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Advice needed

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omnicity4659

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25 Sep 2017
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152
Hi all,

I just wanted some opinions on what I should do in regards to my career...

I currently have a live application with a mainline operator for a 20 hour/week permanent role, I had a video interview in March (during lockdown) where I simply recorded myself answering questions they had gave me. I was then informed in April that the position was on hold, so I've not as of yet received a yes or no.

The issue I have now is that I can't see my finances working out for much longer, and I'm heavily considering going for a bus driving job as the local firm are now recruiting again and I meet all requirements for it. Because of the training I'd receive there, I'd not be able to leave the job for 2 years unless I paid the money back. But a positive would be that its full time...

I've been successful in landing interviews for the three jobs I've applied for at the train operator since I've met the minimum age requirements in the winter, mainly because I was "talent spotted" at one of their programmes last year. I've also had promises of job shadowing after my first unsuccessful interview, so I think they're really trying for me. I'm just concerned that if I went for another job that I would fall "off their radar", and even worse, waste all of the effort we have put in?

A tricky predicament I know, especially with the COVID situation. What can I do?
 
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choochoochoo

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6 Aug 2013
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1,215
probably one to ask on a bus driver forum, but has a bus company ever been successful recovering training costs from an early leaver ? Also thought they can only claim training costs if you get your PCV licence. If you don't get your licence, then they couldn't claim costs. Like I said best to get this confirmed by a bus driver.
 

PaulBusDriver

Member
Joined
26 Jul 2018
Messages
248
My advice to you my friend would be to go for the Bus driving job, take the experience and pursue your further career in train driving, because as we all know, it is notoriously slow and by the time you might get a trainee driving position, you would have gained a lot of situational experience of safety critical work and be far past your bond period.

The experience I have gained has helped tremendously with my applications and is very relevant to the safety focussed work of train driver, whilst not directly comparable.
 

richfoz84

Member
Joined
13 Oct 2018
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343
Personally I’d take the bus driver job. Because you need a job and money. Get 2 years experience then whilst in secure employment re apply for the railway and aim for a full time trainee driver role - which could take a while to get anyway. Don’t hold on to what sounds like false hope to me and suffer financially any longer
 

Belperpete

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Joined
17 Aug 2018
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1,581
It might be worth contacting the train company and asking what the prospects of them restarting recruitment are. It can't hurt to ask. But ask a specific person, preferably someone who interviewed you, and ideally by phone if you can, rather than just sending an email to the generic recruitment department address that will probably take ages to get a rep!y.
 

omnicity4659

Member
Joined
25 Sep 2017
Messages
152
My advice to you my friend would be to go for the Bus driving job, take the experience and pursue your further career in train driving, because as we all know, it is notoriously slow and by the time you might get a trainee driving position, you would have gained a lot of situational experience of safety critical work and be far past your bond period.

The experience I have gained has helped tremendously with my applications and is very relevant to the safety focussed work of train driver, whilst not directly comparable.
Personally I’d take the bus driver job. Because you need a job and money. Get 2 years experience then whilst in secure employment re apply for the railway and aim for a full time trainee driver role - which could take a while to get anyway. Don’t hold on to what sounds like false hope to me and suffer financially any longer
Thank you both. It's certainly food for thought!


It might be worth contacting the train company and asking what the prospects of them restarting recruitment are. It can't hurt to ask. But ask a specific person, preferably someone who interviewed you, and ideally by phone if you can, rather than just sending an email to the generic recruitment department address that will probably take ages to get a rep!y.
I'll get in touch with them tomorrow to see what they say. I'm not usually one for chasing things haha!
 

B1990

Member
Joined
6 Mar 2020
Messages
28
Location
Aylesbury
Hi all,

I just wanted some opinions on what I should do in regards to my career...

I currently have a live application with a mainline operator for a 20 hour/week permanent role, I had a video interview in March (during lockdown) where I simply recorded myself answering questions they had gave me. I was then informed in April that the position was on hold, so I've not as of yet received a yes or no.

The issue I have now is that I can't see my finances working out for much longer, and I'm heavily considering going for a bus driving job as the local firm are now recruiting again and I meet all requirements for it. Because of the training I'd receive there, I'd not be able to leave the job for 2 years unless I paid the money back. But a positive would be that its full time...

I've been successful in landing interviews for the three jobs I've applied for at the train operator since I've met the minimum age requirements in the winter, mainly because I was "talent spotted" at one of their programmes last year. I've also had promises of job shadowing after my first unsuccessful interview, so I think they're really trying for me. I'm just concerned that if I went for another job that I would fall "off their radar", and even worse, waste all of the effort we have put in?

A tricky predicament I know, especially with the COVID situation. What can I do?

I am a coach driver, I started on the buses, I didn't go through a company I gained my licences on my own, I have applied for a few roles within the railway with no joy, with the state of things at the moment within the current situation a bus driver role i can imagine will be highly sought after..

Its a good job, and its a job where you can gain good experience in health and safety. Most companies are very good at recovering money if you were to leave before two years. feel free to PM if you have any other questions.
 
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PaulBusDriver

Member
Joined
26 Jul 2018
Messages
248
Thank you both. It's certainly food for thought!



I'll get in touch with them tomorrow to see what they say. I'm not usually one for chasing things haha!
Just to reiterate what choochoochoo said, in my experience of trainees at my bus company leaving before their bond period of two years is up quite often, its not like they have the power to ask for all the money for training back in full. More likely is that they would pass the debt to a debt recovery company. Thats not to say that I would encourage people to rip off a bus company but in all likelihood you would pay it back at a rate you can afford and over a time period you can cope with.
Many people who have just passed leave and go onto something that suits them better.
 

185

Established Member
Joined
29 Aug 2010
Messages
4,970
Very few companies have chased departing employees for the driving bond, however at some firms, do expect it to be partially taken from your final wage packet.
 

omnicity4659

Member
Joined
25 Sep 2017
Messages
152
A small update, my contact at the TOC replied to my email within 3 minutes to say that everything is still on hold. I've also dropped an application in with the bus company. Fingers crossed! :)
 

BloominMan

Member
Joined
25 Feb 2010
Messages
89
If the bus job comes up I'd take it. At the end of the day in this climate you can't afford to be waiting around. Jobs will be filled without delay.
 
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