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Driver course June.

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Nigell

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31 Aug 2016
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Hi everyone,
Been a while since I posted. Eventually did get a start date which was back in early 2017.
4 years as a conductor and after a long slog and many, many tests and assessments I am now on the countdown to my start date as a Driver.
Passed application, video interview, assessment day, testing part 1, Dmi, testing part 2, Mmi and finally the medical.
It’s a long process and I did have a few hiccups along the way. Eventually got a start date for late June, just wondered if anyone else was on a Driver course starting late June in Leeds?

For anyone else in the process, keep going and be patient, it’s tough I know but definitely worth it. As a guard for the last 4 years I have seen many come through (internal as well as external) but all agree it’s hard getting in and very demanding the first year but very rewarding and I haven’t spoke to a single one that regrets becoming a Driver. Stick with it people and don’t give in, if you stumble, get up and keep trying. ( obviously taking into account the opc 2 chance testing issue)

good luck all.
 
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NorthernTech

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Well done Nigel! That must be a relief and quite exciting. Who are you going to be driving for if you don’t mind saying?
 

MRIGuy

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22 Nov 2019
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Formal?
And can I ask why your asking?
An offer of employment or contract?

I only ask for the benefit of others who may find themselves in a similar position to yourself. You often read numerous posts on this forum whereby people have successfully completed interviews and assessments only to find themselves in a talent pool.

I wish you all the best in your new role!
 

RGD7

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16 Mar 2020
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Hebburn
If its the course beginning the 21st for Northern, As a fellow conductor I'm also on the same course pending that I pass my medical on Tuesday there's a few internals I know that are also on the same one.

Not sure how to send you a DM.
 
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MRIGuy

Member
Joined
22 Nov 2019
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Location
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If its the course beginning the 21st for Northern, As a fellow conductor I'm also on the same course pending that I pass my medical on Tuesday there's a few internals I know that are also on the same one.

Not sure how to send you a DM.
I think you have to submit 5 posts before you can send a DM to another forum member.
 

Nigell

Member
Joined
31 Aug 2016
Messages
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If its the course beginning the 21st for Northern, As a fellow conductor I'm also on the same course pending that I pass my medical on Tuesday there's a few internals I know that are also on the same one.

Not sure how to send you a DM.
Yes, it is my friend. What depot are you If you don’t mind me asking? The others that you know of from your depot also?
Very happy to hear there’s other Conductors on the course, it helps in a way.
Good luck with your medical, sure you’ll have no probs.

An offer of employment or contract?

I only ask for the benefit of others who may find themselves in a similar position to yourself. You often read numerous posts on this forum whereby people have successfully completed interviews and assessments only to find themselves in a talent pool.

I wish you all the best in your new role!
Thanks, and yes, I entered the talent pool after passing my psychometrics but as I originally said, I now have a start date and have had my medical.
It can be a long wait, to be honest it’s a long process in general. As you prob know as well as most on this forum, railway recruitment is a lengthy process to say the least. I myself spent months and months in a talent pool and also have work colleagues who are now drivers but did spend 9 months or more in talent pools. (Some actually got recruited just before they times out in the pool)
It is just a case of sitting tight and being patient. Harder than you think when your in that position but once your in the pool then you can at least say to yourself that you have done all you can do and passed all that is required apart from the wait.
 
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RGD7

New Member
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Yes, it is my friend. What depot are you If you don’t mind me asking? The others that you know of from your depot also?
Very happy to hear there’s other Conductors on the course, it helps in a way.
Good luck with your medical, sure you’ll have no probs.


Thanks, and yes, I entered the talent pool after passing my psychometrics but as I originally said, I now have a start date and have had my medical.
It can be a long wait, to be honest it’s a long process in general. As you prob know as well as most on this forum, railway recruitment is a lengthy process to say the least. I myself spent months and months in a talent pool and also have work colleagues who are now drivers but did spend 9 months or more in talent pools. (Some actually got recruited just before they times out in the pool)
It is just a case of sitting tight and being patient. Harder than you think when your in that position but once your in the pool then you can at least say to yourself that you have done all you can do and passed all that is required apart from the wait.
There are three conductors from Newcastle including myself and I'm aware of one from Middlesbrough and one, possibly two from Carlisle as well as an MDD from Heaton. So a pretty large North East contingent.

Looking forward to getting started just have to hope that if BoJo delays restrictions easing on the 21st that it doesn't impact our course . What depot are you from yourself?
 

Nigell

Member
Joined
31 Aug 2016
Messages
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There are three conductors from Newcastle including myself and I'm aware of one from Middlesbrough and one, possibly two from Carlisle as well as an MDD from Heaton. So a pretty large North East contingent.

Looking forward to getting started just have to hope that if BoJo delays restrictions easing on the 21st that it doesn't impact our course . What depot are you from yourself?
Yeh, fingers crossed it doesn’t change anything. A large group from the north then. I am York.
 

MRIGuy

Member
Joined
22 Nov 2019
Messages
39
Location
Hartlepool
If its the course beginning the 21st for Northern, As a fellow conductor I'm also on the same course pending that I pass my medical on Tuesday there's a few internals I know that are also on the same one.

Not sure how to send you a DM.
how'd your medical go today?
 

mechanic2

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22 Feb 2021
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95
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Great news - well done!

May I ask when you applied for this initially? Like, how long from application to be given a start date?
 

RGD7

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Joined
16 Mar 2020
Messages
4
Location
Hebburn
how'd your medical go today?
Medical was all fine, given a clean bill of health just awaiting confirmation as awaiting the drug test results to come back. So can start to look forward to getting going on the course now.

Great news - well done!

May I ask when you applied for this initially? Like, how long from application to be given a start date?
Initial application was September 2020,
DMI November, Psychometrics in December. And then just a waiting game from then until offered provisional start at the end of April and had my Medical Tuesday gone.

A long process but its worth the wait.
 
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mechanic2

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22 Feb 2021
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Great, thanks for the reply.

When you were offered a start date, is that when you handed in your notice to your current employer?
I'm just trying to work out how my own notice would work etc as mine is quite long.

Thanks !
 

RGD7

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Great, thanks for the reply.

When you were offered a start date, is that when you handed in your notice to your current employer?
I'm just trying to work out how my own notice would work etc as mine is quite long.

Thanks
Fortunately I'm an internal applicant as I'm already working as a conductor so notice period was not required. The offer of a provisional start was received last month, roughly two months before the course is due to start, although this could vary widely between applicants so wouldn't be able to advise how much notice you would likely to receive before a course.
 

mechanic2

Member
Joined
22 Feb 2021
Messages
95
Location
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Fortunately I'm an internal applicant as I'm already working as a conductor so notice period was not required. The offer of a provisional start was received last month, roughly two months before the course is due to start, although this could vary widely between applicants so wouldn't be able to advise how much notice you would likely to receive before a course.
No probs. Thanks for the reply.

Good luck with the rest of your process!

Hi mate - just wondering at what stage they requested a reference? Was it after you passed the medical or beforehand? I have my psychometric coming up and I'm wondering whether they will request one if I pass or once the medical is done. Of course, depending on passing etc
 
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