Transport for Wales - Trainee Train Drivers

[L401CJF]

I put an application in on Friday for Chester, fingers crossed! Just wish they'd send confirmation emails!

 

[340313]

Hi all,

I submitted my application yesterday after waiting forever for a trainee post to come up at Shrewsbury. Found the 16 questions quite tough going in places, particularly with the amount of job history it asked for at the end. I also didn't receive a confirmation email after submitting the application.

I'm not holding out much hope if I'm honest, especially with the advert basically stating that they'll give female applicants priority. Anyway, time to play the waiting game...

 

[Anon87]

Hi all,

I submitted my application yesterday after waiting forever for a trainee post to come up at Shrewsbury. Found the 16 questions quite tough going in places, particularly with the amount of job history it asked for at the end. I also didn't receive a confirmation email after submitting the application.

I'm not holding out much hope if I'm honest, especially with the advert basically stating that they'll give female applicants priority. Anyway, time to play the waiting game...

All you can do is keep trying mate and one day it’ll drop for you.

Definitely don’t put your life on hold though!

 

[Plodster]

Form done for me too
Best of luck everyone hopefully we will hear in the 4-6 weeks

 

[L401CJF]

Bit of info that might help. I applied using my mobile and havnt recieved any questions yet, then read a post saying somebody applied the day after and had already had the questions through. Turns out it doesn't work properly on mobile browser, so have redone it on the pc and immediately got a confirmation of application email. Hope this helps some people.

 

[TrainGuard2000]

I’ve had the email through with invite to fill out full application form. Not opened it yet. Is there a way you can work through the questions and save them as you go and return at a later stage?

 

[TrainGirl]

I’ve had the email through with invite to fill out full application form. Not opened it yet. Is there a way you can work through the questions and save them as you go and return at a later stage?

No. But there isn't a time limit so you can take your time on it.

 

[TrainGuard2000]

No. But there isn't a time limit so you can take your time on it.

Ok. Would you know if it’s possible to open up the link on your mobile as I’m dying to look through the questions. But complete on a laptop at a later date? Thanks in advance.

 

[Tony43]

Had the application today not sure it will go anywhere as found it really difficult to answer the questions with the min 200 words

 

[TrainGirl]

Ok. Would you know if it’s possible to open up the link on your mobile as I’m dying to look through the questions. But complete on a laptop at a later date? Thanks in advance.

I didn't try but I wouldn't open on mobile. Prepare before hand and then open on your laptop when ready.

 

[New York Giant]

Keep aware of the character count too. I put my answers in a word document, over the weekend, with a view to cut n pasting the relevant text in to the relevant box. I ended up "editing" my answers so much, due to character restrictions, that I'm now concerned that I couldn't express fully what Acorn/TfW may have been looking for. Hopefully, if they sift based on certain "terms" or "words" I should be okay. I feel that I need an interview just to expand on some of my answers.

 

[dan_156]

With lots of people out of work at the moment for sure they are going to be inundated with applications, but it will come down to how relevant your past job/skills were to the train driver role. I guess that is also why they request your cv after the form, you may have not expressed the best during the answers but if your background is suitable you will be in with a good shout, I wouldn't worry too much about the answers as long as you got the usual key words in.

 

[New York Giant]

I hope you're correct dan_156. I actually felt happier with my West Mids and Avanti applications than I do about this one

 

[mstrwvr]

Mine's gone in. On screen confirmation, but no email confirmation.

 

[Plodster]

Keep aware of the character count too. I put my answers in a word document, over the weekend, with a view to cut n pasting the relevant text in to the relevant box. I ended up "editing" my answers so much, due to character restrictions, that I'm now concerned that I couldn't express fully what Acorn/TfW may have been looking for. Hopefully, if they sift based on certain "terms" or "words" I should be okay. I feel that I need an interview just to expand on some of my answers.

Yep they have a minimum word and maximum character count
All very bizarre Had the same with some of the later questions around career history where I did 200 words on a word doc and then couldn’t drop it in to the form as too many characters

 

[dan_156]

Maybe to stop copy and pasting?

 

[New York Giant]

Maybe to stop copy and pasting?

There was a similar method to my madness tbf. It was suggested in an earlier post that this could possibly make the inputting easier as it was not possible to save the work as I worked through it. I just wanted to complete the form in one hit, and not risk losing unsaved work, but did the donkey work in a word document beforehand. It was only later that I realized I needed to chop some info.

 

[railwaymania27]

Just put mine in. Again lots of competition but I have tried my best. On screen confirmation but no email for me at present.

 

[Trogladyte]

Do TfW require an enhanced pass on psychometrics or national?

 

[BrokenSam]

Bit of info that might help. I applied using my mobile and havnt recieved any questions yet, then read a post saying somebody applied the day after and had already had the questions through. Turns out it doesn't work properly on mobile browser, so have redone it on the pc and immediately got a confirmation of application email. Hope this helps some people.

Seems to work this time round but not on the last Acorn recruitment campaign. At least for me.

 

[TeaTrain]

There was a similar method to my madness tbf. It was suggested in an earlier post that this could possibly make the inputting easier as it was not possible to save the work as I worked through it. I just wanted to complete the form in one hit, and not risk losing unsaved work, but did the donkey work in a word document beforehand. It was only later that I realized I needed to chop some info.

Indeed it was I who had suggested to do it that way because with most applications TOCS websites can be unreliable. I guess 200 words just means they want to see your concise and articulate. Also prerequisite of the role. I'm sure it's also to do with the amount of applications too! It would take forever to sift if everyone had written a lot.

 

[mstrwvr]

Indeed it was I who had suggested to do it that way because with most applications TOCS websites can be unreliable. I guess 200 words just means they want to see your concise and articulate. Also prerequisite of the role. I'm sure it's also to do with the amount of applications too! It would take forever to sift if everyone had written a lot.

Just to clarify, 200 words is the MINIMUM. There is an upper limit of 2500 characters, which is somewhere between 350 and 400 words, as a rough estimate.

 

[New York Giant]

Just to clarify, 200 words is the MINIMUM. There is an upper limit of 2500 characters, which is somewhere between 350 and 400 words, as a rough estimate.

That's correct bud

 

[340313]

Just to clarify, 200 words is the MINIMUM. There is an upper limit of 2500 characters, which is somewhere between 350 and 400 words, as a rough estimate.

Ignore what I said pre-edit, I was reading characters as words!

Anyway, I feel like I gave it my best shot so here’s hoping. Best of luck to everyone else who’s applied.

 

[mstrwvr]

Ignore what I said pre-edit, I was reading characters as words!

Anyway, I feel like I gave it my best shot so here’s hoping. Best of luck to everyone else who’s applied.

Same to you, mate.

 

[TeaTrain]

That makes more sense! I'm sure there is plenty of wiggle room to say what you need to! Good luck and I hope everyone does well. It's a long process but well worth it!

 

[Anon87]

Do TfW require an enhanced pass on psychometrics or national?

I believe it’s national but I’m happy to be corrected

 

[TeaTrain]

TFW require enhanced passes the last I heard. Most TOCS have moved away from the standard now. There isn't actually an 'enhanced' standard. It's the TOCS imposing stricter pass levels for themselves. At least that is what I was told by the OPC.

 

[Anon87]

TFW require enhanced passes the last I heard. Most TOCS have moved away from the standard now. There isn't actually an 'enhanced' standard. It's the TOCS imposing stricter pass levels for themselves. At least that is what I was told by the OPC.

So does that mean you don’t actually lose a life for failing any of the enhanced bits that aren’t part of the standard testing?

I’ve seen conflicting reports on here that you get 2 goes at the enhanced parts but if you fail twice then you can still apply with a TOC that does the standard testing..

I guess the only way to clear it up would be to ask the OPC!

 

[TeaTrain]

As far as I am aware (having taken them twice between 5 years and passing both times to 'enhanced') if you passed to standard then you technically did not lose a life. However you will of lost a life towards that specific TOC.

If you fail the actual tests even to standard then of course you lose a life.