GWR Train Driver talent pool

[PearoTheHero]

I'm about to sit stage 2 assessment in Swindon having applied for the Exeter talent pool.
Am I right in thinking this will include the MMI? The emailed instructions seem a little dated and didn't really help me to prepare for stage 1. One of my pals has just applied for Plymouth and failed the initial online assessment, suddenly it's all feeling very real

 

[Daydr3am3r]

I'm about to sit stage 2 assessment in Swindon having applied for the Exeter talent pool.
Am I right in thinking this will include the MMI? The emailed instructions seem a little dated and didn't really help me to prepare for stage 1. One of my pals has just applied for Plymouth and failed the initial online assessment, suddenly it's all feeling very real

Yes it will consist of the computerised tests first. If you pass these then you will complete the MMI in the afternoon.

When is your stage 2?

 

[PearoTheHero]

Mine is Wednesday 8th. They had 4 other dates in May to offer but the suspense is killing me already so took the first one

 

[stretchdj74]

Congrats Dayd3am3r on making it all the way through the process!! It gives us all hope when we hear successes like yours.
Also, good luck PearoTheHero on your second assessment will keep fingers crossed!
I have been invited to a second assessment and have booked the 23rd of May. Hopefully, we will all be able to share a cuppa in the mess room one day

 

[PearoTheHero]

I look forward to it! I just hope the nerves don't get the better of me

 

[Liam00086]

I look forward to it! I just hope the nerves don't get the better of me

Good luck for your stage 2 Let us know how it goes I have mine on the 21st May

 

[LeGrimpeur]

Update from me, it cost me more but I have switched my holiday to June. Therefore provisionally starting with GWR on 12th August!!

Congratulations!

 

[Daydr3am3r]

Congratulations!

Thank you!

 

[Daydr3am3r]

Congrats Dayd3am3r on making it all the way through the process!! It gives us all hope when we hear successes like yours.
Also, good luck PearoTheHero on your second assessment will keep fingers crossed!
I have been invited to a second assessment and have booked the 23rd of May. Hopefully, we will all be able to share a cuppa in the mess room one day

Thank you! I can’t believe how fast the process has moved for me!

Good luck for your assessment, if I can help at all let me know

 

[Tommy222256]

Thank you! I can’t believe how fast the process has moved for me!

Good luck for your assessment, if I can help at all let me know

So how long have you waited since you first applied mate?

 

[Stigy]

So how long have you waited since you first applied mate?

I applied at the end of November > DMI January > in pool a day later > Con. Offer end of March > Medical 18 April > Formal offer and contract signed this week. Not as speedy as some, but quite fast nonetheless *Waves Willy* (is that acceptable in this thread?).

 

[PaulBusDriver]

Sorry to hijack the thread but I'm up for my Stage 2 assesments on the 26th of may and was wondering if the Written Communication Test is part of the days testing?

 

[Daydr3am3r]

So how long have you waited since you first applied mate?

Applied 2 December and have been offered start date of 12 August. I have never applied before so that timeframe takes into account all of the assessments/interviews. I have been fortunate as it’s the right time to apply at the moment.
Happy days!

 

[Daydr3am3r]

I applied at the end of November > DMI January > in pool a day later > Con. Offer end of March > Medical 18 April > Formal offer and contract signed this week. Not as speedy as some, but quite fast nonetheless *Waves Willy* (is that acceptable in this thread?).

I think the terminology has now been adopted on this thread as well. We can make it a GWR phrase!!

 

[Daydr3am3r]

Sorry to hijack the thread but I'm up for my Stage 2 assesments on the 26th of may and was wondering if the Written Communication Test is part of the days testing?

Hi Paul.
If the assessment is with GWR then Stage 2 should be the computerised tests and MMI. Written Comms test is on stage 1.

 

[PaulBusDriver]

Hi Paul.
If the assessment is with GWR then Stage 2 should be the computerised tests and MMI. Written Comms test is on stage 1.

It is with GWR and many thanks, I have completed stage 1 Tests as I applied for Freightliner and reached the national standard.

 

[Tommy222256]

I applied at the end of November > DMI January > in pool a day later > Con. Offer end of March > Medical 18 April > Formal offer and contract signed this week. Not as speedy as some, but quite fast nonetheless *Waves Willy* (is that acceptable in this thread?).

God that is really quick compared to others.

 

[Stigy]

God that is really quick compared to others.

Indeed it is, I was very surprised given the relatively small depot I’ll be based at too (30 drivers in total I believe I was told and max two vacancies). Roll on July 1st!

 

[EBlackadder]

My understanding is GWR effectively won't be bothering with talent pools; they are getting enough people to fill a course, issuing conditional offers on a first come, first served basis and shipping people off to medicals.

Electrification and Sundays in the working week need swathes of drivers. Those of us who applied for this round picked an almost perfect time.

I applied in November and start on 1st July. Almost indecently fast.

 

[Daydr3am3r]

My understanding is GWR effectively won't be bothering with talent pools; they are getting enough people to fill a course, issuing conditional offers on a first come, first served basis and shipping people off to medicals.

Electrification and Sundays in the working week need swathes of drivers. Those of us who applied for this round picked an almost perfect time.

I applied in November and start on 1st July. Almost indecently fast.

Are you internal EBlackadder?

 

[EBlackadder]

Are you internal EBlackadder?

I am indeed

 

[BobC]

So what would that mean for people who have been told recently they are in the talent pool, but as of yet haven't had a conditional offer EBlackadder?

 

[EBlackadder]

So what would that mean for people who have been told recently they are in the talent pool, but as of yet haven't had a conditional offer EBlackadder?

When there's enough for a full course, the offers will go out; they aren't hanging around to build up a big pool to draw from at their leisure. This is what several internal candidates have been told at their interviews.

From what i've seen, the company is aiming to run at least one course every other month well into next summer, with additional courses if the training staff and DIs are available. Not all depots are represented on every course and some months may see two courses commence at the same time. It's a truly massive - and urgent - recruitment campaign.

 

[Busandrail]

When there's enough for a full course, the offers will go out; they aren't hanging around to build up a big pool to draw from at their leisure. This is what several internal candidates have been told at their interviews.

From what i've seen, the company is aiming to run at least one course every other month well into next summer, with additional courses if the training staff and DIs are available. Not all depots are represented on every course and some months may see two courses commence at the same time. It's a truly massive - and urgent - recruitment campaign.

This does give me some hope then. I know penzance isn't the biggest depot but hopefully I can get out of the pool in the coming months.

 

[EBlackadder]

This does give me some hope then. I know penzance isn't the biggest depot but hopefully I can get out of the pool in the coming months.

A lot does depend, of course, on whether your particular depot needs new drivers urgently. For example, there is one depot where drivers are so urgently required that some November applicants actually began training in March.

There are others who can comment more on Penzance - but good luck and I hope it's soon

 

[tiptoptaff]

A lot does depend, of course, on whether your particular depot needs new drivers urgently. For example, there is one depot where drivers are so urgently required that some November applicants actually began training in March.

There are others who can comment more on Penzance - but good luck and I hope it's soon

Penzance needs to expand with the business but there's no dire or urgent need. As I've said on several other threads you've mentioned it on, it has several trainees going through currently, more than it's ever had at once in my time with GWR, and for a depot it's size, that'll bot it by 25% or so. If you're not Internal to GWR, due to the way they ran recruitment until recently when they ONLY recruited in to talent pools, you won't have a look in this time round.

 

[tiptoptaff]

That's not to say you won't get an offer eventually, but it's not marked up under the mass panic recruitment being done further East.

 

[tiptoptaff]

@EBlackadder not that I'm counting, nor are you, of course, but I'm down to 22working days left. Average of 2.75 days a week

 

[Daydr3am3r]

When there's enough for a full course, the offers will go out; they aren't hanging around to build up a big pool to draw from at their leisure. This is what several internal candidates have been told at their interviews.

From what i've seen, the company is aiming to run at least one course every other mionth well into next summer, with additional courses if the training staff and DIs are available. Not all depots are represented on every course and some months may see two courses commence at the same time. It's a truly massive - and urgent - recruitment campaign.

All interesting stuff thanks for sharing. This is a huge recruitment campaign. In your opinion do you think that another opportunity for external candidates will open up at some point over the next year?

 

[tiptoptaff]

All interesting stuff thanks for sharing. This is a huge recruitment campaign. In your opinion do you think that another opportunity for external candidates will open up at some point over the next year?

We're going to need more not less, as to how those vacancies are filled going forward, it'll be hard to say until the timw