I’m somewhat new here, but I’ve been a railfan for many years. Currently I work for an engineering company as a CAD draftsperson, and have a background in heavy industry as an electrical technician. I’d like to get employment with a rail company, either in operations or possibly engineering. In my area the main opportunities seem to be as a signal maintenance technician, or as a conductor. What steps could I take to increase my chances of getting employment? What skills should I emphasize in a resume?
Is there a good place to find rail jobs on the internet here?
Keep in mind that it is very competitive…so make sure you complete your application as carefully as possible…The basic requirements aren’t that high…a HS diploma and reasonably good eyesight and hearing. Those minimal requirments and better than average pay means there are usually alot of people applying for a limited number of openings. Make sure you meet the physical requirements (especially the eyesight and hearing requirements)…and do your homework to find out who is hiring and where. Be flexible and apply for all openings that you’re interested in and for which you may qualify.
I’m told that being a railfan is not considered a positive for various reasons so I would down play that.
As with all other jobs…make sure your first impression is a good one…I know that sounds obvious, but I’m always surprised by people who show up late and look as if they slept in a dumpster.
If you’ve got the skills I’d recommend trying for the Signal Department. The guys I’ve talked too, over there, say there is a large number of people leaving in the next 3 to 5 years.
Most Class 1’s hire through their websites now, so that’s the first place to look. Emphasize your skills, education, and any experiance you have in a 24-7 work place, and heavy equipement. Be ready to pass a drug test, physical, and criminal background check. Also, as other have noted, downplay any railfanning tendency you have.
You could also might want to look at one of the external contractors like Danella, Herzog, Hulcher, or RJ Corman.
Is there any value in attending one of the “academies” such as the one at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kansas (which seems to be affiliated with Burlington Northern Santa Fe) or the one at Modoc in California? They claim to have a high placement rate of their graduates signing on with railroads. Can anyone vouch for those schools?
Remember, you’re selling yourself as a “solutions” guy, someone’s who’s there to get a job done and to troubleshoot and fix things.
Signal department jobs in the field are subject to Hours-of-Service just like trainmen. You can be called out to work in the middle of the night to fix something like highway crossing signals not working properly, a burned out light bulb on a signal head, or a broken wire that is part of a track circuit, but those events are relatively rare.
Consider your future as well. Depending with whom you hire, eventually you could be offered a good job at headquarters such as Norfolk, Va. (NS), Jacksonville, Fla. (CSXT), Kansas City, Mo. (KCS), Omah
For Train and Engine, generally no. The majority of Class 1s are returning to inhouse hiring and training, so money spent at RR U is usually wasted. I have it from a relieable source that NS will not hire RR U grads, and I know the CSX will send you through it’s training program anyway.
Your best course of action is to contact the RR you want to work for, and do what they tell you.
For the other specialist departments (Signals, MoW, B & B, Mechanical), maybe. Most of them require to have knowledge and experiance in the field to get hired.
Here’s my story on trying to get a railroading career started.
Back in 1998 when I was nearing the end of grad school, I applied for a job in Norfolk Southern’s information technology department. I initially was interviewed and tested at their yard offices at Bellevue, Ohio. I passed that with no problem.
In March of that year, I was flown from Toledo down to Atlanta. I was given a tour of downtown Atlanta, and the other interviewees and I were taken out to dinner. The next morning, we went through a tour of the offices in Atlanta and went through the interviews. We were then treated to lunch, and I was rushed back to the airport, making it to my flight about five minutes before it left, which wouldn’t be possible today.
I had been told to call and follow up a week after the interviews, which I did. I was told that they were still working on their decisions and would be in touch.
A month later, I got a letter in the mail. I didn’t get the job. They then thanked me for allowing them to interview me in South Bend, Indiana, where I’ve never been to in my life.
At that point, I gave up on trying to combine my love of trains and computers.
Having a family member that is already employed there is a plus . Or if you are friends with a railroad worker . You see alot of brothers and father and son co-workers . My dad worked for the railroad and said that they were hiring and I was at first like I don’t want to work there , I was only 18 . A year later and still at the same deadend job GT was still hiring so I gave it a shot . Good choice I think [:D]