I don't understand it either, and I agree, I think all TMs should be conductors first or at least have them go through 6 months of being on the ground as a part of their training. I've been saying that since the first day I stepped foot in a yard.
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Introduce Yourself Here!!!
(521 posts) (230 voices)-
Palerider957
MemberAs far as jumping into an industry, many position are like this. The first example that comes to mind is the military-- 90 day wonders who are now in command of a platoon, etc. People either rise to the challenge, or they don't.
I'm not afraid to make decisions, and I am a very loyal colleague and friend. I am a firm believer of the power of personal relationships to make a positive work environment.
I have always taken great pains to include people I work with in the decision making process, and when I make a (potentially unpopular) decision, I work very hard to explain the rationale behind it.
If the TM sets clear expectations, is consistent and fair, leads by example, and genuinely cares about the well-being of the team-- is this a good recipe for success? Or am I just being set up for slaughter???
Posted 1 month ago # -
Palerider957
MemberFYI, I did purchase Sean's book. The information contained in the book is excellent and is probably the only reason I am getting an interview. Thanks Sean!
Posted 1 month ago # -
Palerider957
MemberJust got the call, have a phone interview scheduled for first thing tomorrow morning! Any pointers????
Posted 1 month ago # -
You should be prepared enough since you have the ebook and read this forum! Good luck!
Posted 1 month ago # -
Palerider957
MemberJust had the Trainmaster phone interview and it seemed to go very well. Yes, Sean, your book was very helpful and I made sure to hit the key points. I have also been exposed to the traditional HR interviews before, so the recruiter asked were pretty standardized.
The recruiter was pretty upfront about the job being challenging, with a long training period.
The class dates they are advertising aren't for several months, which is good for me right now.
Last night I was also offered an interview with NS for a Conductor position, which really intrigues me as well. I like the idea of being based near home, versus the TM position of a crap shoot for basing. But, the TM position seems to pay a lot more.
Any thoughts from the group???
So far, so good!
Posted 1 month ago # -
Just submitted my resume, application, & cover letter in today for conductor @ NS. I feel pretty confident this round thanks to your book & reading this forum. Only worries I have is on the application is of my work history. As I stated before FD/EMS jobs here aren't the most reliable. But I have been in the FD/EMS field for MANY years. So hopefully it work out. I wish I could afford the trade school to add to my resume but alas $7,000 ain't cheap & I don't qualify for any funding. Got my fingers crossed.
Posted 1 month ago # -
Palerider957
MemberFire,
Seans book and resume coaching really made the difference for me, I'm sure of it. I bet your background will look pretty good to the resume screeners.
Dogtrogan. If you are concerned if you will pass or not, you can go to Walmart and buy a pretty good quality drug testing kit (for Urine). I would suggest getting a couple of the tests and doing the screening. I did some work in drug intervention with teens and these kits were a great tool.
Posted 1 month ago # -
Palerider957
MemberI don't have any insight specifically. They may well do a hair test. What's interesting is that the feds (in the U.S.) don't accept hair testing as scientific.
Posted 1 month ago # -
waty19
MemberThis is a pretty nice site so thanks Sean. Just wanted to introduce myself. I graduated from UGA (Go Dawgs) a few years back with a Finance degree. Don't know why because I've never liked working in an office. Always been intrigued by the railroad and my grandfather worked on it his whole life. I've been applying to CSX and NS for about 6 months with no luck. Figured it was my resume so I tweaked it a bit and going to give it another shot. I have a few years under my belt working for an engineering company where I both designed and manufactured the equipment. In college I started my own company where I renovated investment homes and use them for rental property. Now that I have my portfolio of homes where I want I'm to turning to something that I've always wanted to do. I'm looking at mostly conductor positions so I can move up to an Engineer. I'll be readying this site daily so and help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Posted 1 month ago # -
Jsabe07
MemberHello all,
My name's Jared and currently I work for the US Air Force as a C-5 Loadmaster and am looking to transistion out of the military in August. I've always loved trains and when I was younger my family would visit my grandparents in Illinois. I would hear the train whistle and run out the door, jump on my bike and ride to the station so I could put a penny on the tracks! I bought Sean's ebook and am currently in the process reading it, but any additional help with applying for a conductor position would be greatly appreciated. I look forward to hearing from and talking with all of you.Posted 1 month ago # -
BottomSeeker
MemberJsabe07...Welcome to the board. First recommendation I would make, is to read through the forums before asking a question. There are a lot of questions that you may have that have already been answered on here. I'll PM you with some specifics on my situation that I went through since retiring from the AF back in October.
Posted 1 month ago # -
rail
MemberPalerider,
I know nothing about NS and what their pay scale is, I can only speak for BNSF. TMs may look like they initially earn more than conductors, but in the long run conductors make considerably more than TMs. TMs do not get overtime, and I know in some yards they spend their own time coming into the yard for various reasons, so their work week can average over 40 hours and they are on salary, so do not get paid for this. Also, all the crap inevitably falls down on their shoulders from above. So, they get their asses chewed from above and below. At one point I thought this was something I might want to do, but right now I am pretty disgusted with the whole way management handles themselves. And I have a college degree and a graduate degree.
If I were in your shoes, I would go ahead and interview for the conductor position.
Posted 1 month ago # -
Welcome aboard guys!
Posted 1 month ago # -
simplybasic71@hotmail.com
MemberI was told that UP was gonna start hiring in Arkansas. When those jobs are available will they all be listed on UP's website, because there is nothing in Arkansas listed as of today.
ThanksPosted 1 month ago # -
grateful
MemberHi everyone,
I just stumbled on this forum doing a search and I am new here. I did apply for a bnsf job here in Illinois as a track laborer back in September of 2011. I guess you have figured out how that went, I was sent an email saying we have chosen another candidate. I pray that this forum will help, and I haven't purchased the ebook yet but I will soon. Any advise that this forum can provide will be greatly appreciated.
Posted 4 weeks ago # -
@grateful Buy the e-book and read thre this entire forum and you will me miles ahead of hte competition!
Posted 4 weeks ago # -
Phoenix595
Member@grateful,
Welcome aboard! The forum info and Sean's e-book are an excellent resource! Good luck and apply like crazy :)
Posted 4 weeks ago # -
chansen8668
MemberHello forum, I have recently received a recruiting invite for a conductor trainee position for BNSF in Richmond, CA on Feb 1st. I am very excited as this has been my latest career goal for the past year. I am a veteran and I just received my associates degree in liberal studies with a 3.91 GPA and transferred to UC Berkeley where my education fell short due to exhausting my GI benefits. As a result, I began seeking new career endeavors which brought me to the rails.
This is my second attempt for this position. About a year ago, I reluctantly declined an invitation from Union Pacific. I will not make that mistake this time. Unfortunately, I cannot afford Sean's ebook but I signed up for the 5 day email advice and researched the Internet in preparation for this interview. My wife and son are as anxious as I am about the results of this opportunity.
We just recently recovered from a spurt of being homeless but almost immediately as soon as we acquired our own home, lost our vehicle in a repossession. So, I feel I need this more than ever. Never in my life have I desired a job that I have applied for as much as I want this one. Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Christian HansenPosted 3 weeks ago # -
matt88
MemberHello everyone, my name is Matt. I live in Florida and currently work for a short line as a conductor and I've recently become a student engineer. I've been considering applying for other jobs but I don't know whether to wait it out and become a engineer first, or to just try for a conductor job now. So I was just wondering what the market is like for engineer's?
Posted 3 weeks ago # -
billvick
MemberHello peeps, My name is Bill, I live In Arkansas, right close to the border of Oklahoma. I had an interview in November with KCS for a track repair tech. I was told at the interview that it was between me and another guy, guess who got it. Wasnt me, I would like to purchase Seans book but right now I am fighting off all the wolfs at the door. I have been applying at every short line and available positions close to here, gone as far as calling the companiesw without jobs open and just getting my resume to them. Does anyone know if there is any truth to the amount of jobs the railroad is supposed to increase in the next couple of years? Good to read all of the posts, thanks.
Posted 3 weeks ago # -
Rattlebunny
MemberHey all, I'm Matt and I live on Cape Cod right now. I've been an Aircraft Mechanic, Computer Technician, Audio Engineer, Musician, and lately a seasonal Assistant Harbormaster.
I'm working through a divorce and restarting my life at 40. My Grandfather worked for the New Haven, New York and Hartford Rail Road from 1939 to 1984 and thanks to him I've always loved the rails. I never considered working for the railroads for some reason though, until now. Being away from home and traveling is actually attractive to me now. Unfortunately I no longer have family working for the railroads. They've all gone into dentistry if you can believe it.
Well, that's me for the most part.
Posted 3 weeks ago # -
@matt88 You won't be able to hire on with a Class 1 RR as an Engineer...
@billvick yes the rr's are losing thousands of people in the next few years due to retirement.Posted 3 weeks ago # -
johnnbea
Moderator@billvick
to expand on Sean's confirmation. Yes, by all means, the railroads are hiring. I don't know what each particular railroad's hiring plans look like, but I know BNSF was shooting for 4000 new conductors last year, and something like 1600 this year. I've heard UP is looking to hire something in the same ball park, as far as new conductors, and of course, BNSF is promotion lots of guys to Engineer this year. I'm sure the other Class 1 RR's are doing pretty much the same!Posted 3 weeks ago # -
grateful
MemberListen everyone,
I would like to interview someone who actually works as a track laborer on any RR, I am looking to do this work and I would like to know what I'm getting in to, please just tell me how is the work and do you enjoy it, I would like to hear the non-seniority phase of this job.
Thanks in advance
Pardon me if I placed this in the wrong thread
Posted 3 weeks ago #
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