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Train Manager Q&A

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G30RG3

G30RG3

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4 Jul 2019
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Hi.

New to the forum so thank you for all the useful information on here so far..

I'm posting this thread as the previous Train Manager thread is good but non-specific in part; so thought I'd open a new thread for discussion.

I'm mostly interested in the stage 2 recruitment process for Train Manager with GWR. Any advice on the assessment day & prospective interview follow up would be great!

I also wondered if anyone has any idea of the time frames after passing the most recent stage 1 exam day?

Best of luck for anyone currently in the process.
 
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rob wright

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Hi I just passed the assessment last week.
The other thread is fairly accurate and was very helpful to me, although the questions were slightly different they were close enough to give a good idea of what you may be asked.

The 2nd assessment takes a half day and that is split in to 2 sections the first is again split into 2 you should have 6 candidates on your assessment if everyone turns up, we were 1 short, you're split in to 2 groups and are assigned a flip chart with a question behind the cover you have a set time to sort a presentation and then you give that presentation as a group.

2nd you are in a board room and given a scenario and you conduct a meeting about that scenario after 10 min preparation they want to see how you interact and what ideas you come up with.

Then you are directed to the coffee room for a break and the assessors have a conflab your told if you pass or not and if you pass you in turn have a formal interview with 2 managers. the questions are a couple of personal questions (why do you want to ba a train manager Etc) then several competence based questions look up the other thread for a good idea of what may be asked.

Time frame. how long is a piece of string. hopefully it will be soon

Hope that helps. need anything else shout
 
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michael74

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515
rob wright said:
Hi I just passed the assessment last week.
The other thread is fairly accurate and was very helpful to me, although the questions were slightly different they were close enough to give a good idea of what you may be asked.

The 2nd assessment takes a half day and that is split in to 2 sections the first is again split into 2 you should have 6 candidates on your assessment if everyone turns up, we were 1 short, you're split in to 2 groups and are assigned a flip chart with a question behind the cover you have a set time to sort a presentation and then you give that presentation as a group.

2nd you are in a board room and given a scenario and you conduct a meeting about that scenario after 10 min preparation they want to see how you interact and what ideas you come up with.

Then you are directed to the coffee room for a break and the assessors have a conflab your told if you pass or not and if you pass you in turn have a formal interview with 2 managers. the questions are a couple of personal questions (why do you want to ba a train manager Etc) then several competence based questions look up the other thread for a good idea of what may be asked.

Time frame. how long is a piece of string. hopefully it will be soon

Hope that helps. need anything else shout
Click to expand...

Was that for the Plymouth post?
 
G30RG3

G30RG3

Member
Joined
4 Jul 2019
Messages
77
rob wright said:
Hi I just passed the assessment last week.
The other thread is fairly accurate and was very helpful to me, although the questions were slightly different they were close enough to give a good idea of what you may be asked.

The 2nd assessment takes a half day and that is split in to 2 sections the first is again split into 2 you should have 6 candidates on your assessment if everyone turns up, we were 1 short, you're split in to 2 groups and are assigned a flip chart with a question behind the cover you have a set time to sort a presentation and then you give that presentation as a group.

2nd you are in a board room and given a scenario and you conduct a meeting about that scenario after 10 min preparation they want to see how you interact and what ideas you come up with.

Then you are directed to the coffee room for a break and the assessors have a conflab your told if you pass or not and if you pass you in turn have a formal interview with 2 managers. the questions are a couple of personal questions (why do you want to ba a train manager Etc) then several competence based questions look up the other thread for a good idea of what may be asked.

Time frame. how long is a piece of string. hopefully it will be soon

Hope that helps. need anything else shout
Click to expand...
Thanks Rob, thats really informative.

I wasn't meaning to shoot the other thread down there are some really useful examples in there; it's just lost amongst the chat in places and thought an up to date version with recent experiences would help other people in going for the role.

I've heard the groups are made up of about six people which sounds reasonable given the time frames.

What do you think made your day a success?

And was you moving across to the role internally or are you new to the rail industry?

Well done on passing & thanks again for the heads up.
 
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rob wright

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I Asked if there was newer info too so i understand where you were coming from

I will be based in Bristol and I am new to the industry.

What made it successful for me was preparation list the questions and think of a situation you have had that fits, then thinkn of others that may come up, health and safety etc. The rehearse them so if similar questions ae asked you have a answer. Think of what you would like to hear if you were interviewing.
 
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G30RG3

G30RG3

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4 Jul 2019
Messages
77
rob wright said:
I Asked if there was newer info too so i understand where you were coming from

I will be based in Bristol and I am new to the industry.

What made it successful for me was preparation list the questions and think of a situation you have had that fits, then thinkn of others that may come up, health and safety etc. Then rehearse them so if similar questions are asked you have a answer. Think of what you would like to hear if you were interviewing.
Click to expand...
Thanks Rob.

I thought you must have been on a recruitment drive other than the Plymouth one as Plymouth TM was quite recent.

I've read a lot of speculation about TM openings being given to conductors and external recruits failing - later to be offered the resulting conductor vacancies. Sounds like there is hope for externals though.

Doing all the prep I can based around what you've said so fingers crossed.

If you think of anything that's helpful feel free to add to this thread :)

Thanks again for the information & good luck to anyone in the loop!
 
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rob wright

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By doing what you are doing, Asking here for instance you are prepping and increasing your chances. good luck
 
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M Fishplate

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Passed Stage 1 in Feb and waited 6 weeks with no news until getting an email confirming I was on Stage 2. Used the info in the other TM thread from a little while ago to prepare; just finished my first week's training. Caught myself smiling on the way to work on Friday; something I haven't done for a long, long time. Good luck!
 
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rob wright

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M Fishplate said:
Passed Stage 1 in Feb and waited 6 weeks with no news until getting an email confirming I was on Stage 2. Used the info in the other TM thread from a little while ago to prepare; just finished my first week's training. Caught myself smiling on the way to work on Friday; something I haven't done for a long, long time. Good luck!
Click to expand...
where are you based and where are you training please?
 
G30RG3

G30RG3

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77
M Fishplate said:
Passed Stage 1 in Feb and waited 6 weeks with no news until getting an email confirming I was on Stage 2. Used the info in the other TM thread from a little while ago to prepare; just finished my first week's training. Caught myself smiling on the way to work on Friday; something I haven't done for a long, long time. Good luck!
Click to expand...
That's good to hear. There's a lot of positive feedback around these roles and an exciting time to join by sounds of things. Best of luck
 
G30RG3

G30RG3

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Messages
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M Fishplate said:
Passed Stage 1 in Feb and waited 6 weeks with no news until getting an email confirming I was on Stage 2. Used the info in the other TM thread from a little while ago to prepare; just finished my first week's training. Caught myself smiling on the way to work on Friday; something I haven't done for a long, long time. Good luck!
Click to expand...
I meant to ask; how long is the training phase?
I noticed on the GWR job description the training salary varies from the completion pay - wondered how long you stay in the training bracket if anyone knows :)
 
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rob wright

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I was told 6 months ish. when you have done the course and do your fist solo run, that's when you pay goes up
 
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Matthew Vidler

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Hi

I have my 1st assessment tomorrow at Newton Abbott and was wondering if I fail any of the TM tests, would this override my recent stage one driver pass?

TIA
 
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Lmc1976

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Matthew Vidler said:
Hi

I have my 1st assessment tomorrow at Newton Abbott and was wondering if I fail any of the TM tests, would this override my recent stage one driver pass?

TIA
Click to expand...

My understanding is no, if you don’t pass tomorrow it won’t mess up your driver app.
 
G30RG3

G30RG3

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Matthew Vidler said:
Hi

I have my 1st assessment tomorrow at Newton Abbott and was wondering if I fail any of the TM tests, would this override my recent stage one driver pass?

TIA
Click to expand...

I don't work for any TOC however based on recent enquiries with first group and a similar situation - your two applications should not affect each other during the assessment stages.
 
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Chris C

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11 Jul 2019
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rob wright said:
It can take a while to progress. It took a few months between stage 1 and 2 for me
Click to expand...
Hi Rob
Congratulations on getting in, it’s Chris from the 2nd Assessment. I was successful also and start on 23nd September??
 
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rob wright

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Chris C said:
Hi Rob
Congratulations on getting in, it’s Chris from the 2nd Assessment. I was successful also and start on 23nd September??
Click to expand...
That's great news Chris I was hoping you made it through. I start on the 23rd too.
 
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TM Hopeful

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rob wright said:
That's great news Chris I was hoping you made it through. I start on the 23rd too.
Click to expand...

So can I take it that the wait between your assessment centre and group exercises/interview day was longer than between doing your medical and getting a start date (or is a provisional start date given in advance of a medical?) I passed my assessment centre on Wednesday and before starting the tests they did mention that they were looking at course dates pretty much up to early summer next year dependent on notice periods/holidays being taken before you start your course etc etc. I’m quite keen for the process to take as long as possible on a personal level as I’m keeping my fingers crossed for Voluntary Redundancy to come out at my present company before I hand my notice in! So, the longer the better from my perspective!

Congrats to those above who have already been successful by the way!
 
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Bobby1980

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31 Jul 2019
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Hello all, a very quick question that I hope someone may be able to answer. I have my assessment coming up for the role of TM and just wondered if there is a staff car park at Paddington Station?
 
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