I have applied for different positions with Norfolk Southern several different times. I have applied for a couple of conductor trainees positions but have been turned down every time 
I will give them the thumbs up on letting me know that I didn’t meet further consideration, even my current employer didn’t do that when I applied for a different position. Anyways, I am 24 with a Class “A” CDL, a 3.8/4.0 GPA on a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science with a minor in Ag Business. All of my past (and current) jobs have been in agriculture (outside in all weather and on call/demand nearly 24/7). Just can’t put two and two together as to why they wouldn’t atleast consider me. Any ideas? Thanks for your time!
I suspect it’s partly related to the economy…railroads are probably hiring fewer people now, so when they do hire people, tend to favor people coming out of the various technical school railroad-worker training programs. Here’s an example from a school near me in Minneapolis/St.Paul, Dakota County Technical College. Most likely you can find something similar in your area:
You could look into another line of railroad work first. I was interested in a UP position as a lift/swing bridge operator until I found out it would be a pay cut. But some folks have started with that job and then moved into engine service.
They probably have considered you but may have rejected you based on your qualifications. Can you ask them why they turned you down? My guess is that you may be overqualified… a college education with a really good GPA may make one wonder why you’re interested in this position. Employers are often reluctant to hire people who don’t quite fit the mold…Your best bet would be to ask them directly.
They probably think you will tell the railroad to “get lost” and jump ship after the first lousy night.
Many do.
I agree–you should find out why it was that you didn’t even get a foot in the door (I presume that they didn’t give you a test, or a physical, or anything). I don’t think that just overqualification would work against you (as I recall, they asked me what on earth I wanted a job like mine for when I hired out, but I got it anyway). I hate to even suggest it, but there might be something in your past history (driving record, criminal record) that tripped you up.
Overqualifed may not have been the right word for it…but being well qualified in a totally unrelated field may have no bearing on getting a job with the railroad. I would think that one thing the hiring people would ask themselves is “if we hire this person and invest in his training what is the likelihood that he will stick around…will he want to change careers again in 2 years?” Nothing against college grads…I am one myself…but a college degree, although great to have, doesn’t necessarily prepare one for the rigors of a job that requires alot of physical stamina.
With the Class ‘A’ CDL, have you considered applying for a railroad job that involves or requires truck driving ? Such as the repair/ service trucks used by the Mech. Dept., or the rigs used to haul rail and track machinery by the MOW Dept. ?
Or, with your degree - how about a position in the Sales or Marketing Depts. that involves the agricultural/ animal industries, esp. the feed grains, and/ or moving the processed foods to market by refrigerated car or container, RoadRailer, other intermodal, etc. ? Look up the history of the Southern Rwy.'s ‘Big John’ hopper cars on grain rates - and also posts on here by greyhounds about missed opportunities in the MidWestern US markets.
I didn’t want a real physical job. That is why I hired out on the railroad.
Lots of people on the railroad have some sort of college education/degree (me being a prime example). But I was honest and said my degree was pretty much worthless by itself. I also think the hiring manager was hoping I’d go into management. maybe someday IF they ever decide to treat those guys better.
I believe that, lots of college educated people out there. I don’t know first hand how physically demanding the railroad job is; however, I see they screen heavily for physical fitness. I applied for railroad jobs in 1979 and was screened out because I don’t have 20/20 uncorrected vision. Apparently they also screen for height, weight, and physical strength…there must be a reason as I’ve never been screened like that for a desk job.
I have a Bachelor’s degree in a completely unrelated field from railroading. I have sent in many applications to CN & CP and several to the WSOR. I have interviewed at CP and WSOR and “phone screened” at CN. At CP the group I happened to be with had folks with previous RR experience which may (or may not) mean less $$$ invested into training/refresher courses. Most positions I hear about now are lokoing for someone with prior experience in rail/transportation. That’s what I heard when I chatted with the HR folks at CN in IL and CP’s folks in MN. I was “otherwise perfectly qualified” but they wanted experienced guys they could get in service quicker.
At the WSOR I was eventually DQ’d because of vision (it’s long story) but in the interview process the HR manager asked me several questions along the lines of “You’re not quite the ‘typical’ person who’d want to work here so why should we hire you?” What I found worked for me was the ability to relate specific skills (attention to detail, safety at work, meticulous record keeping, etc) to duties incumbent of the position. After the interview I figured that at least I had that chance and was happy to get the experience. I didn’t even get home before they called back with a job offer. What turned the trick was that I sold myself and what I could bring to the company to the HR manager. That and the fact that I was able to clearly think on my feet in response to some specific questions “greatly impressed” the manager. At least that’s what she told me. [swg]
If you can relate behaviors/skill-sets/aptitudes to what they want, then you probably stand a better chance.
Anymore it’s hard to find, at least among the younger newhires, someone who dosen’t have some college behind them. The reason these people come, and in some cases among my coworkers stay for 20 or 30 years: the money. They can or have made more than they could at a regular type job in their original field. The railroad knows this too, it’s not news to them.
While there is the chance that someone with more options may decide to tell the railroad to stick it, some one with a degree (no matter what it’s in) is a good candidate for management. The railroad knows this too.
Whether or not some one who seems “over qualified” is a good candid
Good point, try Googling yourself and see what comes up. Check the Circuit Court system in your state…maybe you can spot an issue, if there is one. Good luck.
Sometimes trying just one more time works too. NS and the other roads probably get hundreds of job applications and resumes a month. But 90% of applicants give up after the first rejection…so if you’re in the 10% that follows up then you stand a much better chance of getting favorably noticed next time around. Sometimes if you really want the job you have to show it. I would contact NS and ask why they didn’t hire me…they might not say, but then agian they might offer some suggestions that could help in the next go around.
I know from past experience that NS checks all of your references (they did mine). One of your references might have bad-mouthed you. Also, if you have an arrest record beyond a routine speeding violation you are SOL for a trainman’s job. Hope you are able to work this out and get your conductor job. If you land this job please send me an email listing all firearms and fishing gear you have. Believe me, you won’t have time to fool with this stuff until you build some seniority and I will pay you a fair price for it. Don’t give up!
Guys,
I definitely have no criminal record, not even a speeding ticket. I will try to google myself and see if I come up with anything (never thought about doing such a thing). I also didn’t list any references, I put references available upon request (was told to do that by a professor, he said sometimes the hiring person will call the references when they are not serious about hiring you). I will call NS and see if they will tell me what they didn’t like.
I am definetly willing to do physical labor, actually I prefer to do that. And physical labor is what I have been doing for every one of my past jobs.
Thanks for ya’lls opinions and insite.
You are qualified, just keep trying and you will get in. I hired out with the Wisconsin Central back in 1997 when I was 27 years old. I am certain that my bachelors degree helped me get my conductors position, at the time the railroad liked to recruit new managers from the rank and a four year degree was a requirement for promotion.
I suspect the reason why you have not been hired yet is due to competition. There are a lot of laid off railroaders with experience looking for work these days. These are my recommendations for getting hired with a railroad:
- Be willing to move anywhere in the nation. I know the Wisconsin and Southern and CP Rail are currently hiring in Wisconsin. Check every railroad you can think of.
- Show up to the personnel department in person!!! Mailing resume’s is a waste of time, I would never have been hired by WC had I not driven myself to Fond du Lac to speak to the personnel director in person!
- Be willing to take a Maintenance of Way job just to get your foot in the door, once your in go for a promotion. (Having a CDL will help big time here!)
- If you have an operating railroad museum nearby, volunteer for work. Before I hired out with the WC I volunteered to work at a tourist railroad that operated 20 miles from my home. I “worked” there for a year and networked with some professional railroaders who helped me hire out with the WC.
- Attend the Modoc Railroad Academy, the investment in your own training will help you get hired when competing with experienced railroaders.
- Get fit. A friend of mine was eliminated from consideration for a conductor position because he could not do 20 sit-ups!!! Be sure you are strong enough to carry a coupler knuckle!!!
- If you have to go through an actual interview (I didn’t) one question they will ask you is "Why do
Competition is severe these days, and most people won’t get hired for that reason alone, especially if they haven’t already worked on the RR. With NS, you have to hammer away at them anyhow (and that was before the depression). By any chance, do you know if any of the people you’ve seen at these hiring sessions have been seen at multiple ones, or is it always different people doing the hiring?
Physical fitness must be good. The coupler test will be the hardest thing, and the car test thing is apparently tough for a bunch of people as well. I think it’s 10 minutes that you must hang onto a car during the test. 20/20 vision is also mandatory.
Against what another poster said, a speeding ticket on your record is almost certainly lethal to hiring onto any railroad (and I know it is for NS). DUI or other substance abuse also ends it.
The tests aren’t that hard…IMO anyway. I will agree that the knuckle test was the most challenging. The hanging on the car test was using at least 3 point contact I hand to hang on the ladder for 5 minutes.
As to vision, per the FRA (this is what the WIDOT DR told me) a person’s vision must be:
“No worse than 20/40 (corrected or uncorrected) in the worst eye(s)”. That’s the only part that I missed on my last test…and I have that problem fixed now.
Speeding ticket lethal? Hardly.
This guys experiences may be of interest to you…
http://www.yardlimits.com/forums/railroad-employment-faqs/1294-bnsf-conduct-trainees.html