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Considering leaving the corporate life for T/O...


veldetta

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So I've been working in corporate America for the past 16 years and becoming a train operator really interests me. Right now I get weekends and holidays off and I even get to work from home some days. However, what makes me consider leaving is job security. I'm GOOD for now but who's to say what could happen 5-10 years from now. So becoming a train operator, I can already understand that it'll be a total change in lifestyle and I'm fine with that for the most part. My main concern at the moment is I'll be taking a pay cut to be a T/O. Right now, my base is about 80K and in school car I believe I'll be making less than that. Do you think it'll be worth it to leave corporate for MTA?

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So I've been working in corporate America for the past 16 years and becoming a train operator really interests me. Right now I get weekends and holidays off and I even get to work from home some days. However, what makes me consider leaving is job security. I'm GOOD for now but who's to say what could happen 5-10 years from now. So becoming a train operator, I can already understand that it'll be a total change in lifestyle and I'm fine with that for the most part. My main concern at the moment is I'll be taking a pay cut to be a T/O. Right now, my base is about 80K and in school car I believe I'll be making less than that. Do you think it'll be worth it to leave corporate for MTA?

 

I'd say stay put where you're. No job at TA ain't secure. At any time they can choose to lay off folks. Last in first out. They laid folks off in 2010, and there's no saying they can't do it again. And also the lifestyle change would completely not be worth it IMHO. You'll never see weekends or holidays off for at least the next 12-15 years. The money you'll make as a T/O will be about similar, but honestly you seem quite over qualified to be a T/O. You should try and get a management position within T/A. At least then you'd have a similar work environment and be able to have weekends and holidays off. If this is truly something you want to do, no one can make that decision for you. But given the info you provided about yourself I wouldn't advise the change in careers.

 

 

Station Supervisor Level I

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well after doing some research, its the administration jobs you have to be careful of and station agent positions which is hardly used now a days would of eventually get laid off ..

here is from the article in 2010

"with the elimination of more than 600 represented and NON represent administration positions and begin the process of laying off up to 500 NYC Transit station agents " 

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Just wanted to provide some links if you're interested in exploring other options besides T/O.

 

Job availavability.

 

http://www1.nyc.gov/jobs/index.page

 

DCAS website.

 

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcas/html/work/work.shtml#job

 

MTA website if MTA really interests you.

 

http://web.mta.info/mta/employment/

 

There's plenty of opportunities out there for a corporate environment, can't be too sure on benefits though especially regarding the non-operational positions. But thats the trade off I took, I wanted the opportunity to get great health care and a decent pension when I retire.

 

Can your current employer give you a leave of absence?

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Just wanted to provide some links if you're interested in exploring other options besides T/O.

 

Job availavability.

 

http://www1.nyc.gov/jobs/index.page

 

DCAS website.

 

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcas/html/work/work.shtml#job

 

MTA website if MTA really interests you.

 

http://web.mta.info/mta/employment/

 

There's plenty of opportunities out there for a corporate environment, can't be too sure on benefits though especially regarding the non-operational positions. But thats the trade off I took, I wanted the opportunity to get great health care and a decent pension when I retire.

 

Can your current employer give you a leave of absence?

Thanks for the info. I only get 4 weeks for a leave of absence...

 

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@Veldetta, 4 weeks isn't enough to decide whether train operator is right for you, or whether you will make it through the training program (school car). School car is 8-9 months, so you won't actually be operating trains in passenger service for nearly a year. And there are practical and written exams that people have failed throughout that point. Plus, it can take 2-3 years from when you start to find you rhythm, meaning that you've got a set routine working on one train line for a set shift.

 

Just try to talk to current T/Os, people have all sorts of backgrounds, including desk jobs in the private sector.

 

You might really enjoy being a train operator. It's a more solitary and more mechanically oriented position.

 

Job security is a tricky thing. If you screw up you can lose your job at Transit at any time - it just takes time and procedures to get rid of you. You probably won't be laid off due to economic factors, but you can lose your job for other reasons.

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If you were already called, I would suggest consider going to the pre-processing just to get a feel of the place and talk to the other folks there. There are people getting promoted, or going through the processing steps and can give you some insight on what to expect.

 

If you have not been called and are still considering T/O then file for the test coming up Dec 9th. Who knows when that list will come out and like you said 5 years from now all our mindsets and situations might be totally different.

 

When the time comes to make a decision at least you have options.

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So I've been working in corporate America for the past 16 years and becoming a train operator really interests me. Right now I get weekends and holidays off and I even get to work from home some days. However, what makes me consider leaving is job security. I'm GOOD for now but who's to say what could happen 5-10 years from now. So becoming a train operator, I can already understand that it'll be a total change in lifestyle and I'm fine with that for the most part. My main concern at the moment is I'll be taking a pay cut to be a T/O. Right now, my base is about 80K and in school car I believe I'll be making less than that. Do you think it'll be worth it to leave corporate for MTA?

I think I saw you at livingston today. I was the guy with red shirt. Good luck

 

sent from my note4

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I think I saw you at livingston today. I was the guy with red shirt. Good luck

 

sent from my note4

Yeah, I remember seeing you... Thanks! Same to you. Are you in the Nov. 28 class?

 

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well after doing some research, its the administration jobs you have to be careful of and station agent positions which is hardly used now a days would of eventually get laid off ..

here is from the article in 2010

"with the elimination of more than 600 represented and NON represent administration positions and begin the process of laying off up to 500 NYC Transit station agents "

More than just Station Agents got laid off. And there's over 2900 people working in the title of S/A. Also people are still getting hired for the title as we speak. Bus Operators also got laid off in 2010, as well as anyone working in a provisional title. Not to say you'd get laid off, but as others have mentioned the pressure to perform perfectly as a T/O can be challenging. I guess if you make the switch you'd have to ask yourself some questions about the pros and cons of switching. Also if you could share with us reasons other than job security for wanting to make the change in careers.

 

 

Station Supervisor Level I

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- pension

- premium benefits

- union

- new / interesting / maybe fun

 

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Well I can tell you a few things about what you've listed. The new Tier 6 for new hires is terrible. You have to pay 6% of salary into your pension and don't get as much money as people hired before 2013 whom only pay 2% of salary and are guaranteed at least 50% of their 3 highest years salary. The benefits are far from premium. The unions leave much to be desired. However this job will be very new and interesting. And Fun is what you make it.

 

 

Station Supervisor Level I

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Well I can tell you a few things about what you've listed. The new Tier 6 for new hires is terrible. You have to pay 6% of salary into your pension and don't get as much money as people hired before 2013 whom only pay 2% of salary and are guaranteed at least 50% of their 3 highest years salary. The benefits are far from premium. The unions leave much to be desired. However this job will be very new and interesting. And Fun is what you make it.

 

 

Station Supervisor Level I

That's 6% if you make > 100K. What's the average salary of a train operator?

 

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That's 6% if you make > 100K. What's the average salary of a train operator?

 

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T/O base salary is $34.xx/hr, not sure of the exact hourly rate. But the base salary is about 70K plus. Everything else will be OT

 

 

Station Supervisor Level I

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The 6% contribution and 15k cap are a tough pill to swallow for sure. Us tier 6'ers just have to increase our base pay through upward mobility.

 

Edited for spelling

 

Your contributions start at 3% and go up as high as 6% depending on how much you make. Read the NYCERS website yourself for info on Tier 6, don't just short quotes here as fact. Also, if you have a family, talk to them about it. They're the ones that are going to have to deal with you working odd hours (and you will) and weekends when you're new.

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Your contributions start at 3% and go up as high as 6% depending on how much you make. Read the NYCERS website yourself for info on Tier 6, don't just short quotes here as fact. Also, if you have a family, talk to them about it. They're the ones that are going to have to deal with you working odd hours (and you will) and weekends when you're new.

When he's new and for a very long time after that. Could take upwards of ten years at least to see weekend RSO's.

 

 

Station Supervisor Level I

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when I was young  I would care for the weekends as you get older with a family you see that you can more stuff done during the weekday such as doctor appointments, DMV, staying home with your child if there off from school etc...working weekends might not be that bad but then again let me not say anything since Ive been working without weekends for 20 years now and trying to prepare my self for these odd hours shifts will be tough

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When he's new and for a very long time after that. Could take upwards of ten years at least to see weekend RSO's.

 

 

Station Supervisor Level I

 

Depends. Some Train Ops with as little as 5 years have weekends off already, without having to be sabbath observers.

 

Depends on tour and line/locations you want to work. "Senior men" who pick in the yards with close to 20, some of them still can't get weekends without picking the road... so it's all relative...

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If your a Sabbath observer, how do you request weekends off?  

 

Depends. Some Train Ops with as little as 5 years have weekends off already, without having to be sabbath observers.

 

Depends on tour and line/locations you want to work. "Senior men" who pick in the yards with close to 20, some of them still can't get weekends without picking the road... so it's all relative...

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If your a Sabbath observer, how do you request weekends off?  

 

Once you are hired, and an employee pick takes place, a notice will be put out detailing all of the steps.

 

Also, this is not directed at you, but just in general: Don't try to scam them either, you will need proof, and if you are able to pick the day you requested off as Sabbath at the pick, you are required to pick that job. Doesn't matter what job it is, if it's on the complete other side of the city, the hours completely don't work, and it's on a line you hate. You have to pick it once you declare yourself a Sabbath observer.

 

If your religious observance can't be observed through picking a job, then you will be extra extra, and the crew office will honor your requested Sabbath only. So if you're Jewish and need from sundown on Friday through Saturday, they will give you that, but they can still change your tour. If you need Sunday, you'll get Sunday off for Mass, but that doesn't mean you'll be off Saturday necessarily, and they can still change your tour.

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Once you are hired, and an employee pick takes place, a notice will be put out detailing all of the steps.

 

Also, this is not directed at you, but just in general: Don't try to scam them either, you will need proof, and if you are able to pick the day you requested off as Sabbath at the pick, you are required to pick that job. Doesn't matter what job it is, if it's on the complete other side of the city, the hours completely don't work, and it's on a line you hate. You have to pick it once you declare yourself a Sabbath observer.

 

If your religious observance can't be observed through picking a job, then you will be extra extra, and the crew office will honor your requested Sabbath only. So if you're Jewish and need from sundown on Friday through Saturday, they will give you that, but they can still change your tour. If you need Sunday, you'll get Sunday off for Mass, but that doesn't mean you'll be off Saturday necessarily, and they can still change your tour.

I could've sworn I read about a silly lawsuit a few years ago from some MTA employees who were explicitly told before hiring they can't get the Sabbath off, but decided to take the job anyway. These may have been B/O's, I can't remember. Regardless, that's nice that they are accommodating of people's beliefs.

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