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TPE Trainee Conductor, Newcastle

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TuftyM

Member
Joined
27 Dec 2020
Messages
8
Location
NE34 9JW
Thank you for uploading this. I have been unable to find it on GWR site. I managed to get my application in today thanks to you two.
 

LokiB

Member
Joined
3 Feb 2020
Messages
228
Location
Leeds
Must be really popular I guess. I managed to apply for the Newcastle one anyway, passed the online assessment so now it's just a waiting game I guess.
How long did it take to get the result from your assessment?
 

kayul

Member
Joined
22 Feb 2021
Messages
18
Location
Leeds, West Yorkshire
How long did it take to get the result from your assessment?
Probably 10 minutes I think. It was just the standard customer service "best and worst option" exam. Once I submitted my results I got an email saying:

"We're pleased to let you know that you have successfully passed your recent online assessment(s).

Whilst we endeavour to progress everyone who passes their online assessment to the next stage of the process, this is not always possible when we are dealing with high volumes of applications. On occasions like this and in the interests of fairness, we will only be able to progress those that fall within the top scoring bracket."

So I just hope I was in a high scoring bracket.
 

LokiB

Member
Joined
3 Feb 2020
Messages
228
Location
Leeds
Probably 10 minutes I think. It was just the standard customer service "best and worst option" exam. Once I submitted my results I got an email saying:

"We're pleased to let you know that you have successfully passed your recent online assessment(s).

Whilst we endeavour to progress everyone who passes their online assessment to the next stage of the process, this is not always possible when we are dealing with high volumes of applications. On occasions like this and in the interests of fairness, we will only be able to progress those that fall within the top scoring bracket."

So I just hope I was in a high scoring bracket.
Well done mate, just got my reply to say I didn't pass the assessment. I'm not to disheartened tbh, I did it after a very tiring 16 hour shift so wasn't in the best frame of mind to do it.

Good luck with the next stage if you are in the top scoring bracket. Keep us updated.
 

kayul

Member
Joined
22 Feb 2021
Messages
18
Location
Leeds, West Yorkshire
Well done mate, just got my reply to say I didn't pass the assessment. I'm not to disheartened tbh, I did it after a very tiring 16 hour shift so wasn't in the best frame of mind to do it.

Good luck with the next stage if you are in the top scoring bracket. Keep us updated.
That's unfortunate but just keep trying whenever a position opens I guess. Do you have previous or current experience in a customer service role at all? I think that helped me a lot because I know if I didn't I would have picked different answers 2 years ago.

Thanks, I hope I am in the top scoring bracket but wouldn't be surprised if I'm not. I'm only 19 aswell so they may want someone with more "life experience" but guess i'll find out in the next week or so. Will keep you updated.
 

LokiB

Member
Joined
3 Feb 2020
Messages
228
Location
Leeds
That's unfortunate but just keep trying whenever a position opens I guess. Do you have previous or current experience in a customer service role at all? I think that helped me a lot because I know if I didn't I would have picked different answers 2 years ago.

Thanks, I hope I am in the top scoring bracket but wouldn't be surprised if I'm not. I'm only 19 aswell so they may want someone with more "life experience" but guess i'll find out in the next week or so. Will keep you updated.
Yeah I've worked in hospitality and deal with customers daily in my job.
It was just one of those things, I wasn't concentrating on the questions properly and answered what would be effective in my current role not and not so much what they would have been looking for.

I've got a few years on you mate but from everything I've read about the industry I wish I'd have tried to get in when I was your age. If you don't get this one keep trying as it appears to be a great career option.
 

kayul

Member
Joined
22 Feb 2021
Messages
18
Location
Leeds, West Yorkshire
Yeah I've worked in hospitality and deal with customers daily in my job.
It was just one of those things, I wasn't concentrating on the questions properly and answered what would be effective in my current role not and not so much what they would have been looking for.

I've got a few years on you mate but from everything I've read about the industry I wish I'd have tried to get in when I was your age. If you don't get this one keep trying as it appears to be a great career option.
Ah at least you know to be well rested next time I guess. Sure you'll be able to pass it.

Also just got an email saying I was unsuccessful. I hope it's not because of my location because I did email them to let them know I could relocate but I presume they would have contacted me about it if that was the case.
Anyway, just gonna have to wait another 6 months unless a different position pops up since I can't apply for Conductor anymore.

Best of luck
 

TuftyM

Member
Joined
27 Dec 2020
Messages
8
Location
NE34 9JW
Ah at least you know to be well rested next time I guess. Sure you'll be able to pass it.

Also just got an email saying I was unsuccessful. I hope it's not because of my location because I did email them to let them know I could relocate but I presume they would have contacted me about it if that was the case.
Anyway, just gonna have to wait another 6 months unless a different position pops up since I can't apply for Conductor anymore.

Best of luck
Likewise I got an email within a few minutes to say I had passed the online assessment then a few days later another email to say I was unsuccessful in reaching the next stage. What I find strange is I have 18 years of experience with a different TOC in a different part of the country. In the application when it asks why you are leaving/left current/most recent post I said I am looking to relocate back to my home area. Perhaps I should have mentioned I have already bought a house up there.
 

OscarFox

New Member
Joined
22 Mar 2021
Messages
1
Location
York
Hi Everyone, I was lucky enough to make it to the next stage the video interview. Does anyone have any first hand knowledge or tips of what to expect?

Many thanks in advance
 

kayul

Member
Joined
22 Feb 2021
Messages
18
Location
Leeds, West Yorkshire
Likewise I got an email within a few minutes to say I had passed the online assessment then a few days later another email to say I was unsuccessful in reaching the next stage. What I find strange is I have 18 years of experience with a different TOC in a different part of the country. In the application when it asks why you are leaving/left current/most recent post I said I am looking to relocate back to my home area. Perhaps I should have mentioned I have already bought a house up there.
Yeah that's unlucky man. It could be that maybe we weren't in the top scoring bracket on the situational judgement test.
 

RHolmes

Member
Joined
19 Jul 2019
Messages
566
Hi Everyone, I was lucky enough to make it to the next stage the video interview. Does anyone have any first hand knowledge or tips of what to expect?

Many thanks in advance

If it’s anything like the in-person pre-Covid questions:

- Do your background research on the company, apart from coronavirus, what challenges or perceptions are TPE currently facing and trying to change.
- Be able to tie your current job role to your potential new one (why has the role that you’re in now prepared you to be a good conductor?)
- Be prepared for customer service focused questions (particularly as all railway companies are trying to convince passengers back)
- research the role fully, what is your priority in the role and how do you prioritise?
- Have questions already prepared to ask the OBSMs and be as open and honest as you can. (What’s a typical day like? What’s the shift pattern currently? What’s the next step? Etc)
 

RHolmes

Member
Joined
19 Jul 2019
Messages
566
Same, but I’ve been invited to an assessment centre, not to an interview.

Reckon the interview will come after?

Interviews usually come after passing all OPC assessments, of which there is usually five (listed below). You must pass each one to proceed to the next and if all are passed at the expected level, then comes the company interview.

This can also be done in the reverse order where the interview is prior to assessments.

- Group Bourdon test (dots test)
- Rules Comprehension
- Ticket validity test
- Role play (Customer Service)
- MMI (Multi-modal interview)
 

ACSlater

Member
Joined
28 Mar 2021
Messages
15
Location
Durham
Interviews usually come after passing all OPC assessments, of which there is usually five (listed below). You must pass each one to proceed to the next and if all are passed at the expected level, then comes the company interview.

This can also be done in the reverse order where the interview is prior to assessments.

- Group Bourdon test (dots test)
- Rules Comprehension
- Ticket validity test
- Role play (Customer Service)
- MMI (Multi-modal interview)
Thanks very much. Very helpful
 

ACSlater

Member
Joined
28 Mar 2021
Messages
15
Location
Durham
Does anyone have any advice for the assessment centre role play for conductor? Please and thank you
 

RHolmes

Member
Joined
19 Jul 2019
Messages
566
Does anyone have any advice for the assessment centre role play for conductor? Please and thank you

It’s a hard one to practice for to be honest. Prior to the assessment, you’ll be given an information pack that you have ten minutes to read and prepare for. Read the information CAREFULLY as it will give you clues about what is expected. If you’re quite a logical person, you’ll realise that if your service is a peak time service for example, you will not need to use most of the information regarding off-peak ticket or sell one [hint].

From my own memory it contained:
- a route map
- a timetable
- a map of one particular station [hint]
- a fare chart
- service information about if it’s peak or off-peak [hint]

You’ll also be given:
- a bumbag containing various tickets to ‘sell’
- a set amount in change.

When the role play begins, you’ll enter the room (or turn around) as if you’ve just entered the passenger carriage and be presented by a variety of ticketing issues or passenger queries that you will see in your role, and you must address them, fix them, and enforce them using the information provided in the text (you can refer back), all whilst being polite and professional to the ‘passenger’
 

ACSlater

Member
Joined
28 Mar 2021
Messages
15
Location
Durham
It’s a hard one to practice for to be honest. Prior to the assessment, you’ll be given an information pack that you have ten minutes to read and prepare for. Read the information CAREFULLY as it will give you clues about what is expected. If you’re quite a logical person, you’ll realise that if your service is a peak time service for example, you will not need to use most of the information regarding off-peak ticket or sell one [hint].

From my own memory it contained:
- a route map
- a timetable
- a map of one particular station [hint]
- a fare chart
- service information about if it’s peak or off-peak [hint]

You’ll also be given:
- a bumbag containing various tickets to ‘sell’
- a set amount in change.

When the role play begins, you’ll enter the room (or turn around) as if you’ve just entered the passenger carriage and be presented by a variety of ticketing issues or passenger queries that you will see in your role, and you must address them, fix them, and enforce them using the information provided in the text (you can refer back), all whilst being polite and professional to the ‘passenger’
Hahaha, well that at least sounds interesting. Thanks a lot for the advice. I’ll have a practice at that. I usually just smile my way out of these situations but not sure how that will work with a mask on...
 

Emilali

Member
Joined
18 Aug 2016
Messages
75
Hahaha, well that at least sounds interesting. Thanks a lot for the advice. I’ll have a practice at that. I usually just smile my way out of these situations but not sure how that will work with a mask on...
Smiling wont help you at all for this scenario as they are watching and waiting for you to act and do something.
 

ACSlater

Member
Joined
28 Mar 2021
Messages
15
Location
Durham
Smiling wont help you at all for this scenario as they are watching and waiting for you to act and do something.
‘Twas but a joke my friend

Wow. Had the OPC assessment centre today. That was intense.

Anyone else have theirs theirs this week?
 
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Katwag1

Member
Joined
9 Mar 2021
Messages
37
Location
Manchester
‘Twas but a joke my friend

Wow. Had the OPC assessment centre today. That was intense.

Anyone else have theirs theirs this week?
Hi there, well done getting to the assessment day, hope it went well. I haven’t applied for a role yet as I’m waiting for my area to come up. Just wondering if you did dots or the letters test, I’ve heard it’s always dots but I don’t want to spend all my time on those if it could be the letters. Any help appreciated.
 

ACSlater

Member
Joined
28 Mar 2021
Messages
15
Location
Durham
Hi there, well done getting to the assessment day, hope it went well. I haven’t applied for a role yet as I’m waiting for my area to come up. Just wondering if you did dots or the letters test, I’ve heard it’s always dots but I don’t want to spend all my time on those if it could be the letters. Any help appreciated.
Hey, thanks a lot. It went much better than expected. I’m just waiting to see whether I passed the end MMI.

I obviously can’t speak for future assessments, but I completed the dots test. I’d recommend finding some practice papers. As long as you’re calm and have put in some practice then there’s no reason you shouldn’t pass it. Happy to help if you have any other questions.
 

Katwag1

Member
Joined
9 Mar 2021
Messages
37
Location
Manchester
Hey, thanks a lot. It went much better than expected. I’m just waiting to see whether I passed the end MMI.

I obviously can’t speak for future assessments, but I completed the dots test. I’d recommend finding some practice papers. As long as you’re calm and have put in some practice then there’s no reason you shouldn’t pass it. Happy to help if you have any other questions.
Ahh thanks so much, I’ve printed off some dots (my printer had a wig out but got there in the end so hope I do!)
Fingers crossed for you and hopefully see on a train sometime soon. Hopefully I will have many questions for you at some point!
 

ACSlater

Member
Joined
28 Mar 2021
Messages
15
Location
Durham
Has anyone heard back following the assessment centre?

I have an interview! Amazing. Does anyone have any tips? Exciting times
 
Last edited:

Katwag1

Member
Joined
9 Mar 2021
Messages
37
Location
Manchester
Has anyone heard back following the assessment centre?

I have an interview! Amazing. Does anyone have any tips? Exciting times
Fantastic news! Well done. Keep us updated. I’m platform staff at the minute so hopefully see you out and about soon so I can get some tips!
 
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