Trainee Conductor at Man Pic -how long to wait?

[Geordie-bri]

Afternoon ladies and gents,

First time poster, long time lurker here!

Firstly, MASSIVE amount of information on this forum, and it was really good to read about the high and lows of a job on the rails!

I applied for a Trainee Conductor job in April this year with Northern back in April. I got the verbal and numerical test stuff and did that pretty quick, then the invitation for the nightmare that is the Saville test soon after. I did that 5 days ago.

Short question is: how long do the Saville results take, and how long would it be until I'm (hopefully) invited for interview?

Kinda stuck in a soul-destroying job in a local College, desperately trying to get out before the dreaded Redundancy comes around. I used to work at Man Pic when I got out of Uni for SSP 9 years go - certainly an eye opener, but got to sit out on the platform and watch the all the sights and sounds of the place!

Cheers guys!

B

 

[Si_leeds]

Nightmare Saville test? As in the work strengths that asks about yourself? I wouldn't of called that a nightmare lol.
I got my interview email about a week or two after doing the saville

 

[Geordie-bri]

That's the one - probably too strong of a word to describe the Saville test! With the verbal and numerical tests you generally get a feeling afterwards if you've done well or not, but with the nature of the Saville you just can't tell!

Cheers for your help - I'll keep panicking for another week or so

B

 

[kelv]

I found Saville more confusing/strange than anything, as in after putting something as a positive you then had to put it as a negative about yourself.
It was hard to find any info on it as well really before hand to prep yourself, I did another 1 for Network Rail that was the same kind of thing but just the way that the 2nd part of each 'question' was put to you made it feel like you wasn't saying something 'in the negative.'

I spoke to Northern HR about it & they said some of them had sat it & looked through it & had also had similar thoughts.

I have an assessment day coming up for Manc so am in full prep mode at the mo as there are apparently a lot of positions at the moment, my thoughts are definitely that I'll only be getting the 1 shot at this in the near future & I've waited a while for this chance as well.

On the matter of the Recruitment Drive that Northern are on at the moment because of the commitment of the franchise to increase services/ more trains etc I cant help thinking something ...

We all know that there are a huge number of applicants for each conductor position, but of those a large amount never get through the sift, then there'll be a kind of benchmark score on the tests that some fall below. Of those above that mark only so many progress to assessment days/interviews.. BUT the TOC's know that in say the Picc/Manc area the same folk will be applying again & again & also with other TOC's, so they'll kind of have an idea what kind of numbers are applying that are potentially suitable for the role.
NOW... given that Transpennine are also needing to bring in more staff on a very similar timescale, I cant help wondering if Northern are stealing a bit of a march on them by speeding up the process so they don't find themselves in a position whereby they are then struggling to get the staff of the standard they want.
Previously of course there would be only a couple of positions that everyone was going after, so there were a lot more tests on the assessment day, maybe just as another way of cutting numbers & whittling down the candidates as opposed to their actual relevance to the position. TP are still doing those tests btw & things moving at the same pace which is why I've started to wonder about Northerns 'speeding up' of the process.

Or maybe it's a sign that I just have too much time on my hands to have even started to think thats the case.

 

[Geordie-bri]

I found Saville more confusing/strange than anything, as in after putting something as a positive you then had to put it as a negative about yourself.

That element of the Saville was particularly difficult - you've already established your qualities but then to say which quality is your worst from your best?!

There does seem to be a lot of transport based jobs going around in the North West - I've applied for Driver at Manchester with Northern and LRV Driver for Metrolink. Still not heard anything from either yet. I guess it seems to be all about this Northern Powerhouse malarkey they keep harping on about, plus as you say with the new Franchise commitments to keep with, they need more and more staff!

B

 

[riotcop]

hi mate I found out after about a week then got invited for interview /assessment I start 30 th may my course .if you want any info re this drop me a message

 

[Geordie-bri]

hi mate I found out after about a week then got invited for interview /assessment I start 30 th may my course .if you want any info re this drop me a message

Cheers for the info, and congtats on making the grade. You'll have to let know how it goes!

It's been a week since I did the Saville test so I'm just waiting to hear back from them now. I keep going onto the engageats to have a look to see if anythings changed. Do they keep that thing up to date? I'm guessing it could be this week I hear from them - just want to be put out of my misery!

Cheers,

B

 

[kelv]

Cheers for the info, and congtats on making the grade. You'll have to let know how it goes!

It's been a week since I did the Saville test so I'm just waiting to hear back from them now. I keep going onto the engageats to have a look to see if anythings changed. Do they keep that thing up to date? I'm guessing it could be this week I hear from them - just want to be put out of my misery!

Cheers,

B

you'll more than likely be contacted before the status changes on your application.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
did any of you attend the assessment yesterday in Manchester (16th may) ?

a nervous wait now hoping that a call comes & not an email of doom.

 

[riotcop]

yes mate defo I will keep you updated if you need any info drop me a mess

 

[cin88]

you'll more than likely be contacted before the status changes on your application.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
did any of you attend the assessment yesterday in Manchester (16th may) ?

a nervous wait now hoping that a call comes & not an email of doom.

I did.

 

[kelv]

I did.

I was there in morning, was you there with me ?

 

[cin88]

I was there in morning, was you there with me ?

No I turned up in the afternoon.

 

[kelv]

No I turned up in the afternoon.

Right, it's a waiting game again now for us, Good Luck.

 

[ANorthernGuard]

More Newbs to break in lol

 

[kelv]

No I turned up in the afternoon.

Have you heard anything ?

or has anyone else heard anything either way ?

 

[cin88]

Have you heard anything ?

or has anyone else heard anything either way ?

Email of doom for me i'm afraid. Now i'm stuck for six months so i'm probably going to go for promotion at my current job.

 

[kelv]

Email of doom for me i'm afraid. Now i'm stuck for six months so i'm probably going to go for promotion at my current job.

Good Luck with that, so the 6 month rule kicks in then .. thats unfortunate when they seem to be on a recruitment drive with quite a few positions, there were a couple in the group exercise with me that 1 had been I think he said twice before (last time in December) & 1 that was an internal (sure he said Jan) so has the 6 month rule always applied because I f that guy went in december then when he lodged his application would've fallen in the 6 month period.

After a telephone interview with transpennine I'm now in the 6 month period, not 1 thing I researched seemed to come up in it, in fact I did a lot of company research & had 'cheat sheets' to prompt me & the lady started off by telling me all of that info.
Couldn't apply for ATW because the vacancy expired the day before I was out of the 6 month period.

Again, Good Luck if you decide to go for a promotion.

 

[Evie 12]

I was just reading your posts with interest as I have recently passed a telephone interview for a conductor role at GWR.

Does anyone know if the next stage would involve a saville test or something similar? Also, excuse my ignorance, but what is a saville test?

Thanking you in advance.

 

[kelv]

I was just reading your posts with interest as I have recently passed a telephone interview for a conductor role at GWR.

Does anyone know if the next stage would involve a saville test or something similar? Also, excuse my ignorance, but what is a saville test?

Thanking you in advance.

Saville test is 1 that creates a profile of you, there's a similar SHL 1, Northern switched to the Saville 1 in about November las year but not sure that any other TOCs have.

 

[Evie 12]

Thank you for your reply kelv.

I have already completed an online aptitude test prior to the telephone interview so maybe I have swerved the saville test or anything similar.

I'll keep you posted!

 

[kelv]

Just called them because I hadn't heard anything & 15 days since the interview, wanted to make sure I hadn't missed a call etc.

Got the 'Sorry but you have been unsuccessful' email minutes later.

Absolutely gutted tbh ... like seriously gutted.

I've asked for feedback as unsure if I have to wait 6 months like 1 of the other candidates mentioned as it didn't say it in the email, if that's the case & I'm also in that situation with FTP then it could well be that my chance has gone. I've been holding out in my job searching (self employed at the moment) so that I'm available but I'm at a point where I can't really hang around any longer.
I have an 'iron in the fire' at the Uni & will hear possibly tomorrow, it was the conductor job I wanted but if offered this then I'll HAVE to take it ... it does offer a very similar level of job security tbh, pay is same but no shifts so I'll have to keep my fingers crossed.