bnsf start date of 08/01/2011 in kansas city,ks for conductor trainee
[sticky]
Just Got Hired!!!
(588 posts) (235 voices)-
Hunter5967
MemberYea I feel ya guys. I still have to go to my medical examine and do my PAT... I have to travel my ass way the hell back to chicago and then go back down to Indianapolis to my medical examine. So cant wait till my status changes from employment application to released to work. Start date of school is 9/12/11
Posted 10 months ago # -
Congrat's man!!!
Posted 10 months ago # -
UP1989
MemberFirst, I would like to say, "Thank You" to Sean for creating such a great website and making valuable information available to people interested in a career with the railroad. I just received the much awaited phone call this morning from CSX Transportation with my start date which is August 8th for Freight Conductor. To help others with thier career quest with the railroad I am going to give my hiring process timeline and words of advice. I wanted a career with the railroads since the age of 6, so I have been a diehard railfan for 16 years. I just turned 22 this year, and recently graduated from college with a degree in Business Administration, back in may. (I wanted to start out as a Freight Conductor so I would have a craft under my belt, so when the day arises to move to management I will be well prepared.) Also, I want to learn the railroad from the ground up. Knowing this, while in college I saved up to be able to locate anywhere in the United States with the first railroad that hired me. I applied everyday with every class I railroad in the U.S. since December 2010. I have put in over 2,000 applications with various railroads.
My tunnel of sunlight came on:
*June 10, when I applied for a Freight Conductor position with CSX Transportation. *June 13, my job status changed to "Pending Manager Interview."
*June 22, I received an email with the date, time, and location of the hiring session. *June 30, was the day of the hiring session (Job status will say, "First and Second Attempt to Schedule Interview.")
*July 1, I received the conditional offer phone call from CSX, and 3 emails which consisted of a Job Acceptance letter, online Background Form, and permission to conduct Background Consent form. You will also have to schedule your testing with IPCS and Medical. (All which will be in the emails, job status said, "Pre-employement Screening in Progess.")
*July 8, I completed my physical and drug testing.
*July 14, I completed my physical capabilities test with IPCS.
*July 19, I received a Clear for Hire email and my job status said, "Ready for Hire."
*July 25, I received my start date which is August 8th, for Freight Conductor at the REDI center in Atlanta, GA.My biggest piece of advice to anyone wanting to have a career with the railroad, "GET SEAN'S E-BOOK," lol. It can and will put you ahead of the other candidates. It helped me prepare for the hiring session and I knew what to expect. I had no prior job qualifications, except my age, college degree, and MOTIVATION!!
Thanks,
Posted 9 months ago # -
mtnbiker01
MemberDamn son, well done!
Posted 9 months ago # -
Tylerpaul9
MemberHire Date Oct. 3rd conductor trainee. Galesburg
Posted 9 months ago # -
TR1Hemi
MemberGot the "Released to Start" update on Aug 1, on UP's site. This is for diesel electrician journeyman in North Platte.
Thanks for the book, Sean. As a 24 year Air Force veteran with aircraft electrician experience, I am not sure he helped me as much, as it would younger folks going after train crew or apprentice jobs, but I knew it couldnt hurt!
I have taken UP's work equipment mech test, and diesel electrician test, qualified on both and BNSF electrician/mechanic, common sense/personality test. I must say the BNSF test aint weeding out anybody, it asked elementary school physics/common sense questions (not a SINGLE electrical question!), and personality questions, out of 29 people who were there interviewing, only 3 failed. When I interviewed with UP, you have to pass the test online locally first, there were only 3 of us there for 3 positions, I asked why in this economy. He said, "You were the only 3 that passed the test". Which I wasnt sure I passed at first, to be honest.
Moral of this story, if you are young, uneducated, or no experience, get the book! If you have some experience and are confident in your interview skills, but have test jitters, go BNSF. If you love tests and want less competition give UP a try.
I cant help you guys who want to work east of the Mississippi river....(NS, CSX, etc)Posted 9 months ago # -
astapleton
MemberHey everyone... Just got my phone call!!! I'm heading to REDI for Deisel locomotive Electrician for CSX.... Finally thanks for everyone's advice!!!
Posted 9 months ago # -
Hey Congratulations to everyone! Great job guys, your comments motivate everyone else to get the e-book and read this forum to properly prepare! Good luck on your new careers!
Posted 9 months ago # -
pitt_cj@comcast.net
MemberSean,
Thanks for your e-book. Almost everything in there was spot-on!
I aced my interview and I just received my clear to start on Sept 12 for train crew with the UP in Chicago.
Thanks for the help!
Now the real work starts!
Chris
Posted 9 months ago # -
kcrago
MemberJust got hired! I start next week with a week of safety and then go to the new job on location as a machinest with NS. There's a long story behind all of it, but basically it was the first job that I applied to and only went to one hiring session. I consider myself lucky and am very appreciative for this site and Sean's book and effort to help all of us out. When I read the forum and see the mounting frustration in many of the guys out there, I can only say, "keep on applying and don't get frustrated." You have to do whatever it is you're doing right now to keep the bills paid and keep plugging away at the RR prospects. Thank you to everyone, I read all of the forums so I could get a better idea of the bigger picture.
Posted 9 months ago # -
shoelessjoe
MemberFirst & foremost, a big THANK YOU to Sean for his E-book ... secondly, thanks to the forum/members for providing the encouragement, inspiration & information necessary to land a job with BNSF.
Yes, two days ago, I received a Final Offer letter for a Conductor Trainee position, up in Greybull, WY (08/29)!
In the fashion of UP1989, following, is my timeline...
02-March: Applied (online) for Casper & Greybull Conductor trainee position(s)
23-June: Received an invitation to attend a Hiring Process for both positions
27 June: Signed up for Sean's free email course
01-July: Ordered Sean's E-Book
01thru05-July: memorized aforementioned E-book!
06-July: Hiring Process in Casper ... interviewed for Greybull only
11-July: Received conditional offer email
01-August: Received final offer email!
05&06-August: Spending the weekend up in Greybull with the wife in an attempt to figure out where I am going to stay during training.The only hitch in the process was the strength test, which 'they' tried scheduling @ at Denver Int. Airport, the morning after the conditional offer ... asked for a reschedule, which happened last Thursday, two hours away in Pueblo, CO.
Posted 9 months ago # -
Hey congratulations guys that is awesome!!!
Posted 9 months ago # -
Laroux
MemberI just wanted to give people a heads up. I just finished my conductor in-class training and had to retake the final test. There were 3 in the class that had to retake and get the higher score. One did not make it and was terminated! Study and know your rules! Your job depends on it. I have been with UP for 2 months now and nearly let it all go. This is serious stuff!
Posted 9 months ago # -
I keep telling people the time to party is after training is over with or your trade school is over with and not before! The guy who got fired just got let go for being a dumb ass!
Honey, I'm home...
Why are you home early my big handsome husband?
Well because I'm a dumb ass and just got fired from my new RR job....Posted 9 months ago # -
I usually am right... ;-)
Posted 9 months ago # -
ddw76
MemberThanks everyone just got start date Nov 28th. For conductor primary recall kck. Had to go through a lot of hoops bloodwork, hip waist measurements, and sleep study , after that had to use cpap machine for 2 weeks but it was well worth it and didn't have to come out of pocket because of current insurance. But got the date and now I am happy.
Posted 9 months ago # -
banjopicker365
Memberhey ddw76,
did they send you an official start date email? im in for that position also and was expecting to get it in november...
Posted 9 months ago # -
johnnbea
Moderator@ddw76 -
Congrats man! I'm in the same boat as you at the moment! Just got called today, and they want compliance data, and all that other craziness. Have an appt tomorrow morning with my sleep doctor, and then download from my CPAP, then another sleep study tomorrow night. CHS will have all that in their hot little hands Monday morning! My class is scheduled to start 10/3, so I am pushing my docs and all involved to make this happen QUICKLY! And I thought losing 123 pounds was something that would result in rewards! LOLBut, congrats and best of luck to you!
Posted 9 months ago # -
TheFullMonty
MemberJust wanted to give everyone an update. I just got my final letter for the BNSF Conductor trainee position in Greybull, Wy. Been waiting on this since May. I want to thank Sean for his book. I got the book, studied the book, reviewed the book. I had some of my friends and parents do mock interviews with me to ensure I got it right. It would seem that I did.
Good luck to everyone.
Posted 9 months ago # -
mtnbiker01
Memberjohnnbea, where did you hire out of?
Posted 9 months ago # -
mtnbiker01
MemberCongrats! You are almost out of the weeds!
Posted 9 months ago #
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