Southeastern Assessment Info

[Gossy]

Hello,
could anyone please give me some info.
I passed my assessment in November for a Trainee Train Driver with Southeastern.
They told me I now have to pass my Driver Managers Interview, but have not given any time frame, other than in the New Year.
What is the usual time between interview and assessment?
Its taken nearly three years to reach this stage.

Any help, advice or indication of time frame would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[JB25]

Hello,
could anyone please give me some info.
I passed my assessment in November for a Trainee Train Driver with Southeastern.
They told me I now have to pass my Driver Managers Interview, but have not given any time frame, other than in the New Year.
What is the usual time between interview and assessment?
Its taken nearly three years to reach this stage.

Any help, advice or indication of time frame would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Depends on the TOC. 3 years is a long time!!! hock:

 

[W230]

What is the usual time between interview and assessment?
Its taken nearly three years to reach this stage.

I understand that this type of time frame wasn't unusual a few years back. When I started going through the assessments there was someone on here who had gone through the process with C2C and it had taken about 3 years - I think he'd nearly forgotten about it in that time!

It seems that from application to starting now can be a lot shorter - I went through the process in around 4 months but then waited another 5 months to actually start.

Best bet is to give SET a ring and see if they can give you any idea.

 

[Gossy]

Sorry I didn't explain why its taken so long.
It has taken three years, due to me not be able to attend the first assessment I was invited to, as I was working overseas and re applied again.
I'm just concerned with regard to the wait between assessment and Driver managers interview.
I am also keen to know if anyone has heard of any Trainee train driver positions coming up in the near future, at Southeastern depots.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Thank you very much for the replies.

 

[seanybco4]

Hi Gossy. Did you have a drivers managers interview in the end? I had my assessment day at Tonbridge today and think it went ok. How long did they take to let you know if you'd passed the assessment day? Really hoping for a position at Grove Park depot.

 

[Class2ldn]

I was at grove park. If you need any info pm me.
Cheers

 

[Gossy]

Hi Gossy. Did you have a drivers managers interview in the end? I had my assessment day at Tonbridge today and think it went ok. How long did they take to let you know if you'd passed the assessment day? Really hoping for a position at Grove Park depot.

Hello Sean,
still had no interview and trying to find out when and if there are vacancies coming up soon. Im based in Maidstone, so hoping for Gillingham, Ashford, Tonbridge or Faversham. Im a bit miffed as the assessment day came as a bit of a surprise and silly me thought they would interview me asap.
desperate for the job, hating the wait.
With regard to knowing if Id passed. It was basically anyone who failed left the building and those remaining all passed the assessment.
Patience seems to be the name of the game.

 

[Class2ldn]

All of them depots are pretty hard to get staight in to. I know of one guy who lived in maidstone but was only offered grove park. I also know someone who is based at charing Cross but lives down in a similar part of Kent. The waiting lists for mainline depots is big, have they given you a choice of these depots?

 

[arthurtwosheds]

I started this month with Southeastern and the process was pretty pretty quick although I only had to take the Driver Manager interview as I had passed everything with another TOC before but failed previous driver manager interview. If memory serves me right they advertised late Summer last year and I had my interview some time in late Oct with a medical approx ten days later. PM me if you need any more info.

 

[theageofthetra]

I have to just sit the written communication & Tea/Occ parts on Weds as I have passed all the other parts with another TOC. One thing that has impressed me is how easy & approachable Southeasterns recruitment team are compared to other TOCs. Does anyone have any tips on these two sections?

 

[Gossy]

All of them depots are pretty hard to get staight in to. I know of one guy who lived in maidstone but was only offered grove park. I also know someone who is based at charing Cross but lives down in a similar part of Kent. The waiting lists for mainline depots is big, have they given you a choice of these depots?

To be honest, wouldn't mind Grove Park or anywhere else. Recruitment said they would try and get me a depot near me.
I would just really like to be kept up to date with whats happening.
After the relief of passing the assessment, I think to be kept waiting for an undetermined Interview date is a bit cruel.
I was under the impression they recruited when they had vacancies, or is it a case of keeping people on a waiting list until vacancies arise? Are the depots sent your results and then select who they wish to interview? Any info would be greatly appreciated regarding the actual process.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I started this month with Southeastern and the process was pretty pretty quick although I only had to take the Driver Manager interview as I had passed everything with another TOC before but failed previous driver manager interview. If memory serves me right they advertised late Summer last year and I had my interview some time in late Oct with a medical approx ten days later. PM me if you need any more info.

Could you PM me any tips on the Drivers Manager Interview. Funny I wasn't too worried a couple of months ago. But all this waiting is making me a little apprehensive. Dont want to mess up after all this!! Thanks

 

[arthurtwosheds]

The thing you have to remember with the railway is that it moves at it's own pace. Some drivers had to wait years before they have interviews after taking the psychometric tests. SE seem to be quite efficient but they don't recruit that often especially externally. Just keep giving them a shout and they will come back to you.

To be honest, wouldn't mind Grove Park or anywhere else. Recruitment said they would try and get me a depot near me.
I would just really like to be kept up to date with whats happening.
After the relief of passing the assessment, I think to be kept waiting for an undetermined Interview date is a bit cruel.
I was under the impression they recruited when they had vacancies, or is it a case of keeping people on a waiting list until vacancies arise? Are the depots sent your results and then select who they wish to interview? Any info would be greatly appreciated regarding the actual process.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Could you PM me any tips on the Drivers Manager Interview. Funny I wasn't too worried a couple of months ago. But all this waiting is making me a little apprehensive. Dont want to mess up after all this!! Thanks

 

[SEDriver]

I'm currently at Grove Park and we have had an influx of trainee drivers over the past year. They are now starting to qualify and drive on their own. Once all the current trainees have qualified, we will have a full complement of drivers.

But, having said that, at least 2 drivers will be moving to other depots within the next couple of months, plus we are due a new pay deal come April, where our working week may be reduced. This will in turn will create extra jobs.

So if you haven't heard anything recently, just give it some more time.

 

[theageofthetra]

SE Driver, I am on the waiting list now for any London depots. The impression I was given from the recruitment team was that jobs are more likely to turn up in London than elsewhere. Can you confirm that from inside? Please feel free to PM if you would rather not put this out publicly. Cheers

 

[SEDriver]

SE Driver, I am on the waiting list now for any London depots. The impression I was given from the recruitment team was that jobs are more likely to turn up in London than elsewhere. Can you confirm that from inside? Please feel free to PM if you would rather not put this out publicly. Cheers

I would tend to agree with what you've been told. Metro (London) drivers tend to transfer out to coastal depots, but not vice versa. So I would say that coastal depots would probably get their drivers internally, where as Metro depots would have to recruit externally to fill their vacancies. This is just my opinion.

 

[seanybco4]

Hi all - just a quick update for those who are waiting. I contacted Southeastern today to find out when the DM interviews will be. They said they would be happening in March to fill the June training course. Not too long!

 

[Gossy]

Hi all - just a quick update for those who are waiting. I contacted Southeastern today to find out when the DM interviews will be. They said they would be happening in March to fill the June training course. Not too long!

Thanks for sharing that and good luck.

 

[Darksoul27]

I was contacted today to have a DM interview on Thursday for Trainee Train Driver at Charing Cross/Victoria. Really nervous as I applied for this role months and months ago and heard nothing till today, any tips on what to expect would be most greatful. Can pm private if need be.

zaghinni2001 it wont let me pm you mate if you got any info what they ask you then please pm me any info would be most greatful dude

 

[Darksoul27]

Had my interview last week was wondering how long it roughly takes to find out if your in or not and is it by post or email?

thanks
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
One happy bunny here as I got my letter saying pending medical I have been accepted onto the trainee train driver course starting in April for southeastern rail, happy days, thou I guess the hard work has only just began.

 

[jamesbevan]

Congrats Darksoul!!!

Got my Southeastern assessments coming up on the 13th March.
Been waiting for this day for about 4 years. Nerves don't normally get the better of me, but because I've wanted to be a driver since I was knee high to a grasshopper, I'm finding this wait to be somewhat unnerving.

If anyone could give me a bit of advice for the manager interview, or general tips for the day, I really would be extremely grateful.

The post is for Victoria, so if anyone knows the DM's there, that would be really helpful as it would allow me to do a bit of research beforehand. I think one of them is David Cafe if I'm not mistaken?

 

[theageofthetra]

I have got a full set of passes ( the last part done with Southeastern in Jan) and still have not been asked to a DM interview? Should I be concerned if I have not been contacted by now?

 

[SEDriver]

If anyone could give me a bit of advice for the manager interview, or general tips for the day, I really would be extremely grateful.

The post is for Victoria, so if anyone knows the DM's there, that would be really helpful as it would allow me to do a bit of research beforehand. I think one of them is David Cafe if I'm not mistaken?

Graham Crosby is one of the Driver Managers at Victoria. He was previously at Grove Park. As for the interview, just be yourself. Tell them what they want to hear, such as helping passengers, avoiding confrontation with disruptive people, good timekeeping etc. That worked for me a few years ago, and I doubt if anything has changed!

Best of luck!

 

[seanybco4]

I also completed my assessment in Jan and still waiting to hear back. I got in touch with them and was told DM interviews would be this month so hopefully we will both hear soon. What depot have you applied for?

 

[theageofthetra]

I applied for all London depots to give maximum flexibility.

 

[jamesbevan]

Graham Crosby is one of the Driver Managers at Victoria. He was previously at Grove Park. As for the interview, just be yourself. Tell them what they want to hear, such as helping passengers, avoiding confrontation with disruptive people, good timekeeping etc. That worked for me a few years ago, and I doubt if anything has changed!

Best of luck!

SEDriver,

Fantastic, thanks so much for that. I know that there are 2 Southeastern DM's at Victoria and one of them is David Cafe, that must mean that Graham Crosby is the second. I can't seem to find anything about him online. Was hoping to stumble on a few bits of information, it would be nice to show that I have gone out of my way to research if I make it to the Manager's Interview.

Is there any brief bits you could tell me? I might go up to Victoria to try to introduce myself. Coming from Ramsgate I was a little frustrated last time when they weren't at the station!

 

[Sam82]

Had my interview last week was wondering how long it roughly takes to find out if your in or not and is it by post or email?

thanks
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
One happy bunny here as I got my letter saying pending medical I have been accepted onto the trainee train driver course starting in April for southeastern rail, happy days, thou I guess the hard work has only just began.

Great achievement. Congratulations Darksoul27.

 

[BromleyBoi]

I'm currently in training in Southern & if your DM interview is anything like mine was, you'll have a bit of tell us what you know about the company and a few general questions like that but there will probably be a lot of criteria based questions which took me by surprise so be prepared for things like that, they tend to like to know the issue/problem etc, what you did/how you dealt with it and what the outcome was and always make sure the safety & customer service element is in your answer if possible.

Something else which helped me was being original with your answers don't go with well I met this deadline at work etc, make it personal to you rather than an almost generic answer to get them interested in you what you are saying.

Hope that helps and good luck.

 

[Sam82]

I'm currently in training in Southern & if your DM interview is anything like mine was, you'll have a bit of tell us what you know about the company and a few general questions like that but there will probably be a lot of criteria based questions which took me by surprise so be prepared for things like that, they tend to like to know the issue/problem etc, what you did/how you dealt with it and what the outcome was and always make sure the safety & customer service element is in your answer if possible.

Something else which helped me was being original with your answers don't go with well I met this deadline at work etc, make it personal to you rather than an almost generic answer to get them interested in you what you are saying.

Hope that helps and good luck.

Many thanks for your post BromleyBoi. Do you remember the actual questions you were asked. If you could tell us it will be very helpful for DM's interview. Many thanks in advance and congratulations on your achievement.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Had my interview last week was wondering how long it roughly takes to find out if your in or not and is it by post or email?

thanks
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
One happy bunny here as I got my letter saying pending medical I have been accepted onto the trainee train driver course starting in April for southeastern rail, happy days, thou I guess the hard work has only just began.

Darksoul27 can I send you a PM regarding DM's interview, please?

 

[BromleyBoi]

I can't remember all of them as I sat it back in October and can't promise they'll be the same or the interview may be conducted differently.

They were along the lines of;

Give an example where you've had to work as part of a team?

Tell us about a recent target you've met or a personal achievement?

Give an example of a difficult situation you've had to deal with?

Tell us about a situation where you've had to make a difficult decision?

Give an example of a situation where you've had to deal with an emergency or an urgent situation?

I can't remember the others but as long as you can come up with examples detailing what happened, how you handled it including silly details like calling the police that you might consider to be a given and what the outcome was and as I said get the customer service bit in and safety.

 

[Sam82]

I can't remember all of them as I sat it back in October and can't promise they'll be the same or the interview may be conducted differently.

They were along the lines of;

Give an example where you've had to work as part of a team?

Tell us about a recent target you've met or a personal achievement?

Give an example of a difficult situation you've had to deal with?

Tell us about a situation where you've had to make a difficult decision?

Give an example of a situation where you've had to deal with an emergency or an urgent situation?

I can't remember the others but as long as you can come up with examples detailing what happened, how you handled it including silly details like calling the police that you might consider to be a given and what the outcome was and as I said get the customer service bit in and safety.

Many thanks BromleyBoi for your quick reply. This will certainly help me to prepare for the DM's interview. Bless you.