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Trainee Drivers at Southern

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Albert

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Does anyone know if Southern have the same recruitment policy as Northern i.e. you have to live within 30 mins of the depot AT THE TIME OF APPLYING, or will they allow you to apply and then relocate (from Cumbria in my case)?
 
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navydavy1968

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I'm 95% sure they require you to be within 30 mins distance on applying mate.

I live in Portsmouth which isn't quite in the 30 min zone for Southern but the only time they took an interest in me was when I applied for a job in Chichester which is 24 mins away(according to AA autoroute).

All others that I applied for (Brighton, Barnham, London) I got the knock back from.

Hope this helps, I know its probably not what you wanted to hear, but it'll save you few minutes completing the app!! All the best:p
 
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Albert

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Thanks Navydavy. I do want to get a position in the NW, but after failing to apply on time for the trainee positions at Macynlleth with Arriva Wales I have never seen anything advertised in that region, in fact the only other position I have seen anywhere was with London Midland in Birmingham, so the game plan is to cast a wider net given the serious lack of opportunities.
 
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drivers is definately half hour as i live 41 mins away and got turned down. COnductors on the other hand is 45 mins as I have applied and been accepted for assesment and for station based its one hour with SOuthern. Hopefully that helps :)
 

royaloak

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today I will mostly be at home decorating
If you buy a motorbike with a decent engine then 30 minutes equals about 45 miles ;) (more if its quiet :lol:)

I slept in once, rang them up to say I would be 10 minutes (to which the inspector laughed knowing where I lived) and I did 13.2 miles in 8 minutes and 20 seconds and I was nice and wide awake when I got to work :lol:, the inspector didnt believe that I had ridden from home though :cry:.
 

anonymous0101

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If you buy a motorbike with a decent engine then 30 minutes equals about 45 miles ;) (more if its quiet :lol:)

I slept in once, rang them up to say I would be 10 minutes (to which the inspector laughed knowing where I lived) and I did 13.2 miles in 8 minutes and 20 seconds and I was nice and wide awake when I got to work :lol:, the inspector didnt believe that I had ridden from home though :cry:.

Does that restriction apply to qualified drivers too?
 

TDK

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Does anyone know if Southern have the same recruitment policy as Northern i.e. you have to live within 30 mins of the depot AT THE TIME OF APPLYING, or will they allow you to apply and then relocate (from Cumbria in my case)?

As a rule of thumb it isn't 30 minutes it is 1 hour from a depot, well that what ATW wanted when I was recruiting for them, but it must be a realistic 1 hour. As for relocating that isn't a problem as I have employed drivers for the North who lived in London and Dorset as they put in writing they would either lodge or relocated, this is from experienced recruiting not guess work from people who have been turned down or think they know the recruitment process, sometimes if an interviewer thinks a candidate is not suitable feedback has to be given and the distance card will be used!!! So, try to apply and in your application highlight your distance and a realistic journey time plus 15 minutes, so if it takes 45 minutes on an average run make this an hour, also put on your application you are willing to relocate and also mention your ties that will delay such relocation! This will be acceptable on an application for a job! Albert PM me me if you want more details.
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Does that restriction apply to qualified drivers too?

The ristriction does not apply to any potential employee, especially qualified drivers, at the depot I work there were drivers who lived over 250 miles away and still got the job, they have all relocated now nearer the depot, fact not guesswork
 
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just to be clear i wasn't "guessing".

I have rung up and spoken with Southern and South West Trains BEFORE submitting an application form or even revealing where I live. and what I said earlier is their response.

Even when I enquired about relocating I was told by both companies directly that they will NOT consider my application unless the address on it was within the specified distance of the depot, the reason both companies gave was that they were not prepared to put a candidate all the way through the recruitment process for them to turn round and say they're not moving closer to the depot.

The only company in my experience who will allow relocation in the event of a successful application was First Capital Connect.

ATW may well be different but Southern/South West Trains are very strict.
 

TDK

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just to be clear i wasn't "guessing".

I have rung up and spoken with Southern and South West Trains BEFORE submitting an application form or even revealing where I live. and what I said earlier is their response.

Even when I enquired about relocating I was told by both companies directly that they will NOT consider my application unless the address on it was within the specified distance of the depot, the reason both companies gave was that they were not prepared to put a candidate all the way through the recruitment process for them to turn round and say they're not moving closer to the depot.

The only company in my experience who will allow relocation in the event of a successful application was First Capital Connect.

ATW may well be different but Southern/South West Trains are very strict.

I used to work for southern and when I worked for them this was not the case however they may have changed their policies, if so I wouldn't bother applying, maybe they have so many applications they use the distance thing as a sifting measure, however if you are already a qualified driver they will certainly consider as it will save them over £100K in training costs.
 

Flyboy

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....however if you are already a qualified driver they will certainly consider as it will save them over £100K in training costs.

Until the day when someone provides me with a detailed breakdown of that amount I'll never believe it. Sorry but that's just my view.
 

Albert

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It does sound rather high Flyboy, but it must be a few quid. £20k(ish) wages while training plus NI contributions the company makes on your behalf. A portion of the wages that the trainer gets paid e.g. their wages divided by number in class. Cost of recruiting in the first place, accomodation when on courses.

I would have thought £50k(ish) sounds more realistic, but then again, what do I know!:-?
 

TDK

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Until the day when someone provides me with a detailed breakdown of that amount I'll never believe it. Sorry but that's just my view.

Right a breakdown of what is involved!

Recruitment, 4 days at a function room with buffet supplied, printing of applications etc. Tests, staff wages (HR, managers etc), sifting of applications, medicals at £500 plus

Induction, management time,

9 months wages

Training! PTS, £1000 per head, Rules 6 weeks wages for a trainer at £35k per year + pass out usually accomodation provided if the training depot is away from the home depot so that is 6 weeks in a hotel plus food, traction 2 to 4 weeks for a DI or trainer at £41k year plus a hotel, using the train and the tack access charges, 225 hours with a DI on core routes at 41K a year, a 5 day pass out by a manager, PQ for 2 years (more manager time), we won't include the route learning at 6 weeks as a qualified will need to do this. not much change from 100K
 

marvelle

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5 Sep 2010
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without a shadow of a doubt you do, a friend of mine used to work for southern at london bridge, he applied internally for a trainee driver post at brighton and was told his application wouldnt be processed because he lived too far.
 
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