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Trainee Train Driver - Virgin Trains East Coast

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SPADTrap

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Virgin Trains said:
When you have decided that becoming a Train Driver is the right track for you, apply with a CV and cover letter covering the following questions to [email protected]

Questions to include in your cover letter:

Are you over the age of 21? Set standards mean anyone applying to be a train driver must be over the age of 21.
Do you live within 1 hour of Leeds, London, Edinburgh or York?
If you do not live within 1 hour of the above, would you be willing to relocate should you be successful?
Why do you want to work for Virgin Trains East Coast? (max 100 words)
Why do you want to be a trainee train driver? (max 100 words)


What will happen next?
All applications close on 14 October and the Talent Team will contact all candidates before 1 November 2016.


If you are successful at the first stage, you will be invited to an assessment centre which will be held throughout the UK on the following dates:


London - 8 November

York - 29 November

TBC - 6 December

London - 13 December

York - 3 January

Edinburgh - 12 January

London - 17 January

Newcastle - 19 January

York - 24 January

Edinburgh - 26 January


The assessment centre will include a variety of exercises including individual and group exercises to assess you. Hopefully you will have good fun too!

If you are successful after the assessment centre, you will be invited to complete psychometrics which will be held from December 2016 to February 2017.

When you have passed the assessment centre and psychometrics, that’s it!!! You will be offered a position to join the team. All offers are subject to satisfactory medical as required by the RSSB.

If you have any questions, please contact one of the lovely Talent Partners on [email protected].

https://www.virgintrainseastcoast.com/about-us/azuma-train-driver/what-happens-next/

All applications close on 14 October and the Talent Team will contact all candidates before 1 November 2016.
 
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SPADTrap

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Might be worth contacting them separately if you are interested as a qualified.

You may be surprised ;)
 

Aivilo

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Sarcasm. Someone I know did contact th regarding qualified vacancies and was informed of the above which they cannot apply for
 
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When was the last time Virgin recruited trainee drivers or is this a first? Was always under the impression that Virgin and XC just poached qualified drivers from everyone else.
 

Jonb106

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Thanks for posting, unusual find! Out of interest where did you hear about the role as there is nothing on their website?!
 

Dave1987

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This was advertised on Virgin Trains East Coast's Twitter Page:

https://twitter.com/Virgin_TrainsEC/status/782287155976605696

I sadly cannot apply being only 18. Still a while for me yet, on the plus side, by the time I am old enough to apply, driving an IEP will be the norm.

Hate to say this but even getting to 21 doesn't mean you will pass the selection process. Just saying......
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I think there will be quite a few emails to that address from hopefuls! Interesting how they are making people who get through the sift go to an initial testing session before even putting people forward for psychometric testing. That's a lot of stages of selection to get through to eventually be given a position.
 

Andy-mc

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Virgin Advertising? I can imagine this being a popular position among aspiring drivers everywhere good luck to all those who apply

I think their recruitment team will have a lot of sifting to do
 

E&W Lucas

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When was the last time Virgin recruited trainee drivers or is this a first? Was always under the impression that Virgin and XC just poached qualified drivers from everyone else.

Both Virgin West Coast and GNER advertised and recruited a fair number of trainee drivers in the early 2000s. That was the last time they needed to recruit a considerable number in a very short time.
 

Dave1987

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BTW for any qualified drivers who are interested in this they have confirmed they will consider applications from qualified drivers as well.
 

JCLeeds

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Anyone know if Virgin drivers go to full money after qualifying, or is it gradual like Northern?
 

EC123

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Gradual. Trainee wages are on or around:
25K Initial
35K after passing rules and traction
Full salary when fully competent
 

boom boom

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17 Jan 2014
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As a long term driver with this mob,do not be fooled by the shiny Virgin wrapping round this organisation. The rosters are not the best. The work is mind numbingly boring. No route variety whatsoever . Yes,the pay is decent,but as for terms and conditions,you can forget them. Qualified drivers,be prepared for team building excersises in any job interview. No cozy chat with a DTM these days
 

91104

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21 Jun 2013
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As a long term driver with this mob,do not be fooled by the shiny Virgin wrapping round this organisation. The rosters are not the best. The work is mind numbingly boring. No route variety whatsoever . Yes,the pay is decent,but as for terms and conditions,you can forget them. Qualified drivers,be prepared for team building excersises in any job interview. No cozy chat with a DTM these days[/QUOT
 
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Dave1987

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As a long term driver with this mob,do not be fooled by the shiny Virgin wrapping round this organisation. The rosters are not the best. The work is mind numbingly boring. No route variety whatsoever . Yes,the pay is decent,but as for terms and conditions,you can forget them. Qualified drivers,be prepared for team building excersises in any job interview. No cozy chat with a DTM these days

Interesting you say that because I've always thought you long distance Intercity boys/girls enjoyed your work. Although I have to admit just bombing up and down the ECML with the same stopping patterns would get monotonous quickly. I at least have the benefit of driving for a TOC with a bit of variety in the work we do.
 

teslatech

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I don't live an hour from any location but would be willing to relocate. However surely this pretty much reduces my chances of getting past applying to nil. Especially if enough people apply that are close enough.

Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk
 

Cherry_Picker

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I don't live an hour from any location but would be willing to relocate. However surely this pretty much reduces my chances of getting past applying to nil. Especially if enough people apply that are close enough.

Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk

You've still got a better chance than the one you'd have if you didn't bother applying at all.
 

Lrd

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I don't live an hour from any location but would be willing to relocate. However surely this pretty much reduces my chances of getting past applying to nil. Especially if enough people apply that are close enough.

Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk
They mention on their site that they are happy to take on people who are willing to relocate. So go for it!
 
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