Hello everyone, as my title suggests, I am getting out of the Active Duty Army and will be available for work circa 4 November this year. I have been in a supervisory position now for over 6 years, and had to manage between $4500 - well over $3 million in assets. My experiece has had me as of the past 4+ years in an Current/Future Operations planning and tracking capacity. Only issue I see that I may have is that I do not have very much college, but for what I lack there, I certainly have in experience. What are your opinions on where and what I should apply for? My only real need is to be in an area where it snows in the winter as I love skiing. And I am looking at BNSF as a potential employer as I do see growth potential not only in the company but myself, as well as long term stability.
The big four railroads love former military, and have management programs designed to get you rolling. I know UP requires a degree, or that you be close to completing one. BNSF is a solid choice, even though I work for UP. Keep in mind that to continue to advance in management, you will be required to move every 1-3 years, constantly working in different regions and areas as you advance. It will be a lot like moving from base to base. If you don't want to get into that, train crew has some seriously crazy hours and a complete lack of a schedule, unless you work a yard job, but you do get to stay at one location. There are some fine folks around here that can answer more detailed questions, and I will do my best as well. Good luck!
Thank you much, I am looking at every avenue possible for post employment. I know I will probably go back National Guard, be a little crazy not to. The rilroad has been a life long dream of mine, and I feel it plays an integral part of our society, therefore will be very fufilling. It's either this or a federal job, both have seem to have structured environments. But in the end, working for the railroad will be more beneficial I believe.
Try the Civilian Personnel at the Army Post near you along with USAJOBS.org. Good luck and thanks for your service. By the way don't forget to use your Transition Center on Post to help you also
This is a good place to start: http://www.bnsf.com/careers/military/ http://www.unionpacific.jobs/careers/explore/military/index.shtml http://www.csx.com/index.cfm/working-at-csx/military-friendly-employer/ http://www.gijobs.com/csx-transportation.aspx http://www.csx.com/index.cfm/working-at-csx/recruiting-calendar/
Thank You for your service. It is an asset to you, your nation and your fellow citizens. I was in the Operating Department of the BNSF(read that as train operation)as both a conductor and engineer. I don't have a great deal of college either but I do have an Honorable Discharge and a DD214,which you will soon have. Most of the guys I worked with are/were military veterans. As ex-military, you know how to follow rules and regulations,be prompt and responsible in your actions and have experience with being outdoors a lot in all sorts of weather. These are all VERY important in the business of running trains. I don't know that many other departments can use your particular qualifications, IT will require a sheepskin as will Administrative and Legal. Bridges and Buildings will need a degree in engineering or at least be a journeyman carpenter,iron worker,welder or plumber. As a previous poster mentioned, Operating dep't. employees have some severely strange hours. That is the truth, unless you have enough "whiskers" to hold a regular job with regular hours and days off. Otherwise you must be enslaved to your electronic "slave collar" or whatever you call your phone and/or pager and/or wireless device. AND THAT IS A HARD,FAST FACT! However in a "suit" job, those usually don't have extreme hours and they are "exempted" positions(meaning not subject to union contract or Hours of Service,but when the poop hits the propeller you WILL be expected to be there and STAY there until you are released and there is no limit as to how long that can be. Railroading is NOT a family friendly job. Holidays are for "normal" people. Trains run 24/7/365. There is an old joke....."What does the railroad call Thanksgiving" A/ "thursday". The pay and benefits are fairly decent, but when you stand back and get a good look at it, railroad pay scales stand almost exactly in the middle of the industrial pay ladder. I dont mean to discourage you but railroading is a dirty, nasty,thankless and rather dangerous job. The "romance of the rails" is only in fiction and Hollywood. The hours are long and boring and you begin to wonder if you'll see your loved ones before the week is over. It is a job however and it is what you make of it. If you feel up to the challenge, go for it. If you want some more practical advice about what to expect if you reach the interview stage, I'll be happy to provide it. My best wishes to you in your job search! Charlie BNSF Rwy engineer(ret.) U.S.Army veteran (Vietnam Era)
Charlie, Thank you for what your service. And thank you guys, looking like BNSF is a very good possibility. Family life, to be honest, never really had one. Between the Army the past 12+ years and with mom working jobs as a kid, I am used to it. I have had more Holidays off this year than any in the previous 8, July 4th, Christmas, and Easter. Past that, it really is just another day on the calendar. Having to stay until released, it wouldn't be the first time I have had to go to my car and get out the fart sack, The pay is better than the Army and I won't have to worry about getting shot at or blown up, so thats a big plus for me.
I am a current officer in the reserves, and at various points throughout the past 8 years have sometimes applied for superviosry positions with NS, CSX and BNSF. I have moved out from the midwest, so BNSF really isn't an option. At this point in my career, though I am only 32 and still young, I have pretty much given up because of my paygrade within the federal government on the civilian side. From what several people who used to and currently work for these companies, there is good and bad. And when I interviewed for the BNSF position (didn't work out as I left for TDY and was forthright telling them to exclude me from consideration), the superviosr was honest about the good and the bad. If I was a single guy, I might still consider. However my wife has a good job (duel feds) so it doesnt make sense for us to move to BFE based on me. And that is the main thing to consider. As an entry level supervisor, you will move to BFE. And you will move often. In the beggining, possibly once a year. You will work odd hours, and you will work holidays, etc. Also, the pay for a starting supervisor is in the $50,000-$60,000 range, plus a small bonus. It is a highly competitive process. You may think you are the best, but there is always someone better. That's the bad. The good... military friendly. That's how I got my interviews and looks. And as mentioned, there are a lot of vets. If you are single, and have a sense of adventure and don't mind the cons, the job can be every rewarding if you stick it out and take your lumps early on. Again, this is what has been told to me by current and former employees. Good luck!
Seanem44, If I were looking for a supervisor position with BNSF, I'd hire out as a conductor first, then interview as a supervisor. You can control your own destiny regarding location better using that approach. Also, if things don't work out in your supervisor position, you can always exercise your conductor seniority.
This is good advice. I work for BNSF as a locomotive engineer and am a former soldier. I don't know the statistics, but I'd guess it's better than 50% of the people I work with are veterans. The best route to management is through the ranks, and it doesn't usually take very long if you are motivated and a hard worker. The typical job progression would be conductor - yard master - train master, or conductor - train master. Greg Amer The Industrial Lead gregamer.com
Perhaps I have botched lingo and terms. The positions I was referring to where the management trainee positions, the non union side of supervisors. I would imagine both union and non union have their ups and downs.
Sean, if you were applying for a management trainee position in the transportation department, you'd be a trainmaster, which is a first line supervisor of train crews, which are craft (union) positions. Trainmasters are not necessarily union members. If they came from the craft (started off as a conductor, engineer, carman, yardmaster, etc.), they may still retain their seniority rights to their old position, but as a trainmaster they are a company officer and not acting as a union member. However, many come "off the street" and hire directly into the management trainee position. I was pointing out that if you wanted to avoid getting transferred every year, come up as a conductor and you will have a much better shot getting what you want. In my opinion, those who come from the craft generally make more effective managers than those who come off the street. The primary reason for this is that this isn't a job, it's a lifestyle. Having firsthand knowledge of that lifestyle is very helpful toward understanding what motivates train crew personnel to make the decisions they make, why certain moves take the time they take, where shortcuts are taken, and when and why certain things are dragged out or hurried up. Sure, all fields of endeavor require a certain amount of knowledge to manage effectively. This one is no exception. In fact, there is so much to absorb - including living rule books that not only need to be memorized but informed by experience to be most effective - that this line of work is really only a good fit for a very few people. Good luck in whatever you choose, Sean, and thank you for your service. Ryan H
Ryan, I concur. And let's shift focus back to Phillip, the OP, as I am staying a Fed. At this point in my life, and career, I'd lose too much to switch over. Phillip, you have been given a lot of good advise here. And though I know you are asking about RRA jobs, ill throw in as a Vet, you get 5 points when applying for a federal job in the gov. They are hiring vets left and right. Just something else to consider. Whatever path you take. Best of luck and thank you for your service.
I thank you guys that have chimed in with experiences from the RR; I also apprecviate the service of the ones in uniform in defense of our country. Thank you! I too wear the uniform and have a goal to work for the RR, but not in train service. I'm in college seeking a BA in Emergency & Disaster Mgmt. I hope that I use that degree in HAZMAT transportation or accident cleanup management. I don't know anyone in this particular job, and with RRs hauling more HAZMATs now than ever before, I figure there's a need for this type of job on most RRs.
To the best of my knowledge, the local fire departments/first responders are the ones who deal with hazmat control and containment. Periodically we had local F.D.s doing some training at Eola yard. Normally they would use the east end of East Yard since it had a limited road access but sufficient staging area and away from a lot of moving equipment action. The carrier would order a flagman to protect the high speed mains.Final stage cleanup, I believe, is left to licensed,bonded hazmat handlers. Charlie
Hemi, Union Pacific has a traveling team of HazMat responders with specially outfitted trucks. Over the last couple of months there's been news on the employee site about the team investing in new transfer trucks that can offload damaged cars into other tanks or trailers. Also a lot of money has been recently spent on training local responders throughout the system in the last year. It's a growing field as you said, and while I don't know about the other major railroads, UP has a growing department to handle emergencies.
