Question for you NS guys out there

What does NS look for in its applicants? I went to a hiring session today and not only was I not chosen, but neither were people who had worked for UP and Amtrak. It also seemed like mostly non whites and women were chosen...anyone know what is going on here? Kevin V.
-President/CEO of Illinois Northern Ry Inc, subsidiary of The Midwest Regional Railways Corp.Illinois Railway Museum Conductor Trainee

Ohio Southern is on the way...coming when I get sick of the IN!

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

RE: Question for you NS guys out there, ATF1224, Nov-23-04, 01:19 PM, (1) RE: Question for you NS guys out there, ssw_96, Nov-23-04, 06:24 PM, (2) RE: Question for you NS guys out there, jgvaughan, Nov-23-04, 06:56 PM, (3) RE: Question for you NS guys out there, heavyd, Nov-23-04, 07:12 PM, (4) RE: Question for you NS guys out there, ssw_96, Nov-23-04, 08:32 PM, (5) RE: Question for you NS guys out there, BNSF4999, Nov-23-04, 11:12 PM, (6) RE: Question for you NS guys out there, heavyd, Nov-24-04, 01:39 AM, (7) RE: Question for you NS guys out there, heavyd, Nov-24-04, 01:46 AM, (8) RE: Question for you NS guys out there, Claude350, Nov-24-04, 08:17 AM, (9) RE: Question for you NS guys out there, NW_611, Nov-24-04, 12:57 PM, (10) RE: Question for you NS guys out there, NS185, Nov-24-04, 01:22 PM, (11) RE: Question for you NS guys out there, heavyd, Nov-24-04, 01:58 PM, (12) RE: Question for you NS guys out there, sd70mac666, Nov-24-04, 08:26 PM, (13) RE: Question for you NS guys out there, jamesmoore, Nov-25-04, 00:54 AM, (14)

Conferences | Topics | Previous Topic | Next Topic

NS does not like to hire people who have worked for other railroads, in the idea that the UP way is NOT the NS way and you will not be re-trainable.How far did you get in the session?

Jake Mensel

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

"It also seemed like mostly non whites and women were chosen...anyone know what is going on here?"What are you saying???????

The best railroad there ever was

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

I went through the NS hiring process in April 03. Out of 145 folks that were there I was the only one offered a job. Unfortunately a personal situation forced me to decline the position shortly before I was due to leave for the training program in Georgia.I didn't find the process discriminating in any way shape or form. There are two keys things to remember: Talk and know safety as far as working around railroads, etc. and have a good reason for wanting to work for the railroad.DO NOT indicate you love trains, are involved in Model Railroading or that you are a railfan. I had two friends go with me and they were released early on because they indicated on the application that they had a basic knowledge of railroads because they were model railroaders and visited the yard here in Columbus on a regular basis.Prior experience with other railroads in a no go as well. For exactly what Jake said, you are considered untrainable. I know for a fact they don't discriminate due to age as I was 52 at the time and there were a considerable number of younger men and woman of all ethnic backgrounds there that I believe physically could have done the job better than me.Also, pay attention to the guy giving the briefings. He gives you several 'hints' about what not to say, what not to do, etc. while in the interview process. If you didn't make it to the application phase and bombed out on either of the two tests, you need to study some. The interviewer told me he was surprised that I completed both tests and even more surprised that I only missed one question. I have to be honest though working with computers made the one test pretty easy and 15 years working for three different government intelligence agencies helped on the psychological test.Don't give up, if that is what you really want to do...go back the next time. One of the guys that was sitting next to me was there for the 5th time and it was the first time he got an interview.

Jim

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

I know what BNSF4999 is trying to say about "visible minorities". Fair is fair, but just because someone is a "VM" shouldn't increase their chances at employment. I know here in Canada companies are "encouraged" to be more "deversified". Hey, I am all for it!!! BUT... If they are going to hire someone over me because they are a VM, there better be a fair reason for it, like more education, more qualified, whatever!!! I was at a hiring session for CP a couple of years ago and there were 70 people there. I counted 13 VM. After the short-listing for the afternoon there was 36 people and 11 of them were VM! One women had left on her own. If you break that down of the 70, 57 were non-minority. 25 of them made it, that is 35% compaired to other non-minorities. Where as the VM that made the cut was 85% compaired to the other VM!!! As for what the railroad is looking for in a person over-all, that is a very good question. I know first hand having previous railway experience means squat!!! Also, even though they say preference is given to people with certain types of education and work experience, that is NOT true either!!! I think one factor is that location to location, that particular terminal manager is the one that usually does the interviews or picks from resumes. The managers are all different, and so are their selection techniques!

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Well I put it like this. I work with a bunch of older guys on 1st shift this week, the youngest having 25 yrs of seniority, and you know how most of them think. Ya'll should have seen the look a few of them gave me when I walked in. I try to overlook that to a certain point. As far as choosing a visible minority, I dont know how that goes. I was always told that they choose from the most qualified. Now when I went to my interview session, it was 14 people., three black guys, a black woman, three white women, and seven white guys. When it was all said and done, including the ones who left after the scare speech, and the ones who failed the physical agility test, me and another black guy was the only two to get hired out of the class. But me for one I do not like to be called a minority, african american, hell why cant I just be another man????? But BNSF 4999 I do wish you best of luck, took me three times before I lucked out. And I was at the point where I was about to give up on it. The best thing you can do is maintain a job, preferrably one that requires physical labor, variable shirfts, and outdoor work. I have worked at Internation Paper, Anthony Timberlands (hardwood mill), and I have cut pulpwood (nothing anyone on here would like to do). Thats bout the best thing you can do.
So keep your head up.

The best railroad there ever was

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Well then I guess saying I am a conductor at the Illinois Railway Museum was a bad thing to say!And all I was trying to say was I found it odd that of the 6 or 7 women who were there, 4 or 5 of them made it. of the 120 or so men, prolly about 70 were not white. out of those 70, about 5 or 7 made it. the rest of the 35 or 40 chosen we VM's. I jsut found that a little odd. oh well, i'll be more prepared next time!thanks for the info and tips.
Kevin V.
-President/CEO of Illinois Northern Ry Inc, subsidiary of The Midwest Regional Railways Corp.Illinois Railway Museum Conductor Trainee

Ohio Southern is on the way...coming when I get sick of the IN!

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Here is one tip, NEVER, NEVER mention anything about being involved in anything that could be in the most smallest way linked with railfans!!! Railroads hate that and will cut you out because of it. That is a whole new debate, but basically they think railfanning can't be separated from the job and you won't be a good worker because you like trains as a hobby.

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

"I do not like to be called a minority, african american, hell why cant I just be another man?????"To ssw_96; I appologize for the terminology, I understand what you are saying and you are totally correct! Just remember that it is only insulting if you let it get to you.

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

I don't always agree with that saying of telling the hiring folks you aren't a railfan.When I was hired by the NS back in 1997 I mentioned that I was a railfan and got the job.I also had two other family members that had retired from the NS.But being that I had prior military and police experience may have carried me over the hump.It took me two trys before I made the cut.Claude Debnam NS Piedmont Division Raleigh East

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

From what I've heard in prior discussions of "How to be hired by the NSR", they really like military/police experience. Since I've heard before---your experience may be different and I'd like to know "the truth"---that they "trumpet" a "military-style management" and/or leadership style. I read elsewhere once that the NSR preferred people who were used to taking orders and doing things by the book, which matched the purported military backgrounds of its higher-ups, which I can't prove or disprove.

____________________________________________________________________
Norfolk & Western’s Radford Division, Pulaski District: Who needs the Marias Pass?

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Railroads seem to hire people that have some or ANY type of military background. I'll have to disagree with the rest of you guys though about having previous RR expirience. I came right out of High School and hired on with the RR at age 18, I stayed there for a year and I'm now working for my 2nd RR at age 19. I dont know personally I think it would help to have some previous RR time. just my .02

1st & 3rd shift post junkie
1259A-359P

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Claude350, I have seen first hand the treatment a new hire gets when say he/she is a railfan (not good), I have also know how "easy" it is to get hired when you have any kind of relatives that work/retire from the RR. Military, police experience and relatives on the RR, that is very impressive. For most people, we don't have that, I only wished I had a relative to put in a good word for me. It would be ok for you to mention about being a railfan, but for most people I wouldn't recommend it!!!

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

isin't it Federal Law that if you have some sort or any type of military training you are given priority in hiring?
Correct me if I'm wrong
Dr. SatanI'm otherwise known as the SatanTrain

High on the roof,
Thin the blood,
Another one on the waves tonight,
Comin' in, you're home
Orange Crush: R.E.M.

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Amtrak has what is called a secret grandfather clause,my dad was a engineer for 21 years,and got my two brothers hired.My older sister
was one of the first black female engineers,but when i turned 21,they said to many family members give some one else a try......so now i've
just interviewed with amtrak for onboard personal..also about 8 yaers ago my brother in law and i went to a ns hiring session,and he got hired because the ns guy who did the interviewing went to scool with him......such luck ha...

Alert | IP

[ Home | MSTS Forum | MSTS FAQ | How To... | File Library ] Copyright © 2004 by Nels Anderson. All Rights Reserved.