Transport for Wales - Trainee Train Drivers

[SCDR_WMR]

Just had an email saying sorry but all slots were full.

Within 12 minutes! Mental. I'm probably really going to struggle replying any quicker than a couple of hours based on my work.. My 12 minute reply time was a fluke. Even if I set an alert of some sort I wont be able to act on it.

Yeah it is rediculous, are they offering multiple dates still? Guess it just shows how many they are processing

 

[Saxon79]

Just had my email saying I've missed out, but it does say they will contact me when there are more slots.

 

[kallyvintage]

Yeah it is rediculous, are they offering multiple dates still? Guess it just shows how many they are processing

It was 2 dates and 3 times when I got the email Friday. I can literally do any, I will make sure I will be there. I just hope the remaining slots don't fill up.

 

[Saxon79]

.

 

[Choo-choo]

Just had an email saying sorry but all slots were full.

Within 12 minutes! Mental. I'm probably really going to struggle replying any quicker than a couple of hours based on my work.. My 12 minute reply time was a fluke. Even if I set an alert of some sort I wont be able to act on it.

Have had the same but I was much slower than you at 27 minutes.

 

[Kenners]

Hi, I have been given a confirmed date to complete my paper assessments for Driver . Can I ask how many different assessments you complete for the paper assessments?
Am I right in thinking if you have been successful in the paper tests you then get invited to a computer assessment day or is it all completed on the same day ? Thanks

 

[Rigvon]

When it says dress comfortably for the paper assessments….. how comfortable are we talking?

 

[Saxon79]

When it says dress comfortably for the paper assessments….. how comfortable are we talking?

I wouldn't turn up in shorts, t-shirt and flip flops.

 

[Rigvon]

I wouldn't turn up in shorts, t-shirt and flip flops.

Noted

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Hi, I have been given a confirmed date to complete my paper assessments for Driver . Can I ask how many different assessments you complete for the paper assessments?
Am I right in thinking if you have been successful in the paper tests you then get invited to a computer assessment day or is it all completed on the same day ? Thanks

It's all the ones in your practice material pack - group bourdon, tea-occ attention tests (Hi-Lo tones + tones/phone book) and TRP (statement memory/multiple choice questions + dials.
Then you're given the 6 scenario based MMI questions to answer in case you make it through to computer testing.

Computer testing is all done down in Cardiff on a separate day currently so only look at the first half of the materials for now

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Oct 2022 ==

When it says dress comfortably for the paper assessments….. how comfortable are we talking?

I guess that's open to interpretation really, is does say you don't need to wear a suit. Most people wear a shirt or jumper, something fairly smart but comfortable. I wore black jeans and trainers, up to you really

 

[Plodster]

When it says dress comfortably for the paper assessments….. how comfortable are we talking?

Last year I wore my work uniform (polo and cargo pants) for stage 1 tests as I went straight to work after finishing.
It was scorching on the day I did stage 2 and MMI a week later and I wore a polo shirt with shorts and trainers.
My mate dressed the same and if I remember correctly had some ‘crocs’ on his feet!
We both passed.

Others wore suits and ties and some wore shirts / blouses with trousers / skirts etc. so there was a whole cross section.

In my view it’s the test scores that matter.

I guess it’s a case of being tidy and presentable as well as being comfortable so you can focus on the tests.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Absolutely, you can look professional or presentable without wearing a suit and tie. And most definitely it's purely based on your test scores during stage 1 and 2. DMI however I'd say may be a different matter

 

[Diedinium]

I wore a pair of cheanos, polo and one of those thin woolen jumpers. No need to go overboard, it's not a formal interview.

I'd say a pair of jeans and a polo shirt is pretty expected/normal.

 

[Pk89]

Same as me, I'm on annual leave next week and could have done either day at any time.

Why don’t you email recruitment and explain how you are struggling to reply to the email in time to get a date for testing and for the next release you can make time for any date. Surely your current employer would allow you to book a holiday to test for a job at… your current employer

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Why don’t you email recruitment and explain how you are struggling to reply to the email in time to get a date for testing and for the next release you can make time for any date. Surely your current employer would allow you to book a holiday to test for a job at… your current employer

Depends on their role, if he's a guard almost certainly won't allow time off for it unless there's availablity on that day's roster. Agree that an email to recruitment is needed, hopefully they're understanding though they are clearly dealing with a large number of people emailing currently given the number of trainee roles coming up

 

[Saxon79]

Why don’t you email recruitment and explain how you are struggling to reply to the email in time to get a date for testing and for the next release you can make time for any date. Surely your current employer would allow you to book a holiday to test for a job at… your current employer

I've booked all my annual leave but I could cancel 1 day and take it I get a slot my manager is good like that. Also we can work a rest day and instead of overtime pay we can bank it and take the rest day on another day so I have that option. I doubt recruitment would do that but I suppose I could try it.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

I've booked all my annual leave but I could cancel 1 day and take it I get a slot my manager is good like that. Also we can work a rest day and instead of overtime pay we can bank it and take the rest day on another day so I have that option. I doubt recruitment would do that but I suppose I could try it.

Ahh yeah I've heard of this banking a day for RDW, sounds much easier than at my place!

 

[Ghost_rider]

It was for the paper tests I responded. I work for TFW and recruitment is awful

Word of advice, I would suggest calling recruitment awful/terrible as a bad idea. Especially as you're applying for another role for them.

So far TfW recruitment know....

You're a current employee who was: Shortlisted on the 11/10/22
Replied to their email after 43 minutes
Requested an assessment date of 31/10/22 at 0930am.
You're on annual leave W/C- 30/10/22.

Doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out who you are.....

Stay positive, you've made it further than a lot of other people, good luck!

 

[Saxon79]

Word of advice, I would suggest calling recruitment awful/terrible as a bad idea. Especially as you're applying for another role for them.

So far TfW recruitment know....

You're a current employee who was: Shortlisted on the 11/10/22
Replied to their email after 43 minutes
Requested an assessment date of 31/10/22 at 0930am.
You're on annual leave W/C- 30/10/22.

Doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out who you are.....

Stay positive, you've made it further than a lot of other people, good luck!

Fair enough.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Oct 2022 ==

To be honest my comment about recruitment was unjustified because I made the comment based on the performance of a particular person who has now left the company and had made a mess of recruitment.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Word of advice, I would suggest calling recruitment awful/terrible as a bad idea. Especially as you're applying for another role for them.

So far TfW recruitment know....

You're a current employee who was: Shortlisted on the 11/10/22
Replied to their email after 43 minutes
Requested an assessment date of 31/10/22 at 0930am.
You're on annual leave W/C- 30/10/22.

Doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out who you are.....

Stay positive, you've made it further than a lot of other people, good luck!

Also especially bad seeing as the recruiters at the testing did say they are on all the railway forums!

 

[craigybagel]

Depends on their role, if he's a guard almost certainly won't allow time off for it unless there's availablity on that day's roster. Agree that an email to recruitment is needed, hopefully they're understanding though they are clearly dealing with a large number of people emailing currently given the number of trainee roles coming up

TfW will release you if a recruitment event for an internal position clashes with your booked duties. I'm amazed other TOCs don't do the same

 

[SCDR_WMR]

TfW will release you if a recruitment event for an internal position clashes with your booked duties. I'm amazed other TOCs don't do the same

That is good. We've just had a right palarva at our gaff. Internal only, 37 through to testing but only gave 2 dates which meant 2/3rds of staff were likely to be working. People tried to book off but we're like 12,13 in abeyance! Some still haven't even managed to fit testing in yet and the applications were back in Feb. Madness. Glad to see TfW are a lot more proactive

 

[Saxon79]

Also especially bad seeing as the recruiters at the testing did say they are on all the railway forums!

Well if I don't get a date I will know why.

 

[craigybagel]

That is good. We've just had a right palarva at our gaff. Internal only, 37 through to testing but only gave 2 dates which meant 2/3rds of staff were likely to be working. People tried to book off but we're like 12,13 in abeyance! Some still haven't even managed to fit testing in yet and the applications were back in Feb. Madness. Glad to see TfW are a lot more proactive

Sounds like a nightmare alright! No, TfW don't tend to have that issue - but then there's a long tradition here of conductors (and other internal roles) going driving. I am but one of many.

 

[Saxon79]

Sounds like a nightmare alright! No, TfW don't tend to have that issue - but then there's a long tradition here of conductors (and other internal roles) going driving. I am but one of many.

It definitely is good for progressing internal staff from all roles into driving. I know of quite a few who have come from booking offices, Gateline and conductors going on to be drivers.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Sounds like a nightmare alright! No, TfW don't tend to have that issue - but then there's a long tradition here of conductors (and other internal roles) going driving. I am but one of many.

Yeah I've seen many vacancies online that are internal only, a very good thing once your in. Not so much when trying to get in of course

 

[Rigvon]

Just finished my paper assessments in Cardiff Great experience, not a clue how I felt it went though!

 

[Saxon79]

Just finished my paper assessments in Cardiff Great experience, not a clue how I felt it went though!

Hope you passed. What did you find most difficult?

 

[Rigvon]

Hope you passed. What did you find most difficult?

Bourdon and dials were fine, the memory and the MMI were tricky. Memory for obvious reasons but the MMI space to answer was so small was hard to be brief!

 

[SCDR_WMR]

So I've just had an email from recruitment inviting me to computer testing in Cardiff......again! So potentially someone hasn't got their invite yet, who will now have missed getting a slot as I'm waiting on MMI results only.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Oct 2022 ==

Bourdon and dials were fine, the memory and the MMI were tricky. Memory for obvious reasons but the MMI space to answer was so small was hard to be brief!

Only need a sentence in there, you'll go through it in depth when it comes to it