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Blackadder
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Aug 06, 2004
Last Visited: Nov 29, 2008
Location: The only underground station where you need a umbrella
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Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 10:22 am
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It seems Cityrail are still well short on the Number of CSAs that are needed, so another large scale recruitment drive is on the way. 
Here or there
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TE2815
Minister for Railways
Joined: Mar 19, 2004
Last Visited: Nov 27, 2008
Location: Under the newsdesk !
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Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 3:47 pm
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Should have done better at treating staff who have been made redundant then shouldn't they 
Some staff may have stayed. Of course they never made mention of what positions may be available you had to say staying or going first. A**eup if you ask me.
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craigd
Train Controller
Joined: Mar 23, 2005
Last Visited: Nov 15, 2008
Location: Adelaide, SA, Australia
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Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:27 pm
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It's the RailCorp way to make staff disgruntled so that collective unity is eroded and/or prevented, thereby making it easier to force out people the company doesn't like (generally those who stick to their guns and don't take smeg for smeg's sake), which allows industrial relations changes to be more easily implemented.
AWA's might have gone out the window with the staged disbandment of the federal Liberal's WorkChoices legislation now but RailCorp still appears hell-bent on pursuing the same path but with a slightly different 'spin' to force it's agenda on the workers that are at the 'coal face'.
Craig.
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TE2815
Minister for Railways
Joined: Mar 19, 2004
Last Visited: Nov 27, 2008
Location: Under the newsdesk !
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Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 4:09 pm
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Ain't that the truth
I probably wouldn't be let back in even if I tried I suspect. Anyway still 7 months too early for that scenario regardless.
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dalts 1985
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Jul 29, 2003
Last Visited: Nov 30, 2008
Location: Warrnambool by the sea on the Shipwreck Coast of Victoria
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Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 9:46 pm
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Thanks Blackadder for the tipoff, I take it recruitment (that being interviews & entry-level Assessments) will start say early to mid Sept  ...
I'm wondering if it's worth my while applying for these Postions, as I've applied for the following Cityrail & CLK Syd. Based Positions this year:
Feb 23: Trainee Guard, July 1: Trainee Driver & 18 July: CLK Syd. Based PSA... all three have been meet with: "In this instance you have not met the required standard in the Job Related Testing that you completed on 23rd Feb.2008 &/or on 1st July 2008. As a result your application can not be progressed for this position."
Hence I fell, I'd be wasting my time when I can most likley predict the outcome...
"A vote for Labor means no more of Howard's bullsh*t |
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simont141
Chief Commissioner
Joined: May 12, 2003
Last Visited: Dec 1, 2008
Location: Adelaide
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Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 12:05 am
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CSA? ...something ... Service Assistant?
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tsgsjm
Junior Train Controller
Joined: Feb 26, 2007
Last Visited: Dec 1, 2008
Location: Sydney
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Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 6:43 am
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| dalts 1985 wrote: | Thanks Blackadder for the tipoff, I take it recruitment (that being interviews & entry-level Assessments) will start say early to mid Sept ...
I'm wondering if it's worth my while applying for these Postions, as I've applied for the following Cityrail & CLK Syd. Based Positions this year:
Feb 23: Trainee Guard, July 1: Trainee Driver & 18 July: CLK Syd. Based PSA... all three have been meet with: "In this instance you have not met the required standard in the Job Related Testing that you completed on 23rd Feb.2008 &/or on 1st July 2008. As a result your application can not be progressed for this position."
Hence I fell, I'd be wasting my time when I can most likley predict the outcome... |
Why not give it ago, once your in you can then apply for other positions easier.
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D1566
Station Master
Joined: Oct 11, 2005
Last Visited: Nov 14, 2008
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Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 10:40 am
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| dalts 1985 wrote: | | Hence I fell, I'd be wasting my time when I can most likley predict the outcome... |
I guess it all depends how went in your previous assessments? Did you manage to pass the WTT when you went for the guards position? If so I think you only need to complete one more test (Maths test)
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rumbleman
Junior Train Controller
Joined: Nov 06, 2007
Last Visited: Dec 1, 2008
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Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 10:55 am
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Would it be worthwhile lookin into other operators like PN mate? Or even other jobs within RailCorp that arent operations crew, but at least that way you get the foot in the door?
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craigd
Train Controller
Joined: Mar 23, 2005
Last Visited: Nov 15, 2008
Location: Adelaide, SA, Australia
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Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 5:10 pm
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| simont141 wrote: | | CSA? ...something ... Service Assistant? |
CSA = Customer Service Attendent. It's basically the general-duties station assistant job re-named.
There are various levels ranging from basic CSA level 1 (called CSA1) and they go up a few grades. Most of the senior CSA's are CSA2Q where the 'Q' means 'qualified' for safeworking duties and they're usually the people who assist DM's and SM's (Duty Managers and Station Managers - Station Masters renamed) with operating of signal control panels, etc. and other safeworking functions that are particular to the location they're working at.
Craig.
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craigd
Train Controller
Joined: Mar 23, 2005
Last Visited: Nov 15, 2008
Location: Adelaide, SA, Australia
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Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 5:24 pm
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| dalts 1985 wrote: | Thanks Blackadder for the tipoff, I take it recruitment (that being interviews & entry-level Assessments) will start say early to mid Sept ...
I'm wondering if it's worth my while applying for these Postions, as I've applied for the following Cityrail & CLK Syd. Based Positions this year:
Feb 23: Trainee Guard, July 1: Trainee Driver & 18 July: CLK Syd. Based PSA... all three have been meet with: "In this instance you have not met the required standard in the Job Related Testing that you completed on 23rd Feb.2008 &/or on 1st July 2008. As a result your application can not be progressed for this position."
Hence I fell, I'd be wasting my time when I can most likley predict the outcome... |
You are entitled to feedback to know exactly why/how you failed to meet the required standard(s) and you should ask for, and make sure you get, good feedback. Don't accept a blanket response but always be very courteous when asking for feedback as many organisations think they should not have to 'do you a favour' by providing a more detailed reasoning for declining your application.
I can give a good first-hand example of this... I applied for a non-rail job a few months ago (with the Marine Unit of Australian Customs as it happens). I was placed in the top 5 percent of applicants for about 14 positions on the customs patrol boats and only missed out because I didn't have current marine qualifications and there were a lot of ex-navy and other maritime people who also went for the positions this time around.
I asked for, and received, feedback and I was very fortunate to have the top 'operations' person for CMU (based in Canberra) phone me direct and we talked for about half an hour about my application, and how to improve my changes next time. I apparently did very well answering the selection criteria (it required a very detailed response to 6 key criteria which ended up being a full 5 pages) and would have been offered a position if I'd had current marine quals (cert 1 or 2 would been good enough!).
Feedback is essential in helping you identify areas that you need to improve on or change to make you a better candidate for similar roles either with RailCorp or another rail company. I've used feedback for loco and other rail positions when I was unsuccessful to refine how I structure application letters along with re-design my resume. The Centrelink-sponsored job search training I've done as part of the requirement for receiving Newstart payments has also been very beneficial.
Always treat knockbacks as a learning experience - even when you get upset/frustrated you can learn something about yourself, how to better prepare for future job applications, and perhaps even get a better handle on how your individial skills/abilities fit with the sort of roles you want to apply for.
Craig.
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BFCYU
Junior Train Controller
Joined: Jun 16, 2008
Last Visited: Dec 1, 2008
Location: Sydney "Sutherland Shire"
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simont141
Chief Commissioner
Joined: May 12, 2003
Last Visited: Dec 1, 2008
Location: Adelaide
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Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 12:08 am
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| craigd wrote: | | simont141 wrote: | | CSA? ...something ... Service Assistant? |
CSA = Customer Service Attendent. It's basically the general-duties station assistant job re-named.
There are various levels ranging from basic CSA level 1 (called CSA1) and they go up a few grades. Most of the senior CSA's are CSA2Q where the 'Q' means 'qualified' for safeworking duties and they're usually the people who assist DM's and SM's (Duty Managers and Station Managers - Station Masters renamed) with operating of signal control panels, etc. and other safeworking functions that are particular to the location they're working at.
Craig. |
Cheers! I thought it might have been something like that, but the name seems to change between places.
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dasher
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Dec 22, 2005
Last Visited: Dec 1, 2008
Location: Within the NSWGR
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Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:04 am
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| BFCYU wrote: | | I was told later after feedback; that I CANNOT apply again for a minimum of twelve (12) months. (AND as it is kept on their records) |
I applied for a Customs role a few years ago, and all the people sitting the psychometric testing were told before the test began that the results for the test would be kept for 12 months.
Therefore if you applied for another position with any other company that used the same company (I cannot remember who it was) for their psychometric testing; you would not re-sit the test, but they would use the results of the test we were about to sit for the next 12 months.
So essentially if you didn't pass it this time around, you could re-apply, but you may as well not bother for 12 months. Of course, there is the chance that different companies had different "pass" critieria for the same psychometric test.
I didn't come here looking for trouble, I just came to do the RP shuffle... break it down...
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BFCYU
Junior Train Controller
Joined: Jun 16, 2008
Last Visited: Dec 1, 2008
Location: Sydney "Sutherland Shire"
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Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 11:05 am
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| dasher wrote: | | BFCYU wrote: | | I was told later after feedback; that I CANNOT apply again for a minimum of twelve (12) months. (AND as it is kept on their records) |
I applied for a Customs role a few years ago, and all the people sitting the psychometric testing were told before the test began that the results for the test would be kept for 12 months.
Therefore if you applied for another position with any other company that used the same company (I cannot remember who it was) for their psychometric testing; you would not re-sit the test, but they would use the results of the test we were about to sit for the next 12 months.
So essentially if you didn't pass it this time around, you could re-apply, but you may as well not bother for 12 months. Of course, there is the chance that different companies had different "pass" critieria for the same psychometric test. |
Thanks Dasher;
I am unsure if RailCorp & CityRail use an "external company"
during their selection process (at the time in 2005).
It was only RailCorp & CityRail officers there at the time.
BUT they may use an External Selection process (test papers etc)
I also wish to add for any other persons about selection testing process.
I was also told they use a system which is "sort of psychometric" testing.
Not only for IQ but also reading, comprehension and problem solving skills.
It was at a CityRail for guards selection on a Sunday Morning (4 sessions a day with about 80-100 on each session or close to 400 that day)
There is no pass score. You are competing with your fellow candidates.
I believe they take upto 20 from each test. (or around 80 in total out of the 4 sessions)
So they take from the highest individual score downwards till they get to the cut off point for each selection test (say 20 candidates)
The ones who made it through that stage went onto another selection
(culling process again)---but not sure the criteria for that.
MAIN POINT: i missed out on-was taking to long on each page to solve it.
They did say beforehand "skip through if unsure and go back if time permits" There was only 30 minutes and 30 pages (or 1 minute a page)
with multiple choice answers.
Some of the multiple choice answers are nearly the same;
THAT is when problem solving skills takes over--
or the "right answer they are looking for"
I think i got around the mid 60%.
But I did RUN out of time on the last 3 pages and found four mistakes which I could not amend with time limit and pencils down.
I was taking to much time reading and re reading to find the correct answer.
ANOTHER:
In early 2006 I went to a "FULL ON" psychometric test
at Chandlers & McLeod at North Sydney.
It was for a private railroad company and to them it was a new initiative.
It was over a 2 hour period of 15 minute timer on each test.
This went over a period of 8 total tests x 15 mins to make 2 hours.
Between each test there was a 5 minute break (with timer & water supplied) So I walked out (mentally exhausted) after nearly 3 hours.
Some of the tests were basic and also simple "railway type" questions.
Track speed of trains to a kilometre destination.
How long would it take to get there?? etc. (simple maths)
BUT it got more & more involved in electronics & scientific questions.
with lot of memory and lot of calculations to be made.
There was also questions which made "NO sense"
Like a mind game sort of thing.
Even though I had many years of both passenger & freight railway service. (but did leave school in 1976 with a long time lapse since then)
"I was STUMPED this time"
very embarrassed too. only 46%
The much younger candidate (in a separate room)
probably got the higher score!!
My only advise for those types tests.
BE PREPARED!!
--try dummy psychometric tests and brush up on your old educational standards.
4458; Feb 1961 (same D.O.B.'s)
and we are both still alive
(sort of !!)
Botany Freight Corp Yes Utopia.
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