Railroad Mechanic job description

This post includes 3 parts: duties list, job qualification and job description writing tips for Railroad Mechanic in details. A complete job description concludes Railroad Mechanic key duties/responsibilities, Railroad Mechanic job qualifications (knowledge, education, skills, abilities, experience…KSA model) and other ones such as daily tasks, key activities, key/core competencies, job functions/purpose…

I. List of Railroad Mechanic duties:

1.      Receives instructions regarding work to be done.

2.      Determines materials and required tools.

3.      Inspects, maintains, and repairs locomotives, road maintenance equipment, air compressors, facility piping systems.

4.      Communicates written and/or verbal findings of inspections to Supervisor.

5.      Performs disassembly, repair, replacement, rebuild, re-assembly, installation, adjustment, alignment, and lubrication activities on mechanical equipment.

6.      Performs inspection utilizing meters, analyzed trouble areas and makes repairs as required.

7.      Performs necessary electrical tests, removes, disassembles, replaces, repairs, modifies, rebuilds, assembles, adjusts, and maintains batteries and all electrical equipment or components on locomotives, road maintenance equipment, lighting circuits, crane circuits, air compressors, building and shop facilities, and equipment.

8.      Performs welding and burning.

9.      Operate a tractor/trailer equipped with power-take-off for field servicing of locomotive.

10.  Delray Connecting Railroad is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

II. List of Railroad Mechanic qualifications

1.      Valid driver's license is required.

2.      High School Diploma or equivalent (GED) is required.

3.      Trade school or formal railroad locomotive or diesel mechanical maintenance training required.

4.      Minimum of 2.5 years locomotive mechanical or locomotive electrical or industrial heavy equipment mechanical experience is required.

5.      Ability to work overtime, weekends, holidays, and on-call is required.

6.      Ability to work outdoors in inclement work conditions is required.

7.      Performing manual labor and lifting in excess of 50 pounds is required.

8.      Minimum one year outdoor/industrial work experience is required.

III. Tips to write job description

1. Too-long job description:

Looking at a too-long job description can frighten the candidates off and drive the away. A job description, no matter how important the job is, should not be included in more than 3 pages. If one focuses on too many things at a time, he shall definitely lose focus on the main items and get overwhelmed by the remaining; So, keep it concisely.

2. Too-short job description:

While too-long can be a problem, too-short is more a problem. It will ruin the meaning of the job description. A too-short one means it lacks necessary details and therefore, the candidate will not be able to understand while reading it.

3. Listing unnecessary functions or job duties:

Just classifying these into the “others” category will save you a lot of effort and space. On the other hand, the job description will become more dilute and easy to be neglected.

4. Key functions

Not listing key functions as required for the job can be a fatal mistake to a job description.

5. Grammar and spelling

Poor grammar and having spelling errors can ruin the job description, too. Never think that as you are the employer, you may have the right to make grammar or spelling errors while requires other not to. A job description with such errors is easily to be mistaken as a fake or ghost ads; as a result, the candidate will turn away from it.

6. Not specific enough:

Be specific and concise; if you don’t address the specific, then what the job description is for. It is for the candidate to understand just exactly what he needs to do or needs to have. Lacking details can confuse the candidates very well.

7. Not having the job description reviewed by others:

This is also a common mistake. One may be subject to bias, but more than one, especially with the help of those external advisor, the job description can be more perfect.

8. Using buzzwords or abbreviations:

In fact, it is not necessary at all to use such in a job description.

9. Using slang or legal words:

Just use common wording to communicate with others and don’t do anything extraordinarily.

10. Not updating the job description:

The same job may require different duties and responsibilities in different times, so, you cannot use the same job description for 2 different times.