First Great Western Trainee drivers, Anyone heard back?

[not heard]

Hello
I sat my stage 1 assessment in Bristol on September 11th and still not heard anything, has anybody else heard back.
Thank you

 

[DistrictDriver]

They're a strange bunch at FGW recruitment!
Since leaving LU, I moved back to Newcastle and am now driving buses for a living, so to get less than 48 hours notice that I need to be in Reading for assessment is crackers!

I'm grateful to have actually got past the initial sifting for a change though; Despite previous experience on mainline and LU, I still struggled to get past the application stage, in fact I just got an email a few hours earlier from Transpennine Express informing me I "didn't have the required skills"!!

Anyway, I'm in Reading tomorrow afternoon. Luckily I was off work anyway tomorrow, but with being such short notice, it's cost me a fortune to get down there!!

Hopefully I still have the skill to get past those psychometric tests!

 

[notadriver]

You have mainline experience ? Why aren't you going in as a qualified driver?

 

[DistrictDriver]

You have mainline experience ? Why aren't you going in as a qualified driver?

I've been away from driving trains for a few years now so all of my safety critical licenses have now expired.

I did try the experienced driver route a month or two ago but couldn't proceed because of the time away.

 

[welshperv82]

They're a strange bunch at FGW recruitment!
Since leaving LU, I moved back to Newcastle and am now driving buses for a living, so to get less than 48 hours notice that I need to be in Reading for assessment is crackers!

I'm grateful to have actually got past the initial sifting for a change though; Despite previous experience on mainline and LU, I still struggled to get past the application stage, in fact I just got an email a few hours earlier from Transpennine Express informing me I "didn't have the required skills"!!

Anyway, I'm in Reading tomorrow afternoon. Luckily I was off work anyway tomorrow, but with being such short notice, it's cost me a fortune to get down there!!

Hopefully I still have the skill to get past those psychometric tests!

I had the same notice mate, 1530pm on Wednesday telling me the test was a 1100am the next day, although for me it's only a 2 hour drive lol. Apparently if you show your test appointment paperwork at the train station you'll get a free return ticket. I took the car because I didn't know at the time, but one of the lads on the assessment did it. Beats a long drive from Newcastle!

 

[TDK]

I've been away from driving trains for a few years now so all of my safety critical licenses have now expired.

I did try the experienced driver route a month or two ago but couldn't proceed because of the time away.

It is 5 years, if you haven't been productive with any company for that time you are classed as a new starter off the street as they say and will have to do all the courses again including rules etc.

 

[GibsonLP1988]

I'm still waiting to hear back from Stage 1 which I did about a month ago now!

I was on that with you mate and still waiting to hear back. I asked FGW to phone me by leaving a message and they didn't reply. All I got told and that was a week after stage 1 is to wait out.

Anyone else on this forum who completed the assessment at the Hilton in Bristol on the 4th September? who has or not heard anything?

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Wasn't you the one I was talking to before we went in, when you were sweating from the heat outside?

I have called before too, and they said they haven't received my results but they will be in touch by e-mail. I might just call back next week anyway. I think this 'You should hear something by Saturday' (I.E the 7th September) went out the window

 

[GibsonLP1988]

Wasn't you the one I was talking to before we went in, when you were sweating from the heat outside?

I have called before too, and they said they haven't received my results but they will be in touch by e-mail. I might just call back next week anyway. I think this 'You should hear something by Saturday' (I.E the 7th September) went out the window

Yeah that was me. Shame the weather isn't hot like that now lol. Yeah the HR at FGW have wound me up good and proper. I know there have been lots of candidates doing the assessment and that the railway can be slow with paperwork but rather than say you'll hear back on Friday or Saturday she could have told us it's going to be slow moving. It's now a month gone and I'm unsure what to do.

I know a chef who I used to serve alongside in the Army who's a shunter for Gatwick Express and he said we might be okay. I'm not getting my hopes up as I think I fluffed them dials. Do you know anyone from the course who has heard success or failed?

 

[TT66]

Just noticed my status has changed from awaiting shortlisting to awaiting invite to assessment.What does that mean? I've passed shortlisting and will be invited to assessments?

 

[welshperv82]

Just noticed my status has changed from awaiting shortlisting to awaiting invite to assessment.What does that mean? I've passed shortlisting and will be invited to assessments?

That sounds about right mate. Good luck mate! Be careful to check your emails etc because you might get an email today asking tor you to attend tomorrow etc

 

[TT66]

I've been lucky,assessment booked for next Tuesday 11.45am in Reading.Anyone else had assessments at reading? Is the group bourdon test on pc or paper? Also how long has in been for people from completing stage one to doing stage two?

 

[NHG66]

Paul, GB is paper based. I was less than two weeks between stage 1 and stage 2 I think then about another week or so to Managers interview which was a week last Friday so It all rattled along quite quickly.

What depot have you applied for ?

 

[TT66]

Ok that's great thanks,Ive applied for Oxford depot,live in coventry so it is under 60mins if the m40 is clear.May have to relocate closer if I'm lucky enough to get through,we'll see.How about yourself? Any tips without giving too much away?

 

[spesh]

I sat my stage one on the 20th of sept still aint herd anything from first, but got a test with another TOC, they rang first up and first had to give my results (pass, not sure which pass but a pass) now I've got the reaction test and structured interview with the other TOC in 2 weeks!!

 

[AlexRostron]

Still waiting everyone?? I emailed FGW today (had my managers interview on 30th August!) and got what I guess is a standard response of "we are still waiting to hear from our recruitment manager. As soon as we hear from them you will be contacted with the outcome".

It is a VERY slow process.

 

[barrykas]

Still waiting everyone?? I emailed FGW today (had my managers interview on 30th August!) and got what I guess is a standard response of "we are still waiting to hear from our recruitment manager. As soon as we hear from them you will be contacted with the outcome".

Yeah...The e-mail address on the website is for the central HR team within First Group, not direct to FGW HR, which is a pain.

 

[jscho84233]

Hi guys,

Well it's been the longest 7 weeks of my life since my DM interview, but I finally got the call from FGW this afternoon with a conditional job offer! Conditional on medical, references and CRB check, I'll be starting on 5th November!

To say I'm over the moon would be an understatement. It's been a long year since I left the RAF and applied for this job. As I said before, I applied for a driver's job this time last year and got as far as the assessments in January. Some vacancies were then withdrawn due to an HR review, and I was put on hold. So then I applied for these latest vacancies when they came up a few months ago.

I know there are loads of people on here still in the process, all the way from awaiting shortlisting all the way to DM interview - all I can say is keep at it, it is a very long drawn out process, due to the sheer number of applicants. Keep practicing those tests if your next step is assessments, and keep preparing for your interview if that's your next step.

As has been mentioned on here a while ago, I believe there is another course starting in Jan 13, so don't lose hope if you are still at the early stages of the process.

Good luck to everyone still in with a shout, and I look forward to hearing from fellow course mates!

 

[Captain Chaos]

Who is the CRB check with? Someone told me it was the Basic check with Disclosure Scotland. How do you get one done?

 

[jscho84233]

I have no idea to be honest mate, I'm assuming that FGW are going to sort it out.

 

[LKS]

Hi guys! I got an email yesterday (exactly 2 months from the closing date) saying I'd passed application and got my first assessment this coming Monday in Newport Wales! Excited, nervous and worried after reading through the whole thread. The email states that if successful Monday the second assessment would be on 23rd-25th of October. A week later! I've tried the practice questions on the pack provided, visited my library on the hope of book info (waste of time!) and searched through nearly every web page you can find. What is in assessment one? It says to allow 3 hours on the day... (If that helps!) I'm trying to cram everything in today as I'm going away tomorrow on a pre booked holiday for my birthday Sunday! So not much time to study sadly.

All feedback would be much appreciated.

Well done to those who have already been offered places and gone onto stage 2... Hope I can be saying that from Monday as well! Once in a life time opportunities don't come around often!

 

[coupes]

Hi guys,

Well it's been the longest 7 weeks of my life since my DM interview, but I finally got the call from FGW this afternoon with a conditional job offer! Conditional on medical, references and CRB check, I'll be starting on 5th November!

To say I'm over the moon would be an understatement. It's been a long year since I left the RAF and applied for this job. As I said before, I applied for a driver's job this time last year and got as far as the assessments in January. Some vacancies were then withdrawn due to an HR review, and I was put on hold. So then I applied for these latest vacancies when they came up a few months ago.

I know there are loads of people on here still in the process, all the way from awaiting shortlisting all the way to DM interview - all I can say is keep at it, it is a very long drawn out process, due to the sheer number of applicants. Keep practicing those tests if your next step is assessments, and keep preparing for your interview if that's your next step.

As has been mentioned on here a while ago, I believe there is another course starting in Jan 13, so don't lose hope if you are still at the early stages of the process.

Good luck to everyone still in with a shout, and I look forward to hearing from fellow course mates!

Congratulations jscho84233 - Fantastic news.

 

[jscho84233]

Thank you, Coupes - are you still in the running?

 

[bob hope]

Congratulations jscho84233 - which depot will you be starting at?

 

[jscho84233]

Thanks, Bob! I will be working out of Oxford. Best of luck with your assessments! I really didn't find the reactions test as difficult as I was imagining. The actual test is quite fast on the second part, but nowhere near as fast as the program you downloaded.

 

[bob hope]

Thanks for the info mate - I've got my 1st assesment on Tuesday in Reading - for an Oxford Role.
I can safely say I've never felt so nervous in all my life!

If I manage to get through those I might be picking your brains - you'll have probably started by the time FGW let me know if I'm through to the next stage though!

Really hope everything goes well for you in your new job - enjoy.

 

[jscho84233]

Thank you mate, I will! And you (and anyone else) are most certainly welcome to pick my brains!

 

[DistrictDriver]

The email states that if successful Monday the second assessment would be on 23rd-25th of October. A week later!

Nice of them to tell you when the second assesments will be!
Been seven days now since I took the first one and still no news... Lol I know I'm expecting a bit much but we were told 7 to 10 days!

I only hope I get more notice of a part 2 assesment (if I passed part 1)!

 

[TT66]

I'm nervous too bob,got mine the same day.is yours 11.45am? Got lots of practice books from amazon.Good luck with the revision!

 

[LKS]

Nice of them to tell you when the second assesments will be!
Been seven days now since I took the first one and still no news... Lol I know I'm expecting a bit much but we were told 7 to 10 days!

I only hope I get more notice of a part 2 assesment (if I passed part 1)!

Well that's what is stated in the email I received regarding assessment 1... Hopefully that's true but only time will tell (and if I pass)