SWR Guards Recruitment 2021

[Spencer2511]

Apologies for the silly question, due to start May 23rd at Basingstoke ROC, does anyone know if we work bank holidays while training? As I know it’s Monday-Friday for the first few months. Many thanks

 

[Fratton Guard?]

Not a silly question, been wondering the same thing myself. In my present job we dont get bank holidays.... they even take xmas day out of our annual leave

 

[DMckduck]

Apologies for the silly question, due to start May 23rd at Basingstoke ROC, does anyone know if we work bank holidays while training? As I know it’s Monday-Friday for the first few months. Many thanks

When I went through the process we got 2 adhoc days scheduled into the training programme. So I suspect those will be used for the bank holidays, from what I remember the ops trainers at the school work Monday - Friday office hours so wouldn’t be there anyway

 

[Spencer2511]

When I went through the process we got 2 adhoc days scheduled into the training programme. So I suspect those will be used for the bank holidays, from what I remember the ops trainers at the school work Monday - Friday office hours so wouldn’t be there anyway

Many thanks, just thought I would ask as the big June bank holiday will be during my training so wanted to get an idea if I would be in or as hoc days like you said. I assumed the trainers wouldn’t be in

Thanks

 

[Numbnuts846]

Apologies for the silly question, due to start May 23rd at Basingstoke ROC, does anyone know if we work bank holidays while training? As I know it’s Monday-Friday for the first few months. Many thanks

Currently we get bank holidays off during training, on the course now

 

[Spencer2511]

Currently we get bank holidays off during training, on the course now

Many thanks for the info, hope the course is going well!

 

[Sebastian005]

Hi All!

I passed my medical for Metro Guard Woking. I'll be starting at Basingstoke on the 20th June. Anybody else on the course then?

 

[Fratton Guard?]

I start on 23rd March, but congratulations anyway mate

 

[swr444]

I start on 23rd March, but congratulations anyway mate

23rd March?

 

[Numbnuts846]

23rd March?

Typo! 23rd may ! Course after me

 

[Fratton Guard?]

23rd March?

Typo! 23rd may ! Course after me

Durrrr, yep sorry 23rd May lol

 

[Elorith]

Hi All!

I passed my medical for Metro Guard Woking. I'll be starting at Basingstoke on the 20th June. Anybody else on the course then?

Deleted

 

[Twotwo]

Me, but I may end up withdrawing my application.

I need to think long and hard before I really commit to this...

Why, what are your concerns? Maybe we can help you. Very few regret the move and are shocked how good it is in the railway. I remember the shock of my friends when I explain spare turns to them!

 

[wegotitback]

Me, but I may end up withdrawing my application.

I need to think long and hard before I really commit to this...

Me too, infact I think I've already made my mind up to withdraw the application.
I'm already employed elsewhere on the railway in a well paid secure role.
I'd have to relocate to a guards job which aren't the securest of roles in the current climate, also the salary with SWR is reduced for the first 12 months for new starters.
There's just far too much for me to lose by accepting the job.
I understand everyones circumstances are different but this is just not for me anymore.

 

[Leuvenn]

Guard to be here. Wondering if anyone hired recently has received a possible training date. Also wondering how long you all waited from completing your interview till beginning training

 

[Fratton Guard?]

Guard to be here. Wondering if anyone hired recently has received a possible training date. Also wondering how long you all waited from completing your interview till beginning training

Sorry but how long is a piece of string. It depends on what depot you applied for and its needs. You could be swimming around a talent pool for a while or invited to join really quickly. Things are moving quite quickly now though, with Guard hours cutting back in May and again in Dec. Also many in the pools have dropped out due to the recent Guards agreement meaning that you have to wait a year after becoming fully productive before you get full pay. I passed my "re-interview" in March this year (after being told in Dec 2019 that I was successful.. thank you COVID) and after being told that there were no immediate vacancies, got a call the following week inviting me to join on 23 May. That's Monday....... happy days

 

[Leuvenn]

Sorry but how long is a piece of string. It depends on what depot you applied for and its needs. You could be swimming around a talent pool for a while or invited to join really quickly. Things are moving quite quickly now though, with Guard hours cutting back in May and again in Dec. Also many in the pools have dropped out due to the recent Guards agreement meaning that you have to wait a year after becoming fully productive before you get full pay. I passed my "re-interview" in March this year (after being told in Dec 2019 that I was successful.. thank you COVID) and after being told that there were no immediate vacancies, got a call the following week inviting me to join on 23 May. That's Monday....... happy days

Well thankfully I've already been offered the job outright. Passed the interview but haven't been given a start date for training. From what I've read on this thread it looks to be approx three month, give or take, but I'm not sure

 

[MiNi]

Sorry but how long is a piece of string. It depends on what depot you applied for and its needs. You could be swimming around a talent pool for a while or invited to join really quickly. Things are moving quite quickly now though, with Guard hours cutting back in May and again in Dec. Also many in the pools have dropped out due to the recent Guards agreement meaning that you have to wait a year after becoming fully productive before you get full pay. I passed my "re-interview" in March this year (after being told in Dec 2019 that I was successful.. thank you COVID) and after being told that there were no immediate vacancies, got a call the following week inviting me to join on 23 May. That's Monday....... happy days

Good luck on starting your course tomorrow mate. All that time waiting and wondering and the day is nearly here!!!!!

 

[Fratton Guard?]

Good luck on starting your course tomorrow mate. All that time waiting and wondering and the day is nearly here!!!!!

Thank you MiNi, appreciate that mate

 

[Chumba]

Sorry but how long is a piece of string. It depends on what depot you applied for and its needs. You could be swimming around a talent pool for a while or invited to join really quickly. Things are moving quite quickly now though, with Guard hours cutting back in May and again in Dec. Also many in the pools have dropped out due to the recent Guards agreement meaning that you have to wait a year after becoming fully productive before you get full pay. I passed my "re-interview" in March this year (after being told in Dec 2019 that I was successful.. thank you COVID) and after being told that there were no immediate vacancies, got a call the following week inviting me to join on 23 May. That's Monday....... happy days

Good luck for tomorrow

 

[Fratton Guard?]

Thanks Chumba, enjoy your holiday mate

 

[RailEnt]

..

 

[WombleGuard]

This

Hi all, i ve been eyeing the forum for a few years now, and this forum made me think seriously applying and becoming a train manager. Unfortunately after being successful with SWR and awaiting start date i need to withdrawn my application.
I feel that paying somebody half of the salary for 1 full year is absolutely embarrassing for a railway company. That should never happen, under the pretext of “until you’re not fully competent you re not getting the full wage”, if the person is not competent why should he/she work a train? Nobody in their right mind should do such a sacrifice and i feel very sorry for those who will accept those t&c’s.
Also folks, bare in mind that this means that you will be on probation probably 1 year, which is very risky!

I have been told that as soon as i work my 1st train alone i will get the full pay at my interview, seems like things can change rapidly.

In the end we are working for money not for honey.

Good luck to all those who accept this horrible t and c ‘s

This is standard railway practise for drivers. It's nothing new.

 

[Numbnuts846]

Hi all, i ve been eyeing the forum for a few years now, and this forum made me think seriously applying and becoming a train manager. Unfortunately after being successful with SWR and awaiting start date i need to withdrawn my application.
I feel that paying somebody half of the salary for 1 full year is absolutely embarrassing for a railway company. That should never happen, under the pretext of “until you’re not fully competent you re not getting the full wage”, if the person is not competent why should he/she work a train? Nobody in their right mind should do such a sacrifice and i feel very sorry for those who will accept those t&c’s.
Also folks, bare in mind that this means that you will be on probation probably 1 year, which is very risky!

I have been told that as soon as i work my 1st train alone i will get the full pay at my interview, seems like things can change rapidly.

In the end we are working for money not for honey.

Good luck to all those who accept this horrible t and c ‘s

It’s not until you’re fully competent! It’s when you are productive, you are on a training wage for classroom and route learning then you go up to 75% as soon as you work a train on your own ( fully productive) then after a period of time you go to 100% pay ! Probation is 6 months from the date you start unless they feel the need to extend it , in which case they will sit down and explain this !

 

[Elorith]

It’s not until you’re fully competent! It’s when you are productive, you are on a training wage for classroom and route learning then you go up to 75% as soon as you work a train on your own ( fully productive) then after a period of time you go to 100% pay ! Probation is 6 months from the date you start unless they feel the need to extend it , in which case they will sit down and explain this !

As a matter of interest, do you know what the approximate timescale is between starting and full productivity?

I know the classroom based learning is 8 weeks at the ROC.

 

[Numbnuts846]

As a matter of interest, do you know what the approximate timescale is between starting and full productivity?

I know the classroom based learning is 8 weeks at the ROC.

It’s fully dependent on your depot and routes it covered by that depot

 

[Love life]

Hi,

I was just wondering, does anyone know what the pass marks are for the safe concentration and attention test (SCAAT)?
I am practicing and practicing, but without knowing the benchmark, I'm not sure if I'm passing or failing. I can go off the SCAAT test itself but that may not be what the railway mark from. They may have their own benchmark.

 

[Elorith]

It’s fully dependent on your depot and routes it covered by that depot

Ah right. I see. Thanks very much.

 

[DMckduck]

Hi,

I was just wondering, does anyone know what the pass marks are for the safe concentration and attention test (SCAAT)?
I am practicing and practicing, but without knowing the benchmark, I'm not sure if I'm passing or failing. I can go off the SCAAT test itself but that may not be what the railway mark from. They may have their own benchmark.

They are looking for accuracy and consistency, also making mistakes isn’t necessarily a bad thing if not too many as long as you’ve recognised the mistake. You’ll never complete the whole sheet just do as much as you can without sacrificing accuracy

 

[bill55bill]

Hi,

I was just wondering, does anyone know what the pass marks are for the safe concentration and attention test (SCAAT)?
I am practicing and practicing, but without knowing the benchmark, I'm not sure if I'm passing or failing. I can go off the SCAAT test itself but that may not be what the railway mark from. They may have their own benchmark.

No idea what the pass mark is but I was probably completing 25 - 30% of each sheet and I passed.

I'd concentrate on accuracy rather then be concerned how much of the sheet you finish.