First Great Western - Trainee Drivers

[tlionhart]

Since April. If I hear anything it will be a bonus. They just did a large recruitment campaign so I doubt they will be looking for anymore drivers soon...

 

[retraj]

thatс shame ( let's hope that year that we got will be enough to beat the queue

 

[Johncleesefan]

After not hearing a single thing since january I have finally been given my dm interview on 18th june. Ahh so excited. Crazy

 

[SkinnyDave]

After not hearing a single thing since january I have finally been given my dm interview on 18th june. Ahh so excited. Crazy

Good luck it has been a long wait for you!!

PM me if you need any help closer to the time

 

[Greg1205]

Well done and good luck! When did you attend your second stage of assessment?

 

[d_kingscott]

After not hearing a single thing since january I have finally been given my dm interview on 18th june. Ahh so excited. Crazy

What depot? I got my FGW - (Oxford depot) 2nd stage assessment result 21st Jan, then got an email in May booking my final interview, which I had last week. Now waiting to see if I get a medical
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I finally got the job as trainee train driver after lengthy and challenging selection process.
May I take this opportunity to thank you all for help and support during past 7 months.
My dream job is within the reach now. Although lets don't forget, 12mths course will be intensive and demanding.
THANK YOU ALL!

Congrats!!! Can I ask when you first applied and what was the time lapse between final interview - medical - job offer?

 

[Thekopno1]

Hi guys
I Was wondering if anyone was still waiting for their final line manager interview for Paddington. I had final assessment last December.

 

[EdZ]

Same here. I think a lot of the DM interviews were delayed due to DMs being busy with part of the line falling into the sea.

 

[arestia]

Hi Guys... I am also waiting for Paddington depot.. passed 2nd stage in Dec.. fingers still crossed for final interview when i get one.

 

[Johncleesefan]

Hey, I sat stage 2 in swindon on 13th of november and got results a month later. Applied for westbury

 

[Kagster]

I suspect that all DM passes will be moved into a talent pool from about April onwards. The question is will they have new vacancies and courses before the 1yr deadline

 

[tlionhart]

I suspect that all DM passes will be moved into a talent pool from about April onwards. The question is will they have new vacancies and courses before the 1yr deadline

Spot on. Mine was in March (was meant to be in Feb) and received the on hold news in April. A few others including myself are in the hold pool. For different depots. I was informed in my DM interview, that courses would restart in Sept.

I don't get why they would interview again from now just to place people into hold pools?

 

[Twoonthebuzzer]

I can't speak for LTV but the west side depots are mega oversubscribed currently to the point that at some depots trainees are being sent out for handling with no DI's available and spare links have been created to put new drivers in with no work.

I'm suprised they are still recruiting but I suppose a lot is going to happen with the GWML in the coming years and they know what they need.

 

[VW]

Hey guys,

Being an avid lurker on this thread I thought I will register and share my progress with FGW so far. I started my application in October and had my Stage 1 in mid Oct, Stage 2 in early Dec and finally my DM interview in early May. The very next day after my DM interview I received an email saying,

"Unfortunately at present we do not have any further vacancies at your chosen depot. Your performance at the interview was to a high standard and therefore we would like to keep your application on hold".

When I first read the email I thought it was just another polite rejection email but when I rang to get some feedback, HR said I passed the interview and currently awaiting dates for the training course. When I questioned if there are in fact any vacancies opening up for the Paddington depot she said that there are talks of bringing next year's training course to this year. This leads me to believe that Paddington's intake was planned for 2015 but may actually happen sooner if they find enough people. She also said that currently there are 12 on hold for Reading and 2 for Paddington.

What's interesting is that First Capital Connect are hiring 8 trainees for the Kings Cross depot (link below) and their training course is due to start in September so I think there may be a possibility to combine the two courses. Don't quote me on this because it's just a wild guess

http://www.cv-library.co.uk/job/200826638

 

[455driver]

FCC and FGW don't share training courses so what is your point?
Confused dot com.

 

[VW]

FCC and FGW don't share training courses so what is your point?
Confused dot com.

455driver,

I wasn't aware of that so thank you for letting me know. Like I said, it was just a wild guess.

 

[tlionhart]

...his point was he is sharing his progress so far :roll:

That's good to hear. I know the other post (you may have seen) is Retraj. He's applied for Paddington and placed on hold. Hopefully everything will pick up again in the Late summer/autumn?

 

[455driver]

If you are on hold then you have passed everything and are just waiting for a start date, just hang on in there.

You can also apply to other TOCs with your passes, just tell them where and when you took the tests and they can look them up.

 

[skjonesfamily]

Could any one tell me please what sort of questions are asked in the DM interview thanks.

 

[VW]

Could any one tell me please what sort of questions are asked in the DM interview thanks.

A few questions that were asked at my DM interview:

- What do you know about FGW
- Why have you applied for this position
- Why do you think you are suitable for this role
- What can you tell me about the role of a train driver
- Tell me a time when you dealt with an emergency
- Tell me a time when you were under pressure
- Have you done shift work and how do you feel about it
- How would you get to work for a 3am start

About half the questions were "tell me a time when you..." type questions where you have to answer using the STAR technique

I highly recommend you buy the 'Train Driver Interview Questions and Answers' book by Richard McMunn because pretty much all the questions that I got were in that book.

Hope that helps & all the best

 

[skjonesfamily]

A few questions that were asked at my DM interview:

- What do you know about FGW
- Why have you applied for this position
- Why do you think you are suitable for this role
- What can you tell me about the role of a train driver
- Tell me a time when you dealt with an emergency
- Tell me a time when you were under pressure
- Have you done shift work and how do you feel about it
- How would you get to work for a 3am start

About half the questions were "tell me a time when you..." type questions where you have to answer using the STAR technique

I highly recommend you buy the 'Train Driver Interview Questions and Answers' book by Richard McMunn because pretty much all the questions that I got were in that book.

Hope that helps & all the best

Thank you so much your a super STAR no pun intended, I take it you are in training now some where?

 

[Johncleesefan]

So i sat my dm interview yesterday in Westbury.
I was on my top form and gave it my very best shot. I know I couldnt have done better so fingers crossed now. I was told I should have the results by tomorrow.
Heres hoping

 

[VW]

Thank you so much your a super STAR no pun intended, I take it you are in training now some where?

No not yet. I have been put on hold until a vacancy opens up.

 

[Thekopno1]

No not yet. I have been put on hold until a vacancy opens up.

Don't you have training for a year or so first?

 

[VW]

Yes but if you recall, the application for the Paddington depot specifically said "Although we don't have any open vacancies right now, we're happy to look at applications from future Trainee Train Drivers for First Great Western".

Basically the people who pass the DM interview are put on hold until a vacancy opens up. Until then FGW won't send you on the training course.

 

[d_kingscott]

I chased up HR this week, I had a reply stating that interviews are still taking place and they would be in touch as soon as possible. I have completed everything apart from a medical, so keeping my fingers crossed. I applied for Oxford depot. Good luck to the rest of you...

 

[oxoneil]

Applied mid November 2013
1st stage December 2013
2nd stage January 2014
DM yesterday

the wait begins............

 

[d_kingscott]

Applied mid November 2013
1st stage December 2013
2nd stage January 2014
DM yesterday

the wait begins............

So your holding things up!

 

[JN114]

Hmmm

Applied Aug 2013,
Stage 1 Oct 2013
Stage 2 Nov 2013
Results (pass) Jan 2014

Yet Still no DM interview. When I speak to HR they say they're working through them and will be in touch "shortly".

Applied for Paddington, anyone else in a similar boat?

 

[Johncleesefan]

I applied august 2013 and sat stage 1 in sept and stage 2 in nov. Git the invite out of the blue for dm at the start of this month and sat it a couple of weeks ago. Just waiting for results. Applied for westbury
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Just got off the phone with fgw. Wooohooo I have been made an offer for westbury for either jan or march next year. So just gota wait for the email for my medical now so excited