This might seem like a bit of an odd thing to post on a car forum, but I need a new higher paying job! As some of you know, I’m currently working at a small printers in Grays, but being a small business means I get small pay!!
Does anyone know of any available jobs where they work? I’ve been searching for ages, but I haven’t got a clue of what I want to do so posting this is kinda my last resort! I looked at working for Autoglass, but they haven’t got anything at the moment, and I also looked into the railways but couldn’t see anything there either!
HELP!!
Could you give us some idea of what you can do (and are qualified to do), how much you need to earn and where you’d be willing to work? It’s kind of hard to help out otherwise.
Under 35-40, plenty of work in Australia for carpenters plumbers etc
I work for for an online solutions company re recruitment so get yourself on any of these and get searching.
Monster - Totaljobs - Jobsite - Reed - Fish4jobs and google some more.
Regardless of what your talents are they are bound to have something that catches your eye.
You can also post your CV on these sites to a database that employers buy access to. They can then find and contact you for a suitable position.
Best of luck!
Gary,
Sorry to hear you’re not happy where you are; it’s a brave time to make a change so good luck.
Not sure whether you are aware or not but I train new train drivers for the line that passes through your neck of the woods. We have a had a massive recruitment drive over the past few years (I have counted 70 new drivers I have trained in the last 4 years) but guess what…with the current uncertain climate it’s all gone a bit quiet. Currently we are only training from within the company BUT things may well change once things settle. I’ll be only too happy to give you some details about the train driver’s job including the joys of getting up at 0230 of getting home at 0200, nightshifts, working Saturday nights etc. That said, I’ve been doing it for nearly 17 years so it can’t be all bad! I’m not driving regularly now but still enjoy it when I get the chance.
Next time I see you I’ll gladly go through all the ‘nuts & bolts’ of the job - this is not really the place to discuss salaries and conditions.
One word of warning is that statisically less than 1 in 10 applicants get through the entrance assessments before starting their courses; not like back in the day when several of my more ‘senior’ colleagues simply had to name the current prime minister to become a driver!!! Oh how times have changed. Internet research will prove valuable for more information and I’ll certainly give you a shout if I hear anything.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
A while ago I found this site which looks to have quite a bit of info that might be useful to anyone contemplating a career in the cab of a train. Certainly gave me some food for thought. Dunno how accurate and truly representative it is of how things actually are - but perhaps Vin Rouge, as someone who’s been right there “at the coalface” for many years, might be in a position to comment on the contents! [;)]
Lots of good stuff there for you to read there Gary! The information is fairly representative of what to expect too. Selection processes and testing are pretty much generic up and down the country now days. Driving course content will always add up to the same to meet the required standard; different companies just go about it slightly differently.
On my company, at present, you are selected as a Driver and undergo a Depot Driver’s course (3mths) and when successful drive the trains around the depot and get them ready for service. Your Rules and Traction knowledge will be about 80% of that of a Mainline Driver. After anything from 6mths to 2 yrs of working on the depot you will be put on a Mainline course, back to the classroom for 3mths then out with a mainline instructor for 240 hours of driving. Finally a big 5 day assessment with a manager then hopefully you’ll be let loose on the travelling public! I have been a Mainline Instructor for 7 years and am now a classroom trainer so I’ve a pretty good idea what you would have to go through.
Thanks guys.
Brian, being a train driver wouldn’t have been my first choice of job, but it does sound interesting. I was thinking more along the lines of the ticket office or something. When I see you next, and if we get a chance, I’d like to talk to you about it. Sarah’s Dad drives trains (well, sort of!) on the DLR line and he seems to enjoy his job.
Thanks for the link Gareth, there certainly is a lot of reading there!! Looks like I’ve got something to do on my lunch break [;)]
I did look into working for Sky/Virgin as a technician. I’m a bit handy with electronics and stuff, so thought it would be an interesting job. I tried Sky’s site, which is useless for finding a job with them, but Virgin’s was useful. Their technicians do the telly, phones and internet (which is nice as I’m also good with a computer, both using it and upgrading the insides!)
I don’t mind my current job (although it’s not that exciting!!), but it just doesn’t pay enough for me to live on, and we’re looking to get our own place soon! I would go into another printing firm, but it’s just so boring after a while!
IT was another option, but as far as I know you need qualifications for that and I just haven’t got the time to get them!
I’ve got my photography course coming up, but I just don’t think I can make a career out of it unfortunately. We get a lot of photographers in to get some printing of business cards and stuff, and they all say that their struggling to get business at the moment. So I’ll do the photography as a part time thing for now and make a name for myself, which is a shame as I’d love to do that full time.