Every now and then we get a young man who wants to be a mining train driver.
The criteria for a trainee train driver are broad.
In general terms, they like people to have worked in FIFO and have a trade.
They rank a lifelong passion for locomotives highly and maturity is ranked high too.
Applicants need to be fit and not have colour blindness.
Most people apply a couple of times. There is high entry demand due to the salary, which starts around $100k.
Our client had a few work tickets but as he was on $60k, I’d say the salary of $100k, rising to $160k might have been the prime inducement.
He had no trade experience and no mining or FIFO experience.
He had no innovations or figures to show he was good at his job.
He wanted me to lie and say his cousin had a different surname for the referee section.
That was never going to happen. I wrote, ‘referees supplied on request’.
If your first application to National Pacific or Aurizon seeks to deceive the recruiter, you need to have a long hard look at yourself.
We finished the job and won’t be helping him again.
I reckon women should have a crack at becoming a trainee train driver.
Women have great hand-to-eye coordination and the right social and communication skills.