GWR - Trainee Train Driver - Recruitment Discussion

[DLG333]

Well I’ve just finished my second assessment. No idea how many I managed to complete, I wasn’t really keeping tabs! 10 minutes flys by for sure.

What area are you applying for?

 

[StuartA]

What area are you applying for?

Oxford

 

[DLG333]

Oxford

Best of luck mate. I'm on the hunt for fellow Swansea applicants!

 

[StuartA]

Best of luck mate. I'm on the hunt for fellow Swansea applicants!

Thanks bud and you!

 

[HSTfan!!!]

Anyone know much about the talent pool at Swansea and staff turnover there?

Generally Swansea has always been of a bit of a dead man’s shoes depot, no one leaves there unless retiring.

 

[DLG333]

Generally Swansea has always been of a bit of a dead man’s shoes depot, no one leaves there unless retiring.

Ah gotcha.

 

[Sly Old Fox]

I think the reason depots like Swansea and Penzance have come up is that GWR is predicting that a good number of drivers will retire when (if) the new pay deal is agreed, and these adverts are a way of stemming the tide. So whilst Swansea is ‘dead man’s shoes’, there could be a number of ‘dead men’ leaving quite soon. I think something like 80% of the depot there is over 50.

 

[DLG333]

I think the reason depots like Swansea and Penzance have come up is that GWR is predicting that a good number of drivers will retire when (if) the new pay deal is agreed, and these adverts are a way of stemming the tide. So whilst Swansea is ‘dead man’s shoes’, there could be a number of ‘dead men’ leaving quite soon. I think something like 80% of the depot there is over 50.

That makes sense. Front load the talent pools so they don't get caught out.

I know the process has been taking years for a lot of people posting on here. Is that largely a covd thing or par for the course?

 

[officewalla]

Hi all, new to the forum and looking to get into the industry, I have seen the trainee train driver job adverts and found this forum!

I am Swindon based so obviously would like a Swindon vacancy, Oxford is within the 60 minutes prescribed travel time for me, how ever this would not be a long term ideal should I be successful.

Does anyone have experience of applying for multiple depots? For the same job role? Appreciating Swindon is not currently taking my applicants, but should a vacancy come available I would apply for that.

How would this be viewed from GWR perspective? Are multiple applications, with or without failure, commonplace when trying to get into this industry?

I am well aware of the long, competitive nature of the recruitment process.

I also understand that internal transfers when experienced, can take a long time to come to fruition. So Oxford is not ideal, other than the fact it is a great opportunity.

Thank you.

Stuart.

Swindon is a sub depot of Reading and a very long list of Swindon based drivers wanting to get there. Only way to Swindon currently is to go to Reading and join the queue. Two Oxford drivers have transferred to Gloucester this year as it is closer to home and more variety of routes.

 

[Hamna]

Did someone hear back anything after second online error checking assessment???

 

[WMC]

Not heard anything yet. Don’t think we will hear anything until the application closes on 26/08/24. Anyone else applying for Plymouth/Penzance?

 

[StuartA]

Swindon is a sub depot of Reading and a very long list of Swindon based drivers wanting to get there. Only way to Swindon currently is to go to Reading and join the queue. Two Oxford drivers have transferred to Gloucester this year as it is closer to home and more variety of routes.

That’s good to know thank you

 

[DadPeanut]

Not heard anything yet. Don’t think we will hear anything until the application closes on 26/08/24. Anyone else applying for Plymouth/Penzance?

Yes. Plymouth/Penzance application here. With Penzance as preferred. How did you get on with your application?

 

[crt-crt]

Does anyone know if there is a time limit for the first online SJT? or do they test your time and speed answering the questions? I seen somewhere the test states you should allow up to 20 minutes. Do that mean if you run over you fail?

 

[DadPeanut]

Does anyone know if there is a time limit for the first online SJT? or do they test your time and speed answering the questions? I seen somewhere the test states you should allow up to 20 minutes. Do that mean if you run over you fail?

I thought there was a time limit as I read somewhere that there was. I did the first couple pretty quick in anticipation then quickly realised that there is no time limit on the SJT. There is on the error checking test though and that one is quick!

 

[WMC]

Yes. Plymouth/Penzance application here. With Penzance as preferred. How did you get on with your application?

Mine preferred is Plymouth but would be happy with either! Yeah all good thanks. Obviously just waiting to hear about the error checking test now. Good luck!

 

[DLG333]

This is my first application. From reading other threads it appears previous intakes had an automated video interview following application prior to assessment centre. Is that what people think is likely for this process?

 

[JT97]

This is my first application. From reading other threads it appears previous intakes had an automated video interview following application prior to assessment centre. Is that what people think is likely for this process?

Yes this was the next stage after my application but it took around 3 months.

 

[Joeyh10]

This is my first application. From reading other threads it appears previous intakes had an automated video interview following application prior to assessment centre. Is that what people think is likely for this process?

I applied for an opening mid February 2023, I passed both tests then had an email informing me that the next stage was the application was under review by the hiring manager. I received and email mid March 2023 saying I wasn’t successful, apparently there was a lot more applications due to a new social media campaign?
Re applied again for this opening in Swansea also.
Good luck!

 

[DLG333]

Yes this was the next stage after my application but it took around 3 months.

lovely thanks for your reply

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Aug 2024 ==

I applied for an opening mid February 2023, I passed both tests then had an email informing me that the next stage was the application was under review by the hiring manager. I received and email mid March 2023 saying I wasn’t successful, apparently there was a lot more applications due to a new social media campaign?
Re applied again for this opening in Swansea also.
Good luck!

gotcha so it sounds like people's applications may take slightly different paths then for whatever reason. thanks for your reply, and good luck to you too pal!

 

[Joner205]

Anyone else applying for worcester? Does anyone know how GWR calculate how far you are from the depot ie Google maps etc?
Thanks

 

[Class2ldn]

I think it normally is Google maps and has to be under the time limit even in rush hour.

 

[Hrav1656]

Anyone else applying for worcester? Does anyone know how GWR calculate how far you are from the depot ie Google maps etc?
Thanks

i have applied for Worcester, there’s a google map on the application which tells you how many minutes your home is from the station

 

[Joner205]

I think it normally is Google maps and has to be under the time limit even in rush hour.

Yeah did a Google maps for Monday arriving at 8.30 am and it said 55mins to 1hr 8 do you think that would be ok? I also should be living a lot nearer in the near future do you think I should of mentioned this? Thanks

 

[DLG333]

I'm surprised at how long this advert has been live for! They normally close early within a couple of days!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Aug 2024 ==

Yeah did a Google maps for Monday arriving at 8.30 am and it said 55mins to 1hr 8 do you think that would be ok? I also should be living a lot nearer in the near future do you think I should of mentioned this? Thanks

Might be worth a follow up email to let them know? Can't hurt

 

[DadPeanut]

I'm surprised at how long this advert has been live for! They normally close early within a couple of days!

Same! I've read before about how they're normally back down so soon. I made sure to get my application in asap and probably slightly rushed it to be honest!

 

[sdcserg]

submitted my application on tuesday, did my online assessment on wednesday and had an email today ( Unfortunately on this occasion you have not been successful at our online test ) i do think i did well on it but had to stop half way through and resume my wife was stranded so had to go and pick her up, think from start to submitting the assessment was about 1 hour, it didn't say anything about times etc, all it said was please allow 20 minutes! arrrrggggg

 

[DLG333]

Same! I've read before about how they're normally back down so soon. I made sure to get my application in asap and probably slightly rushed it to be honest!

Exactly the same! Saw it on Friday afternoon out with family. Completed it Friday night and Saturday daytime then smashed the tests out straight away in case it closed. Still glad I got it in early so I could "relax." I don't think I would have performed any better on the tests if i left them, although I was pretty knackered after writing so much. My eyes were on stalks!!

 

[Leon Tallis]

submitted my application on tuesday, did my online assessment on wednesday and had an email today ( Unfortunately on this occasion you have not been successful at our online test ) i do think i did well on it but had to stop half way through and resume my wife was stranded so had to go and pick her up, think from start to submitting the assessment was about 1 hour, it didn't say anything about times etc, all it said was please allow 20 minutes! arrrrggggg

I don’t think there was a time limit on the SJT, I submitted it about 50 minutes after starting.

 

[DLG333]

submitted my application on tuesday, did my online assessment on wednesday and had an email today ( Unfortunately on this occasion you have not been successful at our online test ) i do think i did well on it but had to stop half way through and resume my wife was stranded so had to go and pick her up, think from start to submitting the assessment was about 1 hour, it didn't say anything about times etc, all it said was please allow 20 minutes! arrrrggggg

Ah man, sorry to hear that! Life gets in the way sometimes!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Aug 2024 ==

I don’t think there was a time limit on the SJT, I submitted it about 50 minutes after starting.

I was about 30 I reckon, but probably rushed it unnecessarily.