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How many applications and interviews until you cracked it?

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Cjay144

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14 Aug 2018
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16
Applied to 2 TOC’s at start of 2013. Passed all necessary tests, interviews etc and was offered both Trainee Driver roles.

Was my 1st time applying for anything on the railway and haven’t looked back.

Good luck to all still looking
 
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PaulBusDriver

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26 Jul 2018
Messages
248
I applied to about ten tocs and network rail.
After 2 years I got a job, really enjoying training at the moment.
Some applications got lost, some were rejected in unusual circumstances, for example I applied for GWR and did their SJT, passed and got in a Talent Pool. Applied to SWR, same SJT questions as GWR and I gave the same answers but failed on that!
You'll have to endure waiting, not getting any replies to requests for information and generally just being neglected but if you keep trying to as many TOCS as you can you will get there eventually.
 

Intermodal

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3 Nov 2010
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1,251
Location
I wonder how long I can make my location on this f
Guard - first try.

Driver - second try (psychometrics passed on first try).

Applied to 2 TOC’s at start of 2013. Passed all necessary tests, interviews etc and was offered both Trainee Driver roles.

Was my 1st time applying for anything on the railway and haven’t looked back.

Good luck to all still looking
You just made half this forum extremely jealous!
 
Joined
2 Apr 2013
Messages
95
Initially offered a signaller post at a single-manned signal box but rejected at the medical as I am a type 1 diabetic and, at the time, diabetics were not allowed to carry out safety critical competencies in a lone working environment. Eventually applied to a multi-manned signalling centre and was accepted, therefore:

Several applications
2 interviews (Both passed)
3 medicals (1 failed, 2 passed (Including a follow up medical to discuss my diabetes))
1 withdrawn offer
 
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duffyCPT

Member
Joined
5 May 2021
Messages
6
Location
Coventry
I applied for 6 in 2019 (Train Dispatcher, CSA and RSM/FCH)

Got to 3 interviews
Had 1 offer (Talent Bank AWC - Nothing came of it, pandemic didn't help)

In the past 3 months I've applied for 3 roles (one was taken down - AWC Birmingham Intl part time CSA)

•Apprentice Train Driver - XC - Failed miserably
•Platform Host @ Leamington Spa FTC - CR - Applied 11/03/21 - no news, candidate portal still says "in process"
•Train Dispatcher @ Birmingham Snow Hill - Applied 16/04/21 - WMT - No News, but I have an itching feeling I havent got it :/

I'm still waiting to finally crack it, im not going to stop until I do.
 
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Bonzo

Member
Joined
20 Jan 2021
Messages
12
Location
London
Only 1 thankfully.
Started the process Oct 2019. Offered a position Dec 2020. Still waiting for medical and start date. I in no way think that I've cracked it though!
 

ArchangelA

Member
Joined
4 Feb 2020
Messages
264
Location
West Midlands
Currently up to 6 (4 x train driver jobs and 2 x MOM jobs). Had two failed MOM interviews, one of which I heard this morning :(
 

Flosursus

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Joined
5 Apr 2018
Messages
27
I applied as a guard twice a year for 5 years until I was offered a job. I really wanted to be a guard. I was a guard for 3 years.
Then last year, after applying to many roles and not hearing anything, I suddenly had 15 interviews in the space of 3 weeks (for signaller, MOM, crossing keeper, delay attribution manager, incident controller, shunter and depot driver) and was offered the roles of shunter and driver. I took the driver role after passing all assessments. It's worth the grind.
 

ACSlater

Member
Joined
28 Mar 2021
Messages
15
Location
Durham
I applied as a guard twice a year for 5 years until I was offered a job. I really wanted to be a guard. I was a guard for 3 years.
Then last year, after applying to many roles and not hearing anything, I suddenly had 15 interviews in the space of 3 weeks (for signaller, MOM, crossing keeper, delay attribution manager, incident controller, shunter and depot driver) and was offered the roles of shunter and driver. I took the driver role after passing all assessments. It's worth the grind.

interviews are like buses...
 

route101

Established Member
Joined
16 May 2010
Messages
10,595
I made plenty of applications for customer service stuff, but I knew from my answers to the competency questions that I didn't really have enough relevant experience. Switched careers to something in transport, got the experience, and started applying again.

Unsuccessful after online tests on first driver app, awful phone interview on second app, learned from my mistakes and got offered a job on third attempt. All three of those happened within 9 months, and I started training only about 6 weeks after I accepted the offer so I feel very lucky, especially given the waits some people have in talent pools etc.
What were you doing in transport out of interest?
 

king_walnut

Member
Joined
16 Oct 2013
Messages
261
Failed at my first attempt to join the railway as a gateline supervisor.

Succeeded at my second attempt and landed a 1 year contract as a part time Revenue Officer.

Was then successful in becoming a full time revenue officer.

I was then migrated to the On Board Supervisor role.

Failed at the application stage on my first attempt at driver. Landed the second attempt. I'm now a driver.
 

Charlie9649

Member
Joined
24 Jan 2020
Messages
6
Location
Uxbridge
Well done guys really pleased for you, which TOC, what role and where if you don't mind me asking

Well done again
MTR Elizabeth line for myself. Don’t give up

So I applied for maybe 9 different trainee train/shunter driver jobs.

I got through to the assessment stage in 2019 and failed the bleep and phone book(TRP1).

1st chance gone! so then I left it for a bit I felt disheartened and thought that maybe this role was just not for me. Out of the blue, a friend of mine had An assessment and asked if I could help him, this ignited the love for this role in me again.

I then replied and got through, and with determination and a load of research and the private messages on this forum I'm now happy to say that I am waiting on my start date on the 19th of July.

The point of this is not to give up, because if you want it, and are willing to work hard for it, simply will be yours
Hi there are you starting with MTR if so have you received your contracts yet and when is your medical booked for
 
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Jamie Price

Member
Joined
16 Aug 2019
Messages
88
Location
Oswestry
Countless applications over 10 years across all grades, never passed the paper sift until the last one, then made it through all the stages in 1 to get in as a guard :) would advise anyone who is still trying not to give up as one day you'll make the right application at the right time and it'll all come together!
 

507002

Member
Joined
26 Jan 2019
Messages
6
I joined the railway when I was just about to turn 18 as a Revenue Officer. I'm now 20 and still in the same role but I changed TOC and took me 19 applications, 3 Interviews and 1 Assessment day Don't give up. I have never looked back or thought about another job industry.;)
 
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MiNi

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Joined
22 Sep 2019
Messages
412
Location
Sherborne
I have currently application number 19 & 20 'live' at the moment. Both closed on Friday,just awaiting the email.
 

tfin25

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Joined
30 Jan 2017
Messages
22
Applied to Northern a few years ago but the vacancy was removed before the initial sift. Tried again with EMR a few months ago and I'm currently in the talent pool for trainee driver.
 

Munrowalker95

Member
Joined
28 May 2021
Messages
5
Location
Scotland
Applied for probably around a dozen and never progressed past the interview stage so far

Countless applications over 10 years across all grades, never passed the paper sift until the last one, then made it through all the stages in 1 to get in as a guard :) would advise anyone who is still trying not to give up as one day you'll make the right application at the right time and it'll all come together!
Just noticed this post mate. Shows that I still have a chance one day perhaps
 

Jamie Price

Member
Joined
16 Aug 2019
Messages
88
Location
Oswestry
Applied for probably around a dozen and never progressed past the interview stage so far


Just noticed this post mate. Shows that I still have a chance one day perhaps
Definitely mate, do not give up, my first railway application was in 2009, finally started my railway career in October 2019, there is hope for everyone! Only takes one application at the right time mate.
 

Chris_1892

Member
Joined
15 Jun 2020
Messages
11
Location
Newcastle
I joined the railway 5 year ago starting in a contact centre dealing with delay repay claims, passenger assistant bookings and customer complaints. After a year, I applied for a job as a GPR covering booking offices and dispatch duties in the North East. I have just recently passed my psychometrics and medical for the trainee drivers role starting in September. I've always said to myself from the start, if it really is something you want to do, keep on going and going for it. I've learnt so much in my other previous roles to take into driving.
Best of Luck.
 

Twotwo

Member
Joined
10 Aug 2018
Messages
586
My first job in the railway was a gateline position in 2016. Then moved onto platform in 2017. Then moved tocs and did gateline/platform in 2018. Then went on to do shunter driving in 2019 and now successful in a trainee train driver role!
 

Ceat0908

Member
Joined
10 Jul 2020
Messages
103
my first application was in 2018. Knocked back 3 times with the same TOC. Just been offered a job with them today. Keep at it folks, you’ll get there. As exhausting as it may be at times.
 

Callmo

Member
Joined
20 Jun 2019
Messages
28
Pure luck for me, 1st time applying for driver role and got the job. Started December 2019, came from a completely different background, non railway.
 
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