dereksingh291
On Moderation
Transport UK: Qualified Train Driver - Crewe - Operations ~ Drivers -
apply.transport-uk.com
closing date 9th April 2024
"Must live in the railway station or nearby heritage centre to apply".Oh look, they're at it again
"We'd invite applications from candidates who have a tent they could pitch on the end of platform 5""Must live in the railway station or nearby heritage centre to apply".
Haha. Pretty much"We'd invite applications from candidates who have a tent they could pitch on the end of platform 5"
They don't seem to be now. This is the 3rd time in a row of advertising back to back for the same job. Doesn't say they don't accept relocation but loads of qualified drivers who have applied wanting to relocate, have received an immediate rejection email. After following up, have all been told it's their policy not to accept applicants who live more than a 1 HR commute from Crewe station. It would be nice of them to mention this on the application before applicants waste a good few hours completing the online application.I do know of a qualified driver who moved to WMR at Crewe from Southeastern, so they have accepted relocations in the past, albeit that was a few years ago now.
This has been West Mids Trains policy since LM, certainly was the case when I joined 7 years ago.After following up, have all been told it's their policy not to accept applicants who live more than a 1 HR commute from Crewe station. It would be nice of them to mention this on the application before applicants waste a good few hours completing the online application.
It's unusual for a policy of no relocations to be applied to qualified drivers, though.This has been West Mids Trains policy since LM, certainly was the case when I joined 7 years ago.
With the sheer number of qualified drivers around the Crewe area with all the freight work plus TOCs, relocation is not going to be something they take externally.
Probably should have it on the application itself, but all the TOCs I've had applications with (Avanti, XC, Northern, Chiltern, TfW) have all had the 45 mins/1hr rule so it's hardly unexpected.
True, but Crewe does already have a very large pool of qualified drivers unlike some areas, and so probably haven't considered it likely to be necessary.It's unusual for a policy of no relocations to be applied to qualified drivers, though.
But conversley, if that was true, they wouldn't have needed to advetise 3times in 4months.True, but Crewe does already have a very large pool of qualified drivers unlike some areas, and so probably haven't considered it likely to be necessary.
That's probably the main reason why they have struggled this time, it's a huge leap up to TfW rate now. It's why there's such an annoyance that there's no trainee course running at the moment. LNWR needs to stop being the poacher, and start being the feeder!But conversley, if that was true, they wouldn't have needed to advetise 3times in 4months.
Plus, TfW will be very attractive now they're on circa 16k more.
Seems to be a theme across a lot of TOCs - almost like managers are expecting qualifieds to interview like trainees. When many won't have had an interview for yearsThat's probably the main reason why they have struggled this time, it's a huge leap up to TfW rate now. It's why there's such an annoyance that there's no trainee course running at the moment. LNWR needs to stop being the poacher, and start being the feeder!
I know many qualifieds had interviews but didn't pass, so it's not that there hasn't been interest.
Seems to be a theme across a lot of TOCs - almost like managers are expecting qualifieds to interview like trainees. When many won't have had an interview for years
But those interviews are geared towards why you'd make a good driver.The same can be true for trainees, many of whom (myself included) have been settled in their current careers for many years. I had to do a lot of research and refamiliarise myself with my suit and tie for my interviews to become a trainee driver!
But those interviews are geared towards why you'd make a good driver.
The qualified ones I've had seem to want you to answer like you're proving yourself all over again.
The proof is in my licence, I'd rather be asked a lot more technical questions or what I'd do in unexpected situations I've trained for. Not what I'd do if a customer asked me the time.
The same can be true for trainees, many of whom (myself included) have been settled in their current careers for many years. I had to do a lot of research and refamiliarise myself with my suit and tie for my interviews to become a trainee driver!
They don't seem to be now. This is the 3rd time in a row of advertising back to back for the same job. Doesn't say they don't accept relocation but loads of qualified drivers who have applied wanting to relocate, have received an immediate rejection email. After following up, have all been told it's their policy not to accept applicants who live more than a 1 HR commute from Crewe station. It would be nice of them to mention this on the application before applicants waste a good few hours completing the online application.
I mean 45 min commute not 1 hr
At least you managed the suit and tie. That’s seemingly too much for many applicants!
Agree. Qualified interviews tend to be very similar to the trainee driver interview pack + maybe a few rules questions. In fact, I don’t remember ever being asked a customer service question during the trainee interview yet seems to come up in qualified interviews.But those interviews are geared towards why you'd make a good driver.
The qualified ones I've had seem to want you to answer like you're proving yourself all over again.
The proof is in my licence, I'd rather be asked a lot more technical questions or what I'd do in unexpected situations I've trained for. Not what I'd do if a customer asked me the time.
Thanks for the insight. TOCs normally have that policy in place for trainee driver positions due to the sheer number of applications received; but for Qualified drivers the policies usually stipulate that applicants either currently live within 45 mins, or are willing to relocate to live within 45 mins. Or that's been our experience. Hubby just applied for Avanti Liverpool position last month and it said do you live 45 mins from the depot? Yes or No. If No are you willing to relocate? It looks as though WMT are struggling with this being the 3rd time of advertising. The adverts pop up again very quickly after the previous one expires. Let's see if they are 3rd time lucky.This has been West Mids Trains policy since LM, certainly was the case when I joined 7 years ago.
With the sheer number of qualified drivers around the Crewe area with all the freight work plus TOCs, relocation is not going to be something they take externally.
Probably should have it on the application itself, but all the TOCs I've had applications with (Avanti, XC, Northern, Chiltern, TfW) have all had the 45 mins/1hr rule so it's hardly unexpected.
The only thing I can add is that the depot at Crewe only has 1 driver vacancy currently, but are expecting to lose a number of drivers to retirement in the next 3 years. So it seems they are trying to cherry pick at this time as time isn't an issue for qualified drivers.Thanks for the insight. TOCs normally have that policy in place for trainee driver positions due to the sheer number of applications received; but for Qualified drivers the policies usually stipulate that applicants either currently live within 45 mins, or are willing to relocate to live within 45 mins. Or that's been our experience. Hubby just applied for Avanti Liverpool position last month and it said do you live 45 mins from the depot? Yes or No. If No are you willing to relocate? It looks as though WMT are struggling with this being the 3rd time of advertising. The adverts pop up again very quickly after the previous one expires. Let's see if they are 3rd time lucky.