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OPC making errors when conducting Assessments! Be Careful

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Purple77

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Hi All.

Just a HUGE piece of advise, based on my recent experience I would strongly suggest that you avoid Train Assessments carried out by the OPC themselves and not the TOC. I recently failed my MMI on 1 question, when i asked for feedback for the OPC I realised that the assessor had in fact not asked me the question that I was told I failed on. The member of staff i spoke to acknowledged that the question asked and the question which should have been asked can yield 2 completely different responses. I was referred to the director Jo Lawerence who's response was of the most ridiculous nature. While she openly admits to not being present (obviously), that the assessor can't remember how she asked the question, and that the interviews aren't recorded, her stance is that it doesn't really matter how the question was phrased???!!!! That the assessors verbal instructions can differ from the questions that are written on the pre interview form.??
Each and everyone of us on here puts a lot of time and effort and maybe even finance into preparing for these assessments and I truly believe that the OPC only care about the money they are paid by the TOC to carry out these assessments. This was a very costly mistake not of my making, oh the OPC apparently have no complaints procedure. (I wonder why). Please don't write this off as sour grapes. I would just strongly suggest that any applying avoids TOC's that use the OPC, at least the TOC has a vested interested in carrying out these tests, it's a costly process for them so carrying them out correctly is in there interest. The OPC get paid regardless of pass or failure.
I am attempting to log a formal complaint with the RSSB against the OCP so that this doesn't happen again.

If you have failed any OPC carried out assessments I would also suggest contacting them and getting full feedback of what it is you failed on.
 
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Amanda

Amanda

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197
I thought all the TOCs used the OPC?? Is that not the case?

Also a lot of people can't exactly pick and choose the TOC, they have to go with whoever is in their neck of the woods unless they move to the area of a TOC they are interested in before even applying.

I feel for you, I certainly don't think it's "sour grapes", but there is a lot less choice involved when applying for driver roles than your post recognises.
 
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RickyWells

New Member
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1 Aug 2018
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3
Purple77 said:
Hi All.

Just a HUGE piece of advise, based on my recent experience I would strongly suggest that you avoid Train Assessments carried out by the OPC themselves and not the TOC. I recently failed my MMI on 1 question, when i asked for feedback for the OPC I realised that the assessor had in fact not asked me the question that I was told I failed on. The member of staff i spoke to acknowledged that the question asked and the question which should have been asked can yield 2 completely different responses. I was referred to the director Jo Lawerence who's response was of the most ridiculous nature. While she openly admits to not being present (obviously), that the assessor can't remember how she asked the question, and that the interviews aren't recorded, her stance is that it doesn't really matter how the question was phrased???!!!! That the assessors verbal instructions can differ from the questions that are written on the pre interview form.??
Each and everyone of us on here puts a lot of time and effort and maybe even finance into preparing for these assessments and I truly believe that the OPC only care about the money they are paid by the TOC to carry out these assessments. This was a very costly mistake not of my making, oh the OPC apparently have no complaints procedure. (I wonder why). Please don't write this off as sour grapes. I would just strongly suggest that any applying avoids TOC's that use the OPC, at least the TOC has a vested interested in carrying out these tests, it's a costly process for them so carrying them out correctly is in there interest. The OPC get paid regardless of pass or failure.
I am attempting to log a formal complaint with the RSSB against the OCP so that this doesn't happen again.

If you have failed any OPC carried out assessments I would also suggest contacting them and getting full feedback of what it is you failed on.
Click to expand...

Hi

funny you should post this. This exact same thing happened to me recently. My MMI interview was conducted during lunch time as only 3 computers were available. My interview lasted around 25min which is very short according to the research I did into the process. I went on to pass the tests and thought my interview went really well. Hence why it was so short. For 5 days I thought I’d passed only to be told I failed the interview. I complained to Northern but there’s not a lot they can do other than get feedback which I also requested. I was naturally devastated and something didn’t feel right about it. My issue was the interview being so short and that I wasn’t given the same opportunity as everyone else but also that I genuinely couldn’t understand what went wrong. The feedback I received after 4weeks was that I didn’t "gel up to the criteria" on the very last question! They couldn’t give the specifics other than that I should think about the answer I gave! I too wanted to take this further but there is no process in place to do this.
 
T

theking

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30 Sep 2011
Messages
626
I'm surprised you found out so specifically what you failed on in the mmi never heard of that before
 
T

The One

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2 Apr 2010
Messages
244
That don’t sound good I would definitely consider putting in a complaint as no one knows what the criteria is to pass and fail.And as you did say it’s not recorded and it’s one person word against another’s.At least if you go through the correct channels people in the future may know where they stand with these tests.
 
F

Ferret

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Joined
22 Jan 2009
Messages
4,124
Hmmm, when I attended OPC, there was an unfortunate incident involving two people with the same Christian name getting incorrect computer test results as the lady got them mixed up. This was awkward as the lad who was told he’d failed had actually passed, and of course vice versa! Luckily, the error was swiftly corrected, but!!!
 
C

chillipalmer50

Member
Joined
13 Jun 2019
Messages
191
Purple77 said:
Hi All.

Just a HUGE piece of advise, based on my recent experience I would strongly suggest that you avoid Train Assessments carried out by the OPC themselves and not the TOC. I recently failed my MMI on 1 question, when i asked for feedback for the OPC I realised that the assessor had in fact not asked me the question that I was told I failed on. The member of staff i spoke to acknowledged that the question asked and the question which should have been asked can yield 2 completely different responses. I was referred to the director Jo Lawerence who's response was of the most ridiculous nature. While she openly admits to not being present (obviously), that the assessor can't remember how she asked the question, and that the interviews aren't recorded, her stance is that it doesn't really matter how the question was phrased???!!!! That the assessors verbal instructions can differ from the questions that are written on the pre interview form.??
Each and everyone of us on here puts a lot of time and effort and maybe even finance into preparing for these assessments and I truly believe that the OPC only care about the money they are paid by the TOC to carry out these assessments. This was a very costly mistake not of my making, oh the OPC apparently have no complaints procedure. (I wonder why). Please don't write this off as sour grapes. I would just strongly suggest that any applying avoids TOC's that use the OPC, at least the TOC has a vested interested in carrying out these tests, it's a costly process for them so carrying them out correctly is in there interest. The OPC get paid regardless of pass or failure.
I am attempting to log a formal complaint with the RSSB against the OCP so that this doesn't happen again.

If you have failed any OPC carried out assessments I would also suggest contacting them and getting full feedback of what it is you failed on.
Click to expand...
..fully understand they tried to fail me ..OPC are a JOKe
 
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t_star2001uk

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23 Aug 2011
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723
I dont know if a subject access request would give all of the results, especially if they are computer based...

Just a thought....
 
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choochoochoo

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6 Aug 2013
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1,215
I always thought having a 3rd party doing assessments was a conflict of interests.

They get paid per candidate, so it's in their interest to fail a good percentage of candidates so they get more money into their coffers.

And the MMI is the easiest thing to fail someone on too. It's quite subjective, and if it's not recorded it's one person's word against another.

I failed my MMI with OPC but passed it in-house with a TOC. And I used pretty much the same examples in both MMIs.
 
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Cyclist

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333
For those wanting info from OPC you can send them a GDPR request for all your data using the contact form on their website. Send them your name, NI number and address and they are legally required to reply within 30 days.
 
4

4F89

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Messages
860
From what I am aware, it's not the answers, it's the way in which you answer them, controlling you language and being specific with your wording. This is a very necessary part of being a driver, keeping your cool in emergency situations.

I'm sorry for those that feel the OPC has some sort of vendetta against you. I had issues with mine in that I could barely understand the mumble from the examiners mouth, but you have to deal with it and ask for repetition. Kicking off wont get you anywhere.
 
4

4F89

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The fact they get paid regardless actually removes any bias. They dont care if you pass or fail. Like the rest of the tests, you either can, or you cant.
 
H

H7

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choochoochoo said:
Be careful leaving personal details like email addresses on the forum. Recruiters are known to browse these boards and making yourself identifiable may not be in your best interest.
Click to expand...
Thank you, I have deleted my post - If possible could you remove my email address from your reply?
 
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Purple77

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27 Oct 2019
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Location
London
Hi,
Jimathy said:
From what I am aware, it's not the answers, it's the way in which you answer them, controlling you language and being specific with your wording. This is a very necessary part of being a driver, keeping your cool in emergency situations.

I'm sorry for those that feel the OPC has some sort of vendetta against you. I had issues with mine in that I could barely understand the mumble from the examiners mouth, but you have to deal with it and ask for repetition. Kicking off wont get you anywhere.
Click to expand...

Hi, it's not really about kicking off, more about logging these complaints so that's there's a record. I've spoken to the director of The OPC and she said that the assessor "can't remember" how she asked the question, her whole attitude was rude and dismissive. I've contacted the RSSB as well, The OPC are not infallible and they should be held accountable when they make mistakes. Also other people should log their complaints so there's a record, they're employed to do a job by the TOC's they need to do it properly.
 
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Purple77

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theking said:
I'm surprised you found out so specifically what you failed on in the mmi never heard of that before
Click to expand...
Hi, I called them and asked what failed on and they said question 4. Asked him what question for was and he told me. There wasn't any resistance to it at all.
 
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Purple77

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Twotwo said:
What question was it? And how did they ask it?
Click to expand...
The question is " Give an example of when you have taken the lead or control in an emergency/pressurised situation" she asked " Give an example of when you had to deal with an emergency/pressurised situation"
 
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Purple77

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Location
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Jimathy said:
The fact they get paid regardless actually removes any bias. They dont care if you pass or fail. Like the rest of the tests, you either can, or you cant.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure that's the case but I understand your thinking, if you're carrying out pyschometric tests and don't even take the time to read the questions to candidates properly I think that's a lack of care tbh
 
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Purple77

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RickyWells said:
Hi

funny you should post this. This exact same thing happened to me recently. My MMI interview was conducted during lunch time as only 3 computers were available. My interview lasted around 25min which is very short according to the research I did into the process. I went on to pass the tests and thought my interview went really well. Hence why it was so short. For 5 days I thought I’d passed only to be told I failed the interview. I complained to Northern but there’s not a lot they can do other than get feedback which I also requested. I was naturally devastated and something didn’t feel right about it. My issue was the interview being so short and that I wasn’t given the same opportunity as everyone else but also that I genuinely couldn’t understand what went wrong. The feedback I received after 4weeks was that I didn’t "gel up to the criteria" on the very last question! They couldn’t give the specifics other than that I should think about the answer I gave! I too wanted to take this further but there is no process in place to do this.
Click to expand...
I contacted GWR and logged a complaint, which they forwarded to the OPC, I will add that the director only replied to forwarded email and not my personal complaint that I sent. They tried to completely ignore it.
I am now in the process of a complaint with RSSB, they way I see it is this, the outcome of my assessment will not change BUT by people logging these discrepancies with the TOC's and the RSSB maybe The OPCs errors will come to light.
 
ComUtoR

ComUtoR

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You get 2 attempts and your second may also be with the OPC. Will you avoid the OPC if given a second attempt ? If a TOC decides to send you to the OPC will you refuse and reapply for a different TOC ? If the outcome of your complaint is that the OPC offer a second attempt and reset your lost life, will you accept it ?
 
crebbs1

crebbs1

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164
Purple77 said:
I contacted GWR and logged a complaint, which they forwarded to the OPC, I will add that the director only replied to forwarded email and not my personal complaint that I sent. They tried to completely ignore it.
I am now in the process of a complaint with RSSB, they way I see it is this, the outcome of my assessment will not change BUT by people logging these discrepancies with the TOC's and the RSSB maybe The OPCs errors will come to light.
Click to expand...

The OPC MMI tests you in many areas and I agree the feedback was not great but sometimes you have to accept that you were not quite what they was looking for on this occasion.
It is disappointing when you don’t get what you was hoping for but just keep trying.
Now you know what to expect you will nail it next time.
 
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theking

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Messages
626
I think the conspiracy theories on here are quite funny.

Do you honestly think they fail people so they have people come back and the toc gives them more money

Get a grip.

The opc has an endless supply of candidates to test as trainee vacancies are always over subscribedn the only thing stopping them running tests 24/7 365 days a year is the amount of vacancies the TOCS have.

The mmi is opinion just because you think you smashed it doesn't mean you pass to their standard they are not only looking at your answers but are assessing your behaviours aswel.
 
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Purple77

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crebbs1 said:
The OPC MMI tests you in many areas and I agree the feedback was not great but sometimes you have to accept that you were not quite what they was looking for on this occasion.
It is disappointing when you don’t get what you was hoping for but just keep trying.
Now you know what to expect you will nail it next time.
Click to expand...
Think you've missed the actual issue here but thank you I'm sure I will
 
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