Should i go thru the NARS program??

Question

thinking about going thru the NARS program for the railroad. 23 years old, no DWI, cost 5740 for program. Is it worth it....Please help

Answer 1

No it's a waste of money. I know guys who went, and spent all that money and don't have jobs.  I didn't go, and I was hired as a conductor. Save you money, and don't give up it may take several times and many applications.  Be flexible if you want a job put in apps for all railroads in all places they are hiring.  Good Luck

Answer 2

I think it gives you an advantage when applying for jobs with the railroads. The one at JCCC in Overland Park, KS is affiliated with BNSF, I think.

I live in Overland Park, KS so if you  or any other students need a place to stay during the 6 week program, I lease my 2nd bedroom out.

Answer 3

Its probably a good idea.  It makes getting hired much much easier.  You can hire on in another department like Maintenance of Way, and then try to transfer after a year.  But that isn't exactly easy either.  You cant just transfer any time you want, you have to wait for the company to start to hire conductors again.  And even then the Maintenance of Way department has to "release" you to the train service.  I was lucky and got to transfer, but I know several people that weren't so lucky.  In my Conductor trainee class, out of 13 we only had 3 craft transfers including me, and 10 NARS grads.  So that should tell you something.  So If you are positive that being a conductor or engineer is what you want to do with your life, then NARS is a great idea.  However the life of a railroader is not easy.  Your schedule sucks, you work constantly including on holidays.  Kiss your weekends goodbye for about 20 years.  But the pay is good, and it can be pretty fun at times.  What ever you decide, good luck.

Answer 4

a simple answer is:  It wouldn't hurt.  BNSF....IS......hiring NARS students over people off of the street.  They DO receive a "top of the list" if you will.  Class transfers will almost always come first, but there are not that many really.  The reason is because they already work for BNSF and are a vested employee that just want to move from ...say...a track laborer to a conductor.  BNSF already dumped a load of money on them so it's best to keep them as an investment.  NARS shows the company you are serious about working for the railroad....enough to spend your own money.  It's more of a committment to the railroad.  You ARE NOT guaranteed a job when you get done.....but the chances are way better than not doing it at all.  If 100 people apply for 5 conductor jobs at a location and 2 of them are NARS students.  I would bet all day long that the 2 NARS students get hired unless something in their past comes up such as legal, health, drugs, etcl.  NARS is surely a leg up against others.  A guy tried to hire out here but wasn't selected.  The trainmaster said to go to NARS and he did.  He as hired in the next class.  Reason being he wasn't competitive enough to the first class selection.  BNSF has an unwritten policy to hire NARS students ABOVE everyone else.  I've seen craft transfers not hired but NARS students hired.  I'd definitely do it if you're serious about working for the railroad.  It could be a long time before your lucky enough to get hired without it.

Answer 5

Tough call there.

It will give you an advantage over other "off the street" applicants but the first choice in any hiring program is class transfers from other departments.

I know a buy working in Wyoming on the BNSF, he said academy applicants are always taken right behind class transfers.

You will still have to go through whatever training program your company has but it demonstrates a willingness and desire to work in the railroad industry, that is all it does.

Talk to a human resources person,  face to face if possible, not on the phone and see what they say.

A different approach might be to take whatever entry level postition is available, usually track department and then transferat the first opportunity, actually that is what my son is doing

.

You can do the track work, it is not a men only postition.

Good luck!!