First Great Western - Trainee Drivers

[SkinnyDave]

I am awaiting DM interview at another depot but may be waiting a while

They are still recruiting for Paddington so it's a case of being patient

 

[AC1986]

Ok thanks, just really don't want to miss out, best of luck!

 

[Brad1985]

Hi long time reader, first time poster.

I have completed all of the tests and both interviews. I was given some really positive feedback in my interview on 9/07 for Bristol Depot. They called me the same day and said it was good news and they have sent my details to HR. But since then i have not heard anything and its been just over 2 weeks. Does anyone know how long after the interview I will be waiting for before i get invited to a medical or turned down?

 

[SkinnyDave]

Hi I am awaiting a driver manager interview with them.
We have been told that vacancies for external candidates have been put on hold for six months. well.done on the interview and you may yet still get good news or you may have to wait for another few months.

 

[Brad1985]

Thanks for the response. When was the 6 months hold put on? And who was told this? Plus do you know how many positions are available at bristol? Thanks in advance.

 

[Quickthorn]

Hi long time reader, first time poster.

I have completed all of the tests and both interviews. I was given some really positive feedback in my interview on 9/07 for Bristol Depot. They called me the same day and said it was good news and they have sent my details to HR. But since then i have not heard anything and its been just over 2 weeks. Does anyone know how long after the interview I will be waiting for before i get invited to a medical or turned down?

Ditto.

If I haven't heard more by the end of this week, I'll probably ring them.

 

[SkinnyDave]

Thanks for the response. When was the 6 months hold put on? And who was told this? Plus do you know how many positions are available at bristol? Thanks in advance.

Hi there people that applied in May were told this but may only be relevant to that recruitment campaign.
people sat first stage of assessment then FGW said they are not recruiting outside the business.
Did you apply at end of last year? They may already have enough applicants from last recruitment and I believe a lot of internal candidates have went for it.
Don't know how many vacancies there are sorry

 

[Scaramanga]

Im at a loss to understand the recruitment campaign. Having passed the first assessment day last October for Bristol I was told 7-10 days before the CBI. Nothing until March when I queried it and was told by the HR manager that they needed lots of drivers for Bristol and that I would sit the second assessment day within 10-14 days. I was surprised to then see the second recruitment wave and people progressing from that.
Ive personally given up all hope of ever progressing!
I know its a fluid industry and recruitment requirements can ebb and flow but it all just seems a chaotic mess! Surely before FGW embarked on a costly and intensive recruitment campaign there should be at least a medium-term future for the jobs. To advertise twice then delay a large portion of it smacks of poor planning and execution.

 

[Brad1985]

It is all a bit confusing but don't give up hope, this is a job of a lifetime. I started by applying for first transpennine in January and completed the first two stages there. Then my application wasn't processed and I was advised of the Bristol job quite literally the following day.
I then sat my reaction test and structured interview in Newport and then my Depot interview in Bristol. The two interviewing me were very good and it made me want the job even more. They even personally called me the same evening to advise how I have done so far.
I think the problem is there is so many people applying and they do not know who is willing to work at each depot, when they offer the job they are unaware of how many internal applications there will be and what stages people will be applying from. It seems well documented that they have a small HR team and this is a bigger than usual recruitment drive.
A lot of people on here have said they have given up hope then been contacted a few weeks later.
All i can advise is until they have given you a no thanks just hang on in there.

 

[siw8158]

Curioser and curioser!

We'll that certainly was interesting morning!

Just went to OPC in Watford(!) for 2nd stage reaction/CBI interview if successful at the reaction tests.

It turns out I passed stage 2 in the 2011 recruitment drive despite having no result/contact from FGW and no emails answered regarding the status. The only info I was told back then was that as my interview was recorded (to assess the assessor), it was at the relevant place and they hadn't received it back. All I could assume, with no direct message from FGW, was that it was either a failure, which I did assume as it felt like an awful interview and that the positions were filled by the time it returned. I had no official answer of the offer of a DM interview back then!

As FGW let the results stand for 3 yrs, they're still good until Sept 2014! Offered the chance to re-do (with the possibility of failing them) the tests, so politely declined! Confirmed the pass result with FGW and the central data base.

Roll on the DM interview hopefully!

Had a day trip to WFJ though!

And if the other 3 guys who went there are on here, I hope you all passed!

 

[rob12]

Hi mate what depo did u gi for please

 

[siw8158]

I've put in for Oxford.

 

[Puremetal84]

Received my contract today, start 2nd September! Can't wait.

 

[carlejo]

Brilliant news for you. CongratulTions

What depot?

 

[Puremetal84]

Brilliant news for you. CongratulTions

What depot?

Thanks very much, I got Reading depot.

 

[carlejo]

Good on you. I bet you can't wait. Good luck

 

[swords]

congrats Puremetal, and good luck with the course ,very envious as I'm still waiting for any news from the manager interview !! phoning the HR people every week but they don't tell me either way if I have been successful or not.

 

[SkinnyDave]

Congrats puremetal

 

[rob12]

Hi does anybody have any ideas what's going on here, I have just received an email asking me to attend either an assessment/ interview or medical??? on Monday 5th august I sat 1st stage end of may and have heard nothing back until now.... Are they asking me to attend 2nd stage? or is this a mistake and they just sent me a duplicate email, the OPC where no help asking me to phone HR at first and no one is answering there so I have had to leave a message however the OPC guy did say it sounds strange that they have put in the email '' interview/medical'' and because it's weekend I doubt they will get back to me, their asking me to attended on Monday 9.00am and don't want the expense if it is just a mistake on their part, thanks

 

[SkinnyDave]

I would turn up myself mate!

 

[tone]

Hi does anybody have any ideas what's going on here, I have just received an email asking me to attend either an assessment/ interview or medical??? on Monday 5th august I sat 1st stage end of may and have heard nothing back until now.... Are they asking me to attend 2nd stage? or is this a mistake and they just sent me a duplicate email, the OPC where no help asking me to phone HR at first and no one is answering there so I have had to leave a message however the OPC guy did say it sounds strange that they have put in the email '' interview/medical'' and because it's weekend I doubt they will get back to me, their asking me to attended on Monday 9.00am and don't want the expense if it is just a mistake on their part, thanks

What does your online status say? Don't they ask you to confirm attendance online instead of just sending a random/ambiguous email last thing on a Friday for an appt first thing on Monday? It does seem strange, but on the other hand you don't want to miss out.

If it's at a hotel or something you could phone the hotel to check they are in fact holding assessments for First Great Western that day...

 

[daddy_badger]

as above check your on line account with first only option now as you will not get through until Monday. has anyone on here been invited for a stage 2 on Monday?

 

[Quickthorn]

Hi does anybody have any ideas what's going on here, I have just received an email asking me to attend either an ??? on Monday 5th august I sat 1st stage end of may and have heard nothing back until now.... Are they asking me to attend 2nd stage? or is this a mistake and they just sent me a duplicate email, the OPC where no help asking me to phone HR at first and no one is answering there so I have had to leave a message however the OPC guy did say it sounds strange that they have put in the email '' interview/medical'' and because it's weekend I doubt they will get back to me, their asking me to attended on Monday 9.00am and don't want the expense if it is just a mistake on their part, thanks

From stuff that I've received, they're not always totally precise in what they're asking you to attend: I'm sure I've had an email asking me to attend assessment/ interview / medical. It could be a genuine invite to stage 2, but it's very short notice, though, even for them.

I'd be inclined to turn up if I could get time off work at such short notice. I'd take a printed copy of the email to show them. If it is a mistake, at least the fact that you turned up at such short notice should reflect well on you.

The other possibility is to not go and ring them first thing, saying that you couldn't get there at such short notice. Many people wouldn't be allowed to take time off work at such short notice unless it was an emergency.

 

[rob12]

Hi thanks for responses, It is asking me to attend the Pentora hotel reading exactly the same place I went last time, And yes that's what we at my end are thinking I only received this txt and email 1.30pm Friday afternoon and its asking me to attend this Monday at 9.00 I don't get it, apparently JO the lady the email says will meet me from the OPC is going to the pentora on Monday from what I could gather, but the fella wouldn't tell me what stage she is attending? I am going to check online status now believe it or not I completely forgot about that :roll:
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Can't believe this, now my bloody login is not recognising my email address Jeez. There is an accept/decline link on the email and it's not a generic email it's an invite, Anyway I cannot go at such short notice I'm chalking it up as a mistake how that happens though I don't know I thought it would all be automated and once I have clicked he accept link first time and turned up that the system would have me logged as that. I will post on Monday if anybody is interested in the answer to this curious number.

 

[Bert and Ernie]

Typical FGW recruitment is terrible even for the railway. They have no idea what there doing and no respect for their applicants

 

[455driver]

Hi thanks for responses, It is asking me to attend the Pentora hotel reading exactly the same place I went last time,

Dont you mean the Penta hotel?

 

[welshjpc]

Ayamonte,

I too had the text message & email on Friday afternoon. I immediately called the number on the email to ask for clarification (as I took my stage one at Reading Penta on 30th May) and quickly afterwards had a personal email from one of the recruitment team apologising for the mix up, promising me that I will have my results within five working days (again).

Will see what the next week holds I guess, however you may find that if you do turn up to the Penta you will have had a wasted journey.

 

[rob12]

Hi i'm not going to turn up thought that it might be the case of a glitch, Now I have only got to work out whether or not this is a good omen because either they where sending out stage 2 invites and sent the wrong email or that they are holding more 1st rounds on Monday as they didn't have enough passes back in may and we have failed I would honestly be very surprised if I had failed though but ignorance can be bliss.

 

[Brad1985]

Anyone heard anymore regarding the Bristol Depot.

I tried to call but didn't get very far with any information. I want to call them again but don't want to seem like a pest. I have completed the Managers interview but want to know if I don't get the Bristol depot is there any option to try for another depot, have all the other depot's finished recruiting?

If I haven't failed any of the recruitment process will I have to start from the beginning again?

I have to say this wait is actually starting to really get me down. I was so happy and positive when I was told its good news and I am through but now i feel like I am stuck in Limbo.

 

[SkinnyDave]

Hi

I am awaiting a DM interview for Bristol and I applied in May

They have told our batch of applicants that they are not recruiting external staff for trainee drivers for the next six months.
Whether that applies to people that have went for driver manager interviews then I really do not know mate sorry.

I was buzzing too getting through to the DM interview and started to prepare heavily for it. Not to be at the moment

If you are able to relocate, I would ask them if you could be considered for Reading or Oxford