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Customer Service gateline assistant Newbury

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anthony263

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Had a bit of a shock when I checked my email today as I have been asked to attend an interview/assesment day at the Hilton Newbury centre this friday for the Gateline Assistant vacancy with FGW.

I must admit I wasnt expecting this however I am pleased to finally being given an interview as I havent really had one for a while.

Now my questions are:

1.) Can anyone give me further information on what the Customer service gateline assistant role involves and perhaps share experiences/advice?

2.) Anyone been to the Hilton Newbury Centre before and knows how easy it is to get to as I have never been to Newbury before.

3.) What can I expect at the assesment day?


Overal I am very pleased with this as it would be my first job working in the rail industry and I do hope everything goes well with my application.

I have worked out my journey plan for the day although i looks like I will be leaving Bridgend at 04:30 and arriving back at 21:15
 
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Railguy

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1.) Can anyone give me further information on what the Customer service gateline assistant role involves and perhaps share experiences/advice?

2.) Anyone been to the Hilton Newbury Centre before and knows how easy it is to get to as I have never been to Newbury before.

3.) What can I expect at the assesment day?

Hi,

I work for South West Trains as a Gateline Assistant in a large station, so I believe the roles are similar enough (Not to mention the FGW revenue protection guys have told me they're pretty much identical :) )

As to your questions:

1) Your duties would involve making sure the ticket barriers are operated in a safe manner ( Directing people with large pieces of luggage, with trams and buggeys, wheelchairs et all due the appropiate wide gate), checking tickets and if you see any regular inconsistencies report them to the Revenue Protection team :) Also you will constantly be bombarded with travel enquiries , so be prepared :) Try to come across as 100% Customer service focused during the interview, assuming you have it on the same day.

2) I would ask the taxi drivers for directions, just make sure you tell them you're there for an assesment and they'll USUALLY be happy to help ;)
It would be a good idea, assuming you have enough spare time and money permitting, to do a test trip to Newbury and make sure you know where to go on your real assesment day date :)

3) You should expect a very basic maths test, reading comprehension test and some sort of ticket checking test - examples will be given :) That's atleast what Gateline Assistants get at our Assesment centre. Assuming you have time to visit Newbury prior to the assesment day, it would be a good idea to get a google maps print-out and just do a test journey there.

In any way, goodluck and this is the perfect role to get your foot in the railway :)
 

anthony263

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Well they said a taxi should cost me £5-£10 (According to the hotel website) so I will print out a google map tommorow when I visit my local library.

My local jobcentre have they will give me a travel warrant (or whatever it is called) to assist me getting there as they are paying.

Sadly I had the email at 13:00 this afternoon and too be honest if I had more than 2 days notice I would have taken a trip to Newbury.

I have decided to go via Reading as I only have to make 1 connection compared to going via Westbury in which I have to change trains at least 2 times and there is very little room for error as if I go via Reading I arrive into Newbury at 07:44 or 08:30 if I go via Westury and I would rather not chance it.

Anyway thanks Railguy I did also apply for the same vacancy but at Didcot although I have not heard anything about that yet.

That said I am really hoping that I am sucessful in my interview and once I know whether I have been sucessful or not I will start arranging to move closer to Newbury.

I will report back on how things went on saturday morning as I wont get back home til at least 21:00 friday night.
 

Harlesden

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Sorry Railguy but why would someone be wanting to take a tram through a gateline. Sounds a bit hazardous to me.
 

anthony263

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Sorry Railguy but why would someone be wanting to take a tram through a gateline. Sounds a bit hazardous to me.

Just spotted that and I have to agree with you I assume perhaps he meant those very large buggies?

Anyway I havent been to Reading for about 1.5 years now and I have to change trains there from the hst at 07:00 to the local service to Newbury at 07:12 how easy is it changing trains at Reading currently?
 
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Railguy

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Just spotted that and I have to agree with you I assume perhaps he meant those very large buggies?

Anyway I havent been to Reading for about 1.5 years now and I have to change trains there from the hst at 07:00 to the local service to Newbury at 07:12 how easy is it changing trains at Reading currently?

Okay, my bad when it comes to the tram, too much work - although someone did try to get a motorbike through the barriers.... <D

The local services to Newbury leave from Platform 1, changing at that time of day shouldn't be too bad, although access to platform 1 is quite limited due to all the reconstruction work, but 12 minutes will be ok :)
 

Ivo

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Seemed no different to normal when I last used Reading (five weeks ago), although I used the lifts as I had a large case. There might be works going on but the interchange facilities are still available and well signed.

I saw the advertisement on firstgroup.com on Monday - best of luck with it!
 

anthony263

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19 Aug 2008
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6,518
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South Wales
Seemed no different to normal when I last used Reading (five weeks ago), although I used the lifts as I had a large case. There might be works going on but the interchange facilities are still available and well signed.

I saw the advertisement on firstgroup.com on Monday - best of luck with it!


Thanks for that IVO and I am keeping my fingers crossed
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Sad to annouce that I was unsucessful today although I dont intend to wallow in defeat and I will pick myself back up again and look for any more vacancies.

I must say thank you to FGW however for giving me the opportunity although sadly luck was not on my side today.
 
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