guy_in_wales

have you heard anything from FGW since completing the online tests?

ok cool nothing to challenging from them then, I was based in Oxford so the routes consisted mainly of Oxford-Paddington- Oxford / Morton in marsh / Worcester Foregate Street / Great Malvern (mainly on FGW east / Cotswolds with having to go to Newport if there operations required which was very occasional)
An yes Its quite good how they have come back to me sounds like one of the chosen candidates as dropped out at the last minute.
An cool I am - Tom

The tests are easy... its personality testing. There's no maths, English.. just straight forward.. 4 statements which you either disagree agree unsure etc.. Questions like do you like working in a team? Do you like to be centre of attention blah ..
Where were you based with FGW?
Pleased to hear you have been given a 2nd chance with the employer who you cancelled over XC trains.. that's brilliant news.
Btw I'm Chris

Cool - do you know what the FGW tests consist of as the email did not give much information as to what they include. I am going to sit down and complete them tomorrow evening when I have time to concentrate on it properly

Worked for British Rail on board services as a steward later chief steward. Then British Midland as it was called then. Then debonair airways and now at British airways.

My interview went quite well yesterday they have invited me back in for a further assessment, On top of that the employer that invited me for an interview on the same day for XC have invited me to an open day next week and an assessment the following week
I have received the FGW online testing stage to, not completed there's online before but have being to a ticket examiner assessment at pad.
Airline wise I have worked for Ryanair plus I have worked for Rail Gourmet on the FGW contract
How about you?

How was your interview today?
FGW Paddington have sent me the on line tests..again! Did them for Bristol station.

XC group discussions seem to be all about forceful lol..
I thought about giving them feedback too, but it would fall on deaf ears. My main criticism was that despite sitting in the mess room none of us had spoken and think a quick introduction to who you are would work wonders within the group.

Just out of interest, you said you worked for an airline and TOC. Who were they?

not quite genetic this was mine

Unfortunately during the group exercise you allowed others to talk over you and dismiss your ideas. In future if this happens you need to be slightly more forceful and ensure your thoughts and ideas are heard – you may have to do this by making several interruptions.

I can confirm that you did successfully pass the ability tests. Please feel free to re-apply for positions with CrossCountry in the future.

However I disagree with that I insisted on one of the points out of 7 and there was 7 people so I equally contributed towards the task! i also expanded upon others ideas and gave praise if I thought there was any good contributions

I have thought about sending back my feedback to her as a recruiter seen so I wont waste my time with them again

I have applied for fgw to they normally recruit fpr bristol more than padington so it will soon come around again

Another Interview today - looking at it one way XC as warmed uo our interview techniques

Hope this one works out for you. I know FGW at Paddington were recruiting. I`ve applied for that, but they may not be so keen on me as I`m over Bristol way.
Here`s my feedback email.. (just wondering if its genetic or individual LOL)
In reply to your email requesting feedback from your recent assessment at Bristol

During the group exercise you came across very polite and professional however you never challenged others even when you had suggested another item, you would listen to what they said and then dismiss your own suggestion. In future you need to be slightly more forceful ensuring that others take your suggestions and listen to what you have to say – ensuring that your ideas are not so easily dismissed.

Please feel free to apply again for a position with CrossCountry should you wish to.

Thank you again for taking the time to attend the assessment and I wish you all the best for the future

Kind Regards

Jackie Woodhouse, Recruitment & Systems Manager, CrossCountry

No mention of professional and polite - Hopefully another one I've applied for will go better seen so I've worked for them previously for a third party contractor

Jackie gave me feedback. She did the interview. Was the professional and polite phase used btw? I'll be honest I though you would get further than my group and me as you are closer to London with more jobs than in the south west.

Sounds a bit of the same to me - really in my opinion its a bit of a fob off
the person who provided me the feedback was the Human resources manager - Jane whos daughter was also a candidate in the same recruitment process... I really wonder who got the position

Hey there. I got feedback too. Yesterday and oddly I think we may have the same email . I wasn't forceful enough with my ideas of which items I would take off in the plane crash group discussion . Btw a new job at x c trains at Bristol for train manager. Hmm

I have now received an email from XC regarding feedback seems pretty fair to me although some what annoying penalised for not being rude and abrupt enough when putting my ideas forward in the group assessment

I contacted the other employer and was told they had picked candidates to fulfil the vacancies however If any fell through they would get back in touch. Likewise with you I've experience in the airlines, experience in the rail industry in a role exactly identical to the position of first class host well more towards the level of experience an RSM would have plus qualifications
I as well have not received the feedback but as we were told you can do that by email and phone I may follow it up next week with a phone call.

I`m still waiting 2 weeks since the interview for feedback. Glad I`m not holding my breath LOL
If any feedback, it will be flannelled wishy washy general blah, depending in circumstances. If say the candidate hadn`t experience or needed to improve on their Maths its easy options for XC trains.. it becomes little sticky when say I have a few GCSE`s BTEC`s etc plus 30 yrs of customer service on British Rail and airlines..
Might be poss to contact other employer and explain situation?? Never know, they can only say no.

Yeah same position really plus I turned down another interview on the same day to go to the xc one so it was very annoying and about a 8 hour day with travel.
I will now wait to see if they will provide the feedback they say is available

Thanks for your message tomw121.
Interesting info. Definitely not fair in any shape or form. For me it was the time wasting and effort I put into applying for the RSM position. Several hours completing the on line application, then 4 hours on the actual day (including travelling to and from home to Bristol). Interview was late morning, so basically writing the day off to do anything else. Although, I`m not desperate for a job or to leave my excising job, I do feel for those who are and perhaps unemployed at present. My feelings are XC trains are "too small" although operates a large network.
I hope you found a job you`re happy in now.

Further to the interview for the first class host positions - experienced the same situations you had mentioned however there was a position.
one of the candidates parent was conducting the assessment process and the candidate was also the partner of a train manager. My opinion is a little bit of favouritism and pre selection was involved in the recruitment process for the position wasting other candidates time.