Trainee Train Drivers (Talent Bank) - Avanti - Multiple Locations (02/10/22)

[Sorcerer]

Honestly it’s fine. I’ve found the assessment days to be relaxed as the assessors we’ve had really put you at ease. I found the computer tests rather fun, the joysticks were pretty much like playing a game and the square test was rather thrilling in a way. That’s just my take.

Yeah I am most definitely less worried about the computer tests. The only one that really sticks out to me out of them is the ATAVT perception test and even then there's a decent strategy of basically looking out for the small things. A car or bus will be pretty hard to miss compared to a traffic light or road sign.

It's my first time too and it's normal to be nervous about it but if you try your best you'll fly through it.

And yes, it's all for something whether you end up getting through or not.

I'm not expecting to get through either, but I'm going to try my best and that's all I can do

Yeah, pretty much. It's gotten me this far at least but I always dreaded the interviews most. I just have to hope my examples will be good enough and try to sell them as best I can.

 

[Tom999333]

Yeah I am most definitely less worried about the computer tests. The only one that really sticks out to me out of them is the ATAVT perception test and even then there's a decent strategy of basically looking out for the small things. A car or bus will be pretty hard to miss compared to a traffic light or road sign.


Yeah, pretty much. It's gotten me this far at least but I always dreaded the interviews most. I just have to hope my examples will be good enough and try to sell them as best I can.

The pictures you see aren’t out to trick you. They have obvious stand out features. Hope that helps.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Dec 2022 ==

Rather shocked didn’t pass the CBI standards. As a ‘competent’ guard for the last five years this was a rather heavy blow. ‍

 

[Chippychips]

The pictures you see aren’t out to trick you. They have obvious stand out features. Hope that helps.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Dec 2022 ==

Rather shocked didn’t pass the CBI standards. As a ‘competent’ guard for the last five years this was a rather heavy blow. ‍

Gutted for you mate. Sorry to hear. I never quite understand these interviews... as you said, you been a competent guard for years.

At least you've passed the tests to enhanced so, just like others, all you have to do is MMI when something comes up.

 

[Tom999333]

Gutted for you mate. Sorry to hear. I never quite understand these interviews... as you said, you been a competent guard for years.

At least you've passed the tests to enhanced so, just like others, all you have to do is MMI when something comes up.

Tell me about it. Dealing with dispatch 24/7, train hitting an obstruction and having to remove it and a fatality just isn’t enough. So I don’t understand that interview criteria at all.

 

[Sorcerer]

Rather shocked didn’t pass the CBI standards. As a ‘competent’ guard for the last five years this was a rather heavy blow. ‍

Tell me about it. Dealing with dispatch 24/7, train hitting an obstruction and having to remove it and a fatality just isn’t enough. So I don’t understand that interview criteria at all.

Oh dear, I'm sorry to hear that you didn't pass the CBI. Considering that your experiences didn't seem to be enough then they must be asking for something quite special or quite specific.

 

[Dec718]

The pictures you see aren’t out to trick you. They have obvious stand out features. Hope that helps.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Dec 2022 ==

Rather shocked didn’t pass the CBI standards. As a ‘competent’ guard for the last five years this was a rather heavy blow. ‍

I was in the same boat mate unfortunately.. I came away from the interview thinking I did well. He didn’t grill me on anything and seemed happy with all my answers and all my responses were thorough.
I went through all the non-technical skills for a train driver and had them in my responses as their ‘supposed’ key phrases..

I work for network rail in a safety critical role and all my responses except one which was a personal response to a question were all safety related and remaining concentrated for long periods of time whilst dealing with multiple jobs/issues. Still not heard back from OPC yet regarding feedback but kind of hoping the question I failed on was the personal response so at least I know for next time where I went wrong.

 

[Tom999333]

I was in the same boat mate unfortunately.. I came away from the interview thinking I did well. He didn’t grill me on anything and seemed happy with all my answers and all my responses were thorough.
I went through all the non-technical skills for a train driver and had them in my responses as their ‘supposed’ key phrases..

I work for network rail in a safety critical role and all my responses except one which was a personal response to a question were all safety related and remaining concentrated for long periods of time whilst dealing with multiple jobs/issues. Still not heard back from OPC yet regarding feedback but kind of hoping the question I failed on was the personal response so at least I know for next time where I went wrong.

Sounds exactly how mine went, I didn’t have my hand held throughout the interview. I was allowed to explain my situations. I just kept being interrupted with the same question but phrased differently. Hopefully the next toc I apply for uses MMI as the pass rate is much lower and I can use those results for a wider range of tocs in my area. CBI seems to be rather constricted.

They did say they break up for the holidays and aren’t back in the offices till 3rd January.

 

[Sorcerer]

Honestly I'm now very confused as to what exactly the CBI is looking for if two candidates who've already served in safety critical roles on the railway somehow couldn't meet the criteria.

 

[Tom999333]

Honestly I'm now very confused as to what exactly the CBI is looking for if two candidates who've already served in safety critical roles on the railway somehow couldn't meet the criteria.

All I can suggest is just shove as many key words in as possible even if it makes no sense whatsoever. Obviously they are just going off a scoresheet.

 

[Dec718]

Sounds exactly how mine went, I didn’t have my hand held throughout the interview. I was allowed to explain my situations. I just kept being interrupted with the same question but phrased differently. Hopefully the next toc I apply for uses MMI as the pass rate is much lower and I can use those results for a wider range of tocs in my area. CBI seems to be rather constricted.

They did say they break up for the holidays and aren’t back in the offices till 3rd January.

I’m glad you’ve mentioned the pass rate being lower for the MMI! I did think this but couldn’t find any info about it!
I start a new job with freightliner in the new year shunting so my plan is to go driving for them next year so obviously I just need to do the MMI but was worrying because now I’ve only got one go at it!

 

[shayes]

Honestly I'm now very confused as to what exactly the CBI is looking for if two candidates who've already served in safety critical roles on the railway somehow couldn't meet the criteria.

I currently work on the railway in a safety critical role and thankfully I passed the CBI.

My answers were all based on experiences I've had at work but my role is quite varied and can pull answers from various areas. Hopefully the feedback will shed some light on reasons

 

[Freddy98]

Hi all,

Congratulations on those who have passed through either or both stages of the testing! Thankfully I got my email through to tell me I’ve passed my CBI.

Question is, does this mean I retain my lives if I was to apply for another TOC using MMI or is it one used even though I have passed all stages of psychological testing?

TIA.

 

[StaGuardDriver]

Hi all,

Congratulations on those who have passed through either or both stages of the testing! Thankfully I got my email through to tell me I’ve passed my CBI.

Question is, does this mean I retain my lives if I was to apply for another TOC using MMI or is it one used even though I have passed all stages of psychological testing?

TIA.

You would retain all lives as you haven’t failed any tests as such.

 

[Val3ntine]

Hi all,

Congratulations on those who have passed through either or both stages of the testing! Thankfully I got my email through to tell me I’ve passed my CBI.

Question is, does this mean I retain my lives if I was to apply for another TOC using MMI or is it one used even though I have passed all stages of psychological testing?

TIA.

Admittedly this confuses me, but you may have to double check with the OPC (although they’ve been known to not give clear straight answers), but if you do the MMI for another TOC, it MAY override your CBI pass for Avanti hindering your progress with them. I am not 100% sure if this is the case, but just something to bear in mind. Personally, I’m the biggest avocate for not putting all your eggs in one basket and to not stop applying until you have a physical contract, this just makes it just that little bit harder.

 

[worth1g]

Good luck! I didn't do mine Wednesday I did them Thursday ‍♀️ how do you think you did in CBI it's a bit hard to judge isn't it, I think I did okay and answered as best as I could just a waiting game now.

Well done Gemma, I think we both did ours on the same day, 8th December?
I got through too. Just waiting for a dtm interview date now. Good luck with it all and have a good Christmas.

 

[Wonder]

Happy Christmas everyone.

Congratulations to those who’ve passed all the tests and good luck to those with a stage to go. Let’s hope the DMI dates come fairly soon into the New Year!

 

[Freddy98]

You would retain all lives as you haven’t failed any tests as such.

Thought this would be the case but it all gets a little confusing!

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

Admittedly this confuses me, but you may have to double check with the OPC (although they’ve been known to not give clear straight answers), but if you do the MMI for another TOC, it MAY override your CBI pass for Avanti hindering your progress with them. I am not 100% sure if this is the case, but just something to bear in mind. Personally, I’m the biggest avocate for not putting all your eggs in one basket and to not stop applying until you have a physical contract, this just makes it just that little bit harder.

I believe if I did take MMI it would override my CBI. I think they did mention it on the day at stage 2. Thankyou for your help though, I think I may get in contact to clarify it all.

 

[Sorcerer]

Does anyone else think that the results of a CBI overwriting that of an MMI and vice versa is kind of ridiculous? I know they're practically similar but on a technicality they are different tests so one overwriting the other doesn't make any sense to me, especially when Avanti are the only operator that still uses the CBI in the first place.

 

[Trainguy151]

After passing my CBI in May, and mainly radio silence from Avanti since (I understand why!) I had a call today for my DMI for Wolves. I have less than a week to prepare. Any tips? Excited and nervous at the same time. Don’t know if 6 days is the usual time frame or if they’re just trying to get the backlog down. Good luck for everyone waiting at the various stages!

 

[TP113]

After passing my CBI in May, and mainly radio silence from Avanti since (I understand why!) I had a call today for my DMI for Wolves. I have less than a week to prepare. Any tips? Excited and nervous at the same time. Don’t know if 6 days is the usual time frame or if they’re just trying to get the backlog down. Good luck for everyone waiting at the various stages!

Wow, I was hoping they would be calling in the New Year for a recent CBI pass, but there's a chance it could be up to 6 months going by your timeline. Good luck for the DMI

 

[Neatro]

After passing my CBI in May, and mainly radio silence from Avanti since (I understand why!) I had a call today for my DMI for Wolves. I have less than a week to prepare. Any tips? Excited and nervous at the same time. Don’t know if 6 days is the usual time frame or if they’re just trying to get the backlog down. Good luck for everyone waiting at the various stages!

You could easily prepare for a DMI within 6 days. They're a lot more relaxed. The CBI is looking if you fit experience wise with the role.

The DMI will be more what you know about the company and whether they see you as a good fit as a person than your experience I'd assume.

If you're stuck there's plenty of videos/information online to help you out with suggestions or what to expect.

 

[tonyianmoore@g]

Shame my computer tests aren't in Crewe... Got a train ticket from Milton Keynes to Crewe back in December for £15.00 return, but to get a return from Bletchley to Watford Junction on the Friday morning is £31.70. Guess that's the price for heading towards London during rush hour rather than away!

 

[TP113]

After passing my CBI in May, and mainly radio silence from Avanti since (I understand why!) I had a call today for my DMI for Wolves. I have less than a week to prepare. Any tips? Excited and nervous at the same time. Don’t know if 6 days is the usual time frame or if they’re just trying to get the backlog down. Good luck for everyone waiting at the various stages!

Where is your DMI? Is it at the depot you've applied for?

 

[Trainguy151]

Where is your DMI? Is it at the depot you've applied for?

It’s over Microsoft teams. Don’t know whether is standard practice, a friend of mine who’s already a driver, said he did his DMI after he finished his last assessment stage with the OPC on the same day, but that was 3/4 years ago

 

[StaGuardDriver]

Has anybody practised for the WAFV test (black square). I’ve failed this previously so this is my last chance. Every other test I’ve already passed to advanced. I used the practice material purchased from traineetraindriver previously and was hitting pretty much 100% every time in practice and honestly don’t know how I failed it on the day. I’m now reading various posts stating different things like the square keeps going darker or some saying the square goes from one distinct colour to another etc and I’m getting a little stressed with it but am reluctant to use the same practice material again as it may not replicate the exact test. Any help/advice or links to other test material much appreciated.

 

[shayes]

Has anybody practised for the WAFV test (black square). I’ve failed this previously so this is my last chance. Every other test I’ve already passed to advanced. I used the practice material purchased from traineetraindriver previously and was hitting pretty much 100% every time in practice and honestly don’t know how I failed it on the day. I’m now reading various posts stating different things like the square keeps going darker or some saying the square goes from one distinct colour to another etc and I’m getting a little stressed with it but am reluctant to use the same practice material again as it may not replicate the exact test. Any help/advice or links to other test material much appreciated.

Hey,

I passed this on 19th Dec, it changes from one shade to a darker shade, its pretty noticeable as long as you are looking at it. Try to relax which is easier said than done I know, but if I can do it, I'm sure you can! Don't worry if you muscling either, I clicked twice by accident moving my hand, you got it!

 

[StaGuardDriver]

Hey,

I passed this on 19th Dec, it changes from one shade to a darker shade, its pretty noticeable as long as you are looking at it. Try to relax which is easier said than done I know, but if I can do it, I'm sure you can! Don't worry if you muscling either, I clicked twice by accident moving my hand, you got it!

Thanks. Did you do any practice for this test at all?

 

[shayes]

Thanks. Did you do any practice for this test at all?

No problem, no I was tempted to from traineedriverinfo or something like that but instead I read up as much as I could about the tests.

 

[Peelay]

W

Hey,

I passed this on 19th Dec

Was that at Watford?

 

[shayes]

W


Was that at Watford?

Yeah that's right