to-day basis?
What do you know about the box you have applied for? Have you visited it?
What do you know about Signaller School (IST)?
Tell us a time when you have had to deal with a difficult situation or make a difficult decision?
Tell us a time when you needed to stay alert for long period of time?
Tell us a time when you have needed to communicate a important message?
Please explain what diversity and inclusion means to you?
Please note this is from memory and a external interview may be different and the questions are from memory and not word for word. I'm sure there's questions I've missed too.
Last thing is to remember that safety is a key indicator. Let me say that again. SAFETY is a key indicator. Know NR's safety vision and learn the 10 lifesaving rules. If your examples demonstrate your commitment to safety, speaking up if you feel something is wrong, making decisions which follow procedure and safety at the forefront, then you are on a good start.
Hope this helps somebody.
cowboysfan
Member
Hello, this job hasn't actually started yet it's going to be a crossing panel for the Peterborough re-signalling expected to go live next month I believe. I work in a different part of York ROC but for most of the signalling sub rocs overtime is available pretty much all the time. I imagine there has already been a roster agreed so could email the hiring manager asking for the shift pattern.
I've been employed since June 12th, Have so far spent a few hours in my Box, Waiting on a PTS date, and a cab pass so we can spent a few days route learning our branch wth some drivers. Also going to spend a day at Exeter PSB along with red cow crossing
Hi All,
So I had a interview for a Grade 7 position at Cardiff ROC and now am facing the dreaded two week wait for news. Is anyone able to confirm if they call you to tell you if you have been successful or not or whether it's by email?
Thanks in advance.
So I had a interview for a Grade 7 position at Cardiff ROC and now am facing the dreaded two week wait for news. Is anyone able to confirm if they call you to tell you if you have been successful or not or whether it's by email?
Thanks in advance.
I was successful and got a phone call. I was told that it would be a 1 week wait for news, but it was actually 6. The wait is agonising! Best of luck.
No news is usually good news
This is what my Missus keeps saying too. Lets hope so
How did you get on with your interview?
vinoboxer
Member
Can anyone confirm what the following mean on a roster?
-RDNA
-Booked off (does this mean Ill?)
-Annual leave (obvious)
-CONF RDW
-SNA
-RDNA
-Booked off (does this mean Ill?)
-Annual leave (obvious)
-CONF RDW
-SNA
Rest day not available
Booked off - Paid as part of 35 hour week but not required to come in (usually on Bank Holidays, or to avoid breaking Hidden)
Conference? RDW is rest day worked
Sunday not available
vinoboxer
Member
Thanks. Why would a rest day not be available? Presumably rest days are just your standard days off?
Also, why would a Sunday not be available? Is this maybe a request made to work overtime on a Sunday but its been refused?
Not available means the person has declined overtime for that day.
The Puddock
Member
CONF means confirmed - i.e. the person has agreed with the roster clerk that they'll definitely work the overtime shift. It'll show as TBC (to be confirmed) until they confirm.
SIMONGUZZA@GMA
Member
Had the interview on Tuesday, I think it went well , it's really difficult to tell though. I think I answered the questions well enough, depends on the quality of the other candidates. Have you got an interview for this position?
Fingers crossed then. Yes, I had my interview on Monday morning for 'G7' signaller (Cardiff). I was told to expect to hear something early next week. Will let you know if I hear anything.
Also interviewed for this on Monday morning and told I'd hear 10 days - two weeks.
Good luck
Just had the phone call, been offered the job at Cardiff. Absolutely over the moon.
Happy days, congrats. We'll be training together.
I would expect so, looking forward to working with you
Hi, I too interviewed for the G7 Cardiff on Tuesday. Do we know if they usually contact all successful candidates at the same time? Still haven’t heard anything.