First Great Western Trainee drivers, Anyone heard back?

[NHG66]

@ Fragfiledog

It was not scary for me, the bit I was dreading was the reaction test which thankfully I passed. However, having now gone through the interview, it is really tough. If you are honest about your answers and think carefully about how you say things then you may not find it that tough.

There is plenty of info around regarding the types of questions you will get so think about how you would answer them now and drill into the detail of every answer. I cannot say any more, that was the level of info I went in with and it would be unfair to all the other candidates if I said anymore. I guess what I am saying is that if you are what they are looking for then you should get through. For me it is now a waiting game, I have no idea which way it will go, they do not let on at all. Gotta hand it to the staff conducting the tests and interviews, they stick rigidly to the brief and will not be drawn.

 

[Fragiledog]

@ Fragfiledog

It was not scary for me, the bit I was dreading was the reaction test which thankfully I passed. However, having now gone through the interview, it is really tough. If you are honest about your answers and think carefully about how you say things then you may not find it that tough.

There is plenty of info around regarding the types of questions you will get so think about how you would answer them now and drill into the detail of every answer. I cannot say any more, that was the level of info I went in with and it would be unfair to all the other candidates if I said anymore. I guess what I am saying is that if you are what they are looking for then you should get through. For me it is now a waiting game, I have no idea which way it will go, they do not let on at all. Gotta hand it to the staff conducting the tests and interviews, they stick rigidly to the brief and will not be drawn.

Yea, I'm just worried that I won't have all the experience they require . Have written down a few examples to the example questions I found on here, guess I can't do much more though. Did you have to write them out before hand?

 

[NHG66]

Yea, I'm just worried that I won't have all the experience they require . Have written down a few examples to the example questions I found on here, guess I can't do much more though. Did you have to write them out before hand?

Yeah, they give a question sheet to fill out first then base the interview on those answers.

 

[AlexRostron]

Has anyone who's done stage 2 of the assessment been given any kind of time frame about being called for the managers interview? Or heard if they have been successful?

 

[Fragiledog]

Just been told 7-10 days. Just got in from stage 2, hard day!

 

[spesh]

Had an email saying that ive passed the short listing stage and they are checking that I have not sat the drivers assessment, so just waiting.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Who has been told if they have not proceeded yet? I haven't had an E-mail of any confirmation if I passed stage 1 or not, and a phone call stated that I will get an E-mail soon as they haven't got the results yet. I take the long wait as a you have not passed anyway since I think most if not all have done Stage 2 now?

 

[Crannon]

I take the long wait as a you have not passed anyway since I think most if not all have done Stage 2 now?

While I don't know if they have informed everyone from stage 1 yet, I do know they are doing Stage 2 all this week at least, and there was an implication they might still be doing some next week.

 

[tone]

Who has been told if they have not proceeded yet? I haven't had an E-mail of any confirmation if I passed stage 1 or not, and a phone call stated that I will get an E-mail soon as they haven't got the results yet. I take the long wait as a you have not passed anyway since I think most if not all have done Stage 2 now?

They just have a lot of people to get through, I was thinking the same thing as I know some people who did the assessment the same time as me have already had their stage 2 and I haven't, but they did eventually get round to me. Just hang on in there!

As an aside, folks, they are also recruiting a "Manoeuvrer" at Reading, which I figure is their name for depot driver. Application for this closes Friday. I asked about aptitudes for this role, they will be the same as for driver. So as long as you pass the aptitudes it might be worth applying for in case you don't get the mainline driver job, its good to have a plan B...

 

[Beveridges]

Pretty sure Manoeuvrer is another name for working in the Operations Office not a depot driver would have to get that confirmed 100% but thats what I think it is

 

[spesh]

Had a text and an email today, asking of I could attend first part of the assessments tomorrow, 23 hours notice!!!!!!!

 

[Beveridges]

They should give you 7 working days notice, if I remember correctly the assessment process allows you to turn down an assessment date if they have not given 7 working days notice.

 

[barrykas]

They should give you 7 working days notice, if I remember correctly the assessment process allows you to turn down an assessment date if they have not given 7 working days notice.

The recommendation is to have had the practice material for seven days. When I did the Stage 1 at Reading, there were a couple of people who either hadn't had the practice material at all or had only had it the previous day, and the assessors advised them not to sit the assessment. Those that went ahead were asked to write a note to that effect on the "cover" sheet.

Cheers,

Barry

 

[Stone Cold]

Anyone heard back for Oxford/Westbury?

Received an email stating shortlisting not complete yet by line manager.

 

[GibsonLP1988]

Who has been told if they have not proceeded yet? I haven't had an E-mail of any confirmation if I passed stage 1 or not, and a phone call stated that I will get an E-mail soon as they haven't got the results yet. I take the long wait as a you have not passed anyway since I think most if not all have done Stage 2 now?

Hey Mate,

I was on that assessment with you and we talked before starting the assessment in the lobby. Just to confirm I have not heard anything back at all. I phoned today to ask if the HR team had the results back from the Assessment we did and I was told that because there has been a large intake they have not heard anything yet but they are going to chase it up
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Sorry to hear that mate!

 

[spesh]

Stage 2 running next week and maybe a day or two week after, looking to start drivers in November, that's what I got told at stage 1 today at reading

 

[NHG66]

For all those still in the running, login to your First group account and check your application status. Mine changed late yesterday afternoon

Best wishes everyone.

 

[bluehorse]

Could you say what your status has changed to? I've checked mine and I think it has changed but not sure, I had part 2 assessment last Tuesday.

 

[NHG66]

Could you say what your status has changed to? I've checked mine and I think it has changed but not sure, I had part 2 assessment last Tuesday.

Mine says 'successful at full assessment' or something similar. Guessing that means I passed the Structured Interview.

 

[tone]

Mine says 'successful at full assessment' or something similar. Guessing that means I passed the Structured Interview.

Ah well done mate, how did you think you had done? I'm currently not feeling confident about that interview. Before the interview I thought my example of an emergency made me a complete hero, after answering questions on how i had dealt with it I feel like a complete zero...

 

[bluehorse]

Well done, I felt the same as Tone not sure how my scenarios sounded during the interview. Phoned on Friday but there was some delay getting our results from OPC.

 

[NHG66]

Tone, Bluehorse,

I too did not feel massively confident after the interview. What I did notice was that when I kept being asked the same question again, when I answered the question in what was probably the correct way she wrote some stuff down. Perhaps it was a case of using certain keywords that they were looking for. I got frustrated on one question because she kept coming back with the same line so I said that unless she was more specific then I could not answer the question in any other way. I spoke with 2 other guys who have been attending at teh same time as me and they both said the same about the interview so I guess it is hard to know. Everyone seems to come out of the SI feeling pretty much the same, battered and bruised.

Good luck, there are so many people going through and at different stages so do not lose heart if you have not heard yet.

 

[AlexRostron]

Tone, Bluehorse,

I too did not feel massively confident after the interview. What I did notice was that when I kept being asked the same question again, when I answered the question in what was probably the correct way she wrote some stuff down. Perhaps it was a case of using certain keywords that they were looking for. I got frustrated on one question because she kept coming back with the same line so I said that unless she was more specific then I could not answer the question in any other way. I spoke with 2 other guys who have been attending at teh same time as me and they both said the same about the interview so I guess it is hard to know. Everyone seems to come out of the SI feeling pretty much the same, battered and bruised.

Good luck, there are so many people going through and at different stages so do not lose heart if you have not heard yet.

I would agree with those comments; after the structured interview I felt pretty beaten and still came through with a good pass, there's just certain criteria they need to tick in their boxes so hopefully you guys will have done enough, stay positive! Personally I think your assessment passes are more important as these show you have the qualities required to actually do the job rather than interview brilliantly. On top of that it's not even FGW interviewing you it's some 2-bit amateur psychologist who knows nothing about the railway or engineering so as long as you focused on how you have req qualities (concentration, r&p's, shift work etc) hopefully you'll be fine! GOOD LUCK!

 

[barrykas]

Got an e-mail from FirstGroup Careers today: "The results (Stage 1) are still with the recruiting manager. As soon as we have an update we'll let you know."

 

[Fragiledog]

I'm really worried I messed up in the interview. Thought I did okay, but thinking back not sure if I did . I know they score you in 5 different areas, but if you get a fail or borderline pass in one area, does that mean you fail the whole assessment course? or is there an overall grade for the interview stage? Still waiting to hear, but not that confident any more

 

[nashwrt]

Has anyone heard back their results from stage 2 at Reading on the 18 Sept?

 

[tone]

Are they still interviewing people?

 

[macncheese]

I have a 'competency' interview next week, which I think is the Managers interview. Has anyone else been through this? And if so any tips? I am going to research as much as I possibly can. Good luck to everyone.

 

[Crannon]

Well, looks like I passed stage 2 (did it on 18th), as today I've also been asked to a 'competency interview' next week.

(My online thing, incidentally hasn't changed since the original 'invited to assessment').

 

[NHG66]

I have a 'competency' interview next week, which I think is the Managers interview. Has anyone else been through this? And if so any tips? I am going to research as much as I possibly can. Good luck to everyone.

Yes I have done it today, tips well............

Read the forums pal, I ain't gonna give you an advantage I never had lol.

Best of luck though

Well done Crannon, so which depots are you two applying for ?