Personally im not sure this is beneficial. First the cost. Second it only lasts two years therefore is only worth 3 applications at best as you can only apply for one at a time and then can not apply for 6 months. Most tocs have a trainability so you will still have to do some sort of assessment exclusive to that toc.
It will not help in the shortlisting. The application is designed to sift out people.
I think you've got yourself slightly confused.
Firstly the cost is out-stripped by the potential benefits. A one off £145 for a job worth anywhere between £38,000 and £50,000 per annum... You do the math!
Quite simply, It doesn't. It depends which TOC/FOC you're applying to. At
Southern it is valid for 5 Years. I'm guessing you didn't read the info via the
link in post number 2 of this thread or you would have read this:
DBS Website said:
On passing the Train Drivers assessment you will receive your certificate, this will be valid for a period between 12 months and 5 years depending on which Train of Freight Operator you apply to. The results are Recognised by all Train Operating Companies
[...]is only worth 3 applications at best as you can only apply for one at a time and then can not apply for 6 months
You can apply for as many Trainee Train Driver vacancies at one time as you like. Whoever told you different was wrong.
If I recall correctly... If you fail one of the assessments you cannot re-take them for 6months. You get two attempts.
Most tocs have a trainability so you will still have to do some sort of assessment exclusive to that toc.
Some TOCs have extra tests that others don't. These do count towards your two attempts at the assessments. Fail the extra assessment(s) and you may not be able to apply to that TOC or TOCs that use them. For example LOROL (London Overground) and Heathrow Express both submit their candidates for a Personality Questionnaire which is 115 personality questions on a PDA followed by the structured interview. Fail it with LOROL and you can't apply to LOROL or HEX for 6 months.
Similarly with SWT, who have candidates undergo a
Railway Verbal Comms Exercise. Neither of these are part of the core assessments, so will not count towards your two attempts at the assessments.
It will not help in the shortlisting.
It will! Got me to the front of the queue twice. Why? Because the TOC you're applying to won't have to send you The OPC or DBS (or whoever else administers assessments) and pay to have you assessed.
If I'd known I could've paid to do the assessments in 2009 instead of waiting around for trainee vacancies I might've become a driver sooner.
Hope this has helped