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The GTR talent pool.
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I tried that when LM wanted trainees for Bletchley. They werent interested unless you start afresh like joe public
El-Alamein
Member
So.....just for some clarity....GTR are downsizing certain depots which may or may not mean less drivers?
In terms of bedford deport "potential" trainees does this mean a longer wait or I've up??
Still optimistic but this info doesn't help me believe ill have a date in less than two years...
In terms of bedford deport "potential" trainees does this mean a longer wait or I've up??
Still optimistic but this info doesn't help me believe ill have a date in less than two years...
I phoned today and asked if I should be worried as I'm waiting for Bedford. I was told I'd be considered for other depots instead, and that they're undergoing a lot of changes so they couldn't tell me any more.
I was told they'd let me know when they know but my confidence in this whole process is ebbing away after a nearly a year and a half of waiting.
I was told they'd let me know when they know but my confidence in this whole process is ebbing away after a nearly a year and a half of waiting.
Feeling your pain Gordo
Reality is the only depots we could be considered for would be Luton / St Albans
They will be rammed with people taken out of Bedford
Why ?
This is the exact reason "talent pools" have started to crop up. You pass the assessments and stick you in a talent pool for future vacancies. They can dip in and out of that talent pool whenever they want. There are no real guarantees of a job and they never have to use the talent pool to fill a vacancy.
The "default response" doesn't appear to have changed. "we will contact you if and when you are required" They have no other real responsibility to applicants, especially as they have already stated your in a pool and to simply wait.
I know its frustrating and I know its not nice to hear bad news but the reality is that times are a changing and GTR need to get their ducks in order before they can reboot the recruitment drive. Depots will always need trainees to cope with natural wastage and staff turnover. Take heart that you have passed the assessment process (better than a high % of applicants) and the long road ahead has, at least, begun.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Basic mathematics. Bedford is reduced by 120 Drivers (confirmed up thread), Luton and St Albans have to have an establishment of more than 120 combined or the number of transfers to either depot mush be less than the required establishment before any new Drivers are required.
There are many factors to consider and its still 2 years away so potentially they may wish to train up people for natural wastage.
Because work is based on establishment levels. Smaller depots are better managed and have less operational requirements. You can focus route knowledge and reduce training. Less people go sick and you have more flexible working with single links rather than multiple link working.
Splitting the franchise up means you have less work to cover and ergo you can reduce the establishments further.
You can improve the service to passengers because you have better distribution of staff cover. Getting a Driver from Blackfriars to cover a problem down Sevenoaks takes well over an hour but you can nip down from Orpington in about 15-20 minutes. Same will happen if you had a problem down Ashford/Gillingham way and you only had a Blackfriars Driver on cover. Splitting the depots up gives greater flexibility, hence better for passengers.
It's doesn't necessarily but you need to bare in mind that the requirement for drivers may not be in the area you were looking at.
These new drivers that are needed are across the whole network so they may have been able to reduce the requirement in the north half but still need them in the south.
Doesn't help the Bedford guys I understand that but to the company they just need to fill the vacancies wherever that may be.
As said before being in the pool doesn't guarantee a job regardless of what hr may say.
Until you have that contract nothing is guaranteed I'm afraid.
I was told in my interview that this talent pool is different, everyone will be offered a position so if that's change I believe they should let people know and I'm fairly sure they will. I believe it's the right thing to do, HR are saying when they know we will know which should include bad news.
If people are told "you are in a talent pool and may or may not get a job offer" that's different and I would agree that they don't owe any explanation.
If people are told "you are in a talent pool and may or may not get a job offer" that's different and I would agree that they don't owe any explanation.
I get where your coming from but its still just another form of waiting list with little to no guarantee. You will eventually get an offer is a lot different from we are filling vacancy x and that will be filled by date y.
You are in a talent pool. We'll call you when we want.
I appreciate and understand the situation, I feel for you guys but the railway really isn't like other industries they appear to be a law unto themselves. With people pushing 2 years in a talent pool its hard to see it any more than don't call us, we'll call you.
Its also a generic talent pool for all depots and they have chopped and changed people about to suit the business rather than the candidates. On my own TOC I have seen new trainees totally skip the talent pool.
You guys have passed and that's a major step stone to overcome. Each location will be treated differently and one candidate may be offered a position over another. Others on here have progressed and others will too. Don't get disheartened and remember that there is so much going on behind the scenes.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Unfortunately that bad news can still be "there is no longer a vacancy available"
Have you had a medical yet Dave ?
Thank you for the explanation and please don't take this as rude or sarcastic but.....
After telling the world they need 150 drivers, spending thousands ( maybe more ) on advertising,getting the OPC to run assessments with thousands of applicants, wasting hundreds of manhours doing DMI, spending more wedge on dozens of bupa medicals, taking on various trainees over that time at certain depots, somebody after 2 years has come along and said lets move a few people about to improve the service, cover the shortfall and meet our passenger targets.
Was it really that easy ?
Yes mate had it in March
March for me too but March 2015
In that case you should be given priority over me for Cambridge depot.
Sadly, yes.
Recruitment has always traditionally slowed down towards the end of a franchise as TOC's fixed costs come to an end and they may potentially lose the franchise. Paying for trainees you will never use to your benefit is seen as wasteful and uneconomical.
Many businesses experience sudden turndowns and will dramatically stop recruitment. The railway isn't immune.
The changes are needed for the future of the network and is paving the way for a franchise split that mass recruitment may no longer be needed or that the new franchise(s) may suddenly need those trainees. Its a massive change and nobody knows exactly what will happen. Some educated guesses based on previous experience and a little insider information but nothing is certain.
It really is just a matter of sit, wait, and carry on with your life till the phone rings.
The explanation above seems to point to GTR believing that the whole service issue is due mainly to displacement
Yet the whole piece they gave when winning the contract from FCC was about the huge driver recruiting never seen before on this scale,
Have to agree with Bucko shifting the same amount of drivers around to different places doesn't address the shortage that was there in the first place required to fulfil the promises made
Then you haven't listened.
Lets say depot A has a required establishment of 100 but only has 90 (10 shortfall) If you reduce the establishment to 90 then you have no shortfall any more.
Its a simplified explanation but its exactly what happens.
Its easy to see this in the current terms too.
Depot A has an establishment of 100 but only has 90 (10 shortfall) You can split the depot into A and B with both having 45 establishment.
You will always need trainees but your staff shortfall can be removed on a whim. FYI the first example is exactly what happened at my depot and is potentially about to happen again.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I don't disagree and I'm trying to explain what happens and what I have personally experienced in my time on the railway. As I say, its a guessing game. Hopefully I'm providing insight to how the railways changes in terms of recruitment.
All these changes are pencilled in for 2018 and again as I say that is still room for recruitment but we have to face the reality that it comes with various caveats.
Pepperami
Member
Agree with ComUtor, also something which has been mentioned on these forums many times, TALENT POOL
People who did not do as well as others on assessments are placed in these, its not a myth, its a fact, so if your currently in a talent pool, there is nothing stopping any TOC from having another recruitment drive, and if they have 6 applicants who have scored better than you, they will be offered a position, not you, harsh, yes, but its what happens.
Talent pools are purely for the purposes of having a "Stock" of would be trainees, be it conductors, drivers, whatever, so that the TOC is able if short on staff to have a look at the people in the pool, and see out of those in it who fits there requirements, if any
Its going to be a lot tougher to get into the industry now, there are so many people in these pools they can be very selective on who they choose.
People who did not do as well as others on assessments are placed in these, its not a myth, its a fact, so if your currently in a talent pool, there is nothing stopping any TOC from having another recruitment drive, and if they have 6 applicants who have scored better than you, they will be offered a position, not you, harsh, yes, but its what happens.
Talent pools are purely for the purposes of having a "Stock" of would be trainees, be it conductors, drivers, whatever, so that the TOC is able if short on staff to have a look at the people in the pool, and see out of those in it who fits there requirements, if any
Its going to be a lot tougher to get into the industry now, there are so many people in these pools they can be very selective on who they choose.
All you can be is positive.
Some depots are oversubscribed and others still probably need recruitment. As others have said, Bedford has a queue of candidates waiting and many trainees still going through the process. Your Cambridge and I didn't see any mention of that for the depot changes and haven't seen many people posting they are in the Cambridge pool either.
Fingers crossed for you. I'm painfully aware of the whole process and newbies like Pepperami also know too well how long and drawn out this can be.
Some depots are oversubscribed and others still probably need recruitment. As others have said, Bedford has a queue of candidates waiting and many trainees still going through the process. Your Cambridge and I didn't see any mention of that for the depot changes and haven't seen many people posting they are in the Cambridge pool either.
Fingers crossed for you. I'm painfully aware of the whole process and newbies like Pepperami also know too well how long and drawn out this can be.
Bedford - Reduced
Blackfriars - Closed
Cricklewood - Opened
Orpington - Possible SE transfer/Opening
Not sure on the other "London" depots
Maybe somebody can correct me, unless I missed it the words "Talent Pool" we're never mentioned in the job application/advert back in February 2015 which I applied for. I thought I was applying for a job, and when I passed everything I assumed I'd be offered a job and start. Straight forward and simple. Didn't think for one minute I'd be left in the dark for 16 months. Only planning things 4 weeks in advance in case I get a call.
People say they owe you nothing but after waiting this long we deserve at least proper explanation. A job is a major part of people's lives and if this ones not going to work out that's 16months lost where I could have been looking elsewhere. LM for example. A chanced missed there.
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