Trainee Depot Driver East Midlands Trains

[Spankthemonkey]

I'm nervous but also more excited. Compared to when I last went for the job with EMT I feel I know more about the job and company. Plus I am genuinely passionate about this job and want it more than anything

Be prepared to pay the waiting game in a pool. There is a course currently ongoing, and 20 other candidates from the pre-xmas recruitment currently waiting for courses!

 

[stjimmy87]

Be prepared to pay the waiting game in a pool. There is a course currently ongoing, and 20 other candidates from the pre-xmas recruitment currently waiting for courses!

I expect nothing less! All I need is a start date and I will be happy (one step at a time though)

 

[Dynamonic]

It’s a great feeling being in the Talent Pool, but like any nice pool you go in, there’s a point when you just want to get out!

Like Spankthemonkey said, being in the Talent Pool will be about patience and keeping yourself motivated in your current living situation.
The wait can seem long, but I’m motivated by the fact that one day, I don’t know when exactly, but one day, that phone call will happen! (That and the fact that we would probably not be in the Talent Pool as long as a lot of people on this forum. )

 

[stjimmy87]

Im just trying to figure out an interesting fact about myself....turns out I'm not interesting lol

 

[Top Link]

"Why do you want to be a depot driver?"

The most simple question surely?....

Of course the wage, pension and benefits are good but its chance to have a job that carries a lot of responsibility and the pride of being able to say you are a train driver (sort of). I like the idea of being a depot driver as it gives me the opportunity to learn everything about the rolling stock and also if it breaks down you aren't miles from nowhere. Plus I enjoy the different shifts.

What did any of you say when asked this?

Hi stjimmy87, may I ask where you're getting these questions from? Or are they just ones you've anticipated we'll be asked. I've been invited to the March 5th Assessment but there's no hints as to what to expect or prepare for. I can see from this forum we can expect to build a newspaper tower but as for the speed interviews, can anyone advise as to whether these are speed interviews with our fellow candidates whilst being observed or are the interviews with representatives from EMT? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Dynamonic]

Hi stjimmy87, may I ask where you're getting these questions from? Or are they just ones you've anticipated we'll be asked. I've been invited to the March 5th Assessment but there's no hints as to what to expect or prepare for. I can see from this forum we can expect to build a newspaper tower but as for the speed interviews, can anyone advise as to whether these are speed interviews with our fellow candidates whilst being observed or are the interviews with representatives from EMT? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Top Link,

The Speed Interviews are with Driver Managers. It's like a mini preview version of the Driver Manager Interview, which you will have at Stage 3 of this process.
The Driver Managers will also be assessing you during your group activities.

Good luck to everyone about to sit Stage 2! Do your homework into the role, and on the day, treat each other as your colleagues. Just have fun, stay mindful of your own contributions and inspire/encourage each other.
Stay mindful of what your priorities as a train driver would be too.

 

[Top Link]

Hi Top Link,

The Speed Interviews are with Driver Managers. It's like a mini preview version of the Driver Manager Interview, which you will have at Stage 3 of this process.
The Driver Managers will also be assessing you during your group activities.

Good luck to everyone about to sit Stage 2! Do your homework into the role, and on the day, treat each other as your colleagues. Just have fun, stay mindful of your own contributions and inspire/encourage each other.
Stay mindful of what your priorities as a train driver would be too.

Super, thanks Dynamonic

 

[PotentialTrain]

Top tip is to not get in your head too much as you line up outside to do the speed interviews. Focus on the question at hand and don’t get distracted, the room is very busy and there are about 5 other people also answering questions so it’s easy to get distracted. It lasts one minute for each question and if I remember correctly there’s a total of 3 different questions. If you stumble and get in your head that minute goes VERY quickly.

 

[Spankthemonkey]

Top tip is to not get in your head too much as you line up outside to do the speed interviews. Focus on the question at hand and don’t get distracted, the room is very busy and there are about 5 other people also answering questions so it’s easy to get distracted. It lasts one minute for each question and if I remember correctly there’s a total of 3 different questions. If you stumble and get in your head that minute goes VERY quickly.

The whole of stage 2 i found was as much about how u conducted yourself, so your body language, your self awareness, your interplay with other candidates, your eye contact with assessors, your appearance etc as much as the content of what you say.

 

[Top Link]

Thanks

Top tip is to not get in your head too much as you line up outside to do the speed interviews. Focus on the question at hand and don’t get distracted, the room is very busy and there are about 5 other people also answering questions so it’s easy to get distracted. It lasts one minute for each question and if I remember correctly there’s a total of 3 different questions. If you stumble and get in your head that minute goes VERY quickly.

Thanks PotentialTrain, I'm just finding out all I can about EMT & the role itself, as I'm not sure whether the questions will be about that or my own experiences and how they relate to the job (or a mixture of both types of questions). Thanks for your tip, I appreciate that

 

[Top Link]

The whole of stage 2 i found was as much about how u conducted yourself, so your body language, your self awareness, your interplay with other candidates, your eye contact with assessors, your appearance etc as much as the content of what you say.[/QUOT

The whole of stage 2 i found was as much about how u conducted yourself, so your body language, your self awareness, your interplay with other candidates, your eye contact with assessors, your appearance etc as much as the content of what you say.

Useful tip, thanks Spankthemonkey Are you still treading water or have you been given a start date yet?

 

[stjimmy87]

I wonder how many assessment days they will have for this part? From what I have heard there are courses planned for March, June, September and possibly early next year so looks like there's still plenty of spaces to fill.

 

[Spankthemonkey]

I wonder how many assessment days they will have for this part? From what I have heard there are courses planned for March, June, September and possibly early next year so looks like there's still plenty of spaces to fill.

Nope, courses are in March (full), September, and December

 

[stjimmy87]

Nope, courses are in March (full), September, and December

Figures, lots still waiting to hear and more to bring in.

 

[stjimmy87]

Evening all, is there anyone attending the stage 2 assessments on Monday? Been brushing up on my EMT facts and Depot Driver job spec so hopefully it all sticks. I'm quite looking forward to it as apposed to being nervous about it.

 

[corkyian]

Evening!

stjimmy87 - i am indeed attending the stage 2 shindig tomorrow. Looking forward to getting our craft on!

Like you i've just been reading up on EMT facts, i haven't studied this hard for a test since school!

 

[corkyian]

That being said - many thanks to all you folk on this forum/thread - been a long time reader (first time commenting) and all the information has helped me no end.

 

[stjimmy87]

Evening!

stjimmy87 - i am indeed attending the stage 2 shindig tomorrow. Looking forward to getting our craft on!

Like you i've just been reading up on EMT facts, i haven't studied this hard for a test since school!

Its gonna be an interesting experience but I am determined this is job is gonna be mine! Heres hoping for a successful outcome for us both

 

[Dynamonic]

Good luck to both of you for tomorrow!
I wish you every success!

 

[stjimmy87]

Good luck to both of you for tomorrow!
I wish you every success!

Thanks Have you been given a start date for the course yet?

 

[Dynamonic]

Thanks Have you been given a start date for the course yet?

I've not heard anything yet, and I imagine it'll be a while before I get my start date with the next couple of courses being scheduled for later in the year.
It's all about patience this Talent Pool business!!!

 

[stjimmy87]

I've not heard anything yet, and I imagine it'll be a while before I get my start date with the next couple of courses being scheduled for later in the year.
It's all about patience this Talent Pool business!!!

Just to be in the pool must be a great feeling

 

[stjimmy87]

Well stage 2 done.....I gave it my best so hopefully it was good enough

 

[Amanda]

Hi everyone, I was at the assessment day in Derby this morning... Good luck to all. (I know some of you are reading this! ) Hoping I haven't stuffed it up too much during the speed interview....

 

[Dynamonic]

Just to be in the pool must be a great feeling

It is definitely a great feeling being in the Talent Pool! Just ready for that start date now! All going well, you’ll have that feeling soon enough!

Hi everyone, I was at the assessment day in Derby this morning... Good luck to all. (I know some of you are reading this! ) Hoping I haven't stuffed it up too much during the speed interview....

Hi Amanda and welcome to the forum!
The best thing to do is not to dwell on it, otherwise you’ll pick up on everything you didn’t do right (Even if you were great). Just relax now and wait for your results. The wait won’t be that long.

 

[PotentialTrain]

Well done to all that took part in Stage 2 today. I personally found the speed interview one of the hardest elements of the process.

Those lucky enough to go ahead to Stage 3 with the DMI please don’t worry too much, the DM’s were absolutely lovely.

Good luck!

 

[stjimmy87]

Thanks potential

To be honest I found the speed interviews were my best bit (unless they think otherwise!) Apart from question three which I think threw everybody, but I still managed to speak for a minute.

Plus our team aced the paper tower challenge which was the high point (pardon the pun)

Difficult to gauge how I did as I think it was a strong line up....now the tense wait and its really difficult to take my mind off it.

 

[Dynamonic]

Thanks potential

To be honest I found the speed interviews were my best bit (unless they think otherwise!) Apart from question three which I think threw everybody, but I still managed to speak for a minute.

Plus our team aced the paper tower challenge which was the high point (pardon the pun)

Difficult to gauge how I did as I think it was a strong line up....now the tense wait and its really difficult to take my mind off it.

I could answer question three well literally because I discovered a driver training video on YouTube which discusses that topic during my research! (Assuming it's the same question I had) I agree though, it's a tough question!

As PotentialTrain has mentioned, the DMI is actually a rather nice interview and was nowhere near the grilling I was expecting. Just do your research into the role and everything about EMT, and again think of some great examples of you demonstrating the Driver competencies.

 

[Amanda]

Thanks, Dynamonic! What will be, will be. I didn't realise there would be any kind of interview at this session so was completely thrown.

stjimmy87, which group were you in? Afternoon? I was at the morning session and our group aced the paper tower building too. *high five*

 

[PotentialTrain]

The worst bit is sitting around waiting for the email to pop through and avoiding checking your emails every hour!

Try to put the day out your mind now, there’s nothing worse than sitting there thinking “I should have said this, why did I say that” as it’s totally out of your control now!