Do you ever think, that might be why people don't get a lot of sympathy off qualified professionals in the industry when it comes to the psychometric tests?
Not sure what specifically prompted that response so please bear with me. Those who pass generally think its "easy" and those who fail think its "hard" When you go through the process you have a unique perspective and when you come out the other side you do gain an understanding of why they are done.
Unsympathetic ? Not sure to be honest with you. We are sympathetic because we know the process but we are very glad and very realistic about the whole picture. We have seen it from start to finish and beyond. It is hard for those outside to see the harsh realities of playing with Thomas for a living.
I am as guilty as anyone of having that 'its behind us, onto the next challenge' feeling when i finally became aware i'd gotten through.
Because you gain perspective. This subforum is unique because people are posting from experience and less from opinion. It is hard and sets a standard and that is very justified. Is it fair ? To some degree no but every job has some form of entry requirement and this is no different from them. I want the monkey up front to be well trained and highly competent with their abilities.
Trust me when I say that you will see it differently when you go through the entire process. Breaking down each step and putting each behind you is a good quality to have. Take your time, chillax a little. Take each task to mind and put the rest behind you. Many will stress out the whole day thinking they failed a particular task. The ability to keep your focus, listen and relax is all part of what gets people through.
Do you think attitudes would be any different, if the psychometric tests were a mandatory 5 year thing, rather than just upon entry? Theoretically, and I somewhat agree, if you can do it once you can do it all the time. But I can see, being somewhat a realist, people would get caught on the hop. two chances only!
The testing NEVER stops. I had an assessment last week. It took 8hrs and I was assessed on the same stuff I was taught on my first day many, many years ago. The testing just goes on and on. Yes it becomes vocational and more experienced based but you will still be tested throughout your career. We are briefed on new material, new routes, traction, rules, out of course working etc it NEVER ends.
There is no second chance when out there driving trains. Remember that speed restriction due to an isolated safety system that has never broken in the 10+yrs you been driving ? You only have the one chance to get that right. (BTW that happened to me the other day)
Obviously the idea is to test if you can train effectively as a train driver, so it'd a bit moot.
let me be brutally honest. Any monkey can drive a train. It's not difficult (at least to me) It is all the other parts of the job that causes problems. Getting a passcom at 100mph will freak you out. Not just remembering the rules etc. you need to be able to deal with the situation. The MMI and DMI will assess those qualities. The psychometric testing will push your stress level. The rules course will give you sleepless nights and confuse the hell out of you. Train driving is much more than just sitting up front with your feet on the AWS with an Irish coffee to keep you warm.
You can look at it in two ways, two chances to pass. However I'll be honest, in my situation which might be a bit unique, but not that uncommon, technically I've two chances to fail :P I'm quite confident I can, but will I? :P
You have one chance. Don't rely on the second attempt and don't rest on any laurels. Do your best the first time. Take it easy, listen and relax. With all the competition out there and the crazy failure rates do you want to be on a pile on some HR guy/gals desk where other candidates had passed first time ?
If it takes you 4 attempts to pass you need to understand that the assessment is only a small part of the process. Ask everyone on here. Rules can be brutal and people do fail at that stage too. You will not get 4 attempts at rules.
Another thing, and maybe someone will know why, but why does your assessment stop when you fail a particular stage. You only have to retake failed assessments, so why not do the results at the end?
Why continue ? It's a waste of the day and everyone's time if you know they failed at the first stage. On my day. 1 failed before we started. 1 failed glop. 3/4 failed mechanical comprehension. Most failed dots. 1 failed the dtg and the MMI I have no idea how many failed because I was last through the door and everyone else had gone home by then.
If I had failed glop then had to sit through each stage then I would have been angry. What if I was told I had failed every stage ? Would I have another go ? What if I failed the first stage but passed everything else. Does that give me a certain advantage over others when I resit ? For discussion another time I think but if I failed dots. Would I have still passed the dtg ?
You raise a good point and whilst its discussion worthy I don't think anyone is in a position where they can give the correct answer. I done mine in a day. It was a long day and I saw it as part of the same test. The stress of multiple tests didn't bother me and I went in totally ignorant of what was about to happen. I had no preconceptions and no prior knowledge. I believe a fair amount of peoples preconceptions about the day affects their performance.
