SJS17

Part 2

How is the driving going and what routes do you cover and more importantly how are you enjoying the role? I did hear about the First rumour but one thing I have learnt with the railways is that never taken anything for granted. First group have got their own problems especially with the Thameslink route as that franchise ends soon and they didn't get the West Coast franchise from Virgin like they thought they had.

Anyway, once again many apologies for not getting back sooner but hope to hear from you again.

Cheers
A

Part 1

Hi sue,

I didn't know I had any messages from you until I checked out this page so please accept my apologies for not replying sooner. I'm doing good but still no success as yet with getting a train driver role. I went for a trainee driver interview today with Southeastern (I passed the CB interview with them as well but they do it before the driver manager interview which is a Southern policy) and will hopefully hear something positive in the next week or so.

Although Im still hankering for a driver role I wouldnt mind doing anything to get into the industry from platform assistant to conductor just to get my foot through the door, but as you mentioned in your message they interview 30+ people for perhaps one position so competition is still very tough.

Part 2

My line manager at Victoria told me that they interviewed 30 people for those 2 positions, so I was extremely lucky. I think there still aren't many women applying so that probably stood in my favour. The other one that got the job was a bus driver. There are only 3 of us on the course. The other guy was a conductor for Southern. The course before us started in January and there is only 3 of them as well. They seem to start the courses every 2-3 months. I hope you find a driving job soon although its a bit of a pain that you can't apply to Southern for 6 months. One thing I have picked up on is that they want the customer service side of things. That is one thing to definitely push at the interview. Obviously you don't really have much interaction with the passengers in reality but that's what they want.

Best of luck and let me know how you get on.

Regards
Sue

Hi Arthur

Things are good. Southern seems like a decent company. The first week was spent at East Croydon on a company induction course. The last 4 weeks have been spent at the training school at Selhurst. Plenty of studying in the evenings. We go to our depots every Friday and go out driving with an instructor. That's brilliant but still nerve racking. Victoria seems like a good depot. Everyone says its better than Selhurst as the routes are more interesting. The rumour is that when the franchise comes up in a couple of years, that we will be joining up with FCC to be one company.

Hi Arthur

Hi Sue,

How is the training going and hope you are enjoying yourself? Drop me a line if you get chance to let me know.

A

Anyway, let me know how you go on as I'm very interested in keeping up to date with things and could you let me know when you hear if they are planning a mass train driver recruitment in the near future. As I mentioned at the start I'm really pleased you got the job and I look forward to that cup of tea

Best wishes and have fun
A

I'm not sure where this leaves me as this was my second attempt but as it was the managers interview I'm led to believe that this particular interview is not part of the process but so far my communications with Southern have been very confusing and their approach a little flakey.

I have emailed and telephoned the HR number three times and I have emailed Dave Rudman three or four times for feedback but so far none has been given. Overall, yes I'm very disappointed in not getting the job as I felt I did more than OK at the interview (considering I was made up with flu) but I'm more disappointed with Southern for not giving me a reason as to why I failed. there just seems to be no transparency in their approach which is frustrating. Especially as I have a (1st) degree in business travel management and was a conductor with NXEA for a while!

Hi Sue,

that is brilliant news and I'm so pleased for you and I'm sure you will have a brilliant time and make a great train driver and if I see a female driver when travelling on Southern I shall ask if it is you!!!

Alas, Southern still have not given me reasons as to why I failed. As I mentioned before, I still feel that from the start they were looking for either a particular candidate with the right background (which makes me wonder why they passed me through the initial screening) or they already had people in mind for the two jobs whom had the right background. It would be interesting to hear how many jobs were on offer overall and Selhurst in particular.

Pt1

Hi Arthur

Well I received my offer letter on Wednesday so I will be starting with Southern on Monday which I am thrilled about.

I wish you all the best and good luck with your future applications and hopefully we will have that coffee one day soon. I hope Southern get back to you with the feedback and it is helpful.

Regards
Sue

Hi Sue,

Good for you and I'm really pleased for you - Well Done!!!!!!!


A
P.S. I'm still waiting for feedback

Hi Arthur

Well I passed the CB interview and the medical seemed to go OK. The interview was about an hour long and was all based on the five questions we had to answer at the assessment. In theory I should be starting on the 4th but haven't received an official offer yet - I was hoping for this before the weekend. I'll drop you a line when I hear from them.

Regards
Sue

Hi Sue,

Many thanks for this and I most sincerely hope you walk away with the job. I hope to be able to apply again when I hear back from Southern and I will definitely be applying again so maybe in the future we could have a chin wag and coffee as drivers.

Have a brilliant weekend and let me know how you get on.

A

Hi Arthur

Victoria was definitely the Managers interview. Tuesday I will be interviewed on the answers I gave at the assessment day. It's just been done in a different order than I thought it was going to be.

Regards
Sue

Hi Sue,

Thank you for the reply but could you confirm to me that the interview you took at Victoria was the CB interview or was it the managers interview? I was told when I attended the interview three weeks ago that the interview was the CB interview.

Cheers
A

Hi Arthur

Well I have heard from Southern and I have passed the interview. I still have to do the CB based interview so the one at Victoria was the Manager interview. When I applied it was for all London depots but my preference was Selhurst. The only vacancy on offer is for Victoria but I'm happy with that. My next interview and medical is on Tuesday and I should know the results of both on the day - apart from the drugs and alcohol screening. I will let you know how I get on but I think that the hard bit is over, hopefully.

Regards
Sue

Hi Sue,

Did they only let you have the choice of London Bridge or Victoria or have you applied for the Selhurst depot? Don't let your thoughts of the interview make you feel down. My interview went very well and got on with both Martin & Lisa and yet they still closed the door in my face, so have some faith in your ability.

Also, I know that Southern are changing the recruitment process in early Autumn. I still haven't heard from them but I do know that the interviews have finished.

Cheers
A

Hi Arthur

I haven't heard anything yet. It wasn't the best interview I have done so I won't be surprised if its a no. I got stuck on a couple of questions. I have spent the past 10 years in aviation so I'm hoping that my experience in a safety critical job will help and that they take into account that I was quite nervous. Either that or the other candidates are worse than me! Will let you know what the outcome is but like you said there are only 2 vacancies and there is no reapplication for 6 months. Thanks for all the info you sent me.

Regards
Sue

Hi Sue,

How did you go on with the interview and really hoping you have some positive news.

A

The office is inside on the 3rd or 4th floor. The office entrance is next to Burger King (I think) but it has a war memorial plaque next to it. They share the entrance with Network Rail and platform staff from other TOC's.

Overall the interview process they have used is not what they informed us of originally and by not providing me with any feedback is taking the mickey. I will call Southern on Friday to find out what is happening but feel really let down by them as I knew I had done well at the interview considering how I was feeling and my answers were well constructed and logical and I wanted the job desperately (I'm unemployed). However, please let me know how you get on and I shall be keeping my fingers crossed for you. When I receive feedback I shall drop you a line and also post a message about this on the forum.

Best to f Luck
A

Hi Sue,

the questions that we wrote down on the form when we did the psychometric tests were never used and nor was there any time to prepare for the interview (which is also what they promised). that is something else that has frustrated me. They do ask the questions that have been mentioned on the forum such as:

• Describe a time you had to deal with an emergency
• Describe a time you solved a difficult problem
• Describe a time you worked alone for long periods of time
• Describe a time when you completed a training course lasting longer than 2 weeks
• Describe a time when you followed rules
• Describe a time when you have had to work under pressure
• Describe a time when you have been responsible for the safety of others
• Describe a time when you have played a positive role as a team member or leader
• Describe a time when you have had to cope with and adapted to a changing situation
• Describe a time when you have had to deal with a disagreement

Hi Arthur

Really sorry about the outcome of your interview. I was shocked when I read your message. I thought the same as you that it would be two interviews and that by getting this far they wanted to employ you. I can understand your frustration about the misinformation you recieved. Only a couple of questions really - did they give you the answer sheet of the five questions from the assessment day to read before the interview? Do you have to wait 6 months before applying again? Well I will certainly go to the interview with my eyes wide open and not expect too much. Again, sorry about the outcome and I will let you know how I get on. Oh one more question - is the office inside the station or outside on the street?

Regards
Sue

Part four:

It's not that I feel bitter in any way towards Southern as I still want to become a train driver but feel let down by them for changing the recruitment process without telling me. Furthermore, even after asking which type of interview I was to expect was told something completely different from what actually happened. a friend of mine whom is a driver said the interview for CB is easy and that they more or less want you. However, I do feel as though they made me jump through all the hoops of the recruitment process just for the sake of it. Only having two vacant positions at a huge station like Victoria sounds very suspect to me. Overall, the interview will be CB based and runs for about 45mins and the training starts 3 March but please feel free to ask me any other questions you may have and hope youhave a positive outcome to your interview so please keep me posted.

Part three:

I also discovered that there are only two jobs on offer at Victoria. However, I came away feeling I had done well at the interview. Then two days later I received a generic email from Southern stating that

"After careful consideration, by the interviewing manager, I regret to inform you that on this occasion you have not been successful."

I felt devastated (still do) and felt that they had got the wrong person. However what I'm now feeling is that internal candidates may have got the positions as this is a rule that railways always follow. It has been nearly ten days since my interview and have received no feedback from Southern. I have emailed Dave Rudman asking for feedback and he replied that he is waiting to get the notes from the interview from Victoria. So either they are arriving via pigeon or they are making them up as I type.

Part Two

I went to the interview feeling absolutely dreadful but wanted to show that I was committed and resilient. The interviewer team comprised of a Support Clerk and Conductor Line Manager and they made me feel at ease and could see I was suffering terribly with Flu. Then I was told that this was a CB interview and was to be the only interview in the whole process. I was taken back as I had been assured by Dave Rudman that this wouldn't be the CB interview and as I had been suffering from flu I hadn't been able to fully prepare for such an intense interview. I raised these points with the team but carried on the interview and overall I thought it went well considering how I was feeling. I answered all the competency based questions with good examples and built a good rapport with the both Martin & Lisa.

Hi Sue,

Well I didn't get the job. As you can imagine I am deeply disappointed and feel that Southern have pulled a fast one but let me explain why I think this.

I was initially led to believe that the interview process was to be based over two interviews. One interview was to be with a manager and the other with a HR team and the interview based on CB (competency based - For example, when have you had to deal with an emergency, etc etc). I even emailed Dave Rudman whom assured me that the interview I was to have was a manger interview and not CB interview. Three days prior to the interview I get struck down with Flu but new what to expect from the interview and as I had all ready prepared even asking friends whom are HR managers to run through mock interviews with me.

(Let me continue this as can only type so many words)

Hi

Hope your interview went well. I now have an interview date for a week Friday at Victoria.

Regards
Sue

Hi Sue,

I will keep you posted as to how the interview goes/went. I'm guessing that they are wanting to get as many people through these interviews as the job adverts costs thousands of pounds and hundreds of man hours to get joe public through the initial Psycho tests. As a result it is in their best interest to keep you

Although the interviews are also essential side of things just do your home work on the company and have a few examples ready for the Competency Based Interviews and you will be fine - Smile a lot, be chatty and have faith in your ability!!!!

Have a look at this interview method called S.T.A.R

http://www.interview-skills.co.uk/competency-based-interviews-STAR.aspx

Also, the training courses can only accommodate a certain amount of trainees in one go so they are having to stager the interview and starting dates.

Cheers
A

Hi

I emailed Dave Rudman but he can't offer me any dates yet but thinks it maybe late Feb/early March. It's probably got to do with which depot has vacancies and where you live. The very best of luck for Tuesday.

Regards
Sue

Hiya,

When I meant Thursday I meant that they called me that day (sorry my mistake). My interview is for the coming Tues at Victoria. I have read and heard mixed responses but from what I can gather it is a cross between the structured interview and an informal chat. They are having a look to see if you will fit in and what you know about the role and company I guess and will probably fire some form of competency based questions at you.

I would suggest you contact Dave Rudman if you have not heard anything yet as he did tell me mid Jan is when they will start interviewing. I was offered various time slots but took the Tuesday coming.

Cheers
A