wazzer69

Hi mate
Just got an email last week saying I will be notified in the next 2 weeks, if I have been successfull in gaining a place at the Assesment Centre, so hopefully hear back soon.
Applying for Electrification, what was it you applied for and got the job doing??.
Thanks again for your help.

It was about 13 days after and by phone call. They only e-mail or send letter if it's bad news sadly but I came home from lunch every day to make sure I didn't have a letter and constantly checking the phone. Crazy times.
What you applying for and what area you looking at doing? Did you get any reply on assessment centre date possibly?

Well done, nice one. Did they tell you there and then you had the job??, or was it by post/email a few days later??
Hopefully see you in September.

Ahh jheez, I felt like that last year. All you could prepare for is the question like why have you quit 6th Form and all that blah blah. They could ask questions like couldn't you handle the work load and stuff like that so make sure you have answers for those ones. Don't worry about how long, they should get back to you at one point but from what I read they're doing interviews until june time maybe later. What area have you applied and what role? And yeah, I got the job and I was absolutely over the moon because I think it's a great opportunity and Uni really wasn't for me, especially with the price hike plus the job security has to be one of the best. Originally I wanted to be a pilot but economic changes effect the aviation industry like crazzy and it has a weird future. And yes, hopefully we can meet in September.
Good Luck

No probs at all mate, I know I didn't stop talking but when I looked for info from others, nothing came up so I tried to give as much info as possible for my tired fingers. Yeah suit and tie is what everyone had on, looked like some boyband. The fault finding was sort of like a traffic light system and there were many leavers/functions that opened certain lines and these were displayed in a mini chart. It's super hard to explain but is clearly shown in the test and make sure your 100 percent to grips with the concept with it before you start because once I started I was confused like crazzzy but when you try the practice questions and keep checking with the examiner that what you're doing on the practice ones is correct then it's easy to get the hang of, but sorry I can't explain it.

The situational one was similar but it was also like a technical exam as well. So like I said before, you get a little paragraph of information and then 4 multiple choice questions. Some of the paragraphs were on headgear, fire extinguishers and I think there was another one on types of drills and when they should be used. Around 8 different scenarios/paragraphs were in that test. Same I am a school leaver aswell, what year you leaving? 11 or 13?
Good luck

The structure for the day was like this for me.
Sit down and get an introduction to the company. Keep eye contact with the people doing the demonstration and be in a poised posture so you are not too relaxed and look fairly eager. You want to come across enthusiastic which you should be and also confident.

Then after that introduction we had an interview stage around 45minutes. Then back to the room of the presentation and then on to the tests. They were quite simple and don't try and over think the answers, it's quite straight forward for the fault finding one and the other one was Situation ones. This is where they will give you a small paragraph on a certain item used on track or something like that and then you get 4 questions for each paragraph which are answered in multiple choice.

Then lunch, try and be social with people and during the day aswell as they are going to be your partners in the group exercise later that day and an initial form of communication will benefit. Small questions such as what depot, what role to break the original silence that everyone has, are simple. Also you want to ask questions to all sorts of people as there will be ex apprentices, staff from the first year away and people from all other places in the company. Try and ask relevant questions and not ones you have already been told, because someone did it just after the original presentation and everyone knew that question had just been answered so keep your ears out!

After lunch we had our group exercise. I'm not giving it away as it could be different but there will be plenty of people watching you and can make you scared. Try and read through the scenario and find the important key points. This is where the communication also comes into play and the bond that you should have built during the day should be visible. Also, USE YOUR LOAF. Common sense is all you need to complete this task well and again, don't over think it, they're not there to catch you out, just to see if you're fit for the company.

And that was it. It could vary in all sorts of places and different structured days but just try your best. Ask relevant questions to everyone, as there is a lot to be found out to do with each year of the scheme. Be clean and smart. ON TIME. Clear when talking, don't be timid and curl up. Obviously no swearing and just be you. Everything I have said about should seem fairly natural for an interview day, but just keep a cool head and hopefully you will get through as well.

Btw sorry if this seemed rushed, but I saw the post a 1 in the morning and thought I would have a crack. Message me your outcome from assessment and good luck.
Annonamous