From: Raymond Keattch on
The past year has been up and down for me. I was made redundent from IT in
May 2006. As I was interested in driving, I used the redundency to train
as a driving instructor, but as many on here have heared, the money was
awful - sometimes not even covering expenses. I applied for two jobs, one
of which was bus driver. I firmly believe if work is available it should
be done - we shouldn't ever feel a job is beneath us if it means you earn
your own money, rather than claim benifits.

At the same time as bus driver, I applied to be a signaller on Network
rail (used to be a train driver on the tube). I attended an assessment day
in Birmingham, consisting of 8 various IQ, numerical & memory tests (If
you have done these you will know how tricky they are). A week later I
attended interview in front of three people in London.

Seven weeks passed from that interview, and in that time I did the
assesment drive, medical and interview for the bus driver. Yesterday I
listened amazed at my answering machine as Network Rail confirmed I have
been offered a position as a Signaller at Kings Cross - a very busy
control room! What I didn't know, was on the assesment day I passed the
tests at grade 8 - the highest grade of signaller! Apparently, at Kings
Cross, I will be able to earn �40000-�50000 a year at grade 8 - very
different to the �16000 as a bus driver.

I start a 14 month training programme in May, starting with a nine week
residential course either in Watford or Leeds. This is followed by 12
months training with a mentor at Kings Cross.

So, if you are travelling to Kings Cross after July, it may be me pressing
the buttons - be scared!!!

--
MrBitsy
From: Clive George on
"Raymond Keattch" <ray(a)nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:op.tqw7rrwjb0v0sj(a)fsmain...

> Yesterday I listened amazed at my answering machine as Network Rail
> confirmed I have been offered a position as a Signaller at Kings Cross - a
> very busy control room!

That sounds several orders of magnitude better than being a bus driver or
driving instructor. Well done.

cheers,
clive

From: McKev on

"Raymond Keattch" <ray(a)nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:op.tqw7rrwjb0v0sj(a)fsmain...
> The past year has been up and down for me. I was made redundent from IT in
> May 2006. As I was interested in driving, I used the redundency to train
> as a driving instructor, but as many on here have heared, the money was
> awful - sometimes not even covering expenses. I applied for two jobs, one
> of which was bus driver. I firmly believe if work is available it should
> be done - we shouldn't ever feel a job is beneath us if it means you earn
> your own money, rather than claim benifits.
>
> At the same time as bus driver, I applied to be a signaller on Network
> rail (used to be a train driver on the tube). I attended an assessment day
> in Birmingham, consisting of 8 various IQ, numerical & memory tests (If
> you have done these you will know how tricky they are). A week later I
> attended interview in front of three people in London.
>
> Seven weeks passed from that interview, and in that time I did the
> assesment drive, medical and interview for the bus driver. Yesterday I
> listened amazed at my answering machine as Network Rail confirmed I have
> been offered a position as a Signaller at Kings Cross - a very busy
> control room! What I didn't know, was on the assesment day I passed the
> tests at grade 8 - the highest grade of signaller! Apparently, at Kings
> Cross, I will be able to earn �40000-�50000 a year at grade 8 - very
> different to the �16000 as a bus driver.
>
> I start a 14 month training programme in May, starting with a nine week
> residential course either in Watford or Leeds. This is followed by 12
> months training with a mentor at Kings Cross.
>
> So, if you are travelling to Kings Cross after July, it may be me pressing
> the buttons - be scared!!!
>


Thats absolutely fantastic Ray - like you say its ben a hell of a year.
Congratulations!

McKev


From: Adrian on
Raymond Keattch (ray(a)nowhere.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying :

> The past year has been up and down for me. I was made redundent from
> IT in May 2006. As I was interested in driving, I used the redundency
> to train as a driving instructor, but as many on here have heared,
> the money was awful - sometimes not even covering expenses. I applied
> for two jobs, one of which was bus driver. I firmly believe if work
> is available it should be done - we shouldn't ever feel a job is
> beneath us if it means you earn your own money, rather than claim
> benifits.

<loud applause>

> Seven weeks passed from that interview, and in that time I did the
> assesment drive, medical and interview for the bus driver. Yesterday I
> listened amazed at my answering machine as Network Rail confirmed I
> have been offered a position as a Signaller at Kings Cross - a very
> busy control room! What I didn't know, was on the assesment day I
> passed the tests at grade 8 - the highest grade of signaller!

Conga rats, Ray!

> Apparently, at Kings Cross, I will be able to earn �40000-�50000 a
> year at grade 8 - very different to the �16000 as a bus driver.

With no experience? <boggle>

> I start a 14 month training programme in May

Will you be finishing the PSV licence first?
From: friendsofderek on
On Apr 17, 10:08 am, "Raymond Keattch" <r...(a)nowhere.com> wrote:
> So, if you are travelling to Kings Cross after July, it may be me pressing
> the buttons - be scared!!!

Excellent news! Nice to see that refusing to give in and just sit
about paid off.
Hope it works out well for you.

Fod