DB SCHENKER private driver assessments.

[TT66]

Hi everyone,a new poster.Thinking of paying to do the trainee train driver assessments with DB SCHENKER.Has anyone done this before?Do TOC's take this into account?Applied for the trainee positions at FGW but still waiting for shortlisting.Not from a railway background but very keen to get into the industry.

 

[Lanc688]

Hi everyone,a new poster.Thinking of paying to do the trainee train driver assessments with DB SCHENKER.Has anyone done this before?Do TOC's take this into account?Applied for the trainee positions at FGW but still waiting for shortlisting.Not from a railway background but very keen to get into the industry.

Paul,

I've sent you a visitor message...welcome to the board !

I think a DBS test pass would most likely take much of the pressure off if you were to apply to the TOCs...all of whom should recognise the pass...!

And don't forget...you would be saving the TOC some dough.

Regards
Lanc

 

[Gary31]

Hi everyone, Right this could be a bit of a long passage so grab a cuppa and a bourbon buscuit and relax....

I used to be on here about a year ago but could not find my loggin details so had to create a new user.

I have sat the test at Db centre in donny and failed But this was down to me rushing the group bordon test (bloody dots) Other than them iwas told i had no worried as i passed everything else well above the margins. (she can not tell me what my scores or details company test policy)

I was planning on resitting the test after 6 months but family health and my business made me delay that untill now.

Im resitting the drivers assesment day on 25th Sept at DB in donny so now im surrounded by group bordon dots paper everywhere i look!

Do everything you possibly can to get your self ahead of other candidates to get the job. Im doing driver assesment day once i pass that i will do my heath and safty, first aid, and every other course paid for out my own pocket to get a better prospect of getting a driving job.

 

[185]

http://www.rail.dbschenker.co.uk/training/pdad.htm

For anyone interested £165.00

 

[Lanc688]

Hi everyone, Right this could be a bit of a long passage so grab a cuppa and a bourbon buscuit and relax....

I used to be on here about a year ago but could not find my loggin details so had to create a new user.

I have sat the test at Db centre in donny and failed But this was down to me rushing the group bordon test (bloody dots) Other than them iwas told i had no worried as i passed everything else well above the margins. (she can not tell me what my scores or details company test policy)

I was planning on resitting the test after 6 months but family health and my business made me delay that untill now.

Im resitting the drivers assesment day on 25th Sept at DB in donny so now im surrounded by group bordon dots paper everywhere i look!

Do everything you possibly can to get your self ahead of other candidates to get the job. Im doing driver assesment day once i pass that i will do my heath and safty, first aid, and every other course paid for out my own pocket to get a better prospect of getting a driving job.

Gary,

I agree with most of that, however will add the one caveat....that you will still have to do the TOCs own first aid courses etc etc as it will no doubt be the standard company rules.

What would be better would be to join a voluntary oranisation of some sort (such as 'Lives' etc) that would give you two things:

1. Experience of that type of environment.

2. A commendable profile, showing motivation, determination and a mind that is prepared to think outside of the box.

In fact anything that shows a broader outlook in life and a willingness to help the wider community will stand you in good stead for any application.

As far as DBS is concerned though....couldn't agree more with this move.

Regards
Lanc

 

[185]

Hi everyone, Right this could be a bit of a long passage so grab a cuppa and a bourbon buscuit and relax....

If all of us do this, we could have a Group Bourbon.




*runs for cover*

 

[TT66]

Thanks everyone for the replies.I have a question for lanc or gary.I gather you have the assessments in the morning.If you fail then its goodbye but if you pass there is an interview in the afternoon? Can you fail the interview and if so does this show on your record?Also is the interview based on you applying for a job with Db schenker?

 

[Lanc688]

Thanks everyone for the replies.I have a question for lanc or gary.I gather you have the assessments in the morning.If you fail then its goodbye but if you pass there is an interview in the afternoon? Can you fail the interview and if so does this show on your record?Also is the interview based on you applying for a job with Db schenker?

The Reactions and Interview are PM (as long as you are still there). To have free lunch at DBS is a great experience, as it means you're half way.

You almost certainly can fail the interview and this will of course remain on your record.

The interview is not based on a DBS job, but is rather an 'Industry Standard' criteria based interview.

Lanc

 

[Gary31]

Gary,

I agree with most of that, however will add the one caveat....that you will still have to do the TOCs own first aid courses etc etc as it will no doubt be the standard company rules.

What would be better would be to join a voluntary oranisation of some sort (such as 'Lives' etc) that would give you two things:

1. Experience of that type of environment.

2. A commendable profile, showing motivation, determination and a mind that is prepared to think outside of the box.

In fact anything that shows a broader outlook in life and a willingness to help the wider community will stand you in good stead for any application.

As far as DBS is concerned though....couldn't agree more with this move.

Regards
Lanc

Hey lanc yep your right. I am a member of aln vally railway and volenteer to work there as often as i can. Everything from tracklaying to tea making. On cv it look got to see first aid ect ect it show that you are capible of leaning and show willingness to go the extra step to get the job even thou i know they will have to train me too. And even if it does not work at least i have it. You never know when you will need it!

As for the assesment day not to sure about what stays on record all i know is at lunch time i was asked to leave as i fail the dots. Bloody gutter as i was not even fed and there lunches smelt good! haha!

There is a lot more people on here who will know a vast amout more than me on here so hopefully they will shed some light on this. Gary

 

[Lanc688]

Gary,

Good to see that already you have a profile that shows some extra commitment.

Good luck.

Lanc

 

[wannabe123]

Hey Everyone i have also been looking into paying to do the drivers assessment myself. I have got the bourdon test which i practice and the reactions test! What im writing on here to ask is whether there is any other places i could take the assessment other than doncaster? Im wondering if there is a assessment centre in london by any chance?

 

[TT66]

Hello wannabe,
I could only find the assessment in Doncaster with DBS.can I ask which reaction test you practice and where did you get it from?

 

[TRACY TRAIN]

Hi, I'm too a newbie and after 2 failed interviews with Northern I've now decided to pay for the next stage (in 3 weeks) as I'm worried that I'm kidding myself and have spent the past 18 months chasing a dream that may not come true.
Has anybody any tips if I survive until the end of the day as I will be really annoyed with myself if I cock up the interview for a 3rd time.

 

[Beveridges]

Can you fail the interview and if so does this show on your record

The Structured Interview is harder than all the other tests put together and if you fail it then thats one of a possible two fails & will have to resit all 6 tests again!!! Expect the Interview to last 1 and a half hours. The other stuff is just 10 minute little tests and are nothing by comparison.
I hate the Structured Interview and strongly disagree with it being integrated with the other psychometric tests. How you can fail an Interview twice and be banned for life from applying again is beyond any reason I can think of. The structured interview is one persons opinion of your personality and experience, and is unfair. Psychometric tests should all be about ability, not this.

 

[TRACY TRAIN]

The Structured Interview is harder than all the other tests put together and if you fail it then thats one of a possible two fails & will have to resit all 6 tests again!!! Expect the Interview to last 1 and a half hours. The other stuff is just 10 minute little tests and are nothing by comparison.
I hate the Structured Interview and strongly disagree with it being integrated with the other psychometric tests. How you can fail an Interview twice and be banned for life from applying again is beyond any reason I can think of. The structured interview is one persons opinion of your personality and experience, and is unfair. Psychometric tests should all be about ability, not this.

Oh! This puts everything into perspective now. Thanks for being so brutally honest about the interview stage, as this is what I'm really concerned about. I now have 2 weeks to prepare for my private assessment at DB..eeek!

 

[TRACY TRAIN]

I passed by the way 🎉thanks for all the help guys..really appreciate it

 

[Neil73]

I passed by the way 🎉thanks for all the help guys..really appreciate it

CONGRATULATIONS on passing the DBS tests.

This is something that I am seriously considering doing. So from initially applying to DBS, how long did you have to wait before you got a date? Also, I notice from an earlier post of yours that you had unfortunately failed two interviews with Northern. How did the two interviews of DBS and Northern compare? Any other snippets of info would be great, and of course best of luck.....

 

[TRACY TRAIN]

CONGRATULATIONS on passing the DBS tests.

This is something that I am seriously considering doing. So from initially applying to DBS, how long did you have to wait before you got a date? Also, I notice from an earlier post of yours that you had unfortunately failed two interviews with Northern. How did the two interviews of DBS and Northern compare? Any other snippets of info would be great, and of course best of luck.....

Once I had paid DBS there where quite a few dates available, I just took the earliest date possible which was about 3 weeks away.As far as the interview, they were very similar; apart from you have to write brief answers to your questions prior to the interview. This gives the interviewee time to come up with questions about your examples. I just think third time around I finally got my head around what a criteria based interview is all about. The Northern interviews I've had I just haven't sold myself very well and they left me feeling very disappointed in myself. I was very determined when I went to DBS. I had survived the whole day and I wasn't going to let it slip through my fingers again. Maybe if I get through to an interview at Wigan I might be able to prove myself this time.

 

[bob hope]

Once I had paid DBS there where quite a few dates available, I just took the earliest date possible which was about 3 weeks away.As far as the interview, they were very similar; apart from you have to write brief answers to your questions prior to the interview. This gives the interviewee time to come up with questions about your examples. I just think third time around I finally got my head around what a criteria based interview is all about. The Northern interviews I've had I just haven't sold myself very well and they left me feeling very disappointed in myself. I was very determined when I went to DBS. I had survived the whole day and I wasn't going to let it slip through my fingers again. Maybe if I get through to an interview at Wigan I might be able to prove myself this time.

Congratulations on the pass Tracy!

Am I missing something here? I thought you only had two chances at the assesment process? Confused.....

 

[Neil73]

Once I had paid DBS there where quite a few dates available, I just took the earliest date possible which was about 3 weeks away.As far as the interview, they were very similar; apart from you have to write brief answers to your questions prior to the interview. This gives the interviewee time to come up with questions about your examples. I just think third time around I finally got my head around what a criteria based interview is all about. The Northern interviews I've had I just haven't sold myself very well and they left me feeling very disappointed in myself. I was very determined when I went to DBS. I had survived the whole day and I wasn't going to let it slip through my fingers again. Maybe if I get through to an interview at Wigan I might be able to prove myself this time.

Cheers for the reply and good luck with the Wigan app (even though my hats in the ring too) lol.

As for the 'two strikes and your out' policy are we too assume then that's only relevant to a TOC and therefore paying privately with DBS gives you an extra life so to speak?

 

[TRACY TRAIN]

I think it's a central database and its only two attempts at the assessment day no matter if its private or you've been sponsored by a train company. I'm sure somebody will correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Lanc688]

Cheers for the reply and good luck with the Wigan app (even though my hats in the ring too) lol.

As for the 'two strikes and your out' policy are we too assume then that's only relevant to a TOC and therefore paying privately with DBS gives you an extra life so to speak?

DBS are the same and the same rules apply. I would imagine that Tracy Train has attended the Managers Interview, which Northern seemingly do before the assessments.

It's 2 attempts throughout the industry for these assessments.

Lanc

 

[Neil73]

DBS are the same and the same rules apply. I would imagine that Tracy Train has attended the Managers Interview, which Northern seemingly do before the assessments.

It's 2 attempts throughout the industry for these assessments.

Lanc

Cheers for clearing that up lanc

 

[PeteH]

DBS are the same and the same rules apply. I would imagine that Tracy Train has attended the Managers Interview, which Northern seemingly do before the assessments.

It's 2 attempts throughout the industry for these assessments.

Lanc

Posted this elsewhere, but worth repeating:

Just had a word with Mandy at DB Schenker. She said that the only limit on assessments was if one were to fail twice, in which case one would not be permitted to take the tests again. If one did pass (and keep passing!) there is no theoretical limit as to how many times the test could be taken.

Some companies only deem the DBS pass as valid for 1 year (others 5 years), if the start date of the driver's course were over one year from the date of the test* the company, in my case FGW, would make the candidate do the tests again.

*FGW stated this in the email I received from them last week.

 

[Lanc688]

Posted this elsewhere, but worth repeating:

Just had a word with Mandy at DB Schenker. She said that the only limit on assessments was if one were to fail twice, in which case one would not be permitted to take the tests again. If one did pass (and keep passing!) there is no theoretical limit as to how many times the test could be taken.

Some companies only deem the DBS pass as valid for 1 year (others 5 years), if the start date of the driver's course were over one year from the date of the test* the company, in my case FGW, would make the candidate do the tests again.

*FGW stated this in the email I received from them last week.

Pete, Yep understood mate and was badly worded by myself, as I am well aware that the two attempts relate to 'failures' and not repeated attempts....although had I passed with good marks i would certainly not want to be risking further attempts if I could help it at all.

I am really surprised that FGW make you do them again for only a year period !

Anyway mate...let us know how it went.

Jc

 

[carl1974]

Hello,

I have recently enquired and am looking at maybe trying in the new year. How long do you suggest one would practice the various tests before booking the course? Also what is the interview like?

 

[PeteH]

Hello,

I have recently enquired and am looking at maybe trying in the new year. How long do you suggest one would practice the various tests before booking the course? Also what is the interview like?

DBS send out practice papers prior to you attending. I managed to attend within 5 weeks of asking, I received the trial tests within a couple of days of paying the fee. How long to practice? Pretty much until you are happy with what you are doing! Certain tests only benefit from being attempted once - after a couple of times there's a danger you will simply know the answers rather than understand them. Not a dig at you, by the way, but the brain can't help but retain information subconsciously, no matter how hard one might try and forget.

Re. the interview: At the end of the morning session you will have a total of 25 minutes to write a short paragraph on each of 5 specific subjects re. situations you have been in, concerning such things as safety, emergencies et al. If you pass the morning tests you will then go forward to the interview where they will question you in greater depth on that which you have written, worth noting the written part is also assessed.

 

[armadillomaste]

DBS send out practice papers prior to you attending. I managed to attend within 5 weeks of asking, I received the trial tests within a couple of days of paying the fee. How long to practice? Pretty much until you are happy with what you are doing! Certain tests only benefit from being attempted once - after a couple of times there's a danger you will simply know the answers rather than understand them. Not a dig at you, by the way, but the brain can't help but retain information subconsciously, no matter how hard one might try and forget.

Re. the interview: At the end of the morning session you will have a total of 25 minutes to write a short paragraph on each of 5 specific subjects re. situations you have been in, concerning such things as safety, emergencies et al. If you pass the morning tests you will then go forward to the interview where they will question you in greater depth on that which you have written, worth noting the written part is also assessed.

I am thinking of doing this.

Do you have an example of the sorts of questions they ask?

And you say written is taken into account, does that include handwriting?

 

[PeteH]

I am thinking of doing this.

Do you have an example of the sorts of questions they ask?

And you say written is taken into account, does that include handwriting?

My understanding is that the handwriting is assessed - the interviewers need to glean information from that which you have written and ask you to expand upon it in the interview.

Questions might include the likes of:

Describe a time when you had to deal with an emergency, took part in a training course, had to follow certain procedures, work alone for an extended period of time.

 

[nickcts]

Hi Pete, just read your post and I was interested to find out about the pack DBS send you does it have sample interview questions etc or is it mainly concerned with the psyhc tests? cheers