Apprentice Train Driver - Crosscountry - Multiple Locations (09/02/2021)

[D Rivers]

Cheers @SJN what were the online tests you had to sit? And would these effect any previous OPC passes? I assume if they are different tests as they are online they wouldn’t?

They are sifting tests. Situational judgement tests. Nothing to do with any psychometric passes. And no they don’t go against any previous passes or take up one strike.

You need to pass both online tests and the DMI before they ask the OPC about psychometric results.

 

[PickleTree]

They are sifting tests. Situational judgement tests. Nothing to do with any psychometric passes. And no they don’t go against any previous passes or take up one strike.

You need to pass both online tests and the DMI before they ask the OPC about psychometric results.

Cheers mate, I think one of the online tests is the RAAT any idea what the other one was?

 

[D Rivers]

Yes one was RAAT. Can’t remember what the other one was if I’m honest!

 

[SJN]

Cheers @SJN what were the online tests you had to sit? And would these effect any previous OPC passes? I assume if they are different tests as they are online they wouldn’t?

The test I did was an OPC one. Didn’t affect passes in any way. Can’t remember what it was called but it wasn’t too bad.

 

[Glawsrfc]

Anyone have a number for cross country recruitment??
I’ve applied but as yet failed to have anything back apart from “application in process”.
Worrying that people have got emails with online tests in them already.
Hopefully it’s just a case of waiting for a bit longer.

 

[221129]

Anyone have a number for cross country recruitment??
I’ve applied but as yet failed to have anything back apart from “application in process”.
Worrying that people have got emails with online tests in them already.
Hopefully it’s just a case of waiting for a bit longer.

You just need to wait.

 

[JH9]

Anyone have a number for cross country recruitment??
I’ve applied but as yet failed to have anything back apart from “application in process”.
Worrying that people have got emails with online tests in them already.
Hopefully it’s just a case of waiting for a bit longer.

Some people have got an email saying 'sorry for the delay, there is a large number of applicants' but I'm not aware of anyone being sent tests yet. We just have to be patient

 

[Demx93]

I applied on the 19th feb, so it will be two weeks tomorrow, I’m not expecting anything anytime soon lol

 

[221129]

They have said it could take up to 4 weeks to get back to people. Everyone needs to calm down and be patient.

 

[Glawsrfc]

Cheers

 

[Demx93]

They have said it could take up to 4 weeks to get back to people. Everyone needs to calm down and be patient.

I’m definitely calm, and I am being patient, we are just having a discussion.

 

[Eebbs1912]

Absolute madness to expect a reply from any railway job let alone a driver's job in 10 days. My current trainee driver job took a year to get to a start date.

 

[Demx93]

Absolute madness to expect a reply from any railway job let alone a driver's job in 10 days. My current trainee driver job took a year to get to a start date.

Who’s expected a reply in 10 days?

 

[SJN]

Absolute madness to expect a reply from any railway job let alone a driver's job in 10 days. My current trainee driver job took a year to get to a start date.

The start dates are May and June this year though so it’s understandable that people will be expecting to hear fairly soon. Last year when I applied I was at interview about 5 weeks from the application closing.

 

[kmck96]

Anyone have a number for cross country recruitment??
I’ve applied but as yet failed to have anything back apart from “application in process”.
Worrying that people have got emails with online tests in them already.
Hopefully it’s just a case of waiting for a bit longer.

Hold on, I don't think anybody has got emails with online tests yet
People were just discussing the online tests from the recruitment las year I'm sure

 

[TheAnswer89]

The start dates are May and June this year though so it’s understandable that people will be expecting to hear fairly soon. Last year when I applied I was at interview about 5 weeks from the application closing.

Exactly that. Start dates are really soon, so they will have to go through the process extremely quickly, unless they just go ahead with people who already passed MMIs and psychometrics, but I doubt that.

 

[PickleTree]

Exactly that. Start dates are really soon, so they will have to go through the process extremely quickly, unless they just go ahead with people who already passed MMIs and psychometrics, but I doubt that.

They were very clear that those start dates were COVID-19 dependent and whilst the picture there is improving there are undoubtedly still challenges for companies to ensure they off training etc in a COVID secure manner. I wouldn't be surprised if the initial start dates slipped but we will have to wait and see.

 

[Glawsrfc]

Only reason I asked was due to the start date listed in the advert...I know it can take a long Time as it took ages to get through the stages for West Midlands railway...failed at final hurdle which was the DMI,for answering questions with not enough relevance to train driver position.

 

[Demx93]

Only reason I asked was due to the start date listed in the advert...I know it can take a long Time as it took ages to get through the stages for West Midlands railway...failed at final hurdle which was the DMI,for answering questions with not enough relevance to train driver position.

What kind of questions was you faced with? What’s your background?

 

[Glawsrfc]

What kind of questions was you faced with? What’s your background?

Hgv driver ..both short and long distance.
Bit couldn’t use that experience to make it train driver relevant to the questions.
Standard questions that I was asked at the MMI (which I passed well) TOC knowledge,health and safety,ability to work to procedure and respond to situations all answered well according to the feedback.
Questions like what stakeholders am I accountable..very open ended as well which threw me a bit.
I was asked 9 questions altogether by HR person and depot manager.Thought I did quite well but got the feedback as follows:
“During the interview he failed to provide specific responses to some of the questions and didn't provide any relevant detail to demonstrate his suitability for the role.”
Bit hard to do when the questions asked don’t give you the opportunity to ally your experience with the specific role applied for.
Can re-apply after six months however,just need to adjust my answers and try to make it relevant to train driver somehow

 

[Demx93]

If there’s one thing I really hate, it’s interviews, gonna have to practice hard if I’m ever lucky enough to get one!
Atleast you have the experience now, and you know what you need to change
Good luck for your next application

 

[New York Giant]

Unlucky Glawsrfc, and thanks for sharing your experience. That's another question I'm going to have to factor in to my prep. I can see why you would have been thrown. All the best in your future applications.

 

[Mattydo]

disregard

 

[BlackpoolScott]

Questions like what stakeholders am I accountable..very open ended as well which threw me a bit.

I don’t understand the question you were asked. Were they asking you which of the stakeholders you can be held accountable by?

 

[New York Giant]

I read that as how his/her performance has an affect on the stakeholders.
That said, it seems like a very leftfield question and one which is very much open to interpretation. Those who have been successful in the past may point out that such a question may be thrown in to see how a candidate thinks on their feet. But, when one or two have posted that their DMI felt like a casual chat (in other threads) then i have every sympathy with this person.

 

[theironroad]

I don’t understand the question you were asked. Were they asking you which of the stakeholders you can be held accountable by?

Ask most current train drivers about 'stakeholders' and they'd laugh. Modern management speak with no real purpose.

 

[BlackpoolScott]

Ah I see. That seems an odd question to ask. I’m a HGV driver and ex airport worker (ops and airfield ops) and can answer any question thrown at me with confidence but that question would certainly be unexpected and throw me. I guess all you could say is poor performance could affect the worth of their investments. I’d be expecting more important things such as those relating to safety and not someone’s wallet.

 

[route101]

If there’s one thing I really hate, it’s interviews, gonna have to practice hard if I’m ever lucky enough to get one!
Atleast you have the experience now, and you know what you need to change
Good luck for your next application

I've had a few interviews last few months and something I struggle with. I do the research etc but when I get to interview I forgot key points or dont make strong points about a situation. Last interview felt like it was the two interviewers were doing most of talking and I couldn't get a word in.

 

[New York Giant]

"I’d be expecting more important things such as those relating to safety and not someone’s wallet"

Great point BlackpoolScott

 

[Tom Quinne]

Ask most current train drivers about 'stakeholders' and they'd laugh. Modern management speak with no real purpose.

Stakeholders, as in passengers, rail safety and standards board, the company driving within the professional driving policy etc

To get a sort after railway job you need to live and breath the modern management speak, whether you believe it or not the people who put a tick or cross next to your name do.