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Greater Anglia Vacancies -Trainee Mainline Driver

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Lee Saunders

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19 May 2019
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101
That would be 6 months wait, should you fail any of the psychometric assessments Lee.
It is extremely slow! I thought this may help people with the realisation as to how long this could take and that you have to be patient, as extremely frustrating as it is. I thought they would probably contact the people that had done the psychometric tests and hear nothing further so it was a pleasant surprise 6 months later when I got an invite to assessment day.
I was told roughly about 2 months after I passed my SJT I would get the email for the assessment centre. Then again I think it’s different for everyone, I suppose it depends how many people have applied and the spaces they have for the assessment day. Patients is key :/
 
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Micahxx

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29 May 2019
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Wow! 16 months from application to job start is excessively long in my opinion. I've heard others talk about the time-frame in the rail industry, but it still takes some getting use to. I applied 7 weeks ago and I'm already suffering from fatigue, waiting for another email.
Thank you for the info, its really comforting.
 

TheGoldfish

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28 May 2019
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196
It is extremely slow! I thought this may help people with the realisation as to how long this could take and that you have to be patient, as extremely frustrating as it is. I thought they would probably contact the people that had done the psychometric tests and hear nothing further so it was a pleasant surprise 6 months later when I got an invite to assessment day.


I can beat that .. although my current application is with GWR not GA.

Application Oct 2017
Stage 1 Assessments June 2018
MMI April 2019
DMI May 2019

Now in the talent pool.??

I also had a previous application with GA which I started in late 2016. They called me in April 2017 and said I'd be notified of the assessment dates shortly ... they didn't contact me so i called them ... The guy told me if my application was more than 6 months old I should consider it unsuccessful and to reapply at a later date.

When I log in to the Abellio Careers site ... It's still there ... Application Status is 'Under consideration'?

I'm not holding my breath tho :frown:
 

Hazard

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10 Jun 2019
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I applied for GA yesterday and have received the online assessment this morning. Will probably give that a go a little later on today.
 

Lady P

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I
I can beat that .. although my current application is with GWR not GA.

Application Oct 2017
Stage 1 Assessments June 2018
MMI April 2019
DMI May 2019

Now in the talent pool.??

I also had a previous application with GA which I started in late 2016. They called me in April 2017 and said I'd be notified of the assessment dates shortly ... they didn't contact me so i called them ... The guy told me if my application was more than 6 months old I should consider it unsuccessful and to reapply at a later date.

When I log in to the Abellio Careers site ... It's still there ... Application Status is 'Under consideration'?

I'm not holding my breath tho :frown:

You beat me by a month

I had the same in that I first applied in April 2017 and passed the online assessment and was told I would be notified of an assessment date. Heard nothing and saw it advertised again April 2018. When I contacted them they said due to it being more than 6 months and because of DPA I had to re-apply.
 

Mabs

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24 Apr 2018
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395
I’ve had an email through to book my assessment day. So another little hurdle successfully passed. That’s made my week

The assessment centre I have got is Stratford. It’s a 1 day affair, starting at 9:30 finishing at 16:00, if successful on
all the tests.

In the letter it states that if you are not meeting the required standards during the day then
you’ll be sent home earlier. So I’ll be aiming for a 16:00 finish!

The attached pdf’s I got with my email cover the whole day in detail, with plenty of practice tests and advice about the day.



My timeline...

24/04/19 ....... Initial Application.
30/04/19 ....... Online SJT Submitted.
07/06/19 ....... Invited for assessment at Stratford.

14/06/19 ....... Assessment Day...

I just read your message now and realised your assesment date is tomorrow morning.

Best of luck for tomorrow mate. Keep us updated how it goes.

Thanx
 

Roy Gill

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7 May 2019
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17
Good spot Mabs.

NJS71 defo have a really good day best of luck, go there crush it and get one more step closer.
 

NJS71

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Joined
25 Apr 2019
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Thanks for the messages.

It’s bad news!!

Needed passes to enhanced level which I got apart from on the group bourdon which I only passed to national level. So that was me sent home early.

I’m gutted, but will take the experience to hopefully help me pass next time. It’s a 6 month wait now for me.

The day was stage 1, not 1 and 2 like I thought. So if you get the call it’ll be Group Bourdon, TRP1 & 2 then TEAocc after lunch.

Good luck everyone
 

OneLowban

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30 Oct 2017
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693
Sorry to hear that @NJS71.

Set a reminder for 5 and a half months time and forget about it until then. Best of luck next time!
 

Lee Saunders

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19 May 2019
Messages
101
Sorry to hear about this. The one good thing is you now know what to expect for next time. It sounds like near impossible task though getting an enhanced level on every test. So the only test you failed was group bourdon? Sounds like you done very well. Does that mean you can just retake the group bourdon test in six months? Or do you have do the whole lot again?
 
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Stigy

Established Member
Joined
6 Nov 2009
Messages
4,879
Sorry to hear about this. The one good thing is you now know what to expect for next time. It sounds like near impossible task though getting an enhanced level on every test. So the only test you failed was group bourdon? Sounds like you done very well. Does that mean you can just retake the group bourdon test in six months? Or do you have do the whole lot again?
I got an enhanced mark with Freightliner on all the necessary assessments. However on the GB test I don’t get how there’s an enhanced score? I had to take this test with Freightliner as I already had valid national scores, but this along with the DFFT were required enhanced (DFFT is only enhanced anyway). I didn’t score any better or so I thought, than I did when I passed the GB test a few years ago?
 

Stigy

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4,879
Thanks for the messages.

It’s bad news!!

Needed passes to enhanced level which I got apart from on the group bourdon which I only passed to national level. So that was me sent home early.

I’m gutted, but will take the experience to hopefully help me pass next time. It’s a 6 month wait now for me.

The day was stage 1, not 1 and 2 like I thought. So if you get the call it’ll be Group Bourdon, TRP1 & 2 then TEAocc after lunch.

Good luck everyone
Sorry to hear this. Definitely keep going and chipping away!
 

Mabs

Member
Joined
24 Apr 2018
Messages
395
Thanks for the messages.

It’s bad news!!

Needed passes to enhanced level which I got apart from on the group bourdon which I only passed to national level. So that was me sent home early.

I’m gutted, but will take the experience to hopefully help me pass next time. It’s a 6 month wait now for me.

The day was stage 1, not 1 and 2 like I thought. So if you get the call it’ll be Group Bourdon, TRP1 & 2 then TEAocc after lunch.

Good luck everyone

Sorry to hear the bad news. Just keep at it and keep practising the Bourdon test until you master it and bounce back in 6 months.
 

Mabs

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24 Apr 2018
Messages
395
So could you still apply to other TOCs right now who only want standard?
Iv heard majority of companies want enhanced. I don't see the point of even having the standard grade if it's no use. Should grade it either pass or fail instead to make it easier to understand.
 

Roy Gill

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Joined
7 May 2019
Messages
17
NJS71, fella what can I say totally gutted for you, you clearly gave it your best.
Some times we need to have a second go at things and then we succeed, however there are the lucky few that do get through first time.

Stay strong stay focused bud your turn will come again.
 

Roy Gill

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7 May 2019
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Can I ask the floor a silly question but what is the diffence between a pass and enhanced?
 

NJS71

Member
Joined
25 Apr 2019
Messages
22
Thanks again to everyone for the messages.

I’ve been asked how many lines I managed to get done on the Bourdon test, I really don’t remember, as it is very rapid and they collect the paper in straight away.

My advice for people going on the stage 1 assessment day. Practice the group bourdon test so your going as fast as you possibly can whilst keeping 100% accuracy and aim to be getting around 12-15 lines completed.
Also
The dots on the real test are a lot smaller and more tightly grouped together than the practice material available.
 

strangemonk

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Joined
10 Jun 2019
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61
Thanks

Every test GA give you have to be passed to enhanced level.

really sorry to hear that, I hope you pass the next time.

Do you remember what the TRP1 was about the memory test? When I did it with C2C it was about GLOP.
 

NJS71

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Joined
25 Apr 2019
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22
really sorry to hear that, I hope you pass the next time.

Do you remember what the TRP1 was about the memory test? When I did it with C2C it was about GLOP.

Same as you. GLOP.

So anyone going on the assessment day stage 1. Learn about GLOP. What it is, what triggers it, switch colour, box colour, who etc.
 

Mabs

Member
Joined
24 Apr 2018
Messages
395
Thanks again to everyone for the messages.

I’ve been asked how many lines I managed to get done on the Bourdon test, I really don’t remember, as it is very rapid and they collect the paper in straight away.

My advice for people going on the stage 1 assessment day. Practice the group bourdon test so your going as fast as you possibly can whilst keeping 100% accuracy and aim to be getting around 12-15 lines completed.
Also
The dots on the real test are a lot smaller and more tightly grouped together than the practice material available.

I normally wear glasses for driving my car to see long distance but I don't wear glasses for normal day to day activities.

Do you recommend I wear my glasses for the bourdon test?
 

strangemonk

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10 Jun 2019
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61
I normally wear glasses for driving my car to see long distance but I don't wear glasses for normal day to day activities.

Do you recommend I wear my glasses for the bourdon test?

Do you have your test Monday 17th? At Stratford
 

NJS71

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25 Apr 2019
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22
If you don’t need glasses for reading then no.

Get some bourdon sheets printed out and see if the dots are clear with or without your glasses.
 

Mabs

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24 Apr 2018
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395
Do you have your test Monday 17th? At Stratford

No, I'm thinking too ahead lol
My application status says "Under consideration" on the website so I'm hoping I get the good news soon. I am just trying to prepare myself to the best of my ability.
 

Mabs

Member
Joined
24 Apr 2018
Messages
395
If you don’t need glasses for reading then no.

Get some bourdon sheets printed out and see if the dots are clear with or without your glasses.

Thanx. I recently got the "Dot concentration" book from Amazon and it has hundreds of these tests so I'm thinking to start practising them from Monday.
 
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