Assessments & Medicals discussion

[Mr Francis]

Just had my medical and all is good apart from the doctor absolutely drilling me about some arthritis I have in my feet (literally doesn't cause me any issues). Now he's gotta send a request to my GP for more information and then I've gotta chase. My start date is the 13th and he said that this could delay it

That is so annoying but at least you’re still able to do the role. Had my medical on Monday and all was fine. Doctor keet making me walk in a squat to examine my knee; I felt like I was doing a workout.

 

[Georgiahope1]

Hi, I am due to start classroom training next month for trainee driver with northern. Does anyone know if you get uniform for classroom or if it is just smart wear. It says to wear smart clothing on the induction but nothing about getting uniform so just wondering
Thanks

 

[NeoNeko]

Hi, I am due to start classroom training next month for trainee driver with northern. Does anyone know if you get uniform for classroom or if it is just smart wear. It says to wear smart clothing on the induction but nothing about getting uniform so just wondering
Thanks

I'm about to start with SE, and we'll be trying on uniforms on our first day, so I'll be wearing smart clothes until my uniform arrives - I'm guessing it'll be similar for you.

 

[bas32]

Hi all, in the talent pool for GWR so thought I would visit the optician to make sure my eyesight was up to scratch. Have been given a prescription for -0.25 in my left eye, my right eye is fine. Will this be necessary to pass the medical for a train driver? Got the cheapest glasses I could anyway as better to be safe than sorry but just wondering if I’d be fine without them anyway.

 

[TheVicLine]

Hi all, in the talent pool for GWR so thought I would visit the optician to make sure my eyesight was up to scratch. Have been given a prescription for -0.25 in my left eye, my right eye is fine. Will this be necessary to pass the medical for a train driver? Got the cheapest glasses I could anyway as better to be safe than sorry but just wondering if I’d be fine without them anyway.

Yes that is fine.

 

[bas32]

Yes that is fine.

Brilliant, thanks

 

[minion37]

Hello everyone,

I have a question about MMI. I have checked most of the posts about it on this forum. I was wondering if anyone could help me or give ideas for questions related to rules. I don’t want typical answers about trains, like what I need to follow or procedures. As far as I know, they don’t really like answers that are only train-related.

 

[Arne]

Hello everyone,

I have a question about MMI. I have checked most of the posts about it on this forum. I was wondering if anyone could help me or give ideas for questions related to rules. I don’t want typical answers about trains, like what I need to follow or procedures. As far as I know, they don’t really like answers that are only train-related.

I did the opening site procedure at my old job (English Heritage for an old knackered castle) and then focused in on process for closing site if lightning was forecast

 

[Trev5678]

Hello everyone,

I have a question about MMI. I have checked most of the posts about it on this forum. I was wondering if anyone could help me or give ideas for questions related to rules. I don’t want typical answers about trains, like what I need to follow or procedures. As far as I know, they don’t really like answers that are only train-related.

Hello,
What job do you do or have you done in the last couple years?

I used following rules and procedures for dealing with a cell fire at work.

Most jobs have some sort of rule or procedure to follow so try having a think about what you most likely do each day that you could form into a structured answer.

I found with most of my MMI questions, you do things they are asking you to demonstrate most of the time but don’t even realise lol.

 

[minion37]

I'm a Guard, so yes thousands of rules, but I use my guard experience for other answers

Hello,
What job do you do or have you done in the last couple years?

I used following rules and procedures for dealing with a cell fire at work.

Most jobs have some sort of rule or procedure to follow so try having a think about what you most likely do each day that you could form into a structured answer.

I found with most of my MMI questions, you do things they are asking you to demonstrate most of the time but don’t even realise lol.

 

[Trev5678]

I'm a Guard, so yes thousands of rules, but I use my guard experience for other answers

I mean, it’s up to you but i based all my examples on my current job and passed.
As long as they are different situations

 

[minion37]

I mean, it’s up to you but i based all my examples on my current job and passed.
As long as they are different situations

Thank you

 

[AndyH2025]

Anyone else waiting for an offer from GWR for Paddington? I passed my DMI back in June…

I got my DMI this Friday. Any advice what to expect? and would you say it was similar to the MMI? It's for Paddington depot

 

[Georgiahope1]

I'm about to start with SE, and we'll be trying on uniforms on our first day, so I'll be wearing smart clothes until my uniform arrives - I'm guessing it'll be similar for you.

thank you!

 

[junior77]

Hi,

I failed on my cables and dials test (TRP2) earlier this year with GWR and I have a few questions about the instructions as I can’t remember it specifically. I just want to practice as much as I can so I can hopefully pass it next time.

There was 4 dials, (heat, air, power & light) and there was 4 colour groups from light blue to dark blue with numbers.

For anyone that’s done the test, did you have to put the dials in order of colour i.e if light blue was high priority - put that first and dark blue as least priority?
If two dials were in the same colour segment, refer to the number the dial is pointing at i.e for the highest number as first priority?

P.S I appreciate that they’ll be many different tests and the instructions in mine might be different to somebody else’s but I’m just interested to know.

 

[Tommy1414]

Hello, i have an interview for a trainee train driver position next month after passing the assessment centre, what sort of questions should i prep for? thanks.

 

[bas32]

Hi all, what’s the timeframe from getting an email that you are out of the talent pool/reserve list, doing medical and actually starting?

 

[azzarazza]

Has anyone got any experience of OPC tests done via Teams? I have SCAAT, RAAT and Ticket checking coming up. Practice material says to print off but unsure if the real thing will be done online as email states video call in exam conditions? This is for a conductor's role.

 

[Joner205]

Hi all, Ive got an assessment for a grade 2 signaller. Ive received the date and location and the info. It involves me preparing a presentation on a report ive been given and a set of questions to answer in my presentation. Will they be just expecting me to answer the questions or are they expecting something else? I only ask I haven't done anything like this for a while and it mention I can use power point if id like to? any help would be great and any ideas what else ill be up against other than transferable skills etc?

thanks

 

[LHW89]

Good afternoon all,

Any Rail enforcement officers for southeastern.

What is the medical for the role?

Is it just drink and drugs and general health or is it full safety medical?

 

[Horizon22]

Good afternoon all,

Any Rail enforcement officers for southeastern.

What is the medical for the role?

Is it just drink and drugs and general health or is it full safety medical?

Welcome to the forums,

I cannot recall if REOs have Personal Track Safety (PTS) competency or not, but if they do it will be a full safety-critical medical.

 

[Burrowl]

Hi team,

I took an MMI in February which I failed due to a deficit in verbal communication. I now have an offer from another train operating company to re-take it with them - but am extremely scared to do so and feel unprepared.
I think I failed because I was overconfident, after hearing stories of it being easy, I'm normally good at interviews and because my parents left the country for New Zealand the night before leaving me very short of sleep and not positive. Additionally, I had even been to work the evening before. Crazy, wasn't I?

Additionally a coach who I could be working with is on holiday, and the people I am closest to are not around.

What's the best way to assess whether I'm ready, and whether my mental state is up to the horrible 2nd attempt?

Many thanks!

 

[gostin]

Only you will know if you're ready beforehand and to be honest I think youve already answered your own question.

 

[RileyDog2018]

So I had my 2nd assessment day yesterday. Managed to pass the computerised tests (although was sure i hadn't!) and went onto the Dreaded MMI.
I had obviously prepped for it, with alot of advice I had gleaned from these forums. Although the questions weren't exactly as I thought they would be they were similar and I had some, what I thought, were good examples.
So into the interview, I am asked the question, and I start to explain my answer thinking about the STAR method, but before I can even get to finish, the interruptions started. I couldnt help but start to think is this because I am not answering correctly, as some advice on here says if they ask lots of questions you are not giving them what they want, but I hadn't finished!! I tried to remain calm, answer the questions and got to the end.
Really worried as there were so many interruptions, I haven't done well, but I really dont know what I would do differently.
Just have to wait the 7 to 10 days I suppose

 

[md81]

Hi team,

I took an MMI in February which I failed due to a deficit in verbal communication. I now have an offer from another train operating company to re-take it with them - but am extremely scared to do so and feel unprepared.
I think I failed because I was overconfident, after hearing stories of it being easy, I'm normally good at interviews and because my parents left the country for New Zealand the night before leaving me very short of sleep and not positive. Additionally, I had even been to work the evening before. Crazy, wasn't I?

Additionally a coach who I could be working with is on holiday, and the people I am closest to are not around.

What's the best way to assess whether I'm ready, and whether my mental state is up to the horrible 2nd attempt?

Many thanks!

interviews are supposed to be pressured situations but you've already sat in one so you will be at an advantage to others who haven't. You should have a better idea of what they are looking for - safety, industrial experience, ability to adapt to sudden changes, good communication skills and a track record of those things

 

[Dalston Juncti]

Hi all,

I failed an MMI interview some time back. I asked for feed back and I was told I failed the very last of the 6 questions.

The question was

6. Give an example of a task you have undertaken that you think is similar to a task with the train driver role.

I replied saying confidently I was once a process server (serving legal documents to addresses). This job I did for a while was using my car to drive long distances delivering documents to address and also I had days were I could be going to many address and gathering meter readings (different part of the job I did as well).

So like a Train Driver, long distance driving to single address (4hrs each way), or multiple drop of (50 address a day), driving carefully, driving to the road laws, well rested, working alone, checked my car was road worthy each day ect...filled paperwork after..

I just can’t see how a job I did genuinely in my past that’s very similar to a train driver was not a sufficient answer. I was told ‘not enough evidence’ in my response to this. This interview was already 3hrs long by this point. I really do question the interviewer’s stance on this. I can’t seem how this answer was not good enough.

I passed everything else and computer part beforehand. I was told by them I can not appeal....

This was my 2nd and last chance at being a driver (failed dots test 3yrs ago as the practice they gave me was anything but dots related for this) and not eligible for a 3rd time to try again.

This is 100’s of hours of my time wasted. Only because of the last question at the last and final hurdle, with an answer that fits perfectly, and something I truly did for a living.

I’m currently an employee of this company I applied for this position, good record, scores high in assessments, how can I not be a suitable?


So with the situation said above, is there anyone here has or known anyone to appeal a MMI result? Or can someone here give me some advice on what to do next, I feel unjustly and unfairly treated by the result, and the impact it will have on my future.

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[jaybon92]

Hi all,

I failed an MMI interview some time back. I asked for feed back and I was told I failed the very last of the 6 questions.

The question was

6. Give an example of a task you have undertaken that you think is similar to a task with the train driver role.

I replied saying confidently I was once a process server (serving legal documents to addresses). This job I did for a while was using my car to drive long distances delivering documents to address and also I had days were I could be going to many address and gathering meter readings (different part of the job I did as well).

So like a Train Driver, long distance driving to single address (4hrs each way), or multiple drop of (50 address a day), driving carefully, driving to the road laws, well rested, working alone, checked my car was road worthy each day ect...filled paperwork after..

I just can’t see how a job I did genuinely in my past that’s very similar to a train driver was not a sufficient answer. I was told ‘not enough evidence’ in my response to this. This interview was already 3hrs long by this point. I really do question the interviewer’s stance on this. I can’t seem how this answer was not good enough.

I passed everything else and computer part beforehand. I was told by them I can not appeal....

This was my 2nd and last chance at being a driver (failed dots test 3yrs ago as the practice they gave me was anything but dots related for this) and not eligible for a 3rd time to try again.

This is 100’s of hours of my time wasted. Only because of the last question at the last and final hurdle, with an answer that fits perfectly, and something I truly did for a living.

I’m currently an employee of this company I applied for this position, good record, scores high in assessments, how can I not be a suitable?


So with the situation said above, is there anyone here has or known anyone to appeal a MMI result? Or can someone here give me some advice on what to do next, I feel unjustly and unfairly treated by the result, and the impact it will have on my future.

Any help would be much appreciated.

I see alot of people failing the "last" question and majority it's been that question. I get the tests being hard and specific but I think it's abit of a trick the MMI from what im seeing

 

[AverageJoe]

Sorry to hear you failed.

I find the MMI is a tough one to give advice on as those that have passed never really get full feedback and those that have failed get limited feedback.

Being on this forum for a few years now I have seen many that have failed and felt they answered well and it just goes to show we never really know what they are looking for in the MMI.

I’m not even sure if it’s always about giving a good answer. sometimes I think maybe how the answer is given or the speed the answer is given.

For example, did they ask the question and you just went straight in to your answer which could have looked to the assessor that you have come here with a well rehearsed pre planned answer? Could that have given them the idea you have asked around and found out what questions they were going to ask and then could that have made them think your answer was fake?

I’m not saying that is the case at all, but I do think sometimes there is more to the MMI than what we necessarily think.

As regards appealing, I have no idea but I think many could say they feel hard done to and deserve an appeal, but when we don’t know what they are truly looking for then it’s hard to say.

 

[marcy]

That’s the question I didn’t meet the standard on , I spoke about a surgical operation where a task I do is very repetitive, but I have to maintain concentration as the operation can take 4 - 5 hours. Spoke about it in my DMI and the managers liked it, passed the DMI, so thought safe to discuss at MMI. But no I didn’t meet the standard and no feedback given

With regards to appeal , I wrote old fashioned letters to the lead recruitment assessor, the head of HR, the head of talent, but they won’t let me have another attempt as I sat it before 7th dec 2024.
You were in 3 hours ? I thought I was bad at 90 minutes, the other 2 candidates were only in 30-40 minutes and said it was like a casual unpressured chat, that’s where I feel the MMI is very unfair, it all depends who you get to interview you on the day , you either get a laid back casual interview, or the hardest interview you have ever done. I too feel very cheated out of a career I have always wanted

 

[AverageJoe]

That’s the question I didn’t meet the standard on , I spoke about a surgical operation where a task I do is very repetitive, but I have to maintain concentration as the operation can take 4 - 5 hours. Spoke about it in my DMI and the managers liked it, passed the DMI, so thought safe to discuss at MMI. But no I didn’t meet the standard and no feedback given

With regards to appeal , I wrote old fashioned letters to the lead recruitment assessor, the head of HR, the head of talent, but they won’t let me have another attempt as I sat it before 7th dec 2024.
You were in 3 hours ? I thought I was bad at 90 minutes, the other 2 candidates were only in 30-40 minutes and said it was like a casual unpressured chat, that’s where I feel the MMI is very unfair, it all depends who you get to interview you on the day , you either get a laid back casual interview, or the hardest interview you have ever done. I too feel very cheated out of a career I have always wanted

The issue with that is, we don’t know if it’s the interviewer or the candidate.

Maybe I could have a 3 hours interview that feels awful and I fail and then I blame them.

But the next guy might be done in 90 mins and think the interviewer was great and then he passes.

The difference could be that I answered badly and the interviewer had to constantly try to draw me out more and the next guy maybe just had the knack more than me and gave all the correct answers and breezed through.

As far as I’m aware it’s a point system so I don’t think they have room for bias.

the MMI isn’t a go in there all bubbly and sell yourself kind of interview, it’s a test.