Operations Management Graduate Scheme vs Signaller

[327B]

Hey everyone

I am deeply considering applying for NR after I graduate.

Being a MOM (or whatever they're called now days) appeals to me, but I'm not sure what the best way to get my foot in the door for this or something similar would be.

Do you think it would be wise to do the NR ops management grad scheme? Do you know anyone who's done it? What is the career progression like?

I know they put you through IST on the grad scheme, but I don't want to do it and then end up in an office somewhere trying to make departures from Peterborough 0.5% more efficient or something else mundane

The alternative is just endlessly applying for trainee signaller jobs and just grinding it out in a box for a few years.

What would you do? Any advice is welcome.

 

[bouff34]

Hey everyone

I am deeply considering applying for NR after I graduate.

Being a MOM (or whatever they're called now days) appeals to me, but I'm not sure what the best way to get my foot in the door for this or something similar would be.

Do you think it would be wise to do the NR ops management grad scheme? Do you know anyone who's done it? What is the career progression like?

I know they put you through IST on the grad scheme, but I don't want to do it and then end up in an office somewhere trying to make departures from Peterborough 0.5% more efficient or something else mundane

The alternative is just endlessly applying for trainee signaller jobs and just grinding it out in a box for a few years.

What would you do? Any advice is welcome.

I think you need to have a big reassessment of your communication skills. Your post comes across that after graduation you will be far more qualified that any signalling role requires. I would do a quick rethink and suggest to you that the majority of those signallers that have been 'grinding it out for a few years' in a signal box will actually be far more qualified in terms of all sorts of skills that you may have no idea about.

If you are thinking that you will endlessly apply for trainee jobs just to grind it out I would suggest that the job is clearly beneath you and would advise you not to apply. Your post suggests that your attitude will become obvious to those having to train you which again may not be a good thing.

You may find that a fair proportion of signallers already have degrees or will have a massive amount of experience learned on the job or from previous careers that they now use to the benefit of their signalling career. You haven't specified what your degree subject is but I would suggest it is very unlikely to assist you in your day to day career if you are looking at signalling or MOM roles - it may help you in an office doing fairly complicated calculations revolving around planning or efficiencies - but this is apparently mundane to you so again will not fit your aspirations.


This isn't personal but maybe rethink how much better you could have phrased this post without offending all these people in roles that you consider unsuitable for yourself.

 

[327B]

I think you need to have a big reassessment of your communication skills. Your post comes across that after graduation you will be far more qualified that any signalling role requires. I would do a quick rethink and suggest to you that the majority of those signallers that have been 'grinding it out for a few years' in a signal box will actually be far more qualified in terms of all sorts of skills that you may have no idea about.

If you are thinking that you will endlessly apply for trainee jobs just to grind it out I would suggest that the job is clearly beneath you and would advise you not to apply. Your post suggests that your attitude will become obvious to those having to train you which again may not be a good thing.

You may find that a fair proportion of signallers already have degrees or will have a massive amount of experience learned on the job or from previous careers that they now use to the benefit of their signalling career. You haven't specified what your degree subject is but I would suggest it is very unlikely to assist you in your day to day career if you are looking at signalling or MOM roles - it may help you in an office doing fairly complicated calculations revolving around planning or efficiencies - but this is apparently mundane to you so again will not fit your aspirations.


This isn't personal but maybe rethink how much better you could have phrased this post without offending all these people in roles that you consider unsuitable for yourself.

Fair assessment. I'm doing a law degree but figured out that a traditional office job is not for me.

This post was equal parts question and me thinking out loud - sorry if I offended anyone in any of these roles!

I don't think I would be difficult to train, or that in person I have an attitude - but then I suppose everybody thinks that.

I most definitely need to work on my communications skills though, especially written.

Thank you for the attitude check!

 

[bouff34]

Fair assessment. I'm doing a law degree but figured out that a traditional office job is not for me.

This post was equal parts question and me thinking out loud - sorry if I offended anyone in any of these roles!

I don't think I would be difficult to train, or that in person I have an attitude - but then I suppose everybody thinks that.

I most definitely need to work on my communications skills though, especially written.

Thank you for the attitude check!

No problem, at least you took it in the spirit it was meant. I was in a not too dissimilar position to you forty years ago with an accounting degree and rapidly realised I hated working in an office. I left and then served 26 years in a front line emergency service role. NWR obviously thought my skill set was a good match when I became a signaller six years ago...

Some of NWR's graduate schemes are pretty good from what I hear. I have seen apprentices on the Ops Management Scheme - I think whether it is worthwhile depends entirely on the area of the country and how well the scheme is managed. Most in my area seem to have focussed on signalling which makes all the other bits you get to see pointless and actually slows down your progress towards being a fully paid passed out signaller.

If you want to be a MOM be aware that these seem to be very popular roles and the positions won't come up very frequently. If you were the recruiting team would you pick someone fresh off the street or someone who already has several years in a safety critical role who is used to dealing with dynamic risk assessments on a daily basis... it is unlikely your degree will have given you many relevant skills in this area...

 

[md81]

if you want an interesting desk job, a cousin of mine is an air traffic controller, he advised me many years ago to have a look at the test. you register your interest and depending on their needs, they send out the invite to do the online assessment. I found it quite difficult and I think (was a while back) it's like the railways where you can't try again for a set period. Think rotating 3D shapes, maths and 30 second questions, not unlike tests for rail drivers. You may also need to move if you have no airfield near you

Trainee Air Traffic Controllers - NATS

NATS provides safe and efficient air traffic services and innovative solutions to UK and international airports, airlines and governments.

www.nats.aero

 

[Ducatist4]

The downside of becoming an air traffic controller (in the UK at least) is that once you are qualified they can post you to any of their locations
in the country.

 

[md81]

my cousin has been at his station for over a decade, so it must depend on your grade at first. And also if its not a NATS unit, the rules might be different. if you go onto the RAF ATC schemes they will send you wherever... there's also a high turnover of staff due to stress. I had a landlord who became a landlord after ATC, for the quiet life!

 

[Harpo]

Definitely go for the graduate scheme. You may get a MOMs post for a while on your way through the grades.

 

[Horizon22]

The Graduate Scheme can certainly take you above the level of signaller, in fact becoming a LOM (Local Operations Manager) would be a somewhat natural progression a few years after completing the scheme if that was the sort of route you wanted to take. You'd probably get a few months experience doing a signaller and MOM role as part of the hands-on part of the scehem. The NR management schemes are pretty well rounded I believe, but also very competitive.

One thing to be careful is of how you come across - some graduates come across as like they "know it all" and above other front-line roles and they can get a pretty poor reputation amongst colleagues as that might be their own experience of graduates, especially if they have been fast-tracked.