Looking to get in with a railroad...

[posty33]

just moved back to jersey and not liking my job at all. Anyone out there working for New Jersey Transit or Norfolk Southern in the jersey shore area that has any idea how to get an in with these guys? any help would be appreciated.

 

[cascaderailroad]

Lotsa luck with that job search usually 60 applicants come to the jobfair, and 3 perspective applicants are interviewed, and 1 hire.

 

[posty33]

wow ok guess ill need to bring my a game!

 

[alpha11]

Be careful what you wish for, railroading isn't to be taken lightly. Isn't really a job but more like a life style. I was at a meeting where our families were invited and my son being 4 said to an engineer's son "my daddy works here" and the engineer's son responded "my daddy lives here"
I remember getting out of the Army and calling the Conrail job line, it started off with warning that you'll need to be able to work 24/7/365 and expect to work every day that you don't want too. I won't even help any of my friends from other place I have worked, because they are all set on the Mon-Fri 40 hrs and moan about me taking a week or so to return phone calls. If this sounds a little rough may have something to do with the fact that I have gotten called back to work 18 of the past 21 days. Memorial Day weekend I worked every day and spent tonight in the rain readjusting powered switch machines. Just got another call, back to work, crossing activation.




If this isn't enought check out this recording: sick on call

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUZEa9PN28s

 

[cascaderailroad]

Without a degree you can just about forget about Engineer. Carshop or Inspector you will easily get your job bumped 10 times the first year by people with seniority over you, you have 7 days to relocate, or drive long distace to, or and pack up and move to a distant city if no job decriptions are in you area. MOW you are rarely home, your residence in Pa, but you actually stay in motels, work traveling in OH to WV for months on end. Most hollidays are often taken by higher senority employees, as it is double and triple time pay. Conductor you are at the whim of the Company, and will be bumped and given the last, worst desired route. You first year will be the worst, until you get seniority and can bump lower employees.

 

[whitepass]

If you get an interview do not tell them you are a rail-fan!

 

[jkinzel]

If you get an interview do not tell them you are a rail-fan!

I agree, a hobby associated with the job you are applying for is almost ALWAYS a deal breaker for the employer.

 

[posty33]

yea i do have a degree, was just looking for a change, guessin this isnt it. That call is awesome though

 

[Klinger]

Ive been trying to get a job with a railroad for about 3 months now, nothing yet. Be prepared to wait.

Its a hard life. But I have nothing to look back on, so I don't mind moving around. I'm used to the hard work, long hours, little sleep and no time at home, I get that at my current job, just for a hell of a lot less money

 

[cascaderailroad]

If you pay $5000 to a RR training academy ...after several months of unpaid expences that you lay out for rent...etc...the academy quarantees you only 1 (one) personal interview with a Class 1 RR personell management...no gaurantee of a job...sounds like a racket to me.:hehe:

 

[jkinzel]

Where is the majority of the hiring being done, i.e. East coast, West coast, Mid-west? I have noticed a lot more traffic where I live in the northwest.

 

[cascaderailroad]

Altoona used to have 400+ trains per day in WWII, and had 30,000 employees.

Today there are only a couple of car inspectors, and a handfull of Juniata Shops employees.

Altoona is a run through town now.

Rail traffic is @ 60+ trains pers day on the "Curve", and employees do not live close to their home, and relocation is everpresent.

 

[SantaFebuff]

Say I wanted to apply for a job as at a locomotive shop. Why would put a new applicant at an advantage? I would love to know. As is, I understand the problems, I just wanted to know about getting a job. I'm 14, and going into High School. These arrangements need planning.

Cheers,
Joshua

 

[evan123]

Where is the majority of the hiring being done, i.e. East coast, West coast, Mid-west? I have noticed a lot more traffic where I live in the northwest.

Railroads are everywhere. They all get their fair share of hiring, as long as there are the customers that need freight to be shipped there will be rails to deliver.

Say I wanted to apply for a job as at a locomotive shop. Why would put a new applicant at an advantage? I would love to know. As is, I understand the problems, I just wanted to know about getting a job. I'm 14, and going into High School. These arrangements need planning.

Cheers,
Joshua

Thought I'd bump this to answer your question. You can't physically apply for any job on a RR until you're 18 and have a high school diploma or a GED. If you work in a shop, depending on your job they'll probably require or prefer a minimum of 1 year prior job experience in a related field. But some of the bigger RR's probably won't care as much however being young at the ripe age of 18, you are at a huge disadvantage because I guarantee you there will be far more qualified people applying for that job. But who knows, you might get lucky.

If you pay $5000 to a RR training academy ...after several months of unpaid expences that you lay out for rent...etc...the academy quarantees you only 1 (one) personal interview with a Class 1 RR personell management...no gaurantee of a job...sounds like a racket to me.

LOL. Show me an academy where you can pay $5k for training and I'm there! Modoc runs at $6492 for the 2010 conductor courses... all together out the door you'll be looking at upwards of $8k+ if you can scrape by. Samething goes for NARS however instead of having a hands on class of 10 people you'll go to classes m-f with 100 other people. Take your pick.