Second job as a Trainee?

[kajojek3232]

Hi Everyone, just a quick question. I am thinking of applying for a job as a Trainee Driver for Avanti and currently work in healthcare.

I wanted to know, when you're a Trainee, is it frowned upon for you to have a second job? Obviously once I qualify I will not need one but I wanted to work one day over the weekend in order to have a little bit extra income.

Thanks.

 

[Tevion539]

You wouldn't want to work a job, even if it was allowed. The amount of information you need to learn and retain would mean you would need a lot of dedication to the role.

 

[Emma2021]

It's a lot to learn. My husband left sunday morning and got home Friday night through his first 4 months so Saturdays were precious and still had revision to do that day

 

[kajojek3232]

I have not decided yet but I wasnt to know if I was for example to do a 6 hour shift in my second job on Sundays whether that would be permitted, that's all I want to know.

 

[iwasyoungonce]

Most people I know in healthcare are only on around 20k which is lower than a trainee driver

 

[kajojek3232]

Most people I know in healthcare are only on around 20k which is lower than a trainee driver

I know, but I'm not on that.

 

[iwasyoungonce]

All the contracts I've ever seen stated no secondary employment.

 

[Urban Gateline]

I can't speak for Avanti, but I'd think it would be frowned upon. SWR for example make it quite clear with the job offer that no secondary employment is allowed. It makes sense as the courses are very intense with the amount of information you have to learn, probably best just to live frugally whilst on the training wage so that you can focus fully on the job!

 

[TBCTBA]

I have not decided yet but I wasnt to know if I was for example to do a 6 hour shift in my second job on Sundays whether that would be permitted, that's all I want to know.

It wasn't permitted while we were training but it could be different at other TOCs.

The two things I would say is that, even if it was OK contractually, as posters above have said there's a lot of information to take on board from scratch (unless you know your rules already?).

Secondly, there's a good chance your training will alternate between fixed hours Mon - Fri and random days and shifts during practical handling...

 

[ComUtoR]

At my TOC you would be expected to work on a Saturday and a Sunday

 

[Sawasdee]

I have not decided yet but I wasnt to know if I was for example to do a 6 hour shift in my second job on Sundays whether that would be permitted, that's all I want to know.

Would you have time to travel up to Crewe/Glasgow on the Sunday as well as do your shift?

 

[Sly Sloth]

2 observations
you can’t work a second job as it’s a safety critical role that’s subject to a fatigue linked score
if you’re not completely committed to the training then step aside and allow someone who is to have the place. These jobs are highly sort after

 

[kajojek3232]

2 observations
you can’t work a second job as it’s a safety critical role that’s subject to a fatigue linked score
if you’re not completely committed to the training then step aside and allow someone who is to have the place. These jobs are highly sort after

There’s no need to be so dramatic. All I did was asked if I could potentially work one day extra a week somewhere so please don’t make it look like I wouldn’t commit as that’s not what it’s about. Thanks.

 

[carlh20]

I have a question on a similar note that's probably not worth making a new thread for. I'm starting a course in the end of May and will have annual leave to take from my current employer, my plan is to take my leave in the first 2 weeks in June to use it up, so I will complete my last shift prior to the course but I will still technically be employed although not attending work again for the first 2 weeks of the course. Is this likely to cause an issue does anyone think? Unfortunately any outstanding leave will not be paid if it hasn't been taken.

 

[Locomotivation]

I wanted to know, when you're a Trainee, is it frowned upon for you to have a second job? Obviously once I qualify I will not need one but I wanted to work one day over the weekend in order to have a little bit extra income.

Thanks.

I don’t work for Avanti but I’d imagine your train handling hours could be on any day of the week so another job would be impossible irrespective of their rules.

 

[Economist]

Avanti have one of the most generous trainee driver salaries going, I think its around £39k outside London and £41k at Euston which easily beats most graduate trainee schemes around these days. The training process is intense and days off often involve revision, holding a second job is not compatible with the role of a trainee train driver.

I think there was a poster on here who occasionally flew aircraft for a living on days off from train driving but he was qualified and it was more of a hobby than anything else.

 

[driverd]

Speak with the employer. I asked the same question due to the wage drop and my employer were totally fine with it.

It'll obviously be based on the terms in your contract, but plenty of drivers work second jobs (usually more hobby based but works work).

 

[AG1994]

I have a question on a similar note that's probably not worth making a new thread for. I'm starting a course in the end of May and will have annual leave to take from my current employer, my plan is to take my leave in the first 2 weeks in June to use it up, so I will complete my last shift prior to the course but I will still technically be employed although not attending work again for the first 2 weeks of the course. Is this likely to cause an issue does anyone think? Unfortunately any outstanding leave will not be paid if it hasn't been taken.

Not an issue, literally everyone I know did the same as you.

 

[carlh20]

Not an issue, literally everyone I know did the same as you.

Ah thanks for your reply! I hadn't really thought about it until reading this and wouldn't want it to create an issue

 

[TreacleMiller]

You wouldn't want to, the training is extremely intense and you will need weekends to revise, once onto handling you're onto a shift pattern.

I've got a secondary income and I've actively scaled it down to essentially zero as I really need the rest. Don't underestimate the role.

 

[driverd]

Also, don't believe everyone here saying its impossible to manage a second job. It's certainly fair to say there is a lot of learning to do, but you know your own capacity better than anyone. You may be able to handle it, you may decide you'd rather focus your efforts on revision.

 

[Indistinct]

Would you have time to travel up to Crewe/Glasgow on the Sunday as well as do your shift?

What’s the deal with that, would they pay your time commuting? I imagine if you’re Euston based (so could be even further away from London) getting to Polmadie is the best part of the whole day gone.

 

[Horizon22]

What’s the deal with that, would they pay your time commuting? I imagine if you’re Euston based (so could be even further away from London) getting to Polmadie is the best part of the whole day gone.

I think the person was referring to doing a diagrammed day of work and then coming back and then doing another bit of work.

The issue with the OP's suggestion is that whilst they could theoretically do a shift, its unlikely to be able to be consistent because of the varying nature of shifts. If you know it far in advance then you could presumably do "bank" shifts (for the NHS / healthcare I presume based on what the OP has said) for a few hours which are also flexible.

Would I personally do it whilst training to be a driver? No. Is it possible? Yes, presuming you have agreement from your employer to have secondary employment.

 

[Indistinct]

Oh, I read it as making your way to Crewe or Glasgow on a Sunday after you’ve done your second job, ready to begin a weeks classroom training on Monday.

 

[NSEWonderer]

You'd have to be performing two pretty safety critical and customer care orientated roles to the best of your ability and with the expectation of both roles asking of High Level quality that will be too difficult for most people. One of a Train driver's main attribute is the ability to Prioritize and this expected to all things concerning their role.

Having another role as a distraction isn't good Prioritizing. Imo you can always if you qualify as a driver and get your License go back to your other job I'd assume some years later but it will be much harder to get back into a trainee driver role to get the license if not qualified especially if you have a golden chance to do so and don't take it to the best of your ability and focus.

 

[Emma2021]

Oh, I read it as making your way to Crewe or Glasgow on a Sunday after you’ve done your second job, ready to begin a weeks classroom training on Monday.

Yes that is what you have to do as there is no way most people midlands or further south can get to glasgow to start 9am Monday. The toc will sort all the logistics of it all

 

[Jayleeruss]

Hey! So I’m a guard and recently I asked the same when I began training, if I could work 1/2 days a week as a server. The reply was no. They said I needed to take the training seriously and I should be dedicated to my new job, not my old job. I honestly felt a little ungrateful for even asking.
Honestly, they were right. Being a guard/driver has a lot of overlap in training, and it was super tough and there’s no way I would’ve managed to balance all that learning with another job, I barely had time to see friends and family on my evenings/weekends off. Being a driver is more intense so i can’t begin to imagine how you’d cope. Imo, don’t even ask them (from experience)
Hope that helps!

 

[choochoochoo]

How does this work for trainees who own/run a family business ? Would this mean you can’t look after the accounts on this business in your time off given you’re not 'front of house'?

How is this anymore tiring/fatiguing than being a working parent doing school runs and looking after kids ?

 

[FlyingVixen]

I was also in healthcare before becoming a trainee driver and the thought had crossed my mind too. When I got my contract it simply said that no second job is allowed and I totally get it. The other side is that places don’t pay Midwives very well so my training wage isn’t far less than what I was getting before so it’s not made a real difference which is lucky! I’ll definitely feel the benefits when I properly pass out because I have never had such a wage in my life!

 

[TreacleMiller]

How does this work for trainees who own/run a family business ? Would this mean you can’t look after the accounts on this business in your time off given you’re not 'front of house'?

How is this anymore tiring/fatiguing than being a working parent doing school runs and looking after kids ?

I own my own business, I'm a driver. Isn't an issue and wasnt during training but as I said training is a MASSIVE commitment and it's mentally very taxing. I wound down my business while training and took a temporary hit to income. I do the odd bits now and then but driving is your primary career and priority, if not don't apply.

Same goes for kids, family life and all the rest of it. This is a serious job, for serious people who can commit. If you *have* to be the one doing a school run and looking after the books on a family business you shouldn't be applying in the first place, the job literally isn't for you.