Failed multi-modal interview

[Stigy]

Hi all, after some advice please. I recently sat an interview for Depot Driver with a TOC and today received a letter informing me that I had been unsuccessful in my application. I passed the all then psychometric tests on a separate date however. Just wondered if this counts as one of my life's lost so to speak? I am aware this forms part of the assessment process but wondered the process is split, so basically if you fail the psychometric tests that's one life gone, and if you fail it a second time that's it for you, but if you fail the psychometric tests once, resit and pass them, then fail the interview, whether that's still the end of the line, or because they're two very different tests, you get at this?

My other question is that I was told I haven't been successful, but not that I failed the interview. I guess only the TOC can answer this, but does that necessarily mean I failed the interview, or that there was another more suitable candidate, and I still passed?

Reason for these questions is that back in 2011 I failed the psychometric tests (in the old style), then this time round I passed but apparently failed the interview and it seems a bit unfair to have two goes at the most, regardless of which part you failed.

Thanks!

 

[theking]

It depends on whether you failed the mmi or the dm interview.

If it's the latter that's not one of your lives.

You can fail each part of the national standard process only once.

 

[Stigy]

Hi, it was the competency based interview but there wasn't to be another one. I was told if I got past this it was the medical then a job offer. The last one I took was the old style so I wondered if my lives might have started again....wishful thinking?

 

[theking]

Yeah the slate was wiped clean so you've got one more chance again.

Although I read a post on here that one toc refused to let someone sit it because they had failed the old style.

 

[Fred Dinenage]

The 2 attempts are to stop people getting through who aren't up to the task in the interests of safety. I also failed the old style MMI in 2013 before the new format was introduced. I'm in for the new assessments next week and I'm treating it as my last chance to pass... People have said on here that the 2 "lives" have been reset but, as previously stated, it's down to the individual TOC / FOC as far as I know. And I doubt ringing the OPC will be much use, everything regarding the process is a nuclear-level secret in their eyes.

 

[387star]

What I am interested in os are the assessments easier now??

I recently was asked to complete a survey about the assessments stating was there enough time given were the instructions clear and how easy I found each test and even did I enjoy the test! I was also asked if I was now on a training course to which I put no

I ask because of years of research into the process it seemed in the past many failed somewhere along the line and those who got to the final DM interview usually passed it... Far less threads from say five years ago on failing the final interview

Now many pass assessments and in some cases it seems more are failing the final interview perhaps partly due to more getting to that stage

The mechanical test looked nightmarishly difficult if you were not educated in that area or had a good grasp of physics etc

The old reactions test looked much harder to me than the new broken up tests which are hand coordination te-occ wafv and the traffic perception test

Was the old interview tougher?

Just my own thoughts

I was shocked and delighted to pass everything on my first attempt and on my second attempt the managers interview for which I am now on a reserve list

The final managers interview can be the hardest part of the process in my opinion and is not to be underestimated

 

[Economist]

Stigy:
Most TOCs will still allow you another attempt, make sure to get feedback though so you know what you have to do.

From what I have seen the MMI is about experience and behaviours. Regarding the unfairness, I do think it might be an idea to have an "experience filter" in the initial stage where you have to mention the experiences that you'll be asked about later during the MMI. That way, those without the necessary experience to pass the MMI could simply be informed, "get more experience" without losing a "life". If they lied, they'd probably be found out in the MMI if they got that far.

ml:
I would imagine the interview is harder these days, the questions do not necessarily link directly to all of the required competencies on the RSSB presentation so it seems you have to pick examples which match both the question asked and the competencies. You do get interrupted quite a bit too.

Consistency is checked too using the situational questionnaire beforehand and anything weak on this will be probed further during the interview. I do wonder if a good run on the questionnaire makes a pass easier to obtain.

There are certain mitigating circumstances in which a candidate who has failed twice can re-sit the interview. One ting I wonder is if someone failed twice in their early twenties whilst in an office job, then got a safety critical role and came back 15 years later, would they get another go if the tests hadn't changed. If I were an assessor/TOC/RSSB, I'd be inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Stigy]

Thanks all for the advice! I am awaiting a call back regarding feedback.

ml, I found the tests extremely complex, yet not as difficult as the older style. Having said that, I didn't get beyond the morning session last time around

The mechanical parts were what I was dreading as I can be a bit cack-handed, but they didn't bother me on the day. I believe the old assessments included an emergency phone call, but there wasn't one this time round (I was happy as I was dreading that bit....Not because I can't do it, but because role-play in assessments has never been a strong point of mine!). From what I recall from the practice material back in 2011 the mechanical aspects on the old tests looked daunting, but the new ones, though in-depth, weren't that bad.

From experience with my TOC, if you pass the assessments for mainline driver, you're pretty much guaranteed a job due to the amount of vacancies recruited at the same time. Obviously different for Depot Drivers as these are recruited one at a time most times.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Consistency is checked too using the situational questionnaire beforehand and anything weak on this will be probed further during the interview. I do wonder if a good run on the questionnaire makes a pass easier to obtain.

I was under the impression the situational questionnaire would be a paper and pen exercise, as they usually are (and how the letter from recruitment made it sound). However I noticed this formed part of my interview.

 

[Economist]

I think Page 6 of the document below shows exactly what they are looking for.

http://orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/2285/rgd-2012-03-web.pdf