James G. asked a question to Paul S.
I am a father of a young family and I'm very interested in becoming a train driver. I have no experience within the industry but I'm determined to get in. I have sort assistance from various online sources with trying to train myself for a driver position but the only ways to get in are to apply direct or through an apprenticeship. Most companies are only offering vacancies for fully trained individuals leaving slim opportunities for new comers. Do you have any insights as to how i can stand out? am i better off getting a job at the companies of interest and applying internally? Thanks in advance for your time, I hope to hear from you. if you have any questions feel free to contact me on 07944738671. Kindest regards James Green
Good Evening James, Firstly; thank you for taking the time to visit the careers page here. I can relate to this personally as I remember searching the internet looking for my first opportunity. At Avanti we have just finished a recruitment campaign for Trainee Drivers. I would definitely recommend registering on our careers page for future vacancies. I've put the link here too so you can access the registration easily: https://www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/about-us/careers/train-driver-recruitment The railway is a unique industry and so many opportunities to choose from. If you decide to look into another role before moving into train driving it will give you the experience and an insight into the railway and what really happens behind the scenes to make those train wheels move; it's way more than just the driver. During my time as a Train Driver Instructor I spent time with other departments to see what their job entailed and it gave me a confidence boost to be able to deal with and communicate with other areas of the business. These departments are interesting and no two days are ever the same. A little tip for you: When a vacancy arises and is advertised, it will get a lot of interest. If you like what you're hearing then apply straight away to avoid any disappointment and also....Never give up!! You will get there.
James, If you have any questions about the recruitment process, the job itself or anything related please feel free to drop me another message. Happy to help
