Diezel

That's a noble decision. Honestly you would need a passion for railroading to do this job. The people who do it know what they're sacrificing. I'm only 26, I'm young. I have no family of my own yet but I do understand that if I were to have one I'll miss out on a lot of moments. I second guess my want for the job all the time but because this was something I always wanted to do since I was a boy my love for the job never goes away. So I'm consistently applying hoping I get called. My hope is that if I were to become an engineer that I would have reasonable work hours and that if I give a heads up way in advance to my superiors for special days I'll get that day off.

Unfortunately reasonable work hours will never happen until you're in for 20 years...at least from what our instructor told us.  You're on call right after your shift ends and once they call you, you have to be at that location within 3 hours...sucks not knowing when or where you're gonna be from day to day.

In all honesty I don't have enough time to dedicate with a 2 year old and another baby on the way soon. It would decimate my life and my families lives. Maybe if I was 25 and single. Also the fact that if I failed out of Phase 2 I would be left with no job which is scary considering I have a mortgage and family etc. Too risky.

The only pro for me is the money but I can't base my career off of that. I currently make decent money but obviously not as much as an engineer. I guess I considered my family life versus money. I don't want to look back in 20 years and miss out on family memories. Holidays with my family etc. It reminds me of that movie Click with Adam Sandler. He fast forwarded through all the great memories with his family and found himself old and regretted it so much. I don't want to go through that lol.

Don't let the money potential blind you! You live once and money can't buy happiness. That's the way I see it. I'll stick to my IT work Monday to Friday with almost no commute and enjoy my work/family balance.

How's phase 1 going? and how was day 1?

Wish I could tell you....I dropped myself from the program

Thanks a lot Diesel. I will keep that in mind when preparing for the panel interview. This pager that you mention, is it the job description that they posted on the website or another type of literature? I was told on the phone by the HR rep that I should go over the job description sheet since they will be asking questions based on it. 

Its DieZel..lol...  I assume you meant "paper"....its basically a sheet long paper about not being able to drink while on the job or while off the job and wearing MTA clothing or something to that effect.  Just read it over a bunch.  I only knew like 1 of the rules on there as I wasnt sure why I was even reading it and then they asked me what I remembered from it...Doubt its a big deal but cant hurt to remember as much as possible for the interview.  

I think one of the questions they asked was what do you do if your train gets stuck in between stations..Its all scenario stuff...nothing too crazy

Oh yeah and they do ask about the job description...they ask what is the role of the locomotive engineer.

I didn't. I think if they like your resume then that should be enough. 

Hey guys, so I got my call today for the panel interview. I was wondering if anyone would be able to share some advice about the tone of the panel interview and maybe share their experiences about it. I am a little anxious for its my first panel interview that I am about to experience. Thank you and I appreciate your help. 

You will be interviewed by an HR rep and a foreman.  They might ask you how you would handle certain situations such as killing someone, driving train during inclement weather etc.  They will also have you read a paper before you go into the panel interview and they will ask you questions off of it.

Quick question,

 

Did you guys attach a cover letter when submitting your resume?

Negative.  Not necessary.

To anyone who might know the answer, should I focus on the Book of Rules that I received via email for day 1 of Phase 1 or should i refresh my S&D knowledge?  Whats more important?

Again, I am a bit rusty on the S&D but Book of Rules seems daunting....

Thoughts??????

They told me the same and haven't received it yet. I'm sure we'll get it by the end of day. If I don't get it by 3, I'll call to follow up

Got mine... Thanks.

yeah I can still remember parts of each definition but not the entirety.  The signals are memorized in a week or so originally.  Not worried about those.

HR said they would email the information but I still havent received it...  Have you BiggBurns?

They'll come back quick. It'll be easier to recall them now than starting from scratch

yeah I can still remember parts of each definition but not the entirety.  The signals are memorized in a week or so originally.  Not worried about those.

April damn, my interview was in September I'm guessing I still got a long wait

Yeah and they just reposted the job again. I applied for shits and giggles...  I am assuming they are way behind on people for the training classes.  At this rate, you might get a call in June, LOL.

My interview was end of last April and I go over the s&d's once a week. I also lost hope but you never know so it's better to be fresh.

Thats great...I guess I will start to review again   The signals are cake...just forgot most the definitions.

Thats great...I guess I will start to review again   The signals are cake...just forgot most the definitions.

And my interview was also April....8 months to hear back...CRAZY!!!

Hey all, I just got the phone call for phase 1 and medical scheduled for tomorrow. Can anyone tell me what the medical is like. I also wear glasses for both distance and reading so actually have a pair of bifocals

I just got a call as well @ 9:10AM from HR.  I asked what it entailed and she said eye exam to see the signal colors and also ability to climb and enter the train.  Anyone know what else is expected?  Do they do a full medical work up, hearing, eyes, drug test etc?  Or is all that when you pass phase 1 and get hired?

Also, Its been like 6 months since Ive studied LOL.  I honestly lost hope when I didnt hear back from them after so long. 

Does the MTA prefer to hire if you know someone or do they prefer it if you don't have any connections?  Just curious because I have a different interview for an IT spot and I had to fill out a family disclosure form....  Thanks

how long from after the backround check do you get called in for signals and definitions test? i did the open house June 6th and haven't heard anything further. Also who in HR can you contact on the phone or number?

Less than a month for me.  I got all my paperwork in ASAP.  The HR person I always dealt with was Lucille Marino.

4 months

Yep, almost 5 months here...  At this point I have accepted my fate lol.  Just wish they would let us know what our status is besides "youre in a candidate pool". 

Hey Guys. I am new to the forum. I as well will be in the phase 1 class starting June 29th.

Congrats.  When was your panel interview?

From my class to the class behind me it was 4-5 months. It is very frustrating. I stop studying after the panel interview until I got the call. Then I started once again. RTMason keep studying and unfortunately he didn't get selected. Don't know what they're really looking for. Candidates who score high will go first. And if there's another signal and def class and some of those individuals score higher than the previous class. I think they will get in. My class consists of 8 from my overview and 4 from the previous overview. So I really don't know how the selection works. The classes behind are a class of 10 and a class of 8.

Also the classes behind me is mostly internals. My class are all "OFF THE STREETS" candidates.

WOW 4-5 months is insane!  Seems like the odds of getting in are extremely slim.  I appreciate them putting me in a pool of candidates I just wish I knew definitely if I was getting in at SOME point.  The unknown is annoying and frustrating.  Don't think I would apply again if I didnt make it the first time around.

When I qualify a new phase 1 should start September or October. ^

So it sounds like every 2 months or so there is a new Phase 1?  I honestly don't have a good feeling about getting picked.  I haven't even been studying my definitions. Very frustrating process this is.

Good stuff. Was anyone else there for a medical physical for phase 1? Did they mention when your class would start?

Relax guys. I doubt it's a lottery. They are probably just fitting people in to the next classes based on how well they did on vocabulary/cognitive/exam/interview etc. just have to wait and see what happens. Pointless to worry until you actually get a call saying you didn't make it.

Relax guys. I doubt it's a lottery. They are probably just fitting people in to the next classes based on how well they did on vocabulary/cognitive/exam/interview etc. just have to wait and see what happens. Pointless to worry until you actually get a call saying you didn't make it.

@jd88

 

Congrats!! That's awesome, glad to hear you were accepted to Phase 1! How did the physical go yesterday?

 

I have not heard anything yet, has anyone else?

@OperatorRic it's tough but you literally have to keep going over them over and over again and write them out a couple hundred times. Make flashcards too - flashcards and writing them over and over helped me the most.

Nothing here.  I emailed HR to get an update.  They stated I was in the "Phase 1 candidate pool" and my application was good for 12 months.  I guess they just pick people from their pool?  Not sure exactly what this means lol.

How did you guys study and retain this information, The definitions are killing me they seem so long and hard. Can someone give me some tips and let me know how the definition part of the exam was. The signals are easy to learn because they seem very repetitive...

 

Please email to assist me with tips and ideas OperatorRic@gmail.com

Index cards...Read the definition a bunch of times, then try and look away and recall the information.  I read up on how to memorize and apparently we memorize better by using our recall ability.  Try and recall a few words at a time then look at the definition when you have to..before you know it, you will remember the whole sentence.  I found it easier to memorize the longer definitions for some reason and I had issues with the short ones, lol.

I had my panel interview the same day as you I think. April 8th?

Wow that's awesome. At least someone heard something. Congrats. Did they say when the actual phase 1 was starting? Any other details? Thanks!

Also, I thought the physical and medical was after you pass phase1? Why would they give you those exams if you may not even pass it?

I'm surprised it's taking this long for people who had interviews in January. I was reading up from last year when Dreynce only waited 2 months. I guess he maybe just happened to be in at the right time. Let's cross our fingers.