Leaving one train company for another

[387star]

If you were planning on leaving one TOC for another (never mind the role) and got asked at the interview the obvious question of why what would a good answer be?

Career progression? New routes and traction?

 

[A-driver]

If you were planning on leaving one TOC for another (never mind the role) and got asked at the interview the obvious question of why what would a good answer be?

Career progression? New routes and traction?

Depends on the specifics of the situation and job role really, no easy answer. If the pay is more then that's a fair reason to give, if you are moving to a location closer to home then that's an obvious and very good reason to give, if (more specific to drivers) moving from a suburban to intercity operator then type of work/"career progression" would be fair enough.

You need to be careful you aren't giving the impression you are moving because you are bored in your current TOC as that will lead the new lot to believe you may get bored there after a few years as well.

When I moved many, many years ago I was asked this and I gave the reason as being closer to home (would no longer need to drive a car to work every day). That was pretty much the truth to. The DMs interviewing me were fine with that.

The people interviewing you are not stupid and if you are a train driver moving to a TOC closer to home, paying more, seen as having better work than your current employer or with better T&Cs then they will know exactly why you are moving without asking so honesty may be best (you don't want to make them cringe by telling them how you are moving from South west trains to southeastern as you believe SE are a 'premier train operator' and see it as a promotion and have always had ambitions to represent such a fantastic TOC by driving their trains)...

 

[185]

Looking to not wear any pink or horrid lilac

 

[TDK]

If you were planning on leaving one TOC for another (never mind the role) and got asked at the interview the obvious question of why what would a good answer be?

Career progression? New routes and traction?

All depends on role and location

 

[387star]

Depends on the specifics of the situation and job role really, no easy answer. If the pay is more then that's a fair reason to give, if you are moving to a location closer to home then that's an obvious and very good reason to give, if (more specific to drivers) moving from a suburban to intercity operator then type of work/"career progression" would be fair enough.

You need to be careful you aren't giving the impression you are moving because you are bored in your current TOC as that will lead the new lot to believe you may get bored there after a few years as well.

When I moved many, many years ago I was asked this and I gave the reason as being closer to home (would no longer need to drive a car to work every day). That was pretty much the truth to. The DMs interviewing me were fine with that.

The people interviewing you are not stupid and if you are a train driver moving to a TOC closer to home, paying more, seen as having better work than your current employer or with better T&Cs then they will know exactly why you are moving without asking so honesty may be best (you don't want to make them cringe by telling them how you are moving from South west trains to southeastern as you believe SE are a 'premier train operator' and see it as a promotion and have always had ambitions to represent such a fantastic TOC by driving their trains)...

This is actually very true at one interview I talked some of the spiel I had read and it went over a bit like a lead balloon I don't think they believed in the corporate stuff and saw it as empty language


To be specific how about a guard moving to a different TOC to drive trains the obvious question is why not stay where you are how do you get round that?

 

[TDK]

This is actually very true at one interview I talked some of the spiel I had read and it went over a bit like a lead balloon I don't think they believed in the corporate stuff and saw it as empty language


To be specific how about a guard moving to a different TOC to drive trains the obvious question is why not stay where you are how do you get round that?

Once again it depends on your location and the location of the depot

 

[Failed Unit]

This is actually very true at one interview I talked some of the spiel I had read and it went over a bit like a lead balloon I don't think they believed in the corporate stuff and saw it as empty language


To be specific how about a guard moving to a different TOC to drive trains the obvious question is why not stay where you are how do you get round that?

Does you current TOC have any vacancies, if it doesn't then that is the honest and easy answer.

 

[TDK]

Does you current TOC have any vacancies, if it doesn't then that is the honest and easy answer.

You will also need to persuade the interviewer that you won't apply once qualified back at your old TOC

 

[Dave1987]

If you want to change depots or change stations you work at within your current TOC let alone transfer TOCs there will be a pretty significant reason as it is not easy to change depots within your current TOC let alone transferring TOCs so I fail to see how there is a "good" reason for doing so. Each person that does so has their reasons and there could be many many reasons for that. None could really be considered more valid than others.

 

[Aictos]

Would not a simple I wanted to progress in my career and face new challenges not be acceptable?

 

[A-driver]

Would not a simple I wanted to progress in my career and face new challenges not be acceptable?

It wiuld, but I think most interviewser would wonder what challenges a driver would face at London midland that they didn't face on children etc...

 

[CC 72100]

It wiuld, but I think most interviewser would wonder what challenges a driver would face at London midland that they didn't face on children etc...

That doesn't sound very safe!

 

[A-driver]

That doesn't sound very safe!

So auto correct dosnt know about the chilterns then!

 

[TDK]

Would not a simple I wanted to progress in my career and face new challenges not be acceptable?

No unfortunately not, you need to remember if someone is moving TOC's to get a drivers role, lets say from a guards they need to say more than progressing their career. Many guards will apply for drivers' jobs and not get the role with their own company for whatever reason, it could be anything, then they go to another TOC that knows the original company have recruited and refused them employment as a driver? This certainly does not look good at interview. Don't get me wrong many people have applied and gained employment from a guards role to a drivers by switching TOC's but it is by far easier getting the job with the company you work for than another company.

 

[craigybagel]

No unfortunately not, you need to remember if someone is moving TOC's to get a drivers role, lets say from a guards they need to say more than progressing their career. Many guards will apply for drivers' jobs and not get the role with their own company for whatever reason, it could be anything, then they go to another TOC that knows the original company have recruited and refused them employment as a driver? This certainly does not look good at interview. Don't get me wrong many people have applied and gained employment from a guards role to a drivers by switching TOC's but it is by far easier getting the job with the company you work for than another company.

Plus at our TOC at least I understand that if a guard goes driving they keep their basic guards salary whilst training, instead of being on the trainee drivers salary which is lower. We do have a rule that though that guards can only apply for drivers jobs after serving two years - one way of short circuiting that would be to move TOC.