Trainee Train Driver - Virgin Trains East Coast

[Blanka]

Just a touch over 5000 applications received with further internal recruitment taking place in January

 

[SPADTrap]

so once you have started your training you say the failure rate is high ?

I wouldn't say it is high and nor is it 'very rare', there has been 2-3 recently removed from training at my place, very switched on people. They'll always give you plenty of help but they will not hesitate to take people out.

 

[Sirgerbil]

Just a touch over 5000 applications received with further internal recruitment taking place in January

Where's that come from? Interesting that VTEC are presuming they won't get the required 78 from 5000 applicants and already planning future recruitment.

 

[Webby]

Just out of interest where has this information come from?

 

[Blanka]

Where's that come from? Interesting that VTEC are presuming they won't get the required 78 from 5000 applicants and already planning future recruitment.

Info from company newsletter of pal who works at vtec .

I don't know if you're aware at the moment but there's a big transition taking place within the company in regards to changing of grades being scrapped and amalgamated. If Virgin stagecoach took on 78 drivers externally I would imagine there would be an absolute uproar from the union and displaced employees etc. I think there must be a number in mind for external and internal recruits.
Personally I thought there would be more than 5000 applicants by now. Great opportunity in a great industry.

 

[hawkwind]

First off, Good luck to all that apply.

But I find it strange that people are asking what the shift patterns will be, will I have to work weekends and what the pay is.

Some of the early posts asking what to put in the covering letter.

It will be a career change for me, leaving a permanently secure career of 15 years, but I have done my research and accept that its a 7 day a week service, which you don't need to be a genius to work out.

From what VTEC have released, it is a quick recruitment process and short training period to endure, if you can't cope with that, it may be is not the right career for you.

 

[Class2ldn]

Well it will be at least a year the training so not exactly short by some standards

 

[EC123]

Can assure any potential recruits. The job will include incredibly early starts, incredibly late finishes, night turns, weekends etc

It's part and parcel of the Job. Some shifts you will hate. Some you will like. That's what you'll be signing up for.

It's a great chance. Jump through any hoops required, and in the end. It'll pay off

And just to add. It's definitely not a short process. Minimum 10 months training from the date you start the course. Plus the waiting etc for a course.

 

[marshyc]

I've put my application into the mix.

Good luck everyone.

 

[What's That?]

Well that's my application sent off.

GOOD LUCK EVERYBODY

 

[Webby]

OH NO ive accidentally sent my application twice from 2 different email addresses! I guess thats me out of the game.

 

[scotland1977]

First off, Good luck to all that apply.

But I find it strange that people are asking what the shift patterns will be, will I have to work weekends and what the pay is.

Some of the early posts asking what to put in the covering letter.

It will be a career change for me, leaving a permanently secure career of 15 years, but I have done my research and accept that its a 7 day a week service, which you don't need to be a genius to work out.

From what VTEC have released, it is a quick recruitment process and short training period to endure, if you can't cope with that, it may be is not the right career for you.

Some people might already have a better job hence why they are asking these questions so they can weight up their options.So many people up their own backside on these forms !!!

 

[Roth Red]

First time on here so be gentle.

I've sent my application off so fingers crossed.

Do you think there will be a age limit?

 

[Sirgerbil]

First time on here so be gentle.

I've sent my application off so fingers crossed.

Do you think there will be a age limit?

You ask for people to be "gentle" but did you read the advertisement? Clearly states there is a minimum age. There's not going to be an upper age limit per se but take into consideration you need to pass a medical...

 

[Andy-mc]

First time on here so be gentle.

I've sent my application off so fingers crossed.

Do you think there will be a age limit?

It will be 21 to retirement age

You need to be 21 to drive trains on the national network and as long as your able to give about 5 years service (which I believe is the length of time needed to secure their investment) then age shouldn't be to much of an issue

 

[Spankthemonkey]

5000 applicants, 78 jobs, that's a 1.56% chance. Better than a lottery ticket. And as a HR person once said to me, about half are instantly rejected for elementary errors like spelling mistakes and not following simple instructions on the application form.

 

[Scuba2208]

D-Day today... Now to be glued to email for the next 2 weeks. May the HR Gods be kind to us all when paper sifting...

 

[Roth Red]

You ask for people to be "gentle" but did you read the advertisement? Clearly states there is a minimum age. There's not going to be an upper age limit per se but take into consideration you need to pass a medical...

Cheers but I did read the advert and I did mean upper age limit. I know they will never say they won't take anyone over 50+, but do they mean that?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It will be 21 to retirement age

You need to be 21 to drive trains on the national network and as long as your able to give about 5 years service (which I believe is the length of time needed to secure their investment) then age shouldn't be to much of an issue

Thanks for your reply Andy.

 

[theironroad]

Cheers but I did read the advert and I did mean upper age limit. I know they will never say they won't take anyone over 50+, but do they mean that?

I've known a trainee, new to industry at 58. (Not east coast) Realistically, I don't think it would go much over that.

 

[Roth Red]

I've known a trainee, new to industry at 58. (Not east coast) Realistically, I don't think it would go much over that.

Thanks for your nice reply

 

[nom de guerre]

Some people might already have a better job hence why they are asking these questions so they can weight up their options.So many people up their own backside on these forms !!!

I'm struggling to see why anyone with even a passing interest in a career as a train driver has to 'weigh up' whether to spend 30 minutes or so submitting what, by railway industry standards, is a very straightforward application.

Surely the time for agonising over your 'options' is if/when there is a job offer on the table. It seems a little bizarre to be fretting before the initial sift has taken place.

 

[class 9]

The closing date was today, was there a cut off time? I couldn't find one anywhere.

 

[doubleamber]

Spoken to a mate tonight who helps companies such as virgin trains , and companies with high application rates. I cant say to much on a public forum but the way the first sift is done is by setting up algorithms to look for key words, spelling , punctuation etc. So a human eye will not even see the 1's that have been binned .

Good luck everyone .

Its last change hotel for me , as my self funded driver testing runs out this year !!

 

[Andy-mc]

Spoken to a mate tonight who helps companies such as virgin trains , and companies with high application rates. I cant say to much on a public forum but the way the first sift is done is by setting up algorithms to look for key words, spelling , punctuation etc. So a human eye will not even see the 1's that have been binned .

Good luck everyone .

Its last change hotel for me , as my self funded driver testing runs out this year !!

I have heard about this before.
When you think about the application numbers involved you do wonder how they could go through them all without ignoring some or using some form of sifting system.
You do wonder if such a system is clued up on all the different formats that people could use like Word, Pages, PDF's, etc I did read somewhere that formatting an application into a PDF can look more professional to some employers if sent electronically

 

[Webby]

Bit of a shame if people get sifted out for 1 punctuation mistake.

 

[Shrimper]

I've spoken to people in other recruitment areas and been told that for popular jobs it could simply be down to the colour pen or envelope used - there was no other way to sift out hundreds of applications, but it simply wasn't possible for them all to be read. In many ways, the algorithm method at least doesn't penalise just for bad luck.

And I doubt one single error would put you out of the running - I reviewed my successful Northern application prior to assessment and spotted a couple of very minor mistakes.

 

[Gemz91]

Spoken to a mate tonight who helps companies such as virgin trains , and companies with high application rates. I cant say to much on a public forum but the way the first sift is done is by setting up algorithms to look for key words, spelling , punctuation etc. So a human eye will not even see the 1's that have been binned .

Good luck everyone .

Its last change hotel for me , as my self funded driver testing runs out this year !!

That's a shame, I know some very good train drivers who are openly poor spellers. Still make great train drivers though.

 

[Darandio]

Bit of a shame if people get sifted out for 1 punctuation mistake.

Welcome to the world of recruitment. It applies in any field.

Check, check again, get someone else to check, even someone else if you can, then go to submit...........but check again before you do.

 

[doubleamber]

Welcome to the world of recruitment. It applies in any field.

Check, check again, get someone else to check, even someone else if you can, then go to submit...........but check again before you do.

Here here , and I hear from someone it's been set high.

 

[dizzyrascal]

Did anyone who applied for this position receive any sort of confirmation that their email had been received?

Thanks.