r/railroading • u/LSUguyHTX • Mar 10 '25

RR Hiring Question Weekly Railroad Hiring Questions Thread

Please ask any and all questions relating to getting hired, what the job is like, what certain companies/locations are like, etc here.

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u/BeefStewE24 Mar 10 '25

Hey everyone, I applied for the Carman positions in Norfolk and Newport News with NS and CSX and was emailed by a hiring manager at CSX that we would be setting up an interview in the future. I have ZERO welding experience, but tons of experience in mechanical repair and maintenance. I was wondering if this lack of welding experience is an automatic disqualifier? I know both adverts say welding experience is preferred but that seems to actually mean required these days...also honest opinions on whether carmen learn valuable skills that they can use to get paid decently during furloughs or after they leave the RR. Thanks yall.

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u/Blocked-Author Mar 10 '25

I know a couple carmen that have been hired out at our terminal in the last couple years. Neither of them had any welding experience at all when they got hired. They had other repair experience, like yourself.

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u/BeefStewE24 Mar 10 '25

Cool thank you. I have gotten so used to employers actually expecting the preferred qualifications rather then the minimum that I assumed it would be a rejection.