Qualified Drivers

Choochoo0001 · 7 Feb 2020

Morning All,

After a little bit of insight from the Qualified Drivers on here (especially the ones that have managed to move companies during their career).

I think I’ve said on other forum posts in here before, but a change of personal circumstances has meant that I’ve started seeking a move away from my current employer to (hopefully) try and find a new place of work further North.

I’ve done my research and identified the local TOCs that would suit me. Set up job alerts for the depots I need and have applied as and when relevant vacancies appear.

However, I’m having mixed results. One of the TOCs didn’t reply at all to my application (not even to say Thanks but No Thanks!) and several emails and phone calls to try and get a status update went completely unanswered.

One of the TOCs offered the job to another and asked me to wait on a talent pool list - which is great, but doesn’t help me in the immediate future (and doesn’t even guarantee that I’ll be offered a position at all).

There are other vacancies coming up in areas that are easily commutable for me - but I’m starting to wonder if I’m missing a trick or doing something wrong?

Is there anything you specifically include in your CV or personal info that helps get through the sift?
I’ve tried to make sure I demonstrate how and where I have the relevant driver’s NTS and use experiences from my current role as a driver already.

Ive only been qualified for about 14-15 months, do you reckon its just a case of not having long enough “in the chair”?

I’m not moaning (much). I have a drivers job and love it to pieces. It’s just my personal circumstances are weighing heavier and heavier on me and I’d really like to get a move closer to home so that I can ease my personal situation!

Any helpful advice will be gratefully accepted and hopefully will help me land another driver job closer to home!

Thanks

RailUK Forums

Class2ldn · 7 Feb 2020

Most companies will want 18 months clean driving after passing out.
That's not a hard rule but it is quite common.

43066 · 7 Feb 2020

Choochoo0001 said:
Morning All,

After a little bit of insight from the Qualified Drivers on here (especially the ones that have managed to move companies during their career).

I think I’ve said on other forum posts in here before, but a change of personal circumstances has meant that I’ve started seeking a move away from my current employer to (hopefully) try and find a new place of work further North.

I’ve done my research and identified the local TOCs that would suit me. Set up job alerts for the depots I need and have applied as and when relevant vacancies appear.

However, I’m having mixed results. One of the TOCs didn’t reply at all to my application (not even to say Thanks but No Thanks!) and several emails and phone calls to try and get a status update went completely unanswered.

One of the TOCs offered the job to another and asked me to wait on a talent pool list - which is great, but doesn’t help me in the immediate future (and doesn’t even guarantee that I’ll be offered a position at all).

There are other vacancies coming up in areas that are easily commutable for me - but I’m starting to wonder if I’m missing a trick or doing something wrong?

Is there anything you specifically include in your CV or personal info that helps get through the sift?
I’ve tried to make sure I demonstrate how and where I have the relevant driver’s NTS and use experiences from my current role as a driver already.

Ive only been qualified for about 14-15 months, do you reckon its just a case of not having long enough “in the chair”?

I’m not moaning (much). I have a drivers job and love it to pieces. It’s just my personal circumstances are weighing heavier and heavier on me and I’d really like to get a move closer to home so that I can ease my personal situation!

Any helpful advice will be gratefully accepted and hopefully will help me land another driver job closer to home!

Thanks

Morning.

From the sounds of things you’re doing everything right. The market for qualified drivers is much smaller and easier to navigate than the market for trainees (thankfully).

You’re quite right to emphasise non technical skills as they’re a key “buzz word” in the industry - make sure you know what they actually are, and give examples of how you use them.

How is your safety of the line record?

I suspect the issue might be having relatively little time with a key. From personal experience I applied to my current TOC with your level of experience and was knocked back (which I half expected to be). I then applied again with two and a half years’ experience and ended up getting the job.

ComUtoR · 7 Feb 2020

Put yourself on LinkedIn. Lots of Recruitment Managers seem to go fishing there.

dctraindriver · 7 Feb 2020

ComUtoR said:
Put yourself on LinkedIn. Lots of Recruitment Managers seem to go fishing there.

Agree with this, thankfully the next 3 months or so will go fairly quick so you’ll have 18 months under your belt. Should make it a little easier. And keep your nose clean too... Hope it works out well soon.

Choochoo0001 · 7 Feb 2020

Thanks for all the input guys!

My SOL record is clean. Had a fairly uneventful first 14-15 months. A few train failures, but nothing that stopped me limping back to a station before having to de-train. Hoping to keep it that way forever more.

I’ll keep plugging away. Hopefully, within the next few months, I’ll be over that 18month period and be more attractive to some TOCs.

387star · 7 Feb 2020

Choochoo0001 said:
Morning All,

After a little bit of insight from the Qualified Drivers on here (especially the ones that have managed to move companies during their career).

I think I’ve said on other forum posts in here before, but a change of personal circumstances has meant that I’ve started seeking a move away from my current employer to (hopefully) try and find a new place of work further North.

I’ve done my research and identified the local TOCs that would suit me. Set up job alerts for the depots I need and have applied as and when relevant vacancies appear.

However, I’m having mixed results. One of the TOCs didn’t reply at all to my application (not even to say Thanks but No Thanks!) and several emails and phone calls to try and get a status update went completely unanswered.

One of the TOCs offered the job to another and asked me to wait on a talent pool list - which is great, but doesn’t help me in the immediate future (and doesn’t even guarantee that I’ll be offered a position at all).

There are other vacancies coming up in areas that are easily commutable for me - but I’m starting to wonder if I’m missing a trick or doing something wrong?

Is there anything you specifically include in your CV or personal info that helps get through the sift?
I’ve tried to make sure I demonstrate how and where I have the relevant driver’s NTS and use experiences from my current role as a driver already.

Ive only been qualified for about 14-15 months, do you reckon its just a case of not having long enough “in the chair”?

I’m not moaning (much). I have a drivers job and love it to pieces. It’s just my personal circumstances are weighing heavier and heavier on me and I’d really like to get a move closer to home so that I can ease my personal situation!

Any helpful advice will be gratefully accepted and hopefully will help me land another driver job closer to home!

Thanks

I wanted to move internally from Three Bridges TL to Barnham SN and was told I'D have to apply as an external which makes a mockery of being within the same company.

Aside from some preventing you relocating the other problem is many coastal outer London depots have long waiting lists and are easily filled internally.

387star · 7 Feb 2020

I moved depots three times in three years after qualifying (granted one was internal).

Aivilo · 7 Feb 2020

Depending on the tocs it could be down to being PQA.

Take the talent pool and no doubt you'll have a nice before anything else comes to light

43066 · 7 Feb 2020

Choochoo0001 said:
Thanks for all the input guys!

My SOL record is clean. Had a fairly uneventful first 14-15 months. A few train failures, but nothing that stopped me limping back to a station before having to de-train. Hoping to keep it that way forever more.

I’ll keep plugging away. Hopefully, within the next few months, I’ll be over that 18month period and be more attractive to some TOCs.

Good to hear you have a clean record. From personal experience, do your best to keep it that way if you’re looking to move.

So many drivers at my last place got greedy, started hammering overtime soon after passing out, and quickly ended up with several incidents on their records. It was always someone else’s fault etc. but it still went onto their license at the end of the day.

The other thing to keep in mind, is to do your best not to p*ss anyone off. The railway is a very, very small world. I know a couple of “unofficial” calls went in to colleagues at my last place during my interview process. Luckily they went to people I got on well with. I’ve also been asked about people I used to work with.

theking · 7 Feb 2020

I doubt anyone will take you pqd, why would they want the hassle when they can take a qualified with more experience. Keep your head down keep your sol clean and crack on when you're not pqd after 24 months.

Choochoo0001 · 7 Feb 2020

theking said:
I doubt anyone will take you pqd, why would they want the hassle when they can take a qualified with more experience. Keep your head down keep your sol clean and crack on when you're not pqd after 24 months.

Cheers for your input.

There are however, plenty of TOCs asking for between 12-18 months post qualified experience, some of which I’ve applied to already.

If they wanted 24 months+ experience, I’m sure they’d specify in the adverts.

43066 · 7 Feb 2020

Choochoo0001 said:
Cheers for your input.

There are however, plenty of TOCs asking for between 12-18 months post qualified experience, some of which I’ve applied to already.

If they wanted 24 months+ experience, I’m sure they’d specify in the adverts.

Being “post qualified” makes no difference. My old place said we were “PQ” drivers for the first three years. It meant absolutely nothing.

They also tried to ask for money to be “repaid” by people who left before completing three years. These clauses are legally very shaky indeed and are normally unenforceable (as they knew perfectly well).

When I resigned I told them I wouldn’t be paying them a penny and, surprise surprise, heard nothing more about it. Amazing how many people allowed themselves to be browbeaten into paying them the money, though!

Economist · 7 Feb 2020

OP, as others have said, get yourself on LinkedIn, there are quite a few recruiters out there, they may contact you about possible opportunities from time to time.

Even if the job advert states 12 months qualified, that is the bare minimum. You may be competing against people who've been driving for 10-15 years and who have kept a clean record since qualifying. There's quite a few people in the south who wouldn't mind a move further north so you may find it to be a competitive environment.

If you can get to 3-4 years with a clean licence, you might find there to be some more opportunities available.

Have you mentioned in your applications why you want to move further north and have you mentioned any research you have done regarding the area you want to move to, e.g. accommodation.

SlimJim1694 · 7 Feb 2020

I'm in a similar boat to choo choo. I've put in for a couple of decent London tocs and been turned down (still got one in for lner kings cross but not holding my breath).

I'm now looking at moving out of london\home counties as my personal situation has changed. I've read a lot on this forum about people whove done that and never looked back. Good luck with your move mate. Dont give up I'm sure youll get there.

Efini92 · 17 Feb 2020

What TOC are you looking at applying to?

Qualified Drivers

Choochoo0001

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RailUK Forums

Class2ldn

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43066

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ComUtoR

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dctraindriver

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Choochoo0001

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387star

On Moderation

387star

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Aivilo

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43066

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theking

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Choochoo0001

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43066

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Economist

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SlimJim1694

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Efini92

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