I want an entry level job as a brakeman or conductor on the Florida East Coast Railway, where do I start?

Question

I want an entry level job as a brakeman or conductor on the Florida East Coast Railway, where do I start?

Answer 1

Try looking at the railroad's web site for applications. Or if you can find their primary office location, often they will have contracted with that city's job center to interview candidates. Under job you are seeking, put in Train Sevice or Trainman. Everyone starts as a Brakeman and or Conductor. It helps to mention to the right people too, that you want to become an Engineer. They like to hear that because most railroads want all their Trainmen to be engineers sooner than later. They also favor people with strong mechanical inclination. Not that you'll do anything like repairs, but this skill is beneficial in certain mental aspects of the job. Any work history that's mechanical or the opportunity to voice this to those who matter will go far. One thing that I did with the BNSF back in 1990, was to get to know some of the local BNSF employees in my area - no matter what department they worked in. I asked if I could use their names as references on the application. Three said yes, and I'm sure that caught the eyes of those folks looking at applications, because later on, comments were made about my knowing these people. Suggesting I already knew something about the job (although I didn't really). Anyway, BNSF was very good to me. But now I'm an Engineer for an industrial short line railroad. I took this job because it includes being home every night and weekends off. (BNSF=Better Not Start a Family.) Oh, and any strengths you can bring to light in verbal skills and verbal comprehension ability, and strong math skills will greatly get you noticed further. Good luck.

Answer 2

Try their web site under careers of available jobs.

Answer 3

At a little place called "Garonne de la Boite" about 60 miles West of Saint-Nazaire.

Answer 4

Not sure about Florida, but in most railroad industries, the job of conductor or enngineer is highly nepatized - offered to relatives and friends of current railroad workers - this is (or used to be true) due to the railroad Unions control over highering practices.  Things are changing though - in Massachusetts, they have recently (last 4 years or so) made nepitism illegal in the railroad industry and NOW, being a relative of a current employee can actually make it IMPOSSIBLE to get a railroad job in Massachusetts... Talk about strange employment practices!!!

This may sound silly, but I do believe it might help, go to the rail yards and train stations and attempt to meet, chat, and befriend employees...

Of course applying as the previous poster suggested is also a route to go, it may be beneficial to do BOTH to get your name noticed when they receive the resume and to have a current railroad employee as a reference.