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Track Worker 3600 Hiring Process


TheBigLD
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Last know called # (322x)

The list for the next open-competitive track worker examination, Exam #8600, has been published.

Please see the Track Worker Exam #8600 topic for more information.

 

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this is from my track work a friend. " When you first start you will move in seniority pretty quickly. Cause people don't always stay in track they go to other departments or they quit cause they can't hack it. But when you get some time under your belt you won't move up as fast"

Edited by Allday
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He's 100% right.

 

When I first started in Track the first thing everyone told me was to "get out of track! Go to Train operator or 3rd rail." 

Train operator because it was a cleaner less demanding job then Track and RTO was one of the more respected dept's. 3rd rail because they just didn't do shit (at that time). I went to 3rd Rail.

 

A lot of guys who start out nights in Capital (track construction) can't handle it. It's dirty, your breathing in Diesel fumes, lots of gas operated tools, generators, structure spot chipping concrete, 3Rd rail shooting bonds, etc. You have a respirator you can wear that does help but now you have to make sure your clean shaven every night and after awhile it becomes impossible to communicate wearing it being everyone else is wearing hearing protection so your always taking it off to talk.

 

Days is obviously the way to go. Cleaner and healthier and less of a physical demand. Nights is Rough!!! I was days in track capital for 2 years, nights in 3rd rail for the last 19 years.

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  • 3 months later...

I also got an e-mail, saying:

 

"From Exam Administration

This is the New York City Transit calling to inform you that the answer sheets for Track Worker, Exam number 3600, are, currently being, scored. We expect that the eligible list resulting from this exam will be established in approximately 6 months. At that time, you will receive a Notice of Result letter in the mail with your test score and list number, providing you passed the test."

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Try to keep current with the progress your list is making.

There is lots of movement right now with retirees and promotions. 

The Transit Authority is a changing place right now.

I waited 2 1/2 years to be called. That was 22 years ago :)

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My take on it is...

 

Those that passed the test will be called.. It's just going take some time and a three year wait isn't put of the question and should be expected (if not even longer) with that.. By the time the results come out that will be one year down already so hopefully the wait won't seem as long from that point.

 

I kept my answers from the test and matched them to the answer key.. got three wrong (not the best but comfortable with it)

 

Hopefully my score is good enough to be called back even if it's a few years to be called.

 

As the old saying goes you have to be in it to win it... those of us that took the time to take the test (and passed) are already moving in the right direction.

 

We waited for the admission letters, we waited for the answer keys to be posted, now we're waiting for the official results and list numbers in a few months.. Progress takes time but things are definitely moving.

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Question.....I recently took this exam and scored well, however im wondering if this job is a job where you can really provide for your family, another words, whats top pay, are there promotional opportunities, if so what are they, good benefits? pension? Any info would be great . Thanks guys

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 YES!!! It's a great job with Job security.

 

You start at $20 an hour going up to around $29 an hour after 4 years. It's steady 52 weeks a year 40 hours a week minimum.

 

You get a pension, health benefits, vacation time, sick time, holidays, etc.

If you pick a capital job wether days or nights there is overtime at time and one half.

 

In Track department there is plenty of room not only for promotions in supervision but also specialist jobs as a track worker you can pick based on your seniority such as Track walker (inspector) , Crane operator, Truck driver, Pay load operator, Welder / Burner jobs, etc. All of them Transit will have you trained in and if a CDL is needed in the event you pick a job requiring one they will pay for it.

 

Some guys can make more on the outside in construction or even IT jobs but the job security out there is wearing thin. Here you'll have job security.

 

Anything bad or I might find unfair with Transit still are not enough to make look for other work.

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Some guys can make more on the outside in construction or even IT jobs but the job security out there is wearing thin. Here you'll have job security.

 

Anything bad or I might find unfair with Transit still are not enough to make look for other work.

 

Yes you are correct. For the record, being an IT professional myself, the lack of job security despite the reasonable pay with contracts offered through the recruiting firms can make for a difficult situation for many in this field. This has led me to the decision to pursue my bachelors in nursing and start the career change into the healthcare field looking for better job security with unionized protections and better healthcare benefits which is what is important and supersedes the pay. I may reach my goal successfully in a year and move from a level 3 helpdesk tech/computer support specialist with creudentials to becoming a registered nurse.

 

I've always encouraged everyone here on this site, still in school, to consider going for a career in transit. Give it a shot. It's worth a try given the severely competitive job market that exists in NYC today, where in the private sector, many more jobs are outsourced then ever before.  It's tough to get into the public sector but the benefits are insurmountable. It's not just the pay that counts, it's the fact that a prospective transit employee is set for life in terms of financial security, if such a person makes it all the way through the hiring process. The MTA is a good way to go, in order to, achieve such success, ready to embark on a solid career.

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You said it yourself, you are very satisfied with your job as an MTA employee in track and infrastructure maintainance and I'm sure many others will be if they go for it in the MTA. I'll you and others are to be commended for keeping this system running. Track workers and their responsibilities are critical to the proper operation of the subways. Just by observing how hard track workers perform on their jobs and their very high level of skill I agree this is a great way to start a career, as you stated.

Edited by realizm
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Thanks for your quick response!  That's good to here about the job security, I'm a college student and I would love to have a career with the MTA.  Also, some bad news, I have an online subscripition to the chief leader, and there was an article posted on Oct 3rd which stated the last Track Worker's exam list has been extended yet again:( 

 

"Track Worker Exam 5016 Extended

Whereas a restriction against the filling of vacancies due to budgetary constraints has limited the number of Track Workers the New York City Transit Authority has been able to appoint, the duration of the existing eligible list for for that title, No. 5016, has been extended to March 14, 2015.

The Department of Citywide Administrative Services established list 5016 in March 2009. The exam was held April 22-23, 2006."

 

 

Well guys, as you can see this list was established in 2009, meaning 2015 would make it a 6-year long list.

 

Guess patience is a virtue.

Any Thoughts?

 

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Thanks for your quick response!  That's good to here about the job security, I'm a college student and I would love to have a career with the MTA.  Also, some bad news, I have an online subscripition to the chief leader, and there was an article posted on Oct 3rd which stated the last Track Worker's exam list has been extended yet again:( 

 

 

"Track Worker Exam 5016 Extended

 

 

 

 

Whereas a restriction against the filling of vacancies due to budgetary constraints has limited the number of Track Workers the New York City Transit Authority has been able to appoint, the duration of the existing eligible list for for that title, No. 5016, has been extended to March 14, 2015.

The Department of Citywide Administrative Services established list 5016 in March 2009. The exam was held April 22-23, 2006."

 

 

Well guys, as you can see this list was established in 2009, meaning 2015 would make it a 6-year long list.

 

Guess patience is a virtue.

Any Thoughts?

 

Must be someone's kid way down on this list. Never heard of a Track list going 6yrs. BTW, it's a good job. Once at top pay you can make over 100k if you pick Capital. Lots of opportunity to advance also. Great benefits(though dental sucks)Very good pension and 401/457k plans also.
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Good to hear that it's a good paying job, would you be able to explain exactly what "capital" means ?

Sure. Track Dept is basically broken down into two divisions. Track Maintainence and Capital Construction. You pick which division you want to work in. Usually a pick lasts two to three years. Track Maintainence is usually smaller scale jobs. Days off are usually Fri/Sat or Sun/Mon. You can make some O.T. here but not as much as Capital. Capital Construction is larger scale jobs. Days off are midweek usually Mon/Tue, Tue/Wed etc...They make a lot of O.T. mainly on the weekends. Extra shifts on the weekends and extended hours during the week. Most people pick Capital to work the O.T.

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Track Workers are the hardest working and the most respected group down here. I am amazed at how quickly they can do a job and how good they work as teams. Track workers are either in shape or they get into shape pretty quickly, I don't know of any 300lb trackworkers. I have yet to meet a track gang that hates their job,they truly love what they do.

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Sure. Track Dept is basically broken down into two divisions. Track Maintainence and Capital Construction. You pick which division you want to work in. Usually a pick lasts two to three years. Track Maintainence is usually smaller scale jobs. Days off are usually Fri/Sat or Sun/Mon. You can make some O.T. here but not as much as Capital. Capital Construction is larger scale jobs. Days off are midweek usually Mon/Tue, Tue/Wed etc...They make a lot of O.T. mainly on the weekends. Extra shifts on the weekends and extended hours during the week. Most people pick Capital to work the O.T.

 

Besides picking a division, can they also pick a reporting location? And how long is training? Pardon the questions, but w/ the list being extended yet again, I might jump ship to Track. More $(w/ the hard work) and promotional opportunities for T/W. As a C/R is pretty much T/O or bust now. You have to be a senior C/R to pick flagging, towers will be a thing of the past and there's talk of ATDs being phased out w/ TSS assigned to terminals taking up their duties.

Edited by Tricknologist
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Besides picking a division, can they also pick a reporting location? And how long is training? Pardon the questions, but w/ the list being extended yet again, I might jump ship to Track. More $(w/ the hard work) and promotional opportunities for T/W.

Yes, you pick reporting location. Being new(junior)you'd probably only be able to pick nights (10pm to 6am) for a few years though you could bid on open day jobs. Training is 6 weeks. Trackworkers hourly pay is more than Conductor. Construction flaggers make the same hourly rate as Trackworkers because they work on the track. In Track Dept you can pick specialist jobs which are $2 to $3 an hour more than regular Trackworker jobs. You also can take the test for MS I(Foreman). Their base top pay is around 80k(should be more cause they're a contract behind us). From there you can move all the way up to General Superintendent without college degree (that's three promotions). You can also move to Third Rail if you pass their test. They get paid a little more than Track specialists. Track doesn't bust your chops about taking days off or calling in sick either.

I've been here 20yrs and wouldn't want to be in any other Dept.

Edited by SpikeMauler
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I could not agree more with Spikemauler.

 

In my 22 years down here (2 years Track capital days, 19 years nights Third Rail) I am glad I never went into RTO (Train operators.)

 

There is little to none flexibility in RTO a compared to Track.

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I could not agree more with Spikemauler.

In my 22 years down here (2 years Track capital days, 19 years nights Third Rail) I am glad I never went into RTO (Train operators.)

There is little to none flexibility in RTO a compared to Track.

Hey dp142. I did the complete opposite of you. I did 2 yrs in Third Rail and 18 in Track.
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Back then P.D. was the place to be compared to Track.

I'm not so sure anymore. The pick is further apart now and not as great as what it used to be.

 

There are alot more specialist jobs in Track with a greater variety of jobs that are even useful of the outside like the CDL, Pay Loader, bobcat, etc.

 

Track might be the place to be now!

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Back then P.D. was the place to be compared to Track.

I'm not so sure anymore. The pick is further apart now and not as great as what it used to be.

There are alot more specialist jobs in Track with a greater variety of jobs that are even useful of the outside like the CDL, Pay Loader, bobcat, etc.

Track might be the place to be now!

I agree. Back when I was there ('95) PD was the best job in MOW. Now it's probably a toss up between PD and Track. It's a kinder gentler Track Dept now ...lol. And signal? Forget it....

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