Table 1Transition record

train drivertoshunter

A train driver already meets 23% of what the shunter role asks for. The move turns on 25 required skills not yet in the profile.

From train driver

23%

Overlap1

To shunter

8 Skills carried over

25 Required, not held

82 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 82

This move: 82 of 100 · career change

1 Share of the shunter role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the train driver profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 8 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A shunter role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a train driver background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held control train movement working with machinery and specialised equipment
already held shunt rolling stock in marshalling yards working with machinery and specialised equipment
already held train operating procedures services
already held check train engines information skills
already held shunt outbound loads working with machinery and specialised equipment
already held physical characteristics of railways natural sciences, mathematics and statistics

All 8 carried skills, including the 8 the shunter role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 31 missing skills fall into 10 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 working with machinery and specialised equipment 9 required

required, not held perform wagon coupling required
required, not held operate railway communication systems required
required, not held operate railway switches required
required, not held operate railway warning systems required
required, not held operate switching locomotives required
required, not held perform maintenance on locomotives required
required, not held drive vehicles required
required, not held operate radio equipment required
required, not held operate railway vehicles required

02 assisting and caring 4 required

required, not held comply with railway safety standards required
required, not held enforce railway safety regulations required
required, not held oversee operational safety on trains required
required, not held deal with challenging work conditions required

03 information skills 3 required, 2 supplementary

required, not held test the braking force of trains required
required, not held assess railway operations required
required, not held read railway circuit plans required

optional, not held compare shipment contents with waybill optional
optional, not held keep written records of cargo optional

04 engineering, manufacturing and construction 2 required, 2 supplementary

required, not held rail infrastructure required
required, not held principles of mechanical engineering required

optional, not held electrical engineering optional
optional, not held electrical wiring plans optional

05 communication, collaboration and creativity 2 required

required, not held use hand signal for transport procedures required
required, not held follow switching instructions in rail operations required

06 constructing 2 required

required, not held perform rail track inspections required
required, not held perform routine maintenance on railway engines required

4 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a shunter role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 8 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held check train engines skill
already held control train movement skill
already held mechanics of trains knowledge
already held physical characteristics of railways knowledge
already held shunt inbound loads skill
already held shunt outbound loads skill
already held shunt rolling stock in marshalling yards skill
already held train operating procedures knowledge

The 4 learning areas not shown above

Skill to acquire Tier

07 business, administration and law 1 required

required, not held railway framework legislation required

08 services 1 required

required, not held dangers of marshalling activity required

09 working with computers 1 required

required, not held operate railway control panels required

10 handling and moving 2 supplementary

optional, not held assist in the movement of heavy loads optional
optional, not held load animals for transportation optional

6 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held compare shipment contents with waybill optional
optional, not held assist in the movement of heavy loads optional
optional, not held keep written records of cargo optional
optional, not held electrical engineering optional
optional, not held electrical wiring plans optional
optional, not held load animals for transportation optional

30 held skills the shunter role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role act reliably skill
not needed by the target role act with a high level of safety awareness skill
not needed by the target role adjust weight of cargo to capacity of freight transport vehicles skill
not needed by the target role analyse reports provided by passengers skill
not needed by the target role communicate with customers skill
not needed by the target role customs regulations for passengers knowledge
not needed by the target role ensure maintenance of trains skill
not needed by the target role ensure trains run to schedule skill
not needed by the target role focus on passengers skill
not needed by the target role follow signalling instructions skill
not needed by the target role freight transport methods knowledge
not needed by the target role handle stressful situations in the work place skill
not needed by the target role have computer literacy skill
not needed by the target role listen actively skill
not needed by the target role locomotive brake applications knowledge
not needed by the target role maintain updated professional knowledge skill
not needed by the target role mark differences in colours skill
not needed by the target role monitor train schedules skill
not needed by the target role observe freight shipment loaders skill
not needed by the target role passenger transport regulations knowledge
not needed by the target role perform ICT troubleshooting skill
not needed by the target role perform services in a flexible manner skill
not needed by the target role prepare freight shipment reports skill
not needed by the target role react calmly in stressful situations skill
not needed by the target role relay messages through radio and telephone systems skill
not needed by the target role stay alert skill
not needed by the target role teach train driving principles skill
not needed by the target role tolerate sitting for long periods skill
not needed by the target role track geometry knowledge
not needed by the target role work in a rail transport team skill

6 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held dangers of marshalling activity required
required, not held rail infrastructure required
required, not held railway framework legislation required
required, not held principles of mechanical engineering required
optional, not held electrical engineering optional
optional, not held electrical wiring plans optional

Index

Other moves recorded from train driver

Full index of moves from train driver

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.