CROSS COUNTRY First class host/Retail service manager.

[STUMPY1877]

Hi guys.
XC recently contacted me, l applied back in January but due to Covid. They had to pause the recruitment process, but they're starting it again and contacted everyone who applied originally to see if they were still interested. So I've been invited to the assessment day next week in Derby.
It's been that long that I'd forgotten I'd applied.
First class host and Retail service manager. I've been on XC trains 100s of times and only ever seen one one person with the trolley. So are they recruiting for two roles here or just one?

Because it was a long time ago, I can't find the original job advert.
Was looking for a bit more information about the roles.
What is the salary? I've seen it's 38 hours, so how do the shifts work and how far in advance do you know what you're working? I know this has been asked here before but noticed that they were all a few years ago, so wondered if things had changed.
The depot is Birmingham.

Any other info would be much appreciated.

Cheers!

 

[221129]

They are 2 separate roles. (Although FCHs are trained and are expected to cover an RSM turn when required.)

RSM Salary is £28,162 based on an average 38hr week.
FCH is around £23-24k I believe.

You'll follow the roster through, so can work out roughly whether you'll be early or late for the duration. Exact turns will vary week by week depending on engineering works etc.

As a Birmingham Caterer you'll cover from Newcastle - Plymouth and Manchester - Bournemouth.

 

[STUMPY1877]

They are 2 separate roles. (Although FCHs are trained and are expected to cover an RSM turn when required.)

RSM Salary is £28,162 based on an average 38hr week.
FCH is around £23-24k I believe.

You'll follow the roster through, so can work out roughly whether you'll be early or late for the duration. Exact turns will vary week by week depending on engineering works etc.

As a Birmingham Caterer you'll cover from Newcastle - Plymouth and Manchester - Bournemouth.

Thanks!
So will your rota be set to a certain time or will it always be different? Worked in restaurants and retail before and you can work all hours.
So would a shift be. Birmingham to Newcastle and back for example?

 

[221129]

Thanks!
So will your rota be set to a certain time or will it always be different? Worked in restaurants and retail before and you can work all hours.
So would a shift be. Birmingham to Newcastle and back for example?

Earlies, middles and lates you'll be working them all. FCH is more sociable times generally.

Could be Brum to Newcastle and return, could be a double Bristol, double Manchester is common or up to Leeds and down to Bristol and back. Many combinations.

 

[3b753v]

Has anyone heard back from the first class host position for CrossCountry? I have completed the assessment and interview but haven't heard back would like it know if anyone else has heard back?

 

[STUMPY1877]

Has anyone heard back from the first class host position for CrossCountry? I have completed the assessment and interview but haven't heard back would like it know if anyone else has heard back?

I done the same, I had the interview and the assessment. They told me on the Monday that I would find out by the following Friday if I was successful or not. Waited till then, emailed the guy who ran the assessment. Told me it was out of their control and they were waiting and he'd let me know ASAP.

That was over two months ago and I've heard nothing since. So assumed I was unsuccessful.

 

[Citrine]

I done the same, I had the interview and the assessment. They told me on the Monday that I would find out by the following Friday if I was successful or not. Waited till then, emailed the guy who ran the assessment. Told me it was out of their control and they were waiting and he'd let me know ASAP.

That was over two months ago and I've heard nothing since. So assumed I was unsuccessful.

Hi there same here went to Assessment Day then had the interview on January 13th. I waited a month then emailed the gentleman who ran the assessment day. He emailed me back to say that they are waiting for approval from HR and DFT for certain roles within cross country before they can let candidates know. Surely they must have let the ones who were unsuccessful know as there would be no point keeping them waiting. Hopefully we might here back soon as lockdown is easing.

Forgot to say that i spoke to one of the train managers and she said the roles are on hold at the moment even so.e of the cleaners for cross country who applied havent heard.....dont lose heart.

 

[STUMPY1877]

Hi there same here went to Assessment Day then had the interview on January 13th. I waited a month then emailed the gentleman who ran the assessment day. He emailed me back to say that they are waiting for approval from HR and DFT for certain roles within cross country before they can let candidates know. Surely they must have let the ones who were unsuccessful know as there would be no point keeping them waiting. Hopefully we might here back soon as lockdown is easing.

Forgot to say that i spoke to one of the train managers and she said the roles are on hold at the moment even so.e of the cleaners for cross country who applied havent heard.....dont lose heart.

Thanks for the reply.
Crazy isn't it. Over 3 months on now, you would think they would contact everyone to let them know what the situation is. Regardless if you have the job or not. Just so they're left waiting to find out.
Looks like the manager you emailed said exactly the same to me.

 

[Citrine]

I know its really really frustrating..... i mean we all took time out to go on the assessment day then interview. I was told you will either get an email or phone call. I waited a month before I contacted because i thought they forgot to contact me.......its the longest ive ever waited to hear the outcome from an interview. Lets hope no news is good news and I cant see the point of them holding onto the ones who havent been successful. My mum said contact them again but i dont want to because i dont want to come across as desperate. I just really want to know so I can move on if I havent been successful. At one point i thought was i that bad at the interview there not even going to tell me. Anyway i will put the delay down to being in lockdown and fingers crossed we should hear soon. Dont lose heart i know its frustrating...

Hey no worries for the original reply at least you know your not the only one who is waiting.....i think we all are.

Has anyone heard back from the first class host position for CrossCountry? I have completed the assessment and interview but haven't heard back would like it know if anyone else has heard back?

Hi I went to the assessment day then interview(back in January) I hadnt heard anything for a month so I emailed the gentleman who arranged the assessment day and interview and he said that they are awaiting approval from the DFT and HR before they can let candidates know. I dont think anybody knows yet even internal candidates. Maybe because of lockdown things have been put on the back burner. Hopefully we might hear something soon. Not sure if they have told candidates that have unfortunately been unsuccessful as it would be unfair to keep them hanging on. Hope this helps.

 

[221129]

I can't imagine there will be much recruitment into catering grades anytime soon.

 

[Citrine]

I can't imagine there will be much recruitment into catering grades anytime soon.

I understand and appreciate with lockdown recruitment is slow but it would be nice for candidates to know whether they have been successful or not..... ie you have been successful subject to roles being approved by hr and dft and your in a pool until a role becomes available. At least that way people who are not successful can move forward in another direction etc etc.....its the longest ive ever waited to hear on the outcome of an interview.

 

[221129]

I understand and appreciate with lockdown recruitment is slow but it would be nice for candidates to know whether they have been successful or not..... ie you have been successful subject to roles being approved by hr and dft and your in a pool until a role becomes available. At least that way people who are not successful can move forward in another direction etc etc.....its the longest ive ever waited to hear on the outcome of an interview.

Welcome to the world of railway recruitment.

 

[Citrine]

Welcome to the world of railway recruitment.

Oh I didnt realise this was the way things went within railway recruitment.

 

[Citrine]

just out of curiosity has any heard yet about the FIRST CLASS HOST/RETAIL SERVICE MANAGER roles yet. Does anyone have an email address that I could direct my query to. Thank you

 

[221129]

just out of curiosity has any heard yet about the FIRST CLASS HOST/RETAIL SERVICE MANAGER roles yet. Does anyone have an email address that I could direct my query to. Thank you

There is no recruitment for these roles at the moment or for the foreseeable future.

 

[Citrine]

Why did they interview people for the role then?? Out of courtesy they should be contacting folk who sat down filled in a form, went to the assessment day, took time out for the interview..... i think the recruitment for this role could have been dealt with better ie keeping folk up to date.

Yes i know wtlcome to the world of railway recruitment

You seem to know a lot are you management for cross country....sorry i had to ask .

 

[221129]

Why did they interview people for the role then?? Out of courtesy they should be contacting folk who sat down filled in a form, went to the assessment day, took time out for the interview..... i think the recruitment for this role could have been dealt with better ie keeping folk up to date.

Yes i know wtlcome to the world of railway recruitment

You seem to know a lot are you management for cross country....sorry i had to ask .

All non essential roles across the railway are on a recruitment freeze. This includes catering staff.

 

[Ceat0908]

All non essential roles across the railway are on a recruitment freeze. This includes catering staff.

Just been hired as catering staff, recruitment moving elsewhere for it, albeit very few places.

 

[221129]

Just been hired as catering staff, recruitment moving elsewhere for it, albeit very few places.

I stand corrected. We were told it was across the board but it might just be certain TOCs then.

 

[Ceat0908]

I stand corrected. We were told it was across the board but it might just be certain TOCs then.

Yeah I was surprised I won’t lie…

 

[Citrine]

Well like I said before there HR practices need looking into as they should be keeping folk up to date as the situation. We should not be having to find out what the situation is through a rail forum!!! I mean some folk could have been relying on that job and I mean really relying on it.. ..ive got a job luckily but some could have been unemployed at the time and we are constantly going on about peoples mental health especially if folk were made redundant during the pandemic and once again pinning there hopes on these jobs. Its just very badly dealt with maybe somebody could feed this back to cross country and they might decide to get in touch with people to keep them in the loop. Luckily ive got application in with West Midlands trains for senior conductor and am just through to the managers sift...but i do believe they have actually got in touch with the ones that were NOT successful and as any company would have kept candidates UP TO DATE AS TO THE STATUS OF THERE APPLICATION!!!

 

[221129]

I mean some folk could have been relying on that job and I mean really relying on it.

Nobody should ever be relying on a job they haven't got a contract for. If people are, then they are foolish at best.

UP TO DATE AS TO THE STATUS OF THERE APPLICATION!!!

It's a recruitment freeze. They could very well plan to pick up from where they left off in the future. I think people need to calm down, especially when a lot of the managers involved read this forum and it's not that hard to work out who is who...

 

[Citrine]

Im moving on.....just feel disappointed that candidates are having to find out through a rail forum. But i guess thats railway recruitment.

Thanks for your help and input 221129

 

[C J Snarzell]

I mean some folk could have been relying on that job and I mean really relying on it.. ..ive got a job luckily but some could have been unemployed at the time and we are constantly going on about peoples mental health especially if folk were made redundant during the pandemic and once again pinning there hopes on these jobs.

Any decent job (whether inside or outside the rail industry) is very much sought after - we are living in a competitive climate for employment. I totally agree that the fallout from Covid has lead to some people losing their jobs and mental health in our society is an ever growing issue.

However, to say people are relying on getting a specific job they have applied for is like 'putting all their eggs in one basket'.

For anyone pinning their hopes on one specific job in the rail industry - they are setting themselves up for a massive fall.

TOCs like Cross Country are under no obligation to 'award' jobs to those who desperately need employment - the recruitment process is a long drawn out affair and TOCs cannot be expected to speed up their tactics just because a potential candidate is on Universal Credit and is struggling with their bills and mental heath.

Reality is a dish served cold - TOC's want the best candidates for their roles and if it takes time to cross the 't's and dot the 'i's, then so be it.

CJ

 

[Citrine]

Im not asking TOCs to speed up recruitment because folk are on UC . I understand and appreciate that the positions within railways are very sought after positions more so than ever now I expect. I also understand and appreciate that TOcs want the best candidates ...... i myself coming from a career which spans over 30yrs working for a prestigious International brand which employs 40k people. I had to go through a rigorous 6 stage recruitment process to get the coveted position when at the time the company I worked for had over 10k in applications. A company who strives on maintaining an exemplary customer service record at all times hence why they recruited the creme de la creme to work for them!! I certainly havent got all my eggs in one basket I never have done and never will do as its a dangerous position to put oneself in.

As they say change the things you can change, Accept the things you cant and move on.........

Good day to you all

 

[LCC106]

We should not be having to find out what the situation is through a rail forum!!! … Its just very badly dealt with maybe somebody could feed this back to cross country and they might decide to get in touch with people to keep them in the loop.

With all due respect you are suggesting that other forum members should feed this back to the company. Perhaps you should contact them to relay this yourself.

 

[Citrine]

I was given an email address which wasnt valid hence my motto of change the things you can change and accept the things you can and move on .... and put your energy into something where you will get a positive outcome/result. I certainly havent got the time to chase around and find a valid email address its time to move on. Hence why I asked in this forum if there was any up-date on this forum and found out that the roles were in a recruitment freeze for the forseeable future.

 

[Tigerseye]

With all due respect LCC106 if you read some of the threads above you will realise that citrine did ask for an email address so this member has actively tried themselves, obviously to no avail. Read the thread below! Good luck cittine with your furture ventures I wish you all the best and goid for you for maintaining such a positive attitude in putting your energies and focus in another direction.

just out of curiosity has any heard yet about the FIRST CLASS HOST/RETAIL SERVICE MANAGER roles yet. Does anyone have an email address that I could direct my query to. Thank you

 

[LCC106]

Thank you Tigerseye and Citrine, I had read the whole thread. Perhaps I have misunderstood Citrine’s requests for assistance.