Work Experience

[TechieHelper]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone knew of any work experience for a position as a dispatcher (or any train-related job for that matter) in the London / South East area? I've just started A Levels and would be very interested to come and work in a station

Thanks!

 

[185143]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone knew of any work experience for a position as a dispatcher (or any train-related job for that matter) in the London / South East area? I've just started A Levels and would be very interested to come and work in a station

Thanks!

Contact the local TOCs would be the best advice.

That said, I emailed a TOC up North when I would have been about such a thing and they never gave me a reply.

 

[CyrusWuff]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone knew of any work experience for a position as a dispatcher (or any train-related job for that matter) in the London / South East area? I've just started A Levels and would be very interested to come and work in a station

Thanks!

You'd be unlikely to be able to do work experience as a Train Dispatcher, given the medical and training requirements involved.

Greater Anglia occasionally offer unpaid "traineeships", but they tend to be a two month programme rather than the couple of weeks that work experience placements tend to last.

 

[zwk500]

I'd personally write to Network Rail and TOCs asking for work experience in a Station Customer Support role at one of the big terminals. You can mention that you'd like to see how despatchers work at some point during that week. Work experience placements tend to include a range of roles over the week, getting a sense of what the company offers and how jobs differ, rather than doing just 1 role.

 

[StaffsPM1]

I did work experience twice with SOuth West Trains as was. Realistically you cannot do anything other than platform customer services because of the psycometrics and medical and training requirements of most roles.

 

[TechieHelper]

Ok thanks everyone, I've tried emailing one company but I'll try a few more!

 

[skyhigh]

Realistically you cannot do anything other than platform customer services because of the psycometrics and medical and training requirements of most roles.

You might be able to shadow a dispatcher, but you definitely wouldn't be allowed to have a go. Anything that's non-safety related you might also have a chance at shadowing - ticket office etc. You definitely wouldn't be able to go out with a driver or guard though.

 

[185143]

I appreciate you were asking about London and the South East, but I've just seen this poster at Leeds Station, for anyone else's benefit.

 

[skyhigh]

I appreciate you were asking about London and the South East, but I've just seen this poster at Leeds Station, for anyone else's benefit.

They don't offer work experience as a part of that, though. It's simply a course on CVs, customer service and basic IT etc. with a job interview at the end hoping to pick out any talent that comes through.

 

[zwk500]

Ok thanks everyone, I've tried emailing one company but I'll try a few more!

My rule of thumb when doing job applications was that I'd hear back seriously from about 1 in 5 companies (nearly everybody gives a 'thank you for your interest' email). Obviously it's hit and miss how many response you need before you get a 'yes', but you'll have to put some legwork in to get a foot in the door.