Hey all,
Just wanted to share my hiring experience with you for the signal helper position in LIRR. Firstly I have completed the written basic electrical test, passed the electrical and mechanical practical tests, completed the background check.
Now the issue is the physical/drug test, I was not fully aware of what to expect when they called me and set up an appointment to go to the LIRR medical center. I arrived there and filled out all the required forms and was given a checklist
of what obstacles or simulations I was to perform. The first simulation was climbing up and down a ladder to a platform and vice versa which seems to duplicate a train climb, secondly I had to shovel nuts in a 3 rack setup simulating shoveling, third they had a mat with what felt like a 4x4 wood piece centered under it connected to a simulated train track and at the end of that a simulated live rail about 2 feet off the ground. I had to first carry 40 lbs of weights in a bucket one handed balancing myself on top of the 4x4 right underneath the mat going one foot to another until I reached the train tracks then I had to walk on the track from wood section to section, lastly I would have to face in the right direction and cross over the simulated live rail one leg over then the other, till I was over the rail, place the weights on the ground and with the proper procedure, knees bent back straight pick it up and go back the same way and place the weights back on top of the desk from which I took it from. I had to repeat the one handed route with 60 lbs then I was given a two handed carry wooden crate with 80 lbs in it, at the end when I came to the live rail one foot got caught on my khakis pants(did not know I was gonna be doing physical activities) and I fell (luckily I moved the weights away from my body when I fell) at which time the physical therapist who was watching me was giving me an attitude for FALLING. Lastly I barely completed the 2 handed carry of 100 lbs struggling. I am not particularly weak but I have been not very active or go to the gym. I am a US Army veteran and currently employed in the Aviation industry with prior automotive background. What is frustrating to me is that I did not know nor does the job description mention anywhere that I would have to be hauling around 100 lbs of equipment and items. Had I known I would not have wasted all my time trying to apply for the job. Now I am disqualified because the PT said I was struggling too much with the weights. He kept emphasizing that I would not be able to do the job with the way I preformed with the weights and that this job has a high turnover rate. He also asked me if I had not read the job decription for the signal helper. I stated that there was no mention of carrying 100 lbs in which he replied you did not see it. I then saw the job description of carrying 70 to 100 lbs in his manual(rechecked all the job descriptions on my side and not one specific weight given). He said if I wanted he would give me another shot to redo the whole weight test over, I declined to redo it cause I was exhausted already and did not want a job in which I would be doing mainly construction type work.
Just wanted to share my hiring experience with you for the signal helper position in LIRR. Firstly I have completed the written basic electrical test, passed the electrical and mechanical practical tests, completed the background check.
Now the issue is the physical/drug test, I was not fully aware of what to expect when they called me and set up an appointment to go to the LIRR medical center. I arrived there and filled out all the required forms and was given a checklist
of what obstacles or simulations I was to perform. The first simulation was climbing up and down a ladder to a platform and vice versa which seems to duplicate a train climb, secondly I had to shovel nuts in a 3 rack setup simulating shoveling, third they had a mat with what felt like a 4x4 wood piece centered under it connected to a simulated train track and at the end of that a simulated live rail about 2 feet off the ground. I had to first carry 40 lbs of weights in a bucket one handed balancing myself on top of the 4x4 right underneath the mat going one foot to another until I reached the train tracks then I had to walk on the track from wood section to section, lastly I would have to face in the right direction and cross over the simulated live rail one leg over then the other, till I was over the rail, place the weights on the ground and with the proper procedure, knees bent back straight pick it up and go back the same way and place the weights back on top of the desk from which I took it from. I had to repeat the one handed route with 60 lbs then I was given a two handed carry wooden crate with 80 lbs in it, at the end when I came to the live rail one foot got caught on my khakis pants(did not know I was gonna be doing physical activities) and I fell (luckily I moved the weights away from my body when I fell) at which time the physical therapist who was watching me was giving me an attitude for FALLING. Lastly I barely completed the 2 handed carry of 100 lbs struggling. I am not particularly weak but I have been not very active or go to the gym. I am a US Army veteran and currently employed in the Aviation industry with prior automotive background. What is frustrating to me is that I did not know nor does the job description mention anywhere that I would have to be hauling around 100 lbs of equipment and items. Had I known I would not have wasted all my time trying to apply for the job. Now I am disqualified because the PT said I was struggling too much with the weights. He kept emphasizing that I would not be able to do the job with the way I preformed with the weights and that this job has a high turnover rate. He also asked me if I had not read the job decription for the signal helper. I stated that there was no mention of carrying 100 lbs in which he replied you did not see it. I then saw the job description of carrying 70 to 100 lbs in his manual(rechecked all the job descriptions on my side and not one specific weight given). He said if I wanted he would give me another shot to redo the whole weight test over, I declined to redo it cause I was exhausted already and did not want a job in which I would be doing mainly construction type work.