Most people probably do apply elsewhere in the meantime but just fail papersifts etc.
I get the impression that lots don’t bother, and then come on here complaining about how unfair it all is. That shows a complete lack of initiative, in my view.
I don’t mean this to sound harsh, but I have little sympathy. If I’d applied for a job, was told I’d been successful, but was still waiting for a start date YEARS later, I’d have long since accepted it wasn’t going to happen and applied elsewhere for the same job, or else done something different.
As a general point, some of the questions and comments on this part of the forum stagger me, and again suggest a complete lack of any intelligence/initiative from those who are applying for these roles.
For example there was a posting earlier by someone who’d made a basic administrative error by attaching the wrong CV to an application. But, rather than simply contacting the company to correct the error, they posted about it on here. What is anybody on here supposed to advise about that?!
In many cases these are £60k+ jobs which people are applying for. Surprise surprise, you might have to jump through a few hoops, and the recruitment system favours the TOCs. At trainee driver level, it’s a buyer’s market, just like any other competitive job.
It may depend on certain individual circumstances as to why they may not have done that though.
Personally I’m in a talent pool where there is only one TOC with depots in my county, so I’d have to relocate at least 70 miles to start with any other TOC. I would hate to be waiting 4 years myself but for me my options would be pretty limited.
Thats true - location can be an issue. Most GTR applicants are within striking distance of other TOCs, though.
And, of course, there are also plenty of people who are prepared to relocate in order to get the job.