GWR - Trainee Train Driver - Recruitment Discussion

[sazzle250]

Hey guys,
Guess no one has heard anything as of yet

I’ve just had email to say I haven’t been successful. Onwards and upwards. Good luck all.

 

[Reetzaboi]

I’ve just had email to say I haven’t been successful. Onwards and upwards. Good luck all.

unlucky bud

 

[Leon Tallis]

I’ve received an invitation to do the video interview for Worcester.

 

[eSTeeSCe]

Through to Video Intv for Plymouth.

 

[PLY2AYS]

Through to Video Intv for Plymouth.

Who’s your interview with?

 

[Reetzaboi]

I’ve received an invitation to do the video interview for Worcester.

Same here

 

[OneTrackMind]

I had an update for Oxford earlier this week.

A high volume of applications have been received for this vacancy and it is going to take us sometime to process them.

Your application is currently with the Driver Management team and we will be in contact when we have a further update for you. Please be patient, as this may not be for a month or so.

 

[Reetzaboi]

I had an update for Oxford earlier this week.

A high volume of applications have been received for this vacancy and it is going to take us sometime to process them.

Your application is currently with the Driver Management team and we will be in contact when we have a further update for you. Please be patient, as this may not be for a month or so.

I guess Oxford will be more popular just cause the location

 

[bajanelite123]

Just done my video interview for Worcester. Compared to other interviews I've done, weird questions. Nothing really testing your competency, maybe slightly testing personality.

 

[sammyy]

Just done my video interview for Worcester. Compared to other interviews I've done, weird questions. Nothing really testing your competency, maybe slightly testing personality.

Oh that's interesting. Are there many questions?

 

[bajanelite123]

Oh that's interesting. Are there many questions?

I only had 3. No clue if it's the same for everyone or if it's the same questions. I would assume so as it makes it far easier for them to compare candidates.

 

[asacottis]

Hi all hope you are well.
Has anyone else heard anything from Paddington yet?
I have tried logging onto my first account but they are no longer letting me view my previous emails has anyone else had this issue?

 

[Railee]

Just checked mine - application showing as 'submitted' so have been assuming it's a waiting game. Didn't have any feedback from video interview beyond acknowledgement that it had been received.

 

[EZ2636]

Received an invite to record a video interview regarding Westbury this evening

 

[BongCups34]

I got a email couple days ago about video interview stating you have passed but only top scores go through and then had a email yesterday stating I have been successful and put through to the next stage.

 

[MrFord]

So is it interviewed by a person?

 

[WMC]

So is it interviewed by a person?

It’s 3 questions, that you need to record via a mobile phone or laptop using a webcam and microphone.

You get 1 minute to read the question and 3 minutes to answer it.

You get 2 attempts to record your answer per question. You then pick your best one and submit it.

Once complete, you get an automated email saying you’ve completed that stage and will hear back either way if you have passed or failed.

 

[WMC]

I got a email couple days ago about video interview stating you have passed but only top scores go through and then had a email yesterday stating I have been successful and put through to the next stage.

How long ago did you complete the video interview if you don’t mind me asking?

I have just done mine for Plymouth.

Just wondering how long it may take for me to hear the result? Thank you.

 

[BongCups34]

I heard back within a week to be fair

 

[Reetzaboi]

Hey guys how did we all find the video interview

 

[officewalla]

I have an extremely long list.
End of my first week of driver training, I was put into a Depot driver training group, which I was told was ‘the norm’ and that would be the only way in which trainees now progress to the mainline. Which means you must do 2 years (minimum) on a depot link, 70% pay and 80-90% nights.
The new GWR contract essentially means you have “a commitment to work rostered Sundays” which are essentially enforced overtime. Something which (amongst other things) was absent from the job description when I initially took the job.
Additionally, every time I spoke to/emailed a manager, their response would NEVER be in writing, as to ensure weaponised incompetence. Any information I and my cohort were therefore fed from management, was never concrete or in fact on record, so was lied to constantly.
When progressing to mainline, there is a graded salary system. Depot drivers 70% of salary (same as the Mano grade at Reading who do an entirely different job) 80% for PQA1, 90% for PQA2 and 100% for fully fledged drivers.
However, if you are forced into a depot driver role, you will do 2 years at 70% rate (despite possibly doing exactly the same work content as other mainline drivers who are on 100% rate) before being allowed to progress to mainline, where instead of being put onto the 90% rate until all routes are signed, you’ll be placed on 80% rate instead, despite being a fully qualified mainline driver, you’ll be placed back onto a PQA rate.
I must stress this 2 year period is a MINIMUM, and plenty of drivers who joined in 2019 are still left on depot links months and months after their 2 years had expired, waiting for jobs to appear, whilst the company bring in external drivers and recruit more trainees off the street.
On top of this, drivers are penalised for going out of their way to opt for overtime in a ludicrous rest day count penalty fine… which is a pointless economy.
The green driver handbook for trainees is edited and messed around with constantly at the whim of GWR to suit their Ts&Cs, and ultimately will affect your progress, training and work life until you pass out of your 3rd year of driving (likely 4 years into the role - 5 to 6 if you take the Depot Driver)

I will state though that all of these qualms, whilst not all entirely my own, are in fact prevalent in the West country (Plymouth to Penzance) and aren’t necessarily applicable to the other depots around GWR.

I am grateful to GWR for gaining my key… but don’t get trapped on a depot link, ensure you have EVERYTHING in writing from a manager, check everything with LDC and know your Terms and Conditions.
There are infinitely better TOCs out there who have a much better union to management working relationship and much better Ts&Cs.

Any more questions, feel free to drop me a DM and I can put you in touch with scores of new drivers who are at odds with GWR in the South West.

Interesting post. I joined GWR as an external candidate almost 3 years ago in October 2021 and come the end of November (my 2 year pass out anniversary), I go to full pay. I don't recognise any of the above for anybody I know or have come into contact with as the choices are apply for mano or mainline driver (and yes I know the burb mentions depot driver but I have no idea what one of them is).

 

[12LDA28C]

Interesting post. I joined GWR as an external candidate almost 3 years ago in October 2021 and come the end of November (my 2 year pass out anniversary), I go to full pay. I don't recognise any of the above for anybody I know or have come into contact with as the choices are apply for mano or mainline driver (and yes I know the burb mentions depot driver but I have no idea what one of them is).

What is a 'mano' driver?

Clearly a Depot driver is a driver who moves trains within the confines of a maintenance facility and most likely to and from an associated main line station. That's the universally accepted definition.

 

[Leon Tallis]

Hey guys how did we all find the video interview

Not too bad (I think). First question, I could use an answer I had prepared. Second and third, I typed out an answer whilst the 1st attempt & playback were running and read it back. Managed to speak continuously without tripping over my words!

How about you?

 

[FGW_DID]

What is a 'mano' driver?

Clearly a Depot driver is a driver who moves trains within the confines of a maintenance facility and most likely to and from an associated main line station. That's the universally accepted definition.

A GWR ‘Mano’ or to give them their full title, “Manoeuvrer Maintainer” seems to be a role title peculiar to Reading TCD. Anywhere else they would be called something like “Maintenance Depot Driver” (MDD).
Manos move and prep trains purely within the confines of Reading TCD. They have no ‘mainline’ competence, even the short distance to Reading Station. The Maintainer part of the name seems to have fallen by the wayside but originally (over at the old triangle sidings / DMU depot) they could also expect to fuel trains and carry out minor repairs without recourse to calling out the fitters.

GWR depot drivers on the other hand, move trains within the depot but are also ‘mainline competent‘ to allow them to take units between depot and associated station e.g between St Phillips Marsh and Bristol TM.

 

[jellyman]

Hi All, new to the forum, submitted my video interview a few days ago and got an email today:

We're pleased to let you know that you have successfully passed your recent online assessment(s).

Whilst we endeavour to progress everyone who passes their online assessment to the next stage of the process, this is not always possible when we are dealing with high volumes of applications. On occasions like this and in the interests of fairness, we will only be able to progress those that fall within the top scoring bracket.

Not sure what to make of that but fingers crossed! Anyone else heard anything?

*Applying for Plymouth* probably should have said.

 

[Reetzaboi]

Hi All, new to the forum, submitted my video interview a few days ago and got an email today:

We're pleased to let you know that you have successfully passed your recent online assessment(s).

Whilst we endeavour to progress everyone who passes their online assessment to the next stage of the process, this is not always possible when we are dealing with high volumes of applications. On occasions like this and in the interests of fairness, we will only be able to progress those that fall within the top scoring bracket.

Not sure what to make of that but fingers crossed! Anyone else heard anything?

*Applying for Plymouth* probably should have said.

No mate but congrats I submitted mine quite late so won’t be looked at straight away

 

[NSEWonderer]

Hi All, new to the forum, submitted my video interview a few days ago and got an email today:

We're pleased to let you know that you have successfully passed your recent online assessment(s).

Whilst we endeavour to progress everyone who passes their online assessment to the next stage of the process, this is not always possible when we are dealing with high volumes of applications. On occasions like this and in the interests of fairness, we will only be able to progress those that fall within the top scoring bracket.

Not sure what to make of that but fingers crossed! Anyone else heard anything?

*Applying for Plymouth* probably should have said.

Standard email you also get it from SWR, only the TOCs will know the scores for each applicant which is then sorted into the relevant order for them to pick applicants from top order down into the next stage.

 

[jellyman]

No mate but congrats I submitted mine quite late so won’t be looked at straight away

Good luck Reetzaboi...hopefully you get a good news email soon

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Sep 2024 ==

Standard email you also get it from SWR, only the TOCs will know the scores for each applicant which is then sorted into the relevant order for them to pick applicants from top order down into the next stage.

Thanks Samzino, wasn't sure if it was a precursor for failure! Hard to know with this process as it's very "wait, we'll let you know"! Recruitment processes suck!

Fingers crossed for everyone else applying. Good luck.

 

[Leon Tallis]

Hi All, new to the forum, submitted my video interview a few days ago and got an email today:

We're pleased to let you know that you have successfully passed your recent online assessment(s).

Whilst we endeavour to progress everyone who passes their online assessment to the next stage of the process, this is not always possible when we are dealing with high volumes of applications. On occasions like this and in the interests of fairness, we will only be able to progress those that fall within the top scoring bracket.

Not sure what to make of that but fingers crossed! Anyone else heard anything?

*Applying for Plymouth* probably should have said.

Well done, pal.

 

[trix89]

Hi All, new to the forum, submitted my video interview a few days ago and got an email today:

We're pleased to let you know that you have successfully passed your recent online assessment(s).

Whilst we endeavour to progress everyone who passes their online assessment to the next stage of the process, this is not always possible when we are dealing with high volumes of applications. On occasions like this and in the interests of fairness, we will only be able to progress those that fall within the top scoring bracket.

Not sure what to make of that but fingers crossed! Anyone else heard anything?

*Applying for Plymouth* probably should have said.

Hello! Nice to meet everyone

I’m applying for Penzance and I received the same email yesterday! Congratulations to you as well, does anyone know the next stages if we get through? Thanks