Trainee Train Driver - Virgin Trains East Coast

[Mark638]

Cheers for your reply Mark i will be querrying it, im down too do mine Tuesday , just presumed it was a generic email and obviously at a later date individuals who have too do the tests will do ! so i will email and clear it up either way ,again thanks for the reply.

No worries, and best of luck tuesday.

 

[dugster70]

Cheers for your reply Mark i will be querrying it, im down too do mine Tuesday , just presumed it was a generic email and obviously at a later date individuals who have too do the tests will do ! so i will email and clear it up either way ,again thanks for the reply.[

I would suggest you sort your spelling punctuation and grammar out before you take this any further

 

[mr double 77]

Wasnt aware you was awarded points for asking something on this forum people like you dugster annoy me and this forum can do without people like you on it and dont be coming back with smart comments about my punctuation as ive done it too annoy you ,.?";, o dear its all over the place pathetic

 

[Gemz91]

Which toc made you resit them?
Was it Ftpe or LOROL because I know they do enhanced passes

Not going to say which TOC, but I sat them twice at the same TOC, both times I was employed by that TOC too as a guard.

 

[Ashxmufcx]

Cheers for your reply Mark i will be querrying it, im down too do mine Tuesday , just presumed it was a generic email and obviously at a later date individuals who have too do the tests will do ! so i will email and clear it up either way ,again thanks for the reply.[

I would suggest you sort your spelling punctuation and grammar out before you take this any further

Spelling, punctuation and grammar*

 

[maccalad]

That's bizarre!

I've just gone through the the recruitment process with Northern Rail, and to be honest, the girl who I have been contacted by from the HR Department has been first class..........she said I can contact her whenever I want, and she is always very helpful.

I chased her up just this week to see where I am up to as an "on hold" candidate, and as a result of this phone call, I was given a date of 30th January 2017 to start my training.

There is nothing that can be done by continually trying to ring or contact them for information. I waited 18 months before I got my chance.

In fact, during my training, the instructors told us of one individual who was taken out of the talent pool and formally written to asking him to stop contacting them!

There is absolutely nothing that can be done by contacting the TOC and you will never receive any information until they are ready to tell you, in which case you will be told very quickly.

Ever wonder why TOC's keep their HR and recruitment office numbers hidden as much as possible? To stop you pestering them!

 

[dugster70]

Wasnt aware you was awarded points for asking something on this forum people like you dugster annoy me and this forum can do without people like you on it and dont be coming back with smart comments about my punctuation as ive done it too annoy you ,.?";, o dear its all over the place pathetic

It's a shame you feel that way, however I apologise unreservedly if I have offended you, I don't think that all the guys who've pm'd / spoke to me personally on this forum for invaluable advice about the grade would agree with you about your comments about me not being welcome here, obviously a scum fan

 

[FManc]

Good luck to anyone attending the first assessment day tomorrow in York! It feels like it has come around fairly quick from when the assessment day invites were sent.

 

[SkinnyDave]

Beware that there is a derailment at Craigentinny and there is disruption right across ECML as a result..
Check before you travel if you are attending York today

 

[SPADTrap]

Please delete.

 

[Davidson4301]

Well, after being rejected / accepted on numerous occasions during this process I finally received and invitation for an assessment day in Newcastle . Interestingly , I didn't get an option on the date. It was basically can you attend this specific date and time.

 

[Sirgerbil]

Best of luck to those attending today, Hope it goes well for you all!

 

[Norman365]

What a strange day.

 

[Broot]

What a strange day. ??????

im looking forward to some of the feedback from the assessment days...

have you just been to York?

strange that you have made an account and made your first post ever on to this forum to just say that and then not elaborate... hahah you jerk!

 

[Sirgerbil]

What a strange day.

 

[Norman365]

im looking forward to some of the feedback from the assessment days...

have you just been to York?

strange that you have made an account and made your first post ever on to this forum to just say that and then not elaborate... hahah you jerk!

First time I post and I get called a 'jerk'. Nice!

It was the first time I had come across this style of recruitment and found it rather strange. I am not entirely sure what they are looking for, but I believe that they will miss some good candidates. Not everyone is comfortable with opening their mouth in an assessed group debate.

 

[jameshammond]

To save 100 people asking the same questions, the day consists of 3 group assessments and a Q and A session.

The 3 assessments are not based on trains, there is no preparation that you can do for it, all you can do is be yourself.

There are no individual interviews and no way to get brownie points etc.

Just be yourself and if you are who they are looking for then well done.

They said there is no specific number of qualifieds or trainees they are looking for so everyone is in with a shot

Please can people not now fill up the thread with asking what the assessments involve etc, they are group discussions and you cannot do any research or preparation for them.

Enjoy the day, you can be the most qualified or least qualified person there but it's all down to the type of person you are

 

[xtradj]

They are looking for rational quick thinkers who communicate well

 

[Mike Tyson]

For anyone who had their assesment today, I was just wondering how many other candidates were also at the centre?

 

[Choochoodriver]

There were 45 on the qualified session in afternoon and 45 on trainee morning one.

 

[JohnFM]

. I am not entirely sure what they are looking for, but I believe that they will miss some good candidates. Not everyone is comfortable with opening their mouth in an assessed group debate.

This is a problem you will probably need to address. It's assessed that way for a reason. You don't know what they're looking for but the assessors do.

This kind of work isn't really for snowflakes, it'll do no good hiding in a cab whilst an engineer is shouting at you for not doing a running brake test or your manager wants to ride with you.

The only daft question is the one you don't ask.

Broot is a bit out of order.

 

[Norman365]

This kind of work isn't really for snowflakes, it'll do no good hiding in a cab whilst an engineer is shouting at you for not doing a running brake test or your manager wants to ride with you.

I wouldn't really consider myself a snowflake but I do understand your point. 'Snowflakes' wouldn't be much use in my current line of work either.
The point I was making was, if I decided who I employed the same way that VTEC are, I would have missed out on some fantastic employees. That's not saying it doesn't work, obviously it must do, its just that some people are not good in that environment but would excel at the job.

 

[xtradj]

I wouldn't really consider myself a snowflake but I do understand your point. 'Snowflakes' wouldn't be much use in my current line of work either.
The point I was making was, if I decided who I employed the same way that VTEC are, I would have missed out on some fantastic employees. That's not saying it doesn't work, obviously it must do, its just that some people are not good in that environment but would excel at the job.

Virgin would argue that if your not confident in front of 45 people then your not going to be confident looking after hundreds of passengers and staff on a train.

Best way is to go in and interact with all put your ideas across and question other people's ideas into making them give a reason. That way you take a lead show your willing to listen but also inquisitive into other people's reasons so that you can put your own across

Hope it went well for you anyway, no interview is ever easy

 

[Broot]

This is a problem you will probably need to address. It's assessed that way for a reason. You don't know what they're looking for but the assessors do.

This kind of work isn't really for snowflakes, it'll do no good hiding in a cab whilst an engineer is shouting at you for not doing a running brake test or your manager wants to ride with you.

The only daft question is the one you don't ask.

Broot is a bit out of order.

i was hoping that the "hahaha" i put immediatly before the "you jerk" would give people the impression that i was obviously joking...

 

[JohnFM]

, its just that some people are not good in that environment but would excel at the job.

With respect, the assessors do know what they are looking for, as xtradj says; you need to be confident.

Yes, of course, in theory there may well be hundreds, if not thousands, who would be fantastic in the role but they need to be chosen first. What you're saying is akin to philosophically saying "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"

If they didn't do well in the tests and interviews then we'll never know. That is the whole point of the system to find the right folk.

Be noticed - be chosen.

 

[SkinnyDave]

With respect, the assessors do know what they are looking for, as xtradj says; you need to be confident.

Yes, of course, in theory there may well be hundreds, if not thousands, who would be fantastic in the role but they need to be chosen first. What you're saying is akin to philosophically saying "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"

If they didn't do well in the tests and interviews then we'll never know. That is the whole point of the system to find the right folk.

Be noticed - be chosen.

Get noticed for the right reasons though! Unlike one or two who think the best idea was to keep interrupting and talk over the group in every session.

Remember what it says on your original email inviting you to assessments as that is what they are looking for.

 

[beany]

I didn't attend,but did some think they were in an episode of the apprentice ??

 

[SkinnyDave]

I didn't attend,but did some think they were in an episode of the apprentice ??

Was a bit like that.. Was strange day but weirdly more I think about it, I did enjoy it and have a laugh.

 

[Norman365]

I didn't attend,but did some think they were in an episode of the apprentice ??

Ha ha. Yes.
There were a few that talked over everyone else. Then there were the few that didn't say anything at all.

The Q&A session was the worst for me. I had nothing to ask as I had already read up on the job, I.e shifts, hours, routes and pay. They were the questions that others were asking.

The problem with group tasks was that the weaker just followed the lead of the strongest speaker, whether they agreed with what his suggestions were or not. I, on the other hand, preferred to play devils advocate. Maybe not the best thing to do, but I like to know the reasoning behind the decision being made. ??????

 

[156484]

Get noticed for the right reasons though! Unlike one or two who think the best idea was to keep interrupting and talk over the group in every session.

Remember what it says on your original email inviting you to assessments as that is what they are looking for.

Those that talk over everyone won't go unnoticed and not in a good way.