Table 1Transition record

train preparertorail operations manager

A train preparer already meets 20% of what the rail operations manager role asks for. The move turns on 16 required skills not yet in the profile.

From train preparer

20%

Overlap1

To rail operations manager

5 Skills carried over

16 Required, not held

78.1 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 78.1

This move: 78.1 of 100 · career change

1 Share of the rail operations manager role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the train preparer 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 5 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A rail operations manager role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a train preparer background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held maintain computerised records of railway traffic working with computers
already held process data from railway control rooms information skills
already held work in a rail transport team communication, collaboration and creativity
already held rail infrastructure engineering, manufacturing and construction
already held comply with legal regulations assisting and caring

All 5 carried skills, including the 4 the rail operations manager role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 21 missing skills fall into 9 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 management skills 4 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held plan railway incident mitigation measures required
required, not held develop staff required
required, not held manage budgets required
required, not held manage staff required

optional, not held design wayside signalling interlockings optional

02 business, administration and law 4 required

required, not held rail project financing required
required, not held project management required
required, not held rail disruption management required
required, not held railway framework legislation required

03 services 3 required

required, not held modern power signalling systems required
required, not held train planning required
required, not held health and safety measures in transportation required

04 information skills 2 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held assess performance of rail operations required
required, not held perform rail operations risk management required

optional, not held operate railway freight monitoring technologies optional

05 assisting and caring 1 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held enforce railway safety regulations required

optional, not held ensure implementation of subsidence mitigation measures optional

06 communication, collaboration and creativity 1 required

required, not held ensure client orientation required

3 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a rail operations manager 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 5 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held comply with legal regulations skill
already held maintain computerised records of railway traffic skill
already held process data from railway control rooms skill
already held rail infrastructure knowledge
already held work in a rail transport team skill

The 3 learning areas not shown above

Skill to acquire Tier

07 natural sciences, mathematics and statistics 1 required

required, not held physical characteristics of railways required

08 working with computers 1 supplementary

optional, not held have computer literacy optional

09 working with machinery and specialised equipment 1 supplementary

optional, not held shunt inbound loads optional

5 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held design wayside signalling interlockings optional
optional, not held ensure implementation of subsidence mitigation measures optional
optional, not held operate railway freight monitoring technologies optional
optional, not held shunt inbound loads optional
optional, not held have computer literacy optional

18 held skills the rail operations manager role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role characteristics of wheel rail interface knowledge
not needed by the target role comply with railway safety standards skill
not needed by the target role detect rail track malfunctions skill
not needed by the target role ensure correct signalling during rail maintenance skill
not needed by the target role ensure finished product meet requirements skill
not needed by the target role ensure maintenance of railway machinery skill
not needed by the target role ensure rail tracks remain clear skill
not needed by the target role execute working instructions skill
not needed by the target role hydraulics knowledge
not needed by the target role maintain inventory of rail track parts skill
not needed by the target role operate hydraulic jack lift skill
not needed by the target role operate scientific measuring equipment skill
not needed by the target role perform manual work autonomously skill
not needed by the target role perform rail track inspections skill
not needed by the target role principles of mechanical engineering knowledge
not needed by the target role standards of track geometry knowledge
not needed by the target role train employees skill
not needed by the target role write rail defect records skill

8 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 rail project financing required
required, not held modern power signalling systems required
required, not held physical characteristics of railways required
required, not held project management required
required, not held rail disruption management required
required, not held railway framework legislation required
required, not held train planning required
required, not held health and safety measures in transportation required

Index

Other moves recorded from train preparer

Full index of moves from train preparer

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.