Exam 7604 T/O #7604 Hiring Process

[apokeguy]

17 hours ago, njbk said:

Yard posting is basically “pre yx.” You are assigned all around the division to each yard at least once. Posting is 3 weeks, one week of midnights one week of pm and one week of am. 

After posting is finished you are YX for 2 months. The first week or so is yard familiarization, where you will go to each yard and spend the day with a TSS once again going over the specifics of each yard and common moves.

After this you are on your own. The crew office will assign you as needed. You are on your own and can be asked to do anything any other TO can as long as it doesn’t involve moving the train with passengers on it. You can also ask for overtime and call the crew office to work RDOs if you want. If you make any serious mistakes during YX (split a switch, hit a home signal, etc.) you are held responsible and will probably lose the job. 2 people were fired last month for splitting a switch while YX. 

After YX is the second signal exam, then 2 weeks of road ops. Then road posting. 

This is one of the reasons why some dispatchers are reluctant to assign solo work to folks in YX. It’s unfortunate but if you’re unsure or not comfortable ask the dispatcher, TSS or a senior T/O. I’ve encountered a dispatcher where they will just task you the tedious job of changing signs on train(s) because they’re not comfortable with YX folks doing anything else. 

I’m sure you’ve heard this a hundred times but you really are doing yourself a disservice if you don’t take notes during schoolcar station switching, yard posting and yard familiarization... or at any point during your training/career. 

When in doubt, take a full service brake, take a deep breath and reassess. 

Edited December 17, 2018 by apokeguy

[njbk]

3 hours ago, apokeguy said:

This is one of the reasons why some dispatchers are reluctant to assign solo work to folks in YX. It’s unfortunate but if you’re unsure or not comfortable ask the dispatcher, TSS or a senior T/O. I’ve encountered a dispatcher where they will just task you the tedious job of changing signs on train(s) because they’re not comfortable with YX folks doing anything else. 

I’m sure you’ve heard this a hundred times but you really are doing yourself a disservice if you don’t take notes during schoolcar station switching, yard posting and yard familiarization... or at any point during your training/career. 

When in doubt, take a full service brake, take a deep breath and reassess. 

100% yes.

A good strategy I have been doing is going to my switching assignments a half hour or so before my sign on time so I can ride along with another person making the move. Most of the switching moves are simple but having the confidence of knowing what you're doing makes a huge difference.

[kev2112]

Just spoke with Ms Vargas (very pleasant by the way). 2 week follow up call after Pre-Employment.  She stated that they are in the 800's for medical, and had no info on classes beyond January, and January's classes were not full yet.

[apokeguy]

1 hour ago, njbk said:

100% yes.

A good strategy I have been doing is going to my switching assignments a half hour or so before my sign on time so I can ride along with another person making the move. Most of the switching moves are simple but having the confidence of knowing what you're doing makes a huge difference.

You should do that after you’ve signed on because if anything happens, you could be SOL. 

[wrong side of tracks]

So, I experienced my first "character issue" yesterday at 180 Livingston. For the most part, everytime I went down there, EVERYONE has been very helpful and kind. I filled out my application and waiting for medical. Had some questions about my application. I have called and asked about the extra data sheet known as DC-10 on application instructions (Extra sheets to list employment). I asked if I can make a copy of blank sheet or do I need to come down. They said come down. I went down and one of the interviewers was pissed and asked me said that? I didn't get the persons name. She said you didn't have to come down, you could have made the copy. No one knew what a DC-10 is. That was weird. Anyway, that was a week ago, so I don't trust phone calls anymore.

So that brings me up to yesterday. Went on to ask questions. Here are some:

1-Instructions say, type or print. Instructions also say do not remove staple. How can I ride if I can't remove staple?

2-Where unemployed and collected unemployment, I collected weekly checks. The options for salary only give options for annual, hourly or daily.

3-If I'm submitting proof of work history like tax papers and criminal history report, do those count as extra data sheets?

Nothing crazy, just some questions because the instructions were vague on these points. Anyway, I reached Kevin at the front desk, he sent me to counter 3. He wouldn't let me talk. He said "stop, you going to hand me your paperwork or not?". He then starts looking for more paperwork. I tried telling him, I was there in November and I just came to ask some questions. Everytime I tried to talk, he interrupted me. Finally he understood, when he listened and told me "you can't just come down here. You have to be called down." I was like, but I have some questions. He said "to bad, you have to figure it yourself and ask the questions when you are called down here, you can't just skip all these people." I said, I wasn't trying to skip anyone, can I just give you an example of one of my questions? He said no and this went on for about another 30 seconds and I went back to the front desk. I told Kevin and he saw my disbelief. I wasn't angry, just disappointed. He understood I was just trying to do this right as this means my livelihood. Kevin is awesome. This is the second I was there and he went out of his way to help me. He took my application and went to the back. He said, it all depends on who is interviewing you. That will determine the answers to your questions. 

My point, don't get discouraged by the few that may not want to help or may not know the answer or is just having a stressful day. There are people there that are really helpful.

If anyone knows the answer to my above questions (And are 💯% sure, please let us know).

Also, is ok for me to scan the application and upload it here? Would that be breaking the rule of any policy? (I found a bad quality one online) I'm going to scan it, clean it up on the computer so I can print an extra copy if I mess up. I'm also going to create a blank data sheet for work history, then create form fields so you can type the information and print. Would like to help anyone else if I can.

Thanks everyone!

[LIRRMedford]

So 40B and 30A for this class. We chose today.  I got B like I wanted. No sign of Jay or Legacy yet 😝

[apokeguy]

1 hour ago, LIRRMedford said:

So 40B and 30A for this class. We chose today.  I got B like I wanted. No sign of Jay or Legacy yet 😝

Congrats! Just curious, what is the highest class number? Wondering if they went into the hundreds or started back in the single digits. 

[apokeguy]

5 hours ago, wrong side of tracks said:

So, I experienced my first "character issue" yesterday at 180 Livingston. For the most part, everytime I went down there, EVERYONE has been very helpful and kind. I filled out my application and waiting for medical. Had some questions about my application. I have called and asked about the extra data sheet known as DC-10 on application instructions (Extra sheets to list employment). I asked if I can make a copy of blank sheet or do I need to come down. They said come down. I went down and one of the interviewers was pissed and asked me said that? I didn't get the persons name. She said you didn't have to come down, you could have made the copy. No one knew what a DC-10 is. That was weird. Anyway, that was a week ago, so I don't trust phone calls anymore.

So that brings me up to yesterday. Went on to ask questions. Here are some:

1-Instructions say, type or print. Instructions also say do not remove staple. How can I ride if I can't remove staple?

2-Where unemployed and collected unemployment, I collected weekly checks. The options for salary only give options for annual, hourly or daily.

3-If I'm submitting proof of work history like tax papers and criminal history report, do those count as extra data sheets?

Nothing crazy, just some questions because the instructions were vague on these points. Anyway, I reached Kevin at the front desk, he sent me to counter 3. He wouldn't let me talk. He said "stop, you going to hand me your paperwork or not?". He then starts looking for more paperwork. I tried telling him, I was there in November and I just came to ask some questions. Everytime I tried to talk, he interrupted me. Finally he understood, when he listened and told me "you can't just come down here. You have to be called down." I was like, but I have some questions. He said "to bad, you have to figure it yourself and ask the questions when you are called down here, you can't just skip all these people." I said, I wasn't trying to skip anyone, can I just give you an example of one of my questions? He said no and this went on for about another 30 seconds and I went back to the front desk. I told Kevin and he saw my disbelief. I wasn't angry, just disappointed. He understood I was just trying to do this right as this means my livelihood. Kevin is awesome. This is the second I was there and he went out of his way to help me. He took my application and went to the back. He said, it all depends on who is interviewing you. That will determine the answers to your questions. 

My point, don't get discouraged by the few that may not want to help or may not know the answer or is just having a stressful day. There are people there that are really helpful.

If anyone knows the answer to my above questions (And are 💯% sure, please let us know).

Also, is ok for me to scan the application and upload it here? Would that be breaking the rule of any policy? (I found a bad quality one online) I'm going to scan it, clean it up on the computer so I can print an extra copy if I mess up. I'm also going to create a blank data sheet for work history, then create form fields so you can type the information and print. Would like to help anyone else if I can.

Thanks everyone!

When you were at 180 did you look on the wall to see if they had the work history form? They usually have blank forms on the wall for all kinds of things. But me personally since I needed more work history sheets than what was given to me, I removed the staple, scanned the forms, printed whatever additional sheets I needed, filled in my info, scanned them and placed the staple back in with the extra printed sheets “loose”.  When I handed it in to the HR personnel interviewing me, I just told her I needed more sheets so I made copies and they didn’t say anything. 

[wrong side of tracks]

23 minutes ago, apokeguy said:

When you were at 180 did you look on the wall to see if they had the work history form? They usually have blank forms on the wall for all kinds of things. But me personally since I needed more work history sheets than what was given to me, I removed the staple, scanned the forms, printed whatever additional sheets I needed, filled in my info, scanned them and placed the staple back in with the extra printed sheets “loose”.  When I handed it in to the HR personnel interviewing me, I just told her I needed more sheets so I made copies and they didn’t say anything. 

 

[wrong side of tracks]

Kevin walked me to counter 3. He did that last time too. I thought about it, but I didn't want to go overboard by asking if I could look at the forms on the walls.

It's a shame I gotta be in fright, but that how it was when I went. He was helping, but at the same time, I wanna be grateful he's helping me more than others.

I thought about taking out the staple and putting it back. I really want to type everything in, not sure why they so serious about not removing the staple, anyone know?

[beanz]

1 minute ago, wrong side of tracks said:

Kevin walked me to counter 3. He did that last time too. I thought about it, but I didn't want to go overboard by asking if I could look at the forms on the walls.

It's a shame I gotta be in fright, but that how it was when I went. He was helping, but at the same time, I wanna be grateful he's helping me more than others.

I thought about taking out the staple and putting it back. I really want to type everything in, not sure why they so serious about not removing the staple, anyone know?

Who told u anything about removing staples? I made copies at home also and just stapled it back together... 

[Imhim]

13 minutes ago, wrong side of tracks said:

Kevin walked me to counter 3. He did that last time too. I thought about it, but I didn't want to go overboard by asking if I could look at the forms on the walls.

It's a shame I gotta be in fright, but that how it was when I went. He was helping, but at the same time, I wanna be grateful he's helping me more than others.

I thought about taking out the staple and putting it back. I really want to type everything in, not sure why they so serious about not removing the staple, anyone know?

I think you're over thinking a lot of this. You can remove the staple if needed and just staple the application back together. 

[wrong side of tracks]

2 minutes ago, acabral136 said:

Who told u anything about removing staples? I made copies at home also and just stapled it back together... 

It says do not remove staple on instruction sheet for application, see link below. And when I asked Kevin, "Instructions say, type or print. Instructions also say do not remove staple. How can I type if I can't remove staple?", he said do not remove just print.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1ix31hlfdc47368/img20181218_12032979.pdf?dl=0

[wrong side of tracks]

2 minutes ago, Imhim said:

I think you're over thinking a lot of this. You can remove the staple if needed and just staple the application back together. 

Maybe I am.

[beanz]

6 minutes ago, wrong side of tracks said:

It says do not remove staple on instruction sheet for application, see link below. And when I asked Kevin, "Instructions say, type or print. Instructions also say do not remove staple. How can I type if I can't remove staple?", he said do not remove just print.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1ix31hlfdc47368/img20181218_12032979.pdf?dl=0

Oh I didn't get the 21 page booklet. I assume it's because I already work for the city. 

[wrong side of tracks]

2 minutes ago, acabral136 said:

Oh I didn't get the 21 page booklet. I assume it's because I already work for the city. 

If you are a city employee and had a break in employment for a year or more, then you would have to fill this out. It's called the Comprehensive Personnel Document (CPD-B). On page one it says you should either print or type in bold.

Here's the instructions from NYC.gov https://a127-jobs.nyc.gov/CPDB_app_guidelines.pdf

And here's a blank application from NYC.gov https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/jointheboldest/downloads/pdf/pre-employment/16_CPD-B_Booklet.pdf

[LIRRMedford]

1 hour ago, apokeguy said:

Congrats! Just curious, what is the highest class number? Wondering if they went into the hundreds or started back in the single digits. 

They did not say, but mine is 59x ..and I went up about 60% through

[Jay-Oh]

3 hours ago, LIRRMedford said:

So 40B and 30A for this class. We chose today.  I got B like I wanted. No sign of Jay or Legacy yet 😝

What’s up brother. I’m here!

Got B like I wanted. Only 1 person didn’t get the division he wanted. 

I picked dead last.

[beanz]

59 minutes ago, wrong side of tracks said:

If you are a city employee and had a break in employment for a year or more, then you would have to fill this out. It's called the Comprehensive Personnel Document (CPD-B). On page one it says you should either print or type in bold.

Here's the instructions from NYC.gov https://a127-jobs.nyc.gov/CPDB_app_guidelines.pdf

And here's a blank application from NYC.gov https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/jointheboldest/downloads/pdf/pre-employment/16_CPD-B_Booklet.pdf

I never had a break longer than a few months. When I went up to hand in my packet at p/e I was asked if I work for the city, I said yes, so I wasn't handed a packet. That was it. 

Edited December 18, 2018 by acabral136

[apokeguy]

29 minutes ago, LIRRMedford said:

They did not say, but mine is 59x ..and I went up about 60% through

Oh I meant the class number when they separated you all into groups of 10. Like TA-9X or TB-9X. Maybe I’m jumping ahead and they didn’t assign you class numbers and instructors. 

Edited December 18, 2018 by apokeguy

[LIRRMedford]

1 hour ago, Jay-Oh said:

What’s up brother. I’m here!

Got B like I wanted. Only 1 person didn’t get the division he wanted. 

I picked dead last.

What class number you get?

[TO legacy]

5 hours ago, LIRRMedford said:

So 40B and 30A for this class. We chose today.  I got B like I wanted. No sign of Jay or Legacy yet 😝

I got the A like I wanted.

im in TA 72. 

I’m the guy with the shinny head that sits in the front😂

Edited December 18, 2018 by TO legacy

[Jay-Oh]

21 minutes ago, LIRRMedford said:

What class number you get?

I’m in TB12

[LIRRMedford]

TB11 here

[rondread445]

Hey everyone! I'm relatively new here, I've been reading this thread for months now from the shadows (not in a creepy way 😑) and I kinda feel like I know you guys without even meeting you. I'm number 15** and I'm so excited and blessed to even have a chance to become a TO. Took my first P/E on the 27th and was looking around to see if anyone from this thread was there (like I know how you guys look 😅) I wonder though if they will ever get to my number anytime next year... Congratulations to the new school car students, best of luck and I hope I'll be able to meet up with you guys someday. I'll keep my eye on this thread, shout out to all the OG's keeping us informed and all the future TO's.