On Track 
for Success
 

Choosing your Role

The railway has a wide range of career options, from customer facing to office based, 
safety critical to non-safety critical, but whichever role you choose, customers  are always at the forefront of what we do. 
So, where do you start?

Consider the roles you are interested in: 

• What skills and experience do I have? 
• What roles could my skills and experience contribute to?
• What do I need to do enable me to get this position?
• How much do I really know about the organisation? 
• What am I interested in?

How to apply

All vacancies are advertised through our careers website.

Once registered, you can set up job alerts for roles you are interested in.

The application process varies depending on what role you are applying for. Some applications require you to complete assessments, both online and classroom, whilst others require a CV and covering letter.

The Application

  • Familiarise yourself with the role.
  • Match your experience and skills to the requirements.
  • Complete the form in full.
  • Make your skills, experience, and achievements clear.
  • Pay attention to detail.

Creating your CV

A CV is something you will need to apply for a job, it is usually your first chance to promote yourself and a good CV might just get you that job interview.

Employers get lots of CVs to look at and must decide quickly who they are going to interview.

The information in our guide will help you to create your CV. It is good to have a ‘master’ CV, but always review, update and tailor your CV for each role you are applying for to ensure that your skills and experiences are highlighted for each specific job you are applying for. 

Remember your application and CV are your first chance to make the best impression.

Please see our in depth guide to creating a CV in the On Track for Success booklet.

Frequently asked questions

I’ve submitted my application, what happens next?
Your application will be screened by recruitment or the local manager for the role. At this point it will be decided if you will be shortlisted for assessments and/interview stage.


If I’m not successful at the screening stage, will I be told?
Yes, you will receive an email.


How many people will usually be on the interview panel?
There are usually two people but sometimes more.


What is a competency?
A competency is a particular quality that a company have decided is desirable for employees to possess for a particular job role. These are used as benchmarks to rate and evaluate candidates.


What kind of questions can I expect in the interview?
Introductory questions known as icebreaker, competency-based questions, and specialist knowledge questions.


I’ve not been successful at an interview, is it worth asking for feedback?
Yes! Always ask for feedback at any stage of the process regardless of the outcome as this will give you the information you need to improve for the future. Speak to your line manager and agree a development plan.

Not You?

By applying, you consent to eArcu processing your data for South Western Railway Limited to assess your suitability.

Your data will be securely stored and accessible only to authorised personnel, and you may withdraw consent anytime by emailing sar@swrailway.com or calling 0345 600 0650.

To comply with UK GDPR, please remove special category data (e.g., health, race, political views) from your CV. More details from the ICO here.

We will retain your application for 12 months to consider you for future roles. See our Privacy Policy for more information.

© South Western Railway Limited (Company Number 03266760). All rights reserved.