What do i do now??

[Stella89r6]

I am a newly quilified trackman coming out of an apprenticship and about 12 shifts under my belt so very new to this industry and abit unsure of where or how to progress in it. I have currently been working for 2 contractor agencies wich have given me few and far between shifts with nothing other than shoveling to do which of course i understand is part of the job but i am learning nothing from it and just i asked if there was any chance once gaining my white hat of me being put in a core gang and progressing towards better pay/career prospects which the answer was no i basically feel i am and will be just a gap filler when more than 6 men are needid. Is this the norm with all companies? I get the feeling i hould be spealising in somthing but what and how?

 

[NinjaJihad]

As an agency worker and a new one at that unfortunately you are going to have to get used to only getting shifts when there are no more full time staff to put on it. I've been fairly lucky in avoiding p-way shovelling work, I have done it but I am now experienced in working on the overheads.

Not sure of your location but sign up with as many agencies and railway companies as you can. Most companies specialising in OLE will have a pool of agency workers, maybe send them a speculative letter/e-mail saying it is an area you would like to get in to. You would start off as an earthing assistant which isn't the most interesting job in the world but it beats shovelling ballast!

You may have to say goodbye to all your Saturday nights but as a agency worker the best advice is to sign up with everyone, chances are one will offer midweek work as long as you commit to weekends.