Amtrak Employees; Start date

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Apd

Train Attendant
Joined
Dec 21, 2012
Messages
18
Location
Ca
So I applied to a few positions and on the application they asked when I can start. So I put the date for 2 and half weeks in advanced thinking I would hear back from them within a few days or so and that would leave enough time to give my current employer my 2 weeks notice if I get hired. Well It's been 2 weeks since I applied and my application still says it's being reviewed, and since the jobs are still open I assume they don't start sorting through them until they pull the job listings. How is someone supposed to know when they can start if they don't know how long the job postings going to be up for or when they're going to contact you for the interview and what not? I've just been updating my application every few days pushing the date back on when I can start since it's still pending. Is this what you're suppose to do or am I just overlooking a minor detail that doesn't matter? I assume they would give someone time to give their 2 weeks notice if they're hired, but it just seems strange to me that they want this info when it's unpredictable.
 
The review process can take weeks. Is the field that you put when you can start a hard date, or can it just be text with "two weeks notice preferred" in it?

If they have your application and resume and the job is still posted, here are a couple reasons why. First, the job posing may have a date for which they will continue to receive applications up to. They may just be waiting for a large pool of applicants to sort through. Or, possibly, they don't feel like you meet all their qualifications, but they are waiting to see who else applies.

I don't think you've done this, but it does go without saying that you need to be sure you don't burn any bridges where you are now before you have a job offer in hand. That won't be until after a phone and face to face interview, testing, etc.

Oh - and don't apply to too many jobs that are very different in nature. If you apply for coach cleaner, OBS, accounting, station work, and VP of marketing, they will think you can't focus and won't know which job you are best for. The old adage "I'll do anything to get my foot in the door" really doesn't work in modern hiring any more.

Good luck, and just stay engaged.
 
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It'll be months before you hear back, if ever. That's true of everywhere nowadays.
 
The review process can take weeks. Is the field that you put when you can start a hard date, or can it just be text with "two weeks notice preferred" in it?

If they have your application and resume and the job is still posted, here are a couple reasons why. First, the job posing may have a date for which they will continue to receive applications up to. They may just be waiting for a large pool of applicants to sort through. Or, possibly, they don't feel like you meet all their qualifications, but they are waiting to see who else applies.

I don't think you've done this, but it does go without saying that you need to be sure you don't burn any bridges where you are now before you have a job offer in hand. That won't be until after a phone and face to face interview, testing, etc.

Oh - and don't apply to too many jobs that are very different in nature. If you apply for coach cleaner, OBS, accounting, station work, and VP of marketing, they will think you can't focus and won't know which job you are best for. The old adage "I'll do anything to get my foot in the door" really doesn't work in modern hiring any more.

Good luck, and just stay engaged.
They asked for a hard date where you choose a date on a calender.

And I applied for the same job but in two different locations. I honestly don't expect to hear anything back from them based on what I have heard in the past with people applying and then all of a sudden they hear back 5 years later, but you never know.

Thanks for the replies.
 
Amtrak takes forever to even get back to you regarding the status of an application. I applied for a couple of Amtrak positions back in November, and only last month did I hear that one of them had been "cancelled", however when I last checked, my other posting still said it was "under review". I've since applied for, interviewed for, and accepted a job elsewhere, so I wouldn't count on Amtrak's application process to be speedy at all. Hopefully their new site can keep other prospective applicants up to date on their job status...

~ DC (soon to be ASD) TE
 
Amtrak takes forever to even get back to you regarding the status of an application. I applied for a couple of Amtrak positions back in November, and only last month did I hear that one of them had been "cancelled", however when I last checked, my other posting still said it was "under review". I've since applied for, interviewed for, and accepted a job elsewhere, so I wouldn't count on Amtrak's application process to be speedy at all. Hopefully their new site can keep other prospective applicants up to date on their job status...

~ DC (soon to be ASD) TE
Their new site is a disaster. If you go to do a job search it's just a mismatched cluster of all the jobs all together. Search one location and you'll get jobs for other locations thrown in as well. You have to search different key words because different HR people might list a job with the full title or they might abbreviate it. The old site used to say how long the posting will be up for as well and now it doesn't. I know it's new but hopefully they'll sort it out soon.
 
With Amtrak being a Quasi government agency, I wouldn't expect anything quick. Government is not known for speed and only moves so fast. I just took a government job that they were hiring on an emergency basis because the previous person in the position moved on last June. It took 7 months for me to apply , interview, and negotiate the job. My understanding is I was on the fast track because they needed to fill the job. I would hate to see what normal speed is and what if they were moving slow.

I think giving a two week notice is common and if you are chosen, probably won't hold it against you. It will probably be asked at the interview or job offer stage. You just want to be clear that you have to give a two week notice. Now if your like, I need to give a two week notice and want two weeks for myself, they probably will tell you to take a hike.
 
It really depends on the position, but it can take some time, particularly for train crew and similar positions. If you are not going to get an interview, you won't hear back for months (or ever) - if you do hear they will e-mail you a form letter stating that the position was filled, or they decided not to fill it, etc. The process does take time, and they absolutely provide you with enough time to give two weeks notice (or occasionally more) before starting a new position, regardless of when you are hired. It's something that will come up in the interview process if you are called. Hope this helps and best of luck.
 
Thanks for all the replies guys. The position I applied to has been posted twice now (I didn't apply the first time, just the second time) so hopefully that means they are at least trying to fill the spot. I believe my qualifications and experience are a perfect match but we'll see. Thanks again.
 
Some years ago I applied to Amtrak for a number of jobs, and I thought I was perfectly suited for some of them. I actually flew on short notice from North Carolina to Oregon for a ticket agent job, and I am a former ticket agent! Oh, how I thought they would sign me up immediately! Needless to say, they did not. I would have stood on my head and wiggled my ears at the time for that job in Eugene. but life took different turns. I am now retired ( on RR Retirement ) and no longer interested. Who knows what they are looking for and how their arcane procedures work? I do wish you well, but don't hold your breath.
 
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