Wow - since 2007 on that thread, 96 pages and almost 950 posts . . . quite the pile of reading material there. Better get an extra large cup of your favorite caffeinated beverage . . .
- Paul North.
I’m puzzled, usually having heavy equipment and outdoor employment experience like yours is almost a guarantee to get hired. Sometimes, it seems my company will hire anyone with 20/40 color vision and halfway decent hearing.
A couple questions…
Did NS advertise positions in your area? My company, you can only apply and be accepted in locations where they advertise open jobs.
Did you take the personality/aptitude test? Lots of people get disqualified for weird reasons on the personality test. Before hiring in train service, I applied to be a Block Operator with NS, I failed the aptitude test (so did everyone else).
Did you follow the proper application procedure? I’m not sure about NS, but my company will only accept applications through it’s employment website. All other applications are automatically rejected.
If you are dead set on working for a railroad, the advice already offered in good. Check out other lines in your area. Be willing to move to an area that has openings.
Nick
I applied through their website. I am guessing that it is mainly the amount of competition.
The one problem I think is coming up is that I am not willing to move from the area. I help my Dad and Father-in-Law farm and am trying to find a small farm of my own. I know that sounds impossible to do with being gone with the railroad but I am not home much now with my job(s) anyhow. I will definitely be checking out local lines (East St. Louis and St. Louis) much closer. Hopefully they will be willing to give me an interview. A local line would probably work out MUCH better, hopefully being home once every 24 hrs or so.
Bingo. If you mark you are not willing to move, your application will be tossed.
IS that even if you are in a good area? I know NS wants to know what state(s) you are willing to work, but I haven’t known just listing the home state to be fatal.
Railroad seniority districts very in size. It could be that whatever crew-base point is closest to New Baden may stretch from Michigan and Ohio all the way to Kansas City. Initially you may be hired for Decatur, but after qualifying you might get Shanghai’d for awhile to Detroit.#### I see where New Baden is just beyond the east fringe of the Saint Louis metropolitan area. Have you looked into employment opportunities with BNSF, CSXT, I.C., or U.P.? Also consider the Terminal Railroad Association of Saint Louis and the Alton & Southern Railway. TRRA and A&S might be more attractive because the bulk of their jobs are shift work, with assigned starting times and assigned rest days.#### Railroading - particularly for anyone who has anything to do with the movement of trains like switchmen, trainmen, locomotive engineers, yardmasters, train dispatchers, and field transportation officers - is a very demanding mistress who often wants attention around-the-cl
Thanks everyone for your opinions and insight. I will definitely look at the local short lines. TRRA and A&S seem like very perspective employers.