Mechanics / Technicians -Update!-

[Lewy-]

Hello again all!

Some while back, i made a post about apprenticeships / careers as a mechanic or maintenance technician...preferably on freight loco's (look up the thread if you want some background info )

I just thought i'd let you all know, that my searching has gone without any kind of success

So thankyou to all who gave me advice, but it seems to have been in vain

Cheers

Lewis

[John H-T]

Thanks for letting us know how you have got on so far.

I am sorry that there has not been a positive outcome yet. Keep trying.

Good luck,
Best wishes,

John H-T.

[Ian White]

I am going to agree with John,DONT GIVE UP keep pluging away at it

All the best,ian

[DSY011]

Don't give up Lewy, You know the old saying. If at first you don't succeed, Try Try Try again. I applied to join the GPO Telephoned (now BT) 16 times. I got the job and was told that anyone who kept on trying that many times must be keen and a slogger. That's why they took me on. Worked my way up to Payphones Field Manager.
Keep trying mate.

[Dynamo]

I doubt that any company will be looking to train anybody up at the present time seeing as they are all shedding jobs by the bucketload. We are just about to cut back the fitting staff at Thornaby yet again.

I heard the other day that Freightliner have cut their drivers hours back to 25 a week so everyone is in deep do doo's. Its a bad time to be job hunting I'm afraid.

[Flying Pig]

Hi Lewy, I'm sorry to hear that you haven't got anywhere yet. I agree wholeheartedly with the others that you have to keep banging on the door. Many moons ago it took me 4 attempts to get into the Fire Brigade - when they finally accepted me they said they'd only let me in because they were sick of seeing my ugly face at the assessment centre. But the truth is that most employers value people with determination and ambition.

On the subject of jobs, IIRC you're located in Ipswich or thereabouts. That limits you to the number of FOCs/TOCs you can apply to. Given that we're going into a recession it's unlikely (though not impossible) that any trainee postions will come up for a while now, BUT there is one option still open.

See this link...http://www.everydaybrilliance.co.uk/...lant/what.aspx

This is the Network Rail training programme. They are desperately short of technicians, AND they have a residential training school, so it doesn't matter where you live.

Obviously it does NOT involve locos or rolling stock, but if you specialise in plant you will deal with some engines and generators. This would be a terrific grounding in the technical basics, and you'd be well placed to apply for TOC/FOC jobs when things pick up on the other side of the recession.

Just a thought. It's always nice to get your foot on the first rung of the career ladder.

Best wishes,

FP

[Lewy-]

Hello all!

Thanks for your kind replies. I shall try try again in desperation.

And yes, i have had a look at Network rail's scheme before, but that kind of engineering isnt my thing, although it did interest me that its still transport related.

The amount of time spent at HMS sultan, thier training base bothers me a tad though. But am still considering it.

Thanks again!

[washingmachine]

Good luck in finding the job you are looking for.It will be hard as companies are laying off staff. Keep trying and never give up.

[Pesmo]

I would jump at the opportunity for technical training at Sultan. Anyone whom has ever been inside a modern warship will know just how mechanically and electrically complex they are, and any training in this area provided at sultan would be much better than any local technical college. Ships have some enormous diesel engines and gearboxes etc and the very latest are going to be diesel electric just like loco's so there would likely be more in common than you think and training in this area should be high class. And (whisper whisper) the RN still powers its minesweepers with Deltic engines so training on those might be available.
Gosport and Portsmouth (5 minute ferry ride) are decent towns if you are young (I went to Uni there) so don't dismiss them completely.

[Flying Pig]

Selhurst Depot (Southern Railway) is advertising for engineering apprenticeships.

See linky here....https://www.southern.candidata.co.uk...spx?JobID=1100