Trainee Train Driver - Virgin Trains East Coast

[jax4154]

Hi

I have received a reply from Virgin EC stating I was not successful in my application but please come and ride as a passenger and here is 25% code for a train ticket, this got me thinking did they even read my application? Reason I think they didn't is because if they did they would be aware that I am a protected BR employee that if wants to ride the new train would just fill out a box and ride for free. So I emailed them and stated that I am already a railway employee so won't need the 25% voucher, and a day later you guessed it I got an e mail from the recruitment team and sent me exactly the same e mail saying I was unsuccessful (although I didn't reapply) and sent me another offer of 25% discount. I gave up after this.

 

[Swampster]

Do you think we will hear on the deadline on the 21st or will it be late ?

If there's any more like Spencer, they might slip I suppose.. given you get 5 days to do the Checking test.. which would lead us from today to the 21st..
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Hi

I have received a reply from Virgin EC stating I was not successful in my application but please come and ride as a passenger and here is 25% code for a train ticket, this got me thinking did they even read my application? Reason I think they didn't is because if they did they would be aware that I am a protected BR employee that if wants to ride the new train would just fill out a box and ride for free. So I emailed them and stated that I am already a railway employee so won't need the 25% voucher, and a day later you guessed it I got an e mail from the recruitment team and sent me exactly the same e mail saying I was unsuccessful (although I didn't reapply) and sent me another offer of 25% discount. I gave up after this.

Even if they did read it they're not going to give everyone a tailored reply unfortunately.. it just wouldn't be feasible. So people would get the same 'rejection' email regardless imo..

 

[Choochoodriver]

They hadnt recieved my CV and Cover letter it turned out. So was asked to resend. And they have invited me to do the online test now.

Good on ya Spencer lad you done right in my opinion!!!!!

I know of people that hadnt even applied initially and are now jumping on the fact that they have screwed up and applying now asking "how is my CV and cover letter getting on" and they sent their CV and cover letter in and are now through and have done the online assessments.

You definitely done right spencer!!

 

[djsmith200]

. how did you feel you got on?

I've lurked here for a while and to be honest I've not posted too much because it's been a bit dog eat dog

But I would like to wish everyone luck. Who knows, if I / you are lucky I may meet some of you at Kings Cross.

Stay positive guys - it's a hell of a lot of applicants, not surprising that there have been delays but for the lucky few it will be well worth it.

Fingers crossed.

 

[Davidson4301]

Good on ya Spencer lad you done right in my opinion!!!!!

I know of people that hadnt even applied initially and are now jumping on the fact that they have screwed up and applying now asking "how is my CV and cover letter getting on" and they sent their CV and cover letter in and are now through and have done the online assessments.

You definitely done right spencer!!

Be surprised if they get away with it as I thought you had to forward your original application with date on .

 

[Choochoodriver]

Be surprised if they get away with it as I thought you had to forward your original application with date on .

They have got away with it yes and sat their online assessment and told they must have "lost" their originals

 

[dugster70]

They have got away with it yes and sat their online assessment and told they must have "lost" their originals

Correct me if I'm wrong but you're a driver with Northern at Leeds so you must be talking about colleagues who couldn't be arsed applying within the timescale

 

[Swampster]

It's a bit lame if they're just accepting late applications without proper checks.

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

 

[marshyc]

It's a bit lame if they're just accepting late applications without proper checks.

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

The whole thing has been a farce!

 

[Spencer124]

Good on ya Spencer lad you done right in my opinion!!!!!

I know of people that hadnt even applied initially and are now jumping on the fact that they have screwed up and applying now asking "how is my CV and cover letter getting on" and they sent their CV and cover letter in and are now through and have done the online assessments.

You definitely done right spencer!!

Cheers choochoodriver.
I applied the day before the closing date.
If I had listened to people saying be patient It would have probably been too late to resend it.
I've been trying for 10 years now to get on the trains and I've only ever had one online test this one being my second.

 

[Choochoodriver]

Correct me if I'm wrong but you're a driver with Northern at Leeds so you must be talking about colleagues who couldn't be arsed applying within the timescale

Correct dugster yes I am.
Exactly that, don't know why they didn't apply within the timescales but have slipped through the net after the closing date and are through.
The non qualified guys have online assessments and the qualified straight through to assessment centre.

 

[mr double 77]

Correct dugster yes I am.
Exactly that, don't know why they didn't apply within the timescales but have slipped through the net after the closing date and are through.
The non qualified guys have online assessments and the qualified straight through to assessment centre.

Wondering if this is correct ? as i am a Qualified however i still had too do online assessment, should be a level playing field for all surely ? Saying that as per previous comments, why have a closing date if there just letting whoever send in CV/covering letters a month later ?

 

[Firefly83]

Does anyone know what the pass mark is for the checking test ? (If there is one)

 

[dugster70]

Correct dugster yes I am.
Exactly that, don't know why they didn't apply within the timescales but have slipped through the net after the closing date and are through.
The non qualified guys have online assessments and the qualified straight through to assessment centre.[/QUO

You quoted earlier that these applicants were put through to the online assessment so how come you're now saying they've gone straight through to the assessment centre?

 

[Davidson4301]

I'm qualified and I had to do online checking test

 

[choochoochoo]

Hi

I have received a reply from Virgin EC stating I was not successful in my application but please come and ride as a passenger and here is 25% code for a train ticket, this got me thinking did they even read my application? Reason I think they didn't is because if they did they would be aware that I am a protected BR employee that if wants to ride the new train would just fill out a box and ride for free. So I emailed them and stated that I am already a railway employee so won't need the 25% voucher, and a day later you guessed it I got an e mail from the recruitment team and sent me exactly the same e mail saying I was unsuccessful (although I didn't reapply) and sent me another offer of 25% discount. I gave up after this.

The whole process has been farcical. I know two applicants who pretty much had the same cover letter and one got invited for checking and the other got a 25% discount. They work in the same place so have similar looking CVs too.


I'm still waiting to see if I make it to an assessment centre.

Good luck, we're going to need it to get through with admin like this.

 

[eastc]

I applied well within the time frame and also resent my application but have heard absolutely nothing back.

 

[Frankfurt]

The whole process has been farcical. I know two applicants who pretty much had the same cover letter and one got invited for checking and the other got a 25% discount. They work in the same place so have similar looking CVs too.


I'm still waiting to see if I make it to an assessment centre.

Good luck, we're going to need it to get through with admin like this.

Though their intentions looked good it hasn't been great. Clearly weren't expecting the high number of applicants or weren't prepared enough.

From what I've read on here and from applicants that I know there's a long list of mistakes and inconsistencies.

- People incorrectly receiving rejection emails, 1, or more before receiving positive emails
- Lost/missing applications
- I know many qualified drivers who have been asked to do online checking test, others who haven't

Like I say I give them credit for taking a slightly different approach compared with other recruitment drives from other companies, however in practice it has been disappointing, infuriating etc...

Gotta say if anyone hasn't made sift I can understand them being a little annoyed.

Good luck to all of us still involved, we may yet endure more......

 

[Choochoodriver]

Wondering if this is correct ? as i am a Qualified however i still had too do online assessment, should be a level playing field for all surely ? Saying that as per previous comments, why have a closing date if there just letting whoever send in CV/covering letters a month later ?

It should be a level playing field yes...one of the guys at northern Leeds was told after he had done the tests to ignore them regardless of the result so don't worry double77 you will be in the same boat.

Dugster
Yes the non qualified ones sent to testing that sent late applications in with no proof of original and the qualified ones straight to assessment centre with no proof asked of original.

 

[Determination]

. how did you feel you got on?

Checking test was a challenge - I think I got two wrong and missed a couple.

It all depends how they score it I guess.

How about you?

 

[dugster70]

It should be a level playing field yes...one of the guys at northern Leeds was told after he had done the tests to ignore them regardless of the result so don't worry double77 you will be in the same boat.

Dugster
Yes the non qualified ones sent to testing that sent late applications in with no proof of original and the qualified ones straight to assessment centre with no proof asked of original.

Well all I'll say is good luck to people who applied with Virgin I'm still pinching myself that I'm doing my dream job with Northern

 

[djsmith200]

Checking test was a challenge - I think I got two wrong and missed a couple.

It all depends how they score it I guess.

How about you?

ditto mate, its so hard to tell!

 

[Choochoodriver]

Well all I'll say is good luck to people who applied with Virgin I'm still pinching myself that I'm doing my dream job with Northern

Did you not apply for the job then dugster?

 

[dugster70]

Did you not apply for the job then dugster?

Of course not I have serious loyalty to the company that took me on

 

[michaelmjd]

Well I've just completed the online assessment. Found it fairly tricky even though I practiced loads on various different tests I managed to find online. Definitely got 3 wrong and timed out on 1. Very frustrating when you see the answer just as your clicking on the wrong one. :/ I'm going on the assumption that anything over 80percent might be enough but that's a complete guess. Good luck to everyone. Fingers crossed.

 

[Davidson4301]

Still no news. The waiting is killing me.

 

[xtradj]

Qualified or not I believe everyone should go through the same process.

Just because your qualified or experienced at anything doesn't mean your actually any good at something

 

[Mulberry2016]

Qualified or not I believe everyone should go through the same process.

Just because your qualified or experienced at anything doesn't mean your actually any good at something

No point in becoming qualified and taking exams in anything then, is there?

 

[Andy-mc]

Qualified or not I believe everyone should go through the same process.

Just because your qualified or experienced at anything doesn't mean your actually any good at something

I don't think there is a problem with going through the same process if your qualified as theoretically you should pass no problem

but if being qualified doesn't make you good at the job then the exams and assessments must be to easy

 

[Choochoodriver]

Qualified or not I believe everyone should go through the same process.

Just because your qualified or experienced at anything doesn't mean your actually any good at something

If you are a proven qualified driver with years of experience and a clean record then there is absolutely no need to do these or the physcometric tests as you have already proved you can drive a train on the network.

All they need to assess is your personality.