Northern Trainee Conductor - General Discussion

[nwsouth]

Hey

Anyone else been put back in the talent pool after they cancelled the training course on July 14th in Manchester? Just wondering why etc?

What stage have you progressed to?

 

[Neil99]

Hi I am new to this I have a interview with Northern on the 14th May I am a customer host for tranpeness experience has anyone got any advice pls

 

[nickpaddock]

Hi all, I had a telephone interview booked for yesterday which I was all prepared for, looking forward to but the call never came (possibly because it was a bank holiday but the booking portal let me book that slot).

I have tried emailing them, calling the HR department (who said Recruitment don’t have a number) but haven’t heard anything from Northern.

Does anyone have any experience of this or any suggestions? Feeling slightly disappointed after learning about how important communication, customer service and time management is to Northern during my extensive revision over the last few weeks and months!

 

[Alfpp]

Sorry I can’t help with your question, but just want to ask which depot you applied for & how long from applying did you get a response to book a telephone interview?

 

[Ducatist4]

You could try 01904568101 (if its still working) and also email them at HR@Northernrailway.co.uk

 

[northstar7]

Hi all, I just applied for a job for a trainee train conductor, I was just wondering how realistic it really is to get the job as an 18 year old with previous job experience in retail and working with parents. I really want this job but don’t want to get my hopes up and be quite disappointed.
Does anyone have any previous encounters with conductors of quite a young age?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 May 2025 ==

Hi all, I just applied for a job for a trainee train conductor, I was just wondering how realistic it really is to get the job as an 18 year old with previous job experience in retail and working with parents. I really want this job but don’t want to get my hopes up and be quite disappointed.
Does anyone have any previous encounters with conductors of quite a young age?

Bump

 

[LokiB]

Hi all, I just applied for a job for a trainee train conductor, I was just wondering how realistic it really is to get the job as an 18 year old with previous job experience in retail and working with parents. I really want this job but don’t want to get my hopes up and be quite disappointed.
Does anyone have any previous encounters with conductors of quite a young age?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 May 2025 ==


Bump

On my training course there was a young lad for a little bit who was about 18 so it's definitely possible.
If you can give relevant answers to the questions they ask and can show you have the attributes required for the job then there's no reason been 18 will stop you.

Best of luck with it and let us know how you get on.

 

[Clo_Babouris]

Hi all, I had a telephone interview booked for yesterday which I was all prepared for, looking forward to but the call never came (possibly because it was a bank holiday but the booking portal let me book that slot).

I have tried emailing them, calling the HR department (who said Recruitment don’t have a number) but haven’t heard anything from Northern.

Does anyone have any experience of this or any suggestions? Feeling slightly disappointed after learning about how important communication, customer service and time management is to Northern during my extensive revision over the last few weeks and months!

Hi, I had the same issue, I was scheduled to have a telephone interview on the 5th of May, but nobody called either. I emailed recruitment@northernrailway.co.uk and I received a text message the next day (Tuesday) apologising about the mix up, they don't work bank holidays but the system still allows up to book an appointment as it doesn't recognise bank holidays, that was why nobody called, the person I spoke to arranged another telephone interview that day for me. Did you manage to get it sorted?

Hello everyone, I have been invited to attend a one to one interview and group assessment day for Northern Rail which is taking place in June, and I have a few questions regarding the interview and the group assessment.
So if anyone has any advice or has done the interview/assessment before, whether it went good or bad, it will be greatly appreciated

One to One
- I have gathered some knowledge about the company (who it is owned by, vision, values how many trains and services etc..), but is there anything specific that i should definitely know?
- I understand the one to one interview is based off tell me a time... questions, did anyone have any specific questions or unexpected questions they were asked?
- It also states there will be a role play exercise, I never had any interviews where I needed to role play, so any advice on this would be greatly appreciated, what was the situation you had to role play?

Group
- what was involved in the group exercise? I seemed to have found that is spilt into 2 activities so I'm curious to know what people had as the tasks, and how they went about prepping for this?

Again any help is massively appreciated

 

[transportphoto]

Hello everyone, I have been invited to attend a one to one interview and group assessment day for Northern Rail which is taking place in June, and I have a few questions regarding the interview and the group assessment.
So if anyone has any advice or has done the interview/assessment before, whether it went good or bad, it will be greatly appreciated

One to One
- I have gathered some knowledge about the company (who it is owned by, vision, values how many trains and services etc..), but is there anything specific that i should definitely know?
- I understand the one to one interview is based off tell me a time... questions, did anyone have any specific questions or unexpected questions they were asked?
- It also states there will be a role play exercise, I never had any interviews where I needed to role play, so any advice on this would be greatly appreciated, what was the situation you had to role play?

Group
- what was involved in the group exercise? I seemed to have found that is spilt into 2 activities so I'm curious to know what people had as the tasks, and how they went about prepping for this?

Again any help is massively appreciated

Good morning,

Welcome to the forum! I see your two posts have merged here which hasn’t helped the formatting.

The biggest piece of advice from me is to try to relax and be your authentic self. In group work make sure to contribute but not be overbearing, if you notice someone else struggling or being very quiet find a way to gently encourage them to be involved.

Remember the company values, the places they serve, etc. Revise the STAR format approach to answering interview questions - talk about what you did in the scenario rather than focusing on the team result (where relevant).

Hope this helps

 

[800001]

Afternoon all, I recently applied for this role, and have noticed on my online account it states ‘A Telephone Interview has been scheduled with a member of our Talent Acquisition team.’.

I have had no email to tell me this, is it just a case of waiting for an email allowing me to book a time slot?

 

[Alfpp]

Which depot you applied for?

 

[800001]

Which depot you applied for?

Middlesbrough

 

[northstar7]

On my training course there was a young lad for a little bit who was about 18 so it's definitely possible.
If you can give relevant answers to the questions they ask and can show you have the attributes required for the job then there's no reason been 18 will stop you.

Best of luck with it and let us know how you get on.

Thank you for the reply, just got the email that they’re doing screening tests now.

 

[A_M_A]

Hi, how did the interview go I know it's probably been and gone but I was interviewed for Northern last year and got the job as conductor if you have any questions.

Hi
Please I have an interview coming in weeks time
What are some of the questions I'll be asked
I'm in Leeds

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jun 2025 ==

Had my interview for Trainee Conductor for Leeds last Friday and got an email the same day saying I had passed and been put in the talent pool.

Anyone else in the same position or been in the talent pool recently? Just wondering how long it might be before I get an email, I’ve seen that you might not get a job within the 9 months and have to reapply but here’s hoping I get the call.

If anyone wants any advise for the interview let me know.

What were the questions they asked

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jun 2025 ==

Hi,

I attended mine 2 weeks ago, I passed with the medical Friday coning, start date 19th May.

It’s a really nice day start to finish
2 group activities one is on marketing and the other is a set of issues which needed to be prioritied
Then a break (those who haven’t passed first stage get sent home)
Then 1:1 interview with a role play element as well

My accessment and interview are in 2 weeks. Can you help me with questions on both accessment and interview

Thank you

 

[Alfpp]

Hi
Please I have an interview coming in weeks time
What are some of the questions I'll be asked
I'm in Leeds

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jun 2025 ==


What were the questions they asked

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jun 2025 ==


My accessment and interview are in 2 weeks. Can you help me with questions on both accessment and interview

Thank you

What week are you meant to be going?

 

[magpiepotts]

Is anyone on here that is starting the training course in Leeds on 7th July?

 

[magpiepotts]

Is anyone starting the training course in Leeds on Monday 7th July?

 

[md81]

For the new batch of trainee conductor roles, did anyone else find the AI application really buggy? I did so badly, it’s the most frustrating experience I’ve had ever in applying for a job.

 

[Alfpp]

Anyone got any experience with conductor talent pool? I’ve recently been placed into one at Northern? I can’t help but feel abit dejected about it, I just feel like I’ll be in it that long & I won’t get out of it?

 

[skyhigh]

It's completely normal.

 

[Alfpp]

It's completely normal.

Is it? Is it a natural thing for them to do then until they arrange a course date.

 

[nwsouth]

I've come across people who have waited weeks and some who have waited a year so I'd say it's normal

 

[Stan2025]

Hi I’m going for conductor based at Piccadilly or Victoria station in Manchester, is there any sort of help with parking if successful or is it just going to cost an arm and a leg to to the point of just getting a moped to tie to a lamppost, thanks.

 

[buddy2802]

You can claim parking back, not sure how much it is now but it used to be £5 a day you could claim back. You can also put your name down for a car park pass once you start (if at Pic)but it can take a while to get it as there is a wait list, that’s around £10 a month. Not too sure about Victoria, I know staff based there have a pass for the arena car park but not sure if like Pic there is a waitlist

 

[jaggy]

Hi everyone, just wondering if there is anyone on here scheduled to go on a course for Northern conductors on the 10th November? Im yet to do my medical but its being booked shortly.

 

[northern2025]

Hello,

Applied for a job as a trainee conductor.

Had my interview yesterday but what I didn't ask is how / when we would find out the outcome.

Does anybody know how long it takes / how they contact you if you're successful or unsuccessful

Thanks so much

 

[skyhigh]

Usually a couple of days but depending on their workload can be longer. Used to be a phone call but unsure if that's changed.

 

[Stan2025]

Anyone got any examples for the group assessments when going for the face to face conductor interview, I’m pretty confident I’ll be okay in the actual interview but going into the group bit which will be first blind is a bit daunting. Any examples would be appreciated thanks.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Aug 2025 ==

Hello,

Applied for a job as a trainee conductor.

Had my interview yesterday but what I didn't ask is how / when we would find out the outcome.

Does anybody know how long it takes / how they contact you if you're successful or unsuccessful

Thanks so much

I had my telephone interview last Friday then got an invite to the face to face one a week later via email

 

[Blue007]

Hi everyone,

I’ve been invited to an assessment day with Northern for a Trainee Train Conductor role in Manchester.
The interview invite says the first part of the day will include 2 group tasks, and if successful, I’ll then have a 1-to-1 interview with role play and competency-based questions.

I’d really appreciate it if anyone who’s been through this process could share what those two group tasks usually involve, and any tips on how to approach them.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Stan2025]

Hi everyone,

I’ve been invited to an assessment day with Northern for a Trainee Train Conductor role in Manchester.
The interview invite says the first part of the day will include 2 group tasks, and if successful, I’ll then have a 1-to-1 interview with role play and competency-based questions.

I’d really appreciate it if anyone who’s been through this process could share what those two group tasks usually involve, and any tips on how to approach them.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Did you get the job I think I was at the same day, I got it, I can’t wait to start.