Can you tell me what your first year was like?

The first year was a strange one - the first quarter of it was spent learning in a classroom, followed by a month learning how to work in the actual signal box, before finally being allowed to fly solo. The first few months were tough, it was a residential course so I only got to see family and friends at the weekend but I understood why it was like this - the course required my full attention but it was definitely worth the sacrifice. The next few months were just as hard, learning the signal box and getting comfortable working on my own but this got easier as the year progressed and towards the end I was very happy and content.

I joined as an Operational Planner back in 2012. I spent 4 straight weeks in training learning about the company, a bit about the role, and then a lot about how to use the tools. I was then let loose with my team and got stuck into the day job. My mentor was brilliant as he showed me what to do, let me ask a million questions (a lot of them repeatedly until I understood), and showed me the best way to do things. I've been here long enough that this training has now evolved into an 18 week course where you do a mix of classroom learning and on the job training.

My new starter group all stayed really close for the first year, and even now over a decade on most of us are still here but in slightly different roles.

To be honest for the first 6 months I felt like I didn't know anything about what I was doing. I was relying on the training I'd had to steer me. Then the next 6 months I felt like I knew if something was right or wrong, but couldn't articulate why. Then only after a year did I feel like I'd got a grip on it and was confident in what I was doing and saying. It all just comes with experience and not being afraid to ask a lot of questions.