Which Ombudsman?
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Northern - Trainee Train Driver - Recruitment Discussion
- Thread starter Char41
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R
RailUK Forums
I did mine last week, the interview was 3 scenario based questions. Good luck
tulip
Member
Thanks, I’ve prepared about 20 of them so hopefully they come up. Hope you got on ok!
Mike2k255
Member
I completed the complaint the day before and northern responded the next day to my surprise, I have emailed them multiple times In the past with no response.
info@railombudsman.org
Do you think that maybe they are rejecting your applications because you live too far away? You provided 3 times - 45,47 and 51 I believe…the maximum time is 45 minutes, only 1 of your three is ‘just’ acceptable for a safety critical role.
Mike2k255
Member
They use google maps morning peak time is 6.30 to 9.30 am if you put 8am it’s over 45mins but at 7am or earlier it reduces to below 45mins, I also spoke to HR manager about my location and it was HR who said to apply for Liverpool and Wigan
But their rule is 45 minutes at 8am on a Monday. That gives everyone a fair shot.
If you apply in the school holidays you might stand more of a chance.
The Rail Ombudsman is for passengers, not for people applying for jobs.
It's a complete waste of time making a complaint to the Ombudsman about HR (and if it were to be fed back to them, could possibly mark you as a problem candidate).
Why would you make a complaint against a company you're applying to work for? Thats just going to paint you in a bad light, if you dont meet the travel criteria then you don't meet it.
They'll assess as needed and make a decision which seems they've done and decided not to take it further.
They'll assess as needed and make a decision which seems they've done and decided not to take it further.
Mike2k255
Member
Today got email saying I passed first stage with postcode but failed second stage but was not given a reason, wish I knew, strange with me being an ex train driver with over fourteen years experience.
haidox
Member
If you mean on the assessment day then they ask 2 questions. They show you both questions on a piece of paper so you can figure out what examples you want to use and then you can answer each question in whichever order you want. They also ask you to speak about yourself beforehand like hobbies and previous jobs.
Mike2k255
Member
Your right I was frustrated at the time been over 2 years of rejection’s and all I wanted was a replynot an offer I know I can not change there minds, I understand lots of candidates apply, funny the next day after the complaint I finally got a response, also got too conflicting emails, one saying distance was the issue and second saying it was not the issueThe Rail Ombudsman is for passengers, not for people applying for jobs.
It's a complete waste of time making a complaint to the Ombudsman about HR (and if it were to be fed back to them, could possibly mark you as a problem candidate).
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Applicants should have protections as the whole process is very stressful and effects our mental health, wastes months of our lives, especially when being ignored, but sorry for stating the truth.
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Sorry for the negativity, just to say any of you that make it as a trainee train driver it is an excellent industry to be part of, good luck everyone
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This probably isn't what you want to hear, but -
Being an ex-driver is almost irrelevant. You've been out enough years that you'd have to start again from the beginning, pass the psychometrics etc and there's no guarantee you'd do that. So if someone else scores more highly, they won't pick you based on your experience. Certain managers would also take the view that it's actually easier to train people with no experience as they wouldn't have any outdated knowledge.
Even if you're the perfect person for the job, if your application form is rubbish you won't get anywhere. You need to provide good examples for the questions. Spelling and grammar is also important.
I worry that you have also marked yourself as a "challenging applicant". I can't imagine many people get one-on-one phone calls with the head of HR. Making complaints about them probably also won't help...
The best advice is don't put your life on hold waiting. You will not be being ignored - the simple reality is that the HR teams are small, have a huge workload and simply don't have time to send out detailed replies to applicants. It sounds as if they have actually been quite detailed with you (by arranging phone calls to discuss) and you've sent multiple emails. I suspect they just have little left to add.
Mike2k255
Member
I have a train licence, I was contacted by HR two years ago and last year, they contacted me, my licence is still valid so not out of the running will keep trying, but your welcome with your opinion
Runner1708
Member
Hi
I’ve had my application rejected as recruitment are saying I don’t live within 45 mins. I personally know a driver for northern who lives where I live. How does this work? I’ve replied saying as much as it seems a bit silly!
I’ve had my application rejected as recruitment are saying I don’t live within 45 mins. I personally know a driver for northern who lives where I live. How does this work? I’ve replied saying as much as it seems a bit silly!
Minicheddar
Member
When you apply for a job you need to live within the 45 minute distance but once you work for the company you can move further away
How long has the driver been with the company?
The rule for recruitment has been enforced the past 12-24 months when prior to that I’m not so sure if it was definitely abided by. I know at the time a driver started who lived 2 roads away from me and I not so long after got the rejection due to travelling time.
The rule for recruitment has been enforced the past 12-24 months when prior to that I’m not so sure if it was definitely abided by. I know at the time a driver started who lived 2 roads away from me and I not so long after got the rejection due to travelling time.
Have many/any been invited to an assesment day in December?
I've been put through to the assessment day (I'll be coming off a night shift from my current job) Says it's group based tasks then if successful from the tasks, an interview afterwards.
Presumably these are common group tasks, gather data, discuss etc. Build something or follow instructions whilst multitasking sort of thing.
Interview likely a CBI? sort of repeating the same things you answered in the initial application? Looking forward to the challenge, genuinely never thought I'd be applying for a new job again!
Also if there's any tips/suggestions please let me know.
Attire wise, smart ok. Doesn't have to be suit and tie?
I've been put through to the assessment day (I'll be coming off a night shift from my current job) Says it's group based tasks then if successful from the tasks, an interview afterwards.
Presumably these are common group tasks, gather data, discuss etc. Build something or follow instructions whilst multitasking sort of thing.
Interview likely a CBI? sort of repeating the same things you answered in the initial application? Looking forward to the challenge, genuinely never thought I'd be applying for a new job again!
Also if there's any tips/suggestions please let me know.
Attire wise, smart ok. Doesn't have to be suit and tie?
haidox
Member
1. Team based task (4 or 5 people per team)
2. Lego + train video combination
[Get rid of some candidates]
3. Watch a 28 min train video and write down how many green/red/amber signals and speed changes.
[Get rid of some more candidates]
Lunch break
4. Interview with a manager and another person. Talk in general about yourself then get asked 2 questions which they show you on paper the 2 questions they will ask and let you decide which one you want to answer first.
Don't have to wear a full suit but I would say shirt and tie.
Good luck
mattybed21
Member
Hi all just wondering what’s there longest your application has been under initial review for a vacancy. All my past trainee driver vacancies with northern have heard back within two weeks saying I have been unsuccessful. But currently I still have a live vacancy for trainee depot driver at Blackburn which still says application under the initial review and it’s been over three weeks now.
Not sure if it helps but I applied for a conductor's role recently and had previously applied earlier in the year. My first application was for a depot that was just outside the commuting time and was rejected the day after the advert closed. My second I heard nothing for about 2 months and then an interview date out of the blue. Looking on here it seems like they automatically reject any application not meeting that criteria within a few days of the advert closing. Don't want to build false hope but it seems like no news is sometimes good news with Northern.
mattybed21
Member
Thank you for the reply mate much appreciated.
balotydez80
New Member
Anyone going to the Psychometric Assessment this coming week in Leeds?
Email says it's just the Pen & Paper and Computer tests this week.
If successful, then MMI is Mon/Tue/Wed the following week.
Did the practice tests, not feeling too confident but may as well take a shot!
Email says it's just the Pen & Paper and Computer tests this week.
If successful, then MMI is Mon/Tue/Wed the following week.
Did the practice tests, not feeling too confident but may as well take a shot!
mattybed21
Member
Has anyone experienced issues with nothern just applied for a trainee driver role at Wigan and it says unfortunately they can’t proceed with my application due to not meeting safety requirements. No idea what there talking about as I’m within the travel time set by nothern
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Plus every job I have applied for days it’s for the same depot when there not
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Maybe it was your answers to the questions? You have to have a very specific safety mindset to be a train driver. I guess if your answers indicated that you aren’t safety focused they wouldn’t progress with you.
Your last message also makes no sense, if your spelling and grammar is below par in your answers it would probably also give you the boot. It’s a very competitive job to get into; and they only want the best of the best.
Unobrow
Member
The travelling might depend on when the company calculates it timewise. Whilst you seem to be roughly 30min commute time at the time I’m answering this (2345hrs), it might be over an hour at 8am on a Monday. I have heard, but certainly don’t take it as gospel, that that’s when some TOCs make their commute calculations.
Lg_
Member
There’s a known issue with northern’s recruitment system currently, all jobs applied for say Holbeck depot, they’re aware of it and it won’t have affected your application.
DownboundTrain
Member
I have it from the horses mouth, so to speak, that they have implemented a new system. This system will calculate Monday 8.00am via Google Maps, it will be done automatically, and it seems (if my own calculations and comparisons are correct based on my processed and unprocessed applications) that if your estimated travel times stray outside the 45 minute cut off it's an auto block on your application. This is incredibly frustrating but it is what it is.
Using my postcode to Blackburn for example - If I check today how long it will take me to set off at 8am next Monday, using existing data Google Maps will calculate a figure, and deliver the result using the wording "typically 30-55 minutes". So I'm automatically blocked. Regardless of the fact the higher estimate is only ten mins over the cut off, and the lower estimate is 15 minutes under. Regardless of the fact that a mean average comes under the 45 minutes every day of the week. Also (and I know this because I have been doing this for weeks for my own peace of mind), I if wait till next Monday and calculate the journey in realtime (as in, choose "set off now") the journey will be exactly 30 minutes. It's all very frustrating. I know for a fact that I live exactly 30 minutes drive from both Wigan and Blackburn and have been rejected from both on distance.
Even more frustrating is that when I've applied for Blackburn for two different roles (one conductor role and one depot driver) one was immediatley rejected and later confirmed to be for the distance rules, the other I was under consideration for three weeks until the job was withdrawn. That's two jobs at the same depot.
It all makes no sense and doesn't seem to be getting any easier. I genuinely think that at least partially this is designed to weed out people who give up at the first 20 hurdles from those who are stubborn as hell and never give up! This new "auto block" thing is here to stay unfortunately.
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