Greater Anglia Vacancies -Trainee Mainline Driver

Nevergiveup · 22 Jul 2019

Ah I see, was thinking it has to be before they offer the job

Stigy said:
A holding pool or talent pool is before you’re offered a job generally. Once you’re lucky enough to be fished from said pool you’ll be offered a job pending medical etc.

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Lee Saunders · 22 Jul 2019

Stigy said:
There’s divided opinion as to whether or not paying out to do the assessments privately is advantageous to be honest. My view (and to be fair it seems to be backed up by my progress to DMI on a couple of occasions) is that having the assessment passes already helps to get progressed where if you didn’t have them, may not be the case with assessment centres etc. You’re naturally more desirable if a TOC doesn’t have to put you through psychometric assessments. Why wouldn’t you be?

I already had passes in the bag so didn’t have to pay for them though. Would I have paid for them myself? Quite possibly depending how much it was. It depends if you’re willing to risk taking them and passing but still not getting anywhere fast (if at all) I guess? It also might prove hard to find someone willing to do this. I heard DB used to, but I know they’ve said to other people recently that they have no plans to do them for the foreseeable?

Yes I think I will probably be patient, as you said not sure if it would be quicker or not. It’s just I’ve heard people say they passed the SJT and they never heard anything back after 6 months. Hopefully I might get lucky yet.

Mekiz79 · 23 Jul 2019

Well. Just got an email from Greater Anglia HR saying that they confirm I have passed everything and just require an interview, however there are no vacancies at Bishops Stortford or Colchester depots which were my two choices!

Why did they advertise for these depots if there are no vacancies? :rolleyes:

Jonty · 23 Jul 2019

Mekiz79 said:
Well. Just got an email from Greater Anglia HR saying that they confirm I have passed everything and just require an interview, however there are no vacancies at Bishops Stortford or Colchester depots which were my two choices!

Why did they advertise for these depots if there are no vacancies?

Congratulations on passing the assessments , I find it very strange as they are still advertising for those depots online ?? When did you initially apply ?

Dave1987 · 23 Jul 2019

Mekiz79 said:
Well. Just got an email from Greater Anglia HR saying that they confirm I have passed everything and just require an interview, however there are no vacancies at Bishops Stortford or Colchester depots which were my two choices!

Why did they advertise for these depots if there are no vacancies?

I don't wish to be unkind but you really need to calm down a bit. You are not just up against external applicants but also against internal candidates including depot drivers for trainee mainline positions. You are also have to consider that there are internal transfers between depots that happen and they are top of the list for vacancies at depots.

Termy · 23 Jul 2019

Hmm! If people have started receiving responses about previous assessment passes being up to GAs standards, I should start keeping a watchful eye on my email inbox again in case I get something come through!

Mekiz79 · 23 Jul 2019

I get what you are saying but they were advertising for these depots (and still are). I have the advantage of having already passed the assessments with a previous TOC. I didnt think any comments in my post required me to be told to calm down, I hardly went into a massive rant lol.

My point is they are advertising for vacancies at depots where there aren't any vacancies, why advertise if there are no positions? Surely they are wasting everyone's time?

Dave1987 said:
I don't wish to be unkind but you really need to calm down a bit. You are not just up against external applicants but also against internal candidates including depot drivers for trainee mainline positions. You are also have to consider that there are internal transfers between depots that happen and they are top of the list for vacancies at depots.

Mekiz79 · 23 Jul 2019

I applied beginning of April when the adverts went live! The previous enhanced passes I have are for MTR Crossrail (who also have no vacancies despite advertising for positions).

Jonty said:
Congratulations on passing the assessments , I find it very strange as they are still advertising for those depots online ?? When did you initially apply ?

TheGoldfish · 23 Jul 2019

Mekiz79 said:
I get what you are saying but they were advertising for these depots (and still are). I have the advantage of having already passed the assessments with a previous TOC.

My point is they are advertising for vacancies at depots where there aren't any vacancies, why advertise if there are no positions? Surely they are wasting everyone's time?

They are just building a reserve pool so that when vacancies appear they are not faced with lengthy application processes which will not meet the demand to fill the vacancies quickly ... its nothing to them to have candidates waiting in the pool ... if people become unavailable over time then theres always someone to take their place ....

Dave1987 · 23 Jul 2019

Mekiz79 said:
I get what you are saying but they were advertising for these depots (and still are). I have the advantage of having already passed the assessments with a previous TOC.

My point is they are advertising for vacancies at depots where there aren't any vacancies, why advertise if there are no positions? Surely they are wasting everyone's time?

Not really. Everything is extremely fluid at the moment. If you have the feeling that your time is being wasted then you are not going to be in the correct frame of mind if you get invited for interview.

Mekiz79 · 23 Jul 2019

I'm fine if they want to do that, but it might be nice to let people know that there is a potential to be placed in a holding pool.

If you read the advert which is still live, it shows they are advertising for vacancies at x amount of depots for their 2019/20 future trainee drivers programme. No mention of holding pools or limited number of vacancies.

It does state "Please note vacancies can close earlier due to high influx of candidate applications" yet 3 months later they havent taken the advert down despite there being no vacancies...its laughable!

Ultimately, we are trying to apply for a highly desirable job and I get that it's not easy. But this is people's lives and careers we are talking about!

TheGoldfish said:
They are just building a reserve pool so that when vacancies appear they are not faced with lengthy application processes which will not meet the demand to fill the vacancies quickly ... its nothing to them to have candidates waiting in the pool ... if people become unavailable over time then theres always someone to take their place ....

TheGoldfish · 23 Jul 2019

Mekiz79 said:
I'm fine if they want to do that, but it might be nice to let people know that there is a potential to be placed in a holding pool.

If you read the advert which is still live, it shows they are advertising for vacancies at x amount of depots for their 2019/20 future trainee drivers programme. No mention of holding pools or limited number of vacancies.

It does state "Please note vacancies can close earlier due to high influx of candidate applications" yet 3 months later they havent taken the advert down despite there being no vacancies...its laughable!

Ultimately, we are trying to apply for a highly desirable job and I get that it's not easy. But this is people's lives and careers we are talking about!

To be honest i never read the advert to that degree .. but I've done others with GWR and SWR and ARL where they do make it clear its a pool not an actual position ... and i just assumed this would be the same scenario...

Lee Saunders · 23 Jul 2019

Jesus there’s no hope is there lol, I’m still waiting for an invite to do my stage 1 assessments. I passed the SJT in early May. They should’ve closed the advert as there is obviously way to many people applying and not enough space. I also went for bishops Stortford Colchester and Southend I think the third choice was. I’m not holding much hope as I’ve heard some people are not even getting invited to do assessments as they waited 6 months.

Jack67 · 26 Jul 2019

Hi. I’ve been invited for a structured interview. Does anyone know what this involves?

chillipalmer50 · 26 Jul 2019

Lee Saunders said:
Jesus there’s no hope is there lol, I’m still waiting for an invite to do my stage 1 assessments. I passed the SJT in early May. They should’ve closed the advert as there is obviously way to many people applying and not enough space. I also went for bishops Stortford Colchester and Southend I think the third choice was. I’m not holding much hope as I’ve heard some people are not even getting invited to do assessments as they waited 6 months.

Same waiting

SGD5891 · 27 Jul 2019

Not assuming this will be the same for all TOC’s but the whole process for my application for trainee driver went like this:
Nov 2018 - application submitted
April 2019 - stage 1 assessments
May2019 - stage 2 assessments
June 2019 - DMI
August 2019 - starting with ARL....

so all in all its takien about 10 months, which to me is a long time, BUT have heard of people waiting a long time more. Best advice is to sit tight and try and carry on as normal, and when it does come around you will be a dying to start lol

Dscs · 27 Jul 2019

Dave1987 said:
I don't wish to be unkind but you really need to calm down a bit. You are not just up against external applicants but also against internal candidates including depot drivers for trainee mainline positions. You are also have to consider that there are internal transfers between depots that happen and they are top of the list for vacancies at depots.

I agree with Mekiz79, what he is saying is just common courtesy by any company, regardless if it's the railway. It could be stacking shelves in a local supermarket, but if the position/area is no longer available externally then take down the advertisements which are very misleading. Can be very frustrating when we all are getting to know the long process it can be to get into these driver roles and the rewards to be had, and at the other end something as simple as either closing the advert or even updating it is not done.
Separate from this I wish the best of luck to all going through the processes!

chillipalmer50 · 27 Jul 2019

SGD5891 said:
Not assuming this will be the same for all TOC’s but the whole process for my application for trainee driver went like this:
Nov 2018 - application submitted
April 2019 - stage 1 assessments
May2019 - stage 2 assessments
June 2019 - DMI
August 2019 - starting with ARL....

so all in all its takien about 10 months, which to me is a long time, BUT have heard of people waiting a long time more. Best advice is to sit tight and try and carry on as normal, and when it does come around you will be a dying to start lol

Overground never even got back to me from when I submitted my application back in November

SGD5891 · 27 Jul 2019

Dscs said:
I agree with Mekiz79, what he is saying is just common courtesy by any company, regardless if it's the railway. It could be stacking shelves in a local supermarket, but if the position/area is no longer available externally then take down the advertisements which are very misleading. Can be very frustrating when we all are getting to know the long process it can be to get into these driver roles and the rewards to be had, and at the other end something as simple as either closing the advert or even updating it is not done.
Separate from this I wish the best of luck to all going through the processes!

Yeah i agree

Nevergiveup · 27 Jul 2019

Thanks for this mate, much appreciated!
That’s giving some of us some hope!
I only applied this month with ARL

SGD5891 said:
Not assuming this will be the same for all TOC’s but the whole process for my application for trainee driver went like this:
Nov 2018 - application submitted
April 2019 - stage 1 assessments
May2019 - stage 2 assessments
June 2019 - DMI
August 2019 - starting with ARL....

so all in all its takien about 10 months, which to me is a long time, BUT have heard of people waiting a long time more. Best advice is to sit tight and try and carry on as normal, and when it does come around you will be a dying to start lol

Nevergiveup · 27 Jul 2019

If you don’t mind would you pass on the practice materials to practice with until assessments invitation lol

SGD5891 said:
Not assuming this will be the same for all TOC’s but the whole process for my application for trainee driver went like this:
Nov 2018 - application submitted
April 2019 - stage 1 assessments
May2019 - stage 2 assessments
June 2019 - DMI
August 2019 - starting with ARL....

so all in all its takien about 10 months, which to me is a long time, BUT have heard of people waiting a long time more. Best advice is to sit tight and try and carry on as normal, and when it does come around you will be a dying to start lol

yomper11 · 29 Jul 2019

Having passed stage 1 and 2 with ARL to enhanced my co existing application with GA had gone through to MMI stage....however there are no driver positions at the moment....., so now waiting, apparently they may be opening up the southend driver positions soon....

AdamL89 · 31 Jul 2019

Hi all,

I was just wandering if someone can give me advice. I have been waiting to hear whether I passed the Mmi or not. Its been close to 2 weeks since I attended stage 2. Is there anyone I can get in contact with?

ratbag · 31 Jul 2019

AdamL89 said:
Hi all,

I was just wandering if someone can give me advice. I have been waiting to hear whether I passed the Mmi or not. Its been close to 2 weeks since I attended stage 2. Is there anyone I can get in contact with?

Great Anglia are useless when it comes to instigating communication. Many people have passed their SJT and not been offered an assessment for stage 1.

MMI results are available the next day and to not hear back in your time period is nothing out of the ordinary. Patience is the name of the game, but GA, are the worst of the London based TOC, when it comes communication for Trainee driver recruitment. GA are running job adverts for positions they don't have.

Mabs · 1 Aug 2019

I have given up on my application. I am now looking for other jobs.

Nevergiveup · 1 Aug 2019

There’s shunter driver vacancies with GTR & C2C if you’re interested

Mabs said:
I have given up on my application. I am now looking for other jobs.

Mabs · 1 Aug 2019

Nevergiveup said:
There’s shunter driver vacancies with GTR & C2C if you’re interested

There is Nothing near by for shunter driving.

I have applied for a Train manager position with GWR full time £38.5k a year for 37 hours a week. I am half way though the assessment process and hopefully i have my telephone interview very soon.

I also applied for a Train guard position with GWR and SWR at various locations paying £32.5k for 42 hours a week.

Dave19801980 · 3 Aug 2019

My recruitment process took 10 months from applying to starting the training....and I consider myself lucky that it ONLY took that long...especially when you read on here how long some people have been waiting/trying.

Although I didn't even make it through the initial paper sift before that with another TOC.....so you really never know.

Timpg · 3 Aug 2019

Dave19801980 said:
My recruitment process took 10 months from applying to starting the training....and I consider myself lucky that it ONLY took that long...especially when you read on here how long some people have been waiting/trying.

Although I didn't even make it through the initial paper sift before that with another TOC.....so you really never know.

Are you training with GA?

Dave19801980 · 4 Aug 2019

No. Never made it through paper sift with GA.

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