Hello, after applying for a trainee train driver role with TPE and passing everything to their enchanced standard, I unfortunately failed on one topic area in the MMI. Now with 6 months to wait before I can try again, I was considering going for a train guard job just to get my foot in the door before I try again. Would this be a wise step to take? And how often do TOC actually employ new guards.
Thank you
Sorry to hear your news mate but chin up, I would say any way in is a wise step as you'd be amazed the difference going into an interview for a job like that with a few years of railway experience behind you can make. I'm not saying just being on the railway will give you any edge per say but there's a big chance you will have more than one scenario that is relevant to the questions they are asking with a few years behind you.
But if you still want to just go straight for driving mate I'd say go and get your feedback ASAP and study it in great detail and put right where you fell short. It sounds simple doesn't it but you'd be amazed how many people don't bother with the feedback and just keep going back in the hope of winging their way through it. I mean if your car failed it's MOT you wouldn't take it straight back without addressing the problem would you? absolute madness and then they wonder why they keep failing!
Started as a guard myself it is a great job and quite a few that get that job end up staying in the grade because they find it enjoyable! i certainly wouldn't have got to the driving grade without it personally. Saying that mate there is a lot of competition for grades like that also and the interviews are just as intense so you'd still need to have your interview technique top notch.
Good luck mate fingers are crossed for you.
Red
