I found out yesterday that UP is having a hiring session each day this week. 80 applicants each day x 5 = a lot of cattle. And they only intend to hire about 30 people. Things will be tough, but I’m hopeful.

Yesterday morning we started at 7:30. They spent the next hour or so explaining to everyone just what to expect from a life on the railroad. People began to trickle off. By 10am there were less than 40 people left.

Then came the written exam. It was all reading comprehension–easy for me. I didn’t miss a single question. After correcting all the exams the cut was down to 18 people.

Then came the physical strength test. I scored really high on the grip and upper body tests. And, uh, average on the abdominal strength test =). I was well above passing grade. More people failed this test so now 80 applicants were down to about 8.

Time for interviews–I went first (thanks Scott!). Scott went down to the yard office at 7am yesterday to talk to the managers and put in a good word for me. When I sat down to talk to them during my interview it seemed less like an interview and more like bullshittin’. We laughed and talked about hunting and fishing, traded funny stories about my railroadin’ buddies, shook hands, and that was it.

So I was done by 1pm. Things look pretty good. My other railroad buddies are going to pop in to the yard office and put in a good word for me this week. If I get hired they’ll call me Friday night. Saturday I’ll drive back down to Roseville to fill out paperwork. Monday I’ll start rules, regs, and safety school.

So look to Hippocleides on Friday night around 9pm for the next Union Pacific update!