I agree with you. Some of the guys going for the job do little to no homework. Come on rail forums just for assessment answers with the concept that ‘I passed the application and tests’ Easy, roll on the big dollar.
I’ll provide an insight into what this job is really like once you’ve passed that first hurdle. This also includes a personal experience of the process.
This job is one of those that you can either do or not at all. There’s countless threads regarding training courses, but a thing to add the application tests are not even the start of the journey. You get 2 shots at your assessments.
- There’s a lot of them. I believe I did around 24. You’re looking at approx 92% pass mark. It’s not multiple choice either...doesn’t sound bad, but it doesn’t take much to fall below that. They don’t want you to fail, but it’s not cotton wool and fluffy. They do boot people who don’t pull their way. (You don’t get countless warnings. I was a good student with 98-100%. I got 94% in one exam. It’s a pass, but the Trainer wasn’t happy with my decline in performance. The trainer is highly observant in everyone and watches everything you do. They use your attitude, exams, knowledge retention to build a picture of whether you can do the job. They’ll keep that record for your driving career too. This ultimately builds a profile of you in your career. Further information to build your profile later on are downloads, ride outs, rules assessments, simulator assessments, incident record. The railway loves paper trails. (Well digital ones now)
- The simulator assessment...tough as nails
- pass out...tough as nails. Admittedly I failed my first attempt at pass out. I got another go, but you can’t mess the second shot up! You’ll get a training analysis to see how they can help you and fill in the gaps and deficiencies...on your second assessment day it’s going to be luck. It was highly stressful!
Then there’s the job itself with routine assessments. They are super strict. Sadly I’ve lost count of those that have been booted from the job.
The old saying ‘hard to get, easy to lose’ is true. However a positive, honest attitude will see you fine.
It’s a lifestyle too...
If you’re going for the job to just chase the money (fair enough)...but be warned. It gets boring quick! The key word here is boring...it won’t take long before that boredom sees you out of the job. I’ve seen many come and go from all types of backgrounds. In most cases the toc will try and support you and offer alternative employment if possible, But how much would it suck though to be on gateline whilst a colleague walks by with a coffee in hand and a smile as they make their way to the train they’re about to drive?
To further add you have to prove yourself when you’re a trainee. You’ll hear “you’re not drivers yet”, “you have to earn your key”. My toc introduced a separate uniform for trainees, very honestly to tailor back the cockiness. It’s very much like a military style training attitude. As a trainee you’re on the bottom of the pile, replaceable and zilch respect is given to you. I’ve mentioned this because it’s all very well to ‘wing’ the Psychometric exams, simply by coming on here and purging the answers. However, as the OP has stated it’s only the start of your journey. If you’re weak to begin with, you will possibly struggle with this job.
On the positive note, once you passed the application, trainee and 3yr probationary period...this job is super awesome! By this stage you learn the upmost respect for it and truly feel like you’ve earned this job.