Southeastern Assessment Info

[Gossy]

Getting ready for my start on Monday. Looking forward to the new challenges and to meeting those on my course.
For all those waiting for their DM interview, I wish you the best of luck. Hang on in there!!! Its taken me ages to get to this point.

 

[SEDriver]

Getting ready for my start on Monday. Looking forward to the new challenges and to meeting those on my course.
For all those waiting for their DM interview, I wish you the best of luck. Hang on in there!!! Its taken me ages to get to this point.

Best of luck for Monday mate! Head down and study time!

 

[railton]

Best of luck Gossy! Enjoy

 

[SEDriver]

Getting ready for my start on Monday. Looking forward to the new challenges and to meeting those on my course.
For all those waiting for their DM interview, I wish you the best of luck. Hang on in there!!! Its taken me ages to get to this point.

How has your first week been?

 

[jamesbevan]

Fantastic new! Just got my letter through inviting me to an interview on Wednesday in Orpington (I'm assuming they must do a lot of their DM interviews there?).
I'm looking forward to it but also hoping that I am the right person they are looking for. I will provide the thread with as much information about the interview as I can to help future candidates.

I was wondering if anyone happened to know anything about with Steve Higham-Gray (Operations Manager) and Dave Randall (Driver Manager) who will be interviewing me. Absolutely anything would be great, I want to show them that I have out of my way to do some research for a job that would mean a lot to me. It would be great if I was able to get a conversation starting with them and break them up from the routine.

All the very best to you that have been kind enough to go out of your way to help me thus far. I will keep you all updated and do my best to help out those who have an interview coming up. Hope things are going well Gossy, fingers crossed and I could be fortunate enough to not be too far behind!

 

[cossie4i]

SHG looks like Vini Jones LOL

 

[SEDriver]

I know the names but I've never had any dealings with them, so can't help I'm afraid.

 

[jamesbevan]

No worries SEDriver, thanks anyway, you have helped me a tremendous amount.
Cossie4i, I won't lie, you have probably scared me even more with that piece of information! Can you tell me anything about either of them? Would be really appreciative.

 

[cossie4i]

I have not seen or spoke to SHG for about 6-7 years.

He is a nice guy, straight to the point and don't like fools.

 

[jamesbevan]

Cossie, SHG still has a touch of Vinnie in him, although thankfully less imposing.

As I sat in the waiting room one of the drivers made me feel welcome (and even offered my a coffee) which was an extremely nice touch and took the edge off. As for the feedback, the sole piece of information that I can recommend to anyone, which unfortunately is a cliche, is to be yourself. There are no trick questions, they are not trying to catch you out and there is no magic formula. They are not going to show you the door if you can't recall how much Network Rail are budgeting for line improvements between Ashford and Ramsgate, but they are looking at the bigger picture. They will be saving you the time in the long run if they do not think you are the right man for the job.

Moral of the story: Honesty at the expense of a "right answer" is valued tenfold.

Still got my fingers crossed! All the very best to everyone facing interviews, let us all know how you get on.

 

[railton]

My progress update:
Well I had my interview last week and they wrote to me two days later saying I was successful which is great news... I'm just awaiting a medical appointment and I've been told I should be on a September or October course.

It's all beginning to happen now and the time has flown!

Good luck to all of you in the various stages of the application process and hang in there! Keep the updates coming people

 

[Gossy]

How has your first week been?

Hello SEDriver, its been a good couple of weeks with lots to take in. Really enjoyed my cab experience and its given me the incentive to knuckle down. Thanks for asking
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

My progress update:
Well I had my interview last week and they wrote to me two days later saying I was successful which is great news... I'm just awaiting a medical appointment and I've been told I should be on a September or October course.

It's all beginning to happen now and the time has flown!

Good luck to all of you in the various stages of the application process and hang in there! Keep the updates coming people

Well done Railton! Hopefully hear from you soon, regarding your course date

 

[railton]

Hello SEDriver, its been a good couple of weeks with lots to take in. Really enjoyed my cab experience and its given me the incentive to knuckle down. Thanks for asking
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Well done Railton! Hopefully hear from you soon, regarding your course date

Thanks Gossy,

Medical all passed and been given a start date of 29th September! How's your training going now pal?

 

[Gossy]

Thanks Gossy,

Medical all passed and been given a start date of 29th September! How's your training going now pal?

Congratulations!!
Good luck with your training. Just follow what the instructors say and dont try and jump ahead.
My trainings going well thanks.
Its a lot to take in, but by doing a bit of homework and asking loads of questions it falls into place.
Best of luck !

 

[evoice]

After a long waiting list since last year, passed my assessment with southeastern last week. Great news But now I have been kept in the waiting list again for the managers interview. Anyone here have any idea about the next course dates. Hoping to get an invite for those ones.

 

[jamesbevan]

Evoice, just to give you some kind of peace of mind, the interim between my assessment pass date to the managers interview was 7 weeks. As you can imagine, when you are looking forward to something, 7 weeks was an extremely long time. The only thing I can say is don't count the dates, you will be on a database and as soon as the vacancy comes up they will methodically send out the interview letters - frustratingly there's no real way to speed up the process. People who passed the assessments after me were getting DM interviews before me. Depending on the station you've applied for, vacancies will occur at different rates.

Patience was absolutely worthwhile in my case, I'm now starting training on the 15th of September at Orpington. I couldn't have done it without the help from several kind people on this forum alongside a heck of a lot of preparation.

 

[evoice]

Exactly, this forum and the people here are absolutely fantastic. Thank you jamesbevan for your encouragement. Hope I don't run out of patience
I got the assessment invitation only when I emailed them about me willing to work in any depot.
Will get back to you if I get an invitation for the interview.
And good luck with your training.

 

[Hughqq]

Hi, Well done to those who have had invites and interviews. Are these as a result of previous applications or from the ones that closed on Friday?

 

[evoice]

Hi Hughqq, it's the previous one

 

[Hughqq]

Thanks for the answer, thought it was a bit fast for this round

Hi Hughqq, it's the previous one

 

[jake_fowler]

Hi there,

I am new to this forum. the information i have found here has helped put my mind at ease.
I passed my assessment day with southeastern on 27th November 2014, and have received the email confirming I am on the waiting list for a DM interview. Fingers crossed won't be too long.
Any updates for when courses start next year will be greatly appreciated. I applied for grove park, but stated I am flexible to work anywhere in London.

Cheers all

Jake

 

[carriageline]

When did you apply for that vacancy jake?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[gareth123tim]

Jake

I believe there is two courses next year. One in January and the other in March. So it looks more than likely it will be the one in march. Unless they've added more

Many thanks
Gareth

 

[jake_fowler]

Hi Gareth,

I applied about a week before the application date closed, I believe around the end of October, was roughly a month to 6 weeks between applying and getting invited to the assessment day, which was quicker than I expected. Would be great if I get invited to interview for March course. I'm driving busses at the mo, so in a similar role already which will hopefully help in the interview.

Cheers for the info.

Jake

 

[jake_fowler]

Well I finally heard back from Southeastern. Got my Drivers manager interview next week. The position has changed from Grove park to Orpington station, which is actually easier for me to get to. Any help or advice I can get for the Interview would be greatly appreciated. I am SO hoping to get this job it is unreal!

 

[Kukua]

Well I finally heard back from Southeastern. Got my Drivers manager interview next week. The position has changed from Grove park to Orpington station, which is actually easier for me to get to. Any help or advice I can get for the Interview would be greatly appreciated. I am SO hoping to get this job it is unreal!

Hi, i had mine today...it was pretty laid back just me and the interviewer. I have had one with Southern and it was nothing like that.

Its the MMI interview but for Southeastern its the last stage which is good lool but im sure there are plenty more useful links on here somewhere...

There were a lot of

Give an example ( much like the form they ask you to fill in and bring with you)
What challenges do you think you will face in situations such as...

 

[theageofthetra]

Is the interview at Orpington? If so have you been given a walking route map & codes to get in the gates? Please also be aware that if arriving by car that there is no free parking around this depot/Station- though you could show initiative and ask if you can get a Meteor car park pass if needed. I found my SE DM interview much more of a civilised, two way business discussion than at Southern- just be 100% honest with your answers think saftey & customer focus at ALL times. I would also suggest getting to Orpington well before your interview time and just speaking to rail crew - you will be amazed at the pointers you can pick up, also the training school is at Orpington so if trainees are on a coffee break as them for advice too. Good luck

 

[Kukua]

Nope its in Tonebridge.

 

[gareth123tim]

jake

I was in exactly the same boat. I had originally applied for grove Park and they changed my location to orpington. I have now been given a start date in March. With the interview try and be honest and like previously mentioned always think in the front of your mind customer service and safety is a must. Also try and learn as much as you can in regards to the company. Hope this helps and best of luck


Gareth

 

[jake_fowler]

Thanks for all the advice folks. I am a bus driver currently so the job role is very similar. I have plenty of examples I can use for both safety and customer service, just cant help but be a bit nervous!! I am arriving by train, was given a phone number to call to gain access to the training area (at Orpington station) where the interview will be held. I will arrive at least an hour early as you suggest, to talk to as many people as I can. Interview is with Steve (operations manager) and Bethany (Business manager). This will be my first Interview done by 2 people, and to be honest, most, if not all of my previous job interviews have been so informal, that they almost haven't seemed like proper interviews anyway. It would be such a shame to trip up at this stage. Will be trying to cram as much info in as I can about Southeastern trains, and hope that relying on my experience in the bus industry will be enough to get me through.

Gareth123tim....I hope to be joining you in March then if I pass this interview!! Good luck if I don't see you.