Domicrafting

I would get in touch with whoever reached out to you from HR to schedule the S&D process and ask whats going on with your application. I can't adequately answer that question of what happened because I'm not part of HR and I'd just be speculating. I think/have heard if they don't want to move forward with you in the process they send you correspondence through U.S. mail saying they're going another direction and to reapply in a year, so if you never got a letter like that you're likely still in the running. If you email them I'd imagine you get an answer within a business day or two.

For what its worth an early January S&D overview makes sense. The final class of 2023 just started at Hillside last week and will wrap up in mid February. So if they hold S&D overviews in early Jan and then test applicants in early February they can fill a late Feb/Early March class. If I were in your shoes I'd enjoy the Holidays and try not to dwell on whether or when you'll get the call. Because if you inevitably get through the process and are working the trains getting off for Christmas or New years is gonna be tough ask for the first several years - so enjoy the time you get with your family now while you still can. When you inevitably get the invite study your ass off for 5 weeks by any means necessary. Honestly the S&D test was the toughest part of the process because you need to take the time out of your life to study for free, for something with no guaranteed reward, and you have absorb a big chunk of esoteric knowledge which seems like nonsense. Once your in class things are much more manageable because you're getting paid and it's your job at that point. You're also surrounded by people in the same boat while you're at hillside, whereas with the S&D test it's all on you in isolation. Good luck with getting the call, hope to see you out there sometime next year. Study hard, the job is worth it.

Here's the basic path to getting hired as an Assistant Conductor, Engineer, or Block Operator: Apply on the website. Wait to get contacted (usually via email). Getting contacted (or not) is based on your resume and if their system picked up the keywords they're looking for. They will invite you to an "Open House" for the position you applied for. Wait times range from 1 day to 12 months, or never. If they are not interested, you will not hear from them. Attend the Open House. You will take a "Cognitive" test (IQ test, they want to see if you have the intellectual firepower for the S&D and Classroom process), a Vocabulary test (multiple choice, pick the synonym for the word given, 10th grade level give or take), and a math test (Assistant Conductor only, basic arithmetic, grade school level). If you pass the tests given, you will be interviewed that day and then sent home. If you fail the tests, you will be sent home and told to apply again in one year. After successfully interviewing wait to be contacted for Signals & Definitions. You will receive an invite (via email) to attend a "Signals & Definitions Overview Class". The wait to receive this email can range from a few weeks to a few months. If they do not want to move forward with you, you will receive a rejection letter via US Mail at this point. Attend the S&D Overview (~6 hours long) and receive study materials. Study for 5 weeks, (2-3 hours a night, and as much as possible on the weekends) learning the S&D material word-for-word verbatim. (and they mean it) Take the S&D test, get a passing grade. If you pass, you will be interviewed again (by a transportation manager and HR, this is the "real" interview) and measured for a uniform that same day. If you fail, you will be sent home and told to apply again in one year. Wait to get contacted about the job. This wait can sometimes take months, depending on the training schedule. If they decide they don't want to move forward with you at this point, you will receive a rejection letter via US Mail. When they reach out to you, it will be to start the process on the background check, and to schedule a comprehensive medical screen+drug test at their medical facility. Marijuana, although legal in NYS, is a no go for any of these positions, so begin abstaining well in advance. Complete background check & medical/physical exam**. (don't attempt omit anything on the background check, they will find out) Receive offer letter, begin class*. (Credit to "lirrcndctrthrowaway" on reddit for the above outline of the process.) You can't really study for the first round of tests, so don't sweat it. Do however dress professionally for the Open House, a suit or professional attire is recommended. Don't expect the hiring process to move especially quickly until after you pass the S&D exam (as in don't plan on quitting your current job anytime in the next few months;). (footnotes from "lirrcndctrthrowaway" for block operators/engineers candidates in this process who might find this post in a search.) *Engineer process differs a bit here: you are first in an unpaid "Phase 1" class, which is similar to first 5 weeks of the paid training for Asst. Conductors. Engineers that are successful in Phase 1 are then officially hired and put in paid Phase 2 training (14 months). **Block operator process differs a bit here: You are first in a 2 week unpaid training called "Basic Skills"(Tuesday/Thursday evenings and all day Saturday). If you pass the exams during Basic Skills, you complete the background check and are placed in a pool of eligible candidates to be hired. Once you are offered a position in a training class (6 weeks of class time, 1 year on the job training) you then do the medical/physical exam.

They have the AC trainee job posted here open for applicants again.

Yeah @Ren that's why I was reluctant to answer on here/have been lurking for months. Didn't wanna blow up anyone's spot in HR and anger them because I'm talking outta pocket, or make others in the process more anxious than we all already are. Too late now I guess, my apologies. Anyway, I would hit up the HR representative who was your point of contact for the S&D test rsvps and see if they know what's going on; or ask if they can possibly get you in touch with someone who's handling the pre-employment process for prospective ACs who've passed the S&D exam - so you can ask them whats going on. Either way someone will respond to your inquiry email with good guidance within a day or two I'd figure, especially if you drop them a line by like 0700 tomorrow, that'll give them 3 business days to touch base with you this week. Reaching out can't hurt, it can only help clarify whats up so I wouldn't hesitate to do so. I would also make sure to check your spam folder and trash email, because for me it was a totally different person who began the process after the test, and the initial email actually to start the background check ended up in my spam folder and I nearly missed it. Also on a final note I got an actual phone call at one point as well so make sure you answering anything with 718/347 area code that passes the robocall filter while you sort this out and ensure you have voicemail set up if it isn't already. Good luck!

I haven't heard anything in terms of a start date/job offer. They started the background check process for me that Monday after the S&D exam on the 29th and I took my Physical last week. At the overview or maybe after the test, I don't remember exactly, one of the instructors said their pay period starts on a Wednesday; so you can assume the tentative June class, if it still happens, will begin on 7th/14th/21st or 28th. Don't know how helpful that is to you, but it's something even if it's just an assumption. Gotta figure they'd give us a week or two heads up to get our affairs in order when they settle on a date and/or the candidates they want first, so we might hear something concrete early next week if they're aiming for an early June start date.