Northern Rail talent pool

[Andrew32]

Where you on hold for and what position?

On hold usually means that once a course place becomes available you will be offered a position and yes, you are technically in the talent pool with your interview score being valid for six months.

See my post above on 3rd November for my experience in the talent pool.

 

[Louby]

Where you on hold for and what position?

On hold usually means that once a course place becomes available you will be offered a position and yes, you are technically in the talent pool with your interview score being valid for six months.

See my post above on 3rd November for my experience in the talent pool.

What does your status say with northern thou?

 

[47802]

With respect, it's up to the company to employ who they want, as they need to. They will ultimately choose who they feel is the best candidate.

It's the same in the driving grade at the moment. Lots of people are passing the psychometric tests/interviews and are ending up on hold/in talent pools. The TOC will then recruit the ones who scored highest/interviewed best.

Respect nothing that's just P***** people about, unfortunately many companies can get away with just about anything due to current employment climate, and from the companies I have worked most HR departments seem to consist of a couple of people at the top who actually know what the they doing and rest are clueless clowns.

 

[Andrew32]

What does your status say with northern thou?

Between June and August last year it said ' on hold after successful conductor assessment ' and has said ' talent pool ' ever since the position was pulled.

Been in regular contact with them since and found out yesterday that some jobs have just been advertised internally at Skipton so I will be calling them tomorrow.

Been told by HR manager that next course place available is 4th August which ties in well with these jobs being advertised as they will be recruiting for July-December period now.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Respect nothing that's just P***** people about, unfortunately many companies can get away with just about anything due to current employment climate, and from the companies I have worked most HR departments seem to consist of a couple of people at the top who actually know what the they doing and rest are clueless clowns.

I agree to some extent that talent pools are completely useless but if they didn't exist I wouldn't still be in with a chance of obtaining a position if they weren't there.

Having said that it would make more sense to only advertise positions when they become available instead of having to put your life on hold.

I have to admit that Northern HR have been quite helpful over the last 10/11 months, just unfortunate that I applied for a small depot with low staff turnover.

Never the less, I will keep waiting and I'm sure my time will come eventually.

 

[Andrew32]

Does anyone know if there would be any reason for roles to only be advertised internally and not go external?

 

[MadeinWigan]

I'm dragging this old thread out of retirement.

How many of us are currently sat in the Northern talent pools and for how long?

I've been in the talent pool for nearly a year and have had very little contact with HR since last October. I don't want to keep pestering and I don't consider a call or email every couple of months pestering. Getting no replies to emails doesn't inspire confidence though.

With this mass recruitment does anyone else get the feeling that Northern have too many successful candidates than positions? I do wonder at what point we'll be quietly dropped.

I hope I'm wrong and that the call we all hope for comes but the fact that there's not been any "hang in there" emails for well over 6mths makes me fear the worst.

 

[8ball]

My experience of the talent pool wasn't particularly good. I applied for a depot driver role at Blackpool and subsequently passed psychometric and DM interviews successfully. Was then put in the talent pool for six months, only to get the dreaded email that the position had been pulled. Seems a bit wrong to advertise a position that doesn't exist and give false hope. Having said that I will keep trying to get a foot in the door.

 

[adsteamfan]

I'm dragging this old thread out of retirement.

How many of us are currently sat in the Northern talent pools and for how long?

I've been in the talent pool for nearly a year and have had very little contact with HR since last October. I don't want to keep pestering and I don't consider a call or email every couple of months pestering. Getting no replies to emails doesn't inspire confidence though.

I know a lad who rang HR last week to asked about potential training for Wigan as he was going to book a holiday. He was told that there's quite a few internals waiting too so go ahead and book.
He's not had any emails from HR since the 'well done you've passed - we'll be in touch regularly to keep you updated' email in Feb last year! - it's good to talk!!
Problem is that they know they can do this. If anyone in the pool gets fed-up and drops out there's plenty more hopefulls out there to fill their places.

 

[MadeinWigan]

I get the feeling that Wigan is pretty well covered between internals and transfers in. I've asked to be considered for other depots but as I've had no reply I don't know if it's possible. I'll try ringing again.

Like you say, we're not important to them. We're neither customers or employees and we're easily replaced so there's no real incentive for them to be attentive.

It's a shame as I really want to get my career in the rail industry started but it's not looking likely any time soon.

 

[Checker123]

There is one lad on current course for Blackpool apparently there is only one job
One for barrow and one for Liverpool I believe all internal

 

[Seve]

I am afraid I am another one currently sitting in the talent pool so I share your frustration MadeinWigan, and I do hope that your feeling does not come true.

I come home from work and check my phone answer machine, missed calls on my mobile and check my emails, in hope that I have received some good news. This has been my daily routine since passing the assessments.

What keeps me optimistic is that surely they would not go to all the trouble and expense to run a recruitment drive if we are not required at some point or am I being naive !

However we are still in the mix being in the talent pool and hopefully we all will hear some positive news this year to kick start our careers.

Does anybody have an idea how many are waiting in the talent pool? and how many externals have been allocated a course ?

 

[johnsonr380]

I am afraid I am another one currently sitting in the talent pool for Trainee Driver, for approx 12 months now, so I share your frustration MadeinWigan, and I do hope that your feeling does not come true.

I come home from work and check my phone answer machine, missed calls on my mobile and check my emails, in hope that I have received some good news. This has been my daily routine since passing the assessments.

What keeps me optimistic is that surely Northern would not go to all the trouble and expense to run a recruitment drive if we are not required at some point or am I being naive !

However we are still in the mix being in the talent pool and hopefully we all will hear some positive news this year to kick start our careers.

Does anybody have an idea how many are waiting in the talent pool? and how many externals have been allocated a course ?

I'm in the pool for Manchester depots, well they changed the travel time from 1 hour to 45 mins, puts me out for both for around 8 minutes. 4 emails and a telephone message left to a colleague I'm still none the wiser.....no reply.

I'm constantly checking the northern site, the forum my phone......everything!

I think we all do, been like this for a year too. Its not a healthy way to live, but we live in hope !!

Everyone's in the same boat. I think the purpose of the bump is yo get an idea who's left as nobody really knows how many are in the pool. The main thing is we haven't been kicked and they haven't had another recruitment drive ! These are the positives I'm taking. Good luck all

 

[Seve]

When did you hear that the travel time has been changed from 1 hour to 45 mins?

 

[Louby]

When did you hear that the travel time has been changed from 1 hour to 45 mins?, I too applied for the Manchester depots and it stated 1 Hour which I was within. I have not had any contact from Northern to say otherwise.

If this has changed then it puts me out also. Very worrying indeed !
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Just had a quick look on Northern website Train Drivers it states

"You must live within a 60 minute commutable distance from the location you are applying for"

Bit of hope !

It's definatly changed to 45 mins

 

[302PS]

45 mins and use Google maps

 

[Seve]

I hope this is not true !

 

[MadeinWigan]

It will either happen or it won't. For me, I've got to try and carry on with life as if I never applied. Can't delay decisions because something might happen this year. I wasted a few months thinking the call would come and delayed going for jobs that I should have gone for.

I'd love the job but there's other options out there and I'd kick myself if we get removed from the pool and I hadn't been going for other things. One thing I'm sure of, Northern aren't sitting around thinking that they need to find us positions, too many people want the job for them to care.

 

[tlionhart]

It will either happen or it won't. For me, I've got to try and carry on with life as if I never applied. Can't delay decisions because something might happen this year. I wasted a few months thinking the call would come and delayed going for jobs that I should have gone for.

I'd love the job but there's other options out there and I'd kick myself if we get removed from the pool and I hadn't been going for other things. One thing I'm sure of, Northern aren't sitting around thinking that they need to find us positions, too many people want the job for them to care.

Totally agree with that. I'm in a similar position with another TOC. It's not like we're waiting for next stages, but passing everything including the DM. It's horrible. Been waiting almost a year. What's been very tough is the false hope. It's a big deal to me, like it is for others. If I'm going to have a career change, now is the time. It's no different to someone trying to secure a big business deal with another company. So it's a kick in the dogs-dangles to work hard, train your thought process to the job, preparation, etc to feel like there is no opportunity. I'm glad I never went for a pilots position, in hindsight that is even more soul destroying. Paying £60-70k of your own money to no garuntee of a job at the end. Vacancies for those positions limited, as they are in the rail industry. Least I've sat a process (for free) so to keep positive I keep telling myself I've lost nothing, gained experience ( especially to a stage others would love to be in)
This forum helps as its full of others who are in the same boat. In jobs, the competition is fierce and ultimately cut throat, however knowing how others feel. I really hope we all get offered a position...

 

[Seve]

You both make some great points, thanks. For me it's not the waiting that is worrying me, it's whether or not I am "Technically out" due to the alleged change in commute time to the depots.

Good Luck !

 

[tlionhart]

I understand your concern. Easier said than done, however it's best not to contact the TOC and question that and just hope you slip through the net.
To be honest, your prob stored away in some filing cabinet and they haven't even looked at your application to result in the reason why you haven't heard. Doubt they will even re-look at it. If you are lucky to hear from them, they may ask if any of your details have changed. I certainly wouldn't go pointing out the commuting times to them, unless you genuinely have moved.
The only downside with this forum is the exaggeration and over-complicated responses you get. Sometimes the reasoning to why you haven't heard from them is a lot more simple. Of course everyone's circumstances are different, you will prob forget all about this process ( thinking you've been binned) when one summer afternoon whilst enjoying an ice cream your phone rings and all surprise it's them!

 

[johnsonr380]

You both make some great points, thanks. For me it's not the waiting that is worrying me, it's whether or not I am "Technically out" due to the alleged change in commute time to the depots. Now that would be a kick in the dogs-dangles !

Good Luck !

Were both in the same boat mate. I was pursuing an answer but now I'm thinking whatever will be will be. Someone I know works for northern they seem to think as it was an hour when we applied So they should honour it, I'm not too sure but I'd like to think they would !

 

[Seve]

Hope they would. It would be harsh to change it at this late stage, especially after waiting so long.

Anyway just have to sit ,wait and hope. Still keeping the faith until told otherwise

 

[johnsonr380]

Yes mate, I too would like to think that they would honour it. It would be harsh to change it at this late stage, especially after waiting over a year since passing.

I had another look on the NR Drivers careers website and it still says 1 hour commute. Anyway just have to sit ,wait and hope. Still keeping the faith until told otherwise

Its has changed for new applicants, its unclear about us in the pool. If it has changed they certainly should of let us
know via email. Who knows

 

[Seve]

Yeah I did notice that for Hull Trainee Train Drivers. Did not think it would effect us though seeing as it stated 1 hour, and our application was prior to this apparent change in policy.

Anyhow just keep our fingers crossed mate. Maybe we are worrying too much about something that may not in the end effect us ! Good Luck

 

[johnsonr380]

Yeah I did notice that for Hull Trainee Train Drivers. Did not think it would affect us though seeing as it stated 1 hour, and our application was prior to this apparent change in policy.

Anyhow just keep our fingers crossed mate. Maybe we are worrying too much about something that may not in the end affect us ! Good Luck

Hope so mate.....good luck

 

[Robbo]

Hi all, I'm glad I came across this forum and thread as this subject is a daily worry for me. It's a career change for me and I'm chomping at the bit to start.

I went through all the assessments for the trainee driver positions at Manchester last year and received the email on 4th April 2014 to confirm i'm in the talent pool awaiting a training course place.

I've checked my status on the Northern website and it still says 'On Hold after successful driver assessment' and I live 59 minutes away from Piccadilly

I've had no contact since April and the email stated i'd be contacted whenever they had further information, so i've not contacted them. So looks like there are still plenty of us in the same boat. Has anyone contacted their HR or recruitment recently to see if they can shed any light?

Now I might be wrong about this, but I recall being told that passing the assessment centre was valid for about 5 years, does anyone else recall this?

Does anyone know what we would do about that if say we were to apply for another company, where would we access the information that we've passed the assessment centre as aparently is was nationally recognised?

Hope it works out for everyone soon!

Robbo

 

[Joof]

Hi all, I'm glad I came across this forum and thread as this subject is a daily worry for me. It's a career change for me and I'm chomping at the bit to start.

I went through all the assessments for the trainee driver positions at Manchester last year and received the email on 4th April 2014 to confirm i'm in the talent pool awaiting a training course place.

I've checked my status on the Northern website and it still says 'On Hold after successful driver assessment' and I live 59 minutes away from Piccadilly

I've had no contact since April and the email stated i'd be contacted whenever they had further information, so i've not contacted them. So looks like there are still plenty of us in the same boat. Has anyone contacted their HR or recruitment recently to see if they can shed any light?

Now I might be wrong about this, but I recall being told that passing the assessment centre was valid for about 5 years, does anyone else recall this?

Does anyone know what we would do about that if say we were to apply for another company, where would we access the information that we've passed the assessment centre as aparently is was nationally recognised?

Hope it works out for everyone soon!

Robbo

Hi Robbo. Did you have medical after the assessments?

 

[Robbo]

No Joof,

I was emailed to say I would not be progressed to the medical until there was an offer of employment.

 

[302PS]

You have a medical if /when you get offered a course start date, I was asked to confirm my post code to.confirm weather or not I was within 45 mins when I was offered a start...hope this helps

 

[Robbo]

You have a medical if /when you get offered a course start date, I was asked to confirm my post code to.confirm weather or not I was within 45 mins when I was offered a start...hope this helps

When was it you started?