Advice on application for train driver

[Luke 123]

Hi

I have applied twice for the position of a Train Driver, but have been unsuccessful after waiting over six months for each reply. They have another train driver job advertised (same one) and would like some advice on what to include in my CV. I believe I have made an excellent attempt at detailing all the competencies required. I have tried contacting HR but haven’t got any answers as to why it was rejected twice.
Are there any experienced train drivers who can kindly look at my application?
Many thanks

 

[Seejwalker]

I applied for two and was offered jobs from both, I chose to go with a key achievements style CV highlighting my key achievements from previous roles, you can Google the layout for a CV like this.

 

[Luke 123]

I applied for two and was offered jobs from both, I chose to go with a key achievements style CV highlighting my key achievements from previous roles, you can Google the layout for a CV like this.

Thanks Seejwalker.. could I PM you a copy of my app for you to look at

 

[Seejwalker]

Thanks Seejwalker.. could I PM you a copy of my app for you to look at

Yeah of course mate

 

[GLENMAYE77]

Hi

I have applied twice for the position of a Train Driver, but have been unsuccessful after waiting over six months for each reply. They have another train driver job advertised (same one) and would like some advice on what to include in my CV. I believe I have made an excellent attempt at detailing all the competencies required. I have tried contacting HR but haven’t got any answers as to why it was rejected twice.
Are there any experienced train drivers who can kindly look at my application?
Many thanks

This wouldn’t be for Northern at Liverpool would it?

 

[Luke 123]

No it was for Blackpool

 

[Stigy]

Hi

I have applied twice for the position of a Train Driver, but have been unsuccessful after waiting over six months for each reply. They have another train driver job advertised (same one) and would like some advice on what to include in my CV. I believe I have made an excellent attempt at detailing all the competencies required. I have tried contacting HR but haven’t got any answers as to why it was rejected twice.
Are there any experienced train drivers who can kindly look at my application?
Many thanks

I have a bit to add. Not an expert, but I’ve been involved in a lot of recruitment and have recently worked on my own CV and it’s never done me any harm as I’m got a few interviews from it (with FOCs who don’t have a competency based application form, meaning you have to use your CV/cover letter). You can put too much in a CV so it’s best to keep it relatively brief to within 2-sheets of A4 (it’s often difficult if you have a lot of experience to document). As Seejwalker said, it’s often good to focus on key achievements. With mine I detailed jobs from the last 10-years or so (because I’ve only had a couple really as promotions).....if you have lots, 5-years is sufficient. I’ve only detailed key achievements over the last few years to save space and keep it current. Bear in mind you will more than likely need to do a cover letter to supplement the CV, which you can use to ‘sell yourself’ further (although keep this brief and easy on the eye too). If it’s doesn’t say to supply a cover letter but there’s the facility to attach more than one document, do it anyway. It shows initiative.

Also take time to make sure spelling, grammar and attention to detail are top notch. Nothing wrong with tarting it up a bit too as long as it’s ‘tasteful’. Hope this helps!

 

[GLENMAYE77]

No it was for Blackpool

I can’t apply for the current Liverpool advertisement because it is the same advert from December that I didn’t make the paper sift for. Highly annoying.
Just check that it’s not the same vacancy re advertised.

 

[mexman]

I know people that have applied for Northern with the same application around 4 or 5 times and on the 5th time got an interview etc and got the job.
They seemed to think it was just pot luck.

 

[Luke 123]

Hi

Thanks for all your replies and I will keep on trying. I spoke to someone from HR this morning and she said I've got to wait six months before I can re apply.

 

[Luke 123]

Yeah of course mate

Hi

I'm new to this forum. Any idea how I can PM you my CV and Cover letter.

Thanks

 

[Seejwalker]

Hi

I'm new to this forum. Any idea how I can PM you my CV and Cover letter.

Thanks

I've PM'd you mate, you should be able to attach stuff in there.

 

[feaky4]

It does seem to be luck unless you have certain jobs I have applied 4 times and still not got through the sift so I have given up.

 

[OneLowban]

OP advice from Stigy and Seejwalker is spot on.

It does seem to be luck unless you have certain jobs I have applied 4 times and still not got through the sift so I have given up.

Don’t do that.

See thread from martin2345uk:

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/never-give-up-and-thank-you.176441/

 

[Stigy]

OP advice from Stigy and Seejwalker is spot on.


Don’t do that.

See thread from martin2345uk:

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/never-give-up-and-thank-you.176441/

100% agree. Never give up. If you want something badly enough, spending an hour a time on an application process is nothing. I found that once you have the Psychometric passes under your belt, it’s easier getting to DMI stage.

 

[OneLowban]

100% agree. Never give up. If you want something badly enough, spending an hour a time on an application process is nothing. I found that once you have the Psychometric passes under your belt, it’s easier getting to DMI stage.

100% agree with this too.

And yes after you’ve done the tests it’s as though a weight is lifted, for 3-5 years anyway.

Almost like passing your driving test and not getting a car straight away, you just have to find the money and hand it over.

 

[feaky4]

I remember seeing that post. 7 years it took that's crazy I have already spent just over 1 year trying the very first one I applied for I spent about 6 hours on it, absolutely crushed me that 8 weeks later I got that dreaded email. Northern seem hard to pass the sift but it's pretty much the only toc (don't think theres any focs) close by. I was confident with my cv and my cover letter and I feel like there's nothing else I can. Theres a slight chance of progress in my current job and i have to be realist its devastating i have to close this chapter as it's all i want.

 

[Stigy]

I remember seeing that post. 7 years it took that's crazy I have already spent just over 1 year trying the very first one I applied for I spent about 6 hours on it, absolutely crushed me that 8 weeks later I got that dreaded email. Northern seem hard to pass the sift but it's pretty much the only toc (don't think theres any focs) close by. I was confident with my cv and my cover letter and I feel like there's nothing else I can. Theres a slight chance of progress in my current job and i have to be realist its devastating i have to close this chapter as it's all i want.

As has been said here also, it’s often about the luck of the draw. They may be nothing wrong with anything you’ve done in terms of CV and application form. It’s just others stood out more. Not everybody can be progressed after all. Some TOCs/FOCs will progress everybody through the stages and naturally lose a load this way, whereas others sift people just after initial online tests or before these. Then there’s the initial tests, these are usually done on averages, meaning the calibre of the results by all candidates impacts whether you pass or fail.

 

[OneLowban]

I remember seeing that post. 7 years it took that's crazy I have already spent just over 1 year trying the very first one I applied for I spent about 6 hours on it, absolutely crushed me that 8 weeks later I got that dreaded email. Northern seem hard to pass the sift but it's pretty much the only toc (don't think theres any focs) close by. I was confident with my cv and my cover letter and I feel like there's nothing else I can. Theres a slight chance of progress in my current job and i have to be realist its devastating i have to close this chapter as it's all i want.

Fact is, you don’t have to. Keep trying to progress in your current job whilst also applying for trainee driver roles, you have nothing to lose.

 

[martin2345uk]

Fact is, you don’t have to. Keep trying to progress in your current job whilst also applying for trainee driver roles, you have nothing to lose.

That’s what I did. Yeah it took me years but my life wasn’t on hold during that time, I was progressing in my old job and getting on with stuff.

 

[Seejwalker]

I remember seeing that post. 7 years it took that's crazy I have already spent just over 1 year trying the very first one I applied for I spent about 6 hours on it, absolutely crushed me that 8 weeks later I got that dreaded email. Northern seem hard to pass the sift but it's pretty much the only toc (don't think theres any focs) close by. I was confident with my cv and my cover letter and I feel like there's nothing else I can. Theres a slight chance of progress in my current job and i have to be realist its devastating i have to close this chapter as it's all i want.

Keep chipping away at her mate, you will get there eventually. Everything happens in good time. A couple of no's isn't a definitive no.
It's a tough industry to crack especially if going for driving or signalling roles. YOU WILL GET THERE.

 

[feaky4]

Problem is with one of the 2 routes I can go down is level 3 pharmacy technician it's a 2 year course and after you pass you have to stay with the company for another 2 years or you have to pay it all back and it's not cheap other is dispenser manager which I have applied for so if I am lucky with either I wont have time to even look for driving jobs I was looking into paying for the pyscometric tests but cant find any thing about them. Wish I had more tocs to choose from. Thanks for the encouragement theres a lot of nice people here, but if the statistics are correct every 1 job theres 350-400 people alot get through the sift but dont get the job they will then apply again so your fighting against people getting through probably every time and it's going to be mostly same people applying every time so theres alot of people that will never get any where and I will be one of those people.

 

[Seejwalker]

Problem is with one of the 2 routes I can go down is level 3 pharmacy technician it's a 2 year course and after you pass you have to stay with the company for another 2 years or you have to pay it all back and it's not cheap other is dispenser manager which I have applied for so if I am lucky with either I wont have time to even look for driving jobs I was looking into paying for the pyscometric tests but cant find any thing about them. Wish I had more tocs to choose from. Thanks for the encouragement theres a lot of nice people here, but if the statistics are correct every 1 job theres 350-400 people alot get through the sift but dont get the job they will then apply again so your fighting against people getting through probably every time and it's going to be mostly same people applying every time so theres alot of people that will never get any where and I will be one of those people.

Have you thought about other roles within the railway that could act as a stepping stone.

 

[feaky4]

I applied for a conductor and completely failed at the online assessment, I'm keeping an eye out on shunting/depot driving jobs but other then that no dint want to risk what im in now and where I can go for some thing that's not a driver that I may be stuck in.