Trainee Depot Driver East Midlands Trains

[Dynamonic]

Hooray next stage here I come

Wayhay!!! Fantastic news stjimmy!!!
One more hurdle and you’ll be joining us in the Talent Pool!!!

 

[stjimmy87]

Wayhay!!! Fantastic news stjimmy!!!
One more hurdle and you’ll be joining us in the Talent Pool!!!

Thanks! Cant wait for the next step

 

[EastMidsMatt]

Hooray next stage here I come

Well done. The hard bit is done, no major cockups and you're in!

 

[stjimmy87]

Well done. The hard bit is done, no major cockups and you're in!

Thanks Done these next lot of tests before so hopefully haven't got worse in 2 years lol

 

[Amanda]

Thanks for all the advice, guys, and congrats Jimmy!

I'm going to be totally honest... I applied for this role completely on a whim. It had never before crossed my mind to consider being a train driver until I saw the ad on Facebook and I thought, "oh yeah I could be a train driver, lol", then I stopped and thought, "well hang on a sec, *why can't I* be a train driver?". I figured I wouldn't even get past the first sift so was totally stunned at how far I did get. It has given me a new respect for anyone working on the railways and has been a very intriguing experience. I may apply again, I may not, but I would certainly consider working elsewhere on the railways, whereas I wouldn't have before.

 

[stjimmy87]

Thanks for all the advice, guys, and congrats Jimmy!

I'm going to be totally honest... I applied for this role completely on a whim. It had never before crossed my mind to consider being a train driver until I saw the ad on Facebook and I thought, "oh yeah I could be a train driver, lol", then I stopped and thought, "well hang on a sec, *why can't I* be a train driver?". I figured I wouldn't even get past the first sift so was totally stunned at how far I did get. It has given me a new respect for anyone working on the railways and has been a very intriguing experience. I may apply again, I may not, but I would certainly consider working elsewhere on the railways, whereas I wouldn't have before.

When I went for the job the first time I massively underestimated how hard the process was. I thought that passing the first stage tests was the hard part done and that I would get past the interviews easily as I had a decent record when it came to interviews. How wrong I was, I didn't research the job role properly and only had a few things to say about the company and didn't research the questions. It was the worst interview I had ever given and I deservedly didn't get through.

My point is that experience is so crucial and sometimes you have to have a few knock backs before you eventually get what you want, good luck for next time if there is a next time Amanda

 

[Spankthemonkey]

Thanks Done these next lot of tests before so hopefully haven't got worse in 2 years lol

During stage 4, if and when you pass the computerised tests, but before the mmi, if you ask the opc staff they will tell you how your scores for both testing days compare against the last time you did the tests. Mine were nigh on identical, clearly the intervening 28 months had not withered the grey matter.

 

[Clive0121]

Congrats jimmy, it seems like the majority of people get a knock back the first time they try and have a better understanding the second time so I’m hoping there will be another opportunity in the near future to retry, I’ve asked for feedback from my DMI so hopefully that will help if there is another role, would be nice to see one before the next two years before my bourdon results run out

 

[stjimmy87]

During stage 4, if and when you pass the computerised tests, but before the mmi, if you ask the opc staff they will tell you how your scores for both testing days compare against the last time you did the tests. Mine were nigh on identical, clearly the intervening 28 months had not withered the grey matter.

Am I right in thinking there are no enhanced standards for stage 4?

 

[PotentialTrain]

Am I right in thinking there are no enhanced standards for stage 4?

Yes Jimmy are you correct. Stage 4 is pass or fail, no enhancements.

The MMI is probably the hardest part of stage 4. It can be quite intense, my best advice would be to think of scenarios in your past life which would demonstrate the skills required by a train driver and drill them into your head. Lots of detail, DONT fabricate, they will know you aren’t being honest.

 

[Dynamonic]

In my prep for the MMI, I actually practiced reading out answers out loud, trying to keep to the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) structure as much as possible.
As PotentialTrain mentioned, the detail required will be high. Expect to be asked about even the timings of your examples, why you didn't approach the situation in different ways and perhaps a couple of 'What If?' scenarios too.
Ideally, when you are asked the main situation question, your answer will be so detailed that you will have covered many of the 'additional questions' in your STAR response. You may be fortunate enough to have the interviewer move onto the next question whilst you're still answering the last one, as happened to me with one of my answers.

Remember, you are no longer in competition with other candidates. If you meet the criteria now, (and the assessors/interviewers will try and support you with this) then it's into the Talent Pool with you!

 

[stjimmy87]

Well here's hoping they use my results from before.....unlikely but it would be no problem to do them again if I have to

 

[Dynamonic]

If you’ve passed Stage 4 within the last 2 years, EMT may let you skip it. Have you let Marie know?

 

[stjimmy87]

If you’ve passed Stage 4 within the last 2 years, EMT may let you skip it. Have you let Marie know?

I have let her know but aren't there other people ahead of me in the pool? Don't get me wrong if I could skip it, it would be great but i thought there were loads waiting?

 

[Dynamonic]

No no, what I mean is, you would skip Stage 4 and go straight into the Talent Pool, where you’ll then wait with others for a course.

 

[stjimmy87]

No no, what I mean is, you would skip Stage 4 and go straight into the Talent Pool.

Haha I know what you meant. I passed mine in august 2016 so I am still within my two years. But I thought there were loads already in the pool waiting for the next course? Best case scenario would be that those results are good enough then it's just a medical fir a course before August would be awesome but I'm not banking on it lol

 

[Dynamonic]

EMT are trying to fill the Talent Pool with two years worth of drivers.
Hopefully, you may just get away with skipping Stage 4. No doubt you’ll be fine either way though.

Once in the pool, I believe your Talent Pool position will then be valid up to January 2020 (But hopefully you’ll actually be on a course by the end of this year though)

 

[stjimmy87]

EMT are trying to fill the Talent Pool with two years worth of drivers.
Hopefully, you may just get away with skipping Stage 4. No doubt you’ll be fine either way though.

Once in the pool, I believe your Talent Pool position will then be valid up to January 2020 (But hopefully you’ll actually be on a course by the end of this year though)

Put it this way I am way more positive than this time 3 days ago lol

 

[stjimmy87]

Just to clarify....the stage 4 tests consist of the grey square test, sje, mmi, hand coordination and the flashing pictures one?

 

[Dynamonic]

Just to clarify....the stage 4 tests consist of the grey square test, sje, mmi, hand coordination and the flashing pictures one?

You’ve got it!

 

[stjimmy87]

Awesome, cos I wasn't sure if EMT used the written communication test as well and I haven't done that one

 

[Dynamonic]

Awesome, cos I wasn't sure if EMT used the written communication test as well and I haven't done that one

Nope, you’ve got no Written Communication Test to worry about.

 

[Spankthemonkey]

Am I right in thinking there are no enhanced standards for stage 4?

i'm pretty dubious about this "enhanced standards" stuff. pretty sure the opc just mark them all pass/fail and then, upon discovering they have far too many to interview the toc just pick the top X number of results from a particular test, probably the GBT.

 

[Spankthemonkey]

In my prep for the MMI, I actually practiced reading out answers out loud, trying to keep to the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) structure as much as possible.
As PotentialTrain mentioned, the detail required will be high. Expect to be asked about even the timings of your examples, why you didn't approach the situation in different ways and perhaps a couple of 'What If?' scenarios too.
Ideally, when you are asked the main situation question, your answer will be so detailed that you will have covered many of the 'additional questions' in your STAR response. You may be fortunate enough to have the interviewer move onto the next question whilst you're still answering the last one, as happened to me with one of my answers.

Remember, you are no longer in competition with other candidates. If you meet the criteria now, (and the assessors/interviewers will try and support you with this) then it's into the Talent Pool with you!

i had one question with absolutely no follow up questions as I had ticked the boxes required and displayed the necessary competancies. this was a deeply uncomfortable feeling actually. met with silence u think "what have i missed?" i had another where the chap litterally had to drag the answer out of me with endless prompts. good job he did really.

 

[Clive0121]

Would anyone know roughly how often the roles for trainee depot driver would come back up or is it just a matter of when and if more recruitments are needed? Can’t help but think I’ve messed up and it’ll be a long time before I get to rectify that

 

[Dynamonic]

Would anyone know roughly how often the roles for trainee depot driver would come back up or is it just a matter of when and if more recruitments are needed? Can’t help but think I’ve messed up and it’ll be a long time before I get to rectify that

EMT typically recruit annually for Depot Drivers. However, this recruitment drive was intended to recruit enough Depot Drivers to cover courses throughout 2018 and 2019, hence our Talent Pool spots being valid for two years.
However, depending whether or not EMT achieve their recruitment goal, it's possible EMT may reopen recruitment for Depot Drivers. I imagine that would be around the end of the year/beginning of next year though as the Talent Pool gets close to empty.

 

[stjimmy87]

Would anyone know roughly how often the roles for trainee depot driver would come back up or is it just a matter of when and if more recruitments are needed? Can’t help but think I’ve messed up and it’ll be a long time before I get to rectify that

With EMT it used to be around the end of each year but this particular job ad was two years after the last one. I wouldn't say they will asvertise this coming year if they are using this intake to fill a talent pool but who knows?

 

[PotentialTrain]

We are currently going through training at the moment and we spoke to some of the managers last week.
One of the managers told us that he has X amount of depot positions to fill due to mainline promotion and retirement and that the course before ours, our course and the course due behind us (date not yet confirmed) probably still wouldn’t be enough to fill the gaps needed.

Take that as you will but the recruitment seems to have been pretty intense with regards to drivers.

Good luck to all.

 

[stjimmy87]

We are currently going through training at the moment and we spoke to some of the managers last week.
One of the managers told us that he has X amount of depot positions to fill due to mainline promotion and retirement and that the course before ours, our course and the course due behind us (date not yet confirmed) probably still wouldn’t be enough to fill the gaps needed.

Take that as you will but the recruitment seems to have been pretty intense with regards to drivers.

Good luck to all.

Any courses before August lol?

 

[PotentialTrain]

Any courses before August lol?

We haven’t been told anything about next courses jimmy. If we hear anything I’ll post on here to let you all know.