Southern - Trainee Train Driver - Recruitment Discussion

[ZiggyElmo]

Hi there, its went really well, heard I passed this morning. They made it as laid back as possible. Two people on the panel a DM and DI. Make sure you research the company and what its like to be a train driver, coupled with your relevant experience

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Sep 2026 ==


Hi Ziggy, so ive got my mmi on the 29th September. When I had my assessment day they asked me to write responses to 6 questions, I presume this is for the mmi. Ive made a hash of at least one of them. Do you know if you can redo them, or offer a different response/example to the questions in the interview.

It's best to try and remember the answers you wrote down, but if it doesn't really fit and you have a better answer just say so. The interviewer (there was only one) didn't feel my last answer fitted so got me to use a hypothetical one instead. I dont really know how that went as he didn't ask for an alternative, just a hypothetical question instead.

They tailor their questions based on the profiling questions you were asked on the computer based part of the assessment day.

I'm used to the STAR method so try and use that but to me it felt a bit disjointed as I would pause for the interviewer to catch up, and he then asked me another question which threw the whole STAR method off a bit.

Be prepared for a few 'how did that make you feel' questions. I was asked this a lot in relation to following rules. I follow rules for my job at the moment so I don't really feel anything about them, as I have followed them for 26 years, they just have to be followed. I felt like he didn't like that answer so kept asking the same thing with me responding with the same answer.

I have no real clue how it went. Still waiting to hear but I believe if it was a fail they would have said by now.

 

[Twin82]

Thanks mate. Can you give me a bit of information to as how the interview goes, do you have time before being put before the panel to look through your questions and answers

Have you done the 21 SJT questions already? Nothing to do with trains. Purely hypothetical. There’s no right or wrong answer. They’re used to see what questions to ask in the MMI.

The 6 questions are exactly what you will be given in the MMI. Make sure to have strong honest answers as they will probe you. They like to ask you how did that make you feel. Always answer in the STAR method.

I know everyone’s different but if you’re someone like me who hasn’t done a formal interview before and needed help, I personally got help from one of the recruitment special from the HOW2BECOME website called David Bebb. I was not going to get that far and trip up. That’s an option to explore if needs be. If you do decide that you want to contact him to enquire what his services involve, I still have his number but that’s entirely up to you. Just dm me.

Lastly, arrive early, dress smart and smile!! Enjoy the experience. They want you to do well and they have a way of getting you comfortable to get the best out of you as nerves always creep in. Good luck mate. Hope this was useful to you.

 

[JoeRich]

Thank you twin82 and Ziggy.

I remember a few of the questions, and think ive got some good indepth answers. I'll remember the start method to answer the questions.

One I think was what ive done in the past that was similar to train driving. I put down things I do as a bus driver. But i'll give them an answer thats more specific and an actual day I remember which includes alot of things that could potentially happen as a train driver.

In terms of how it makes you feel. Thats a hard one, but think they might be looking for a cool head and dealing with issues rationally rather than saying something like a bit worried or even worse I dont know.

Ive got nearly two weeks to prep and might fully research the star method and mmi interview techniques.

Thanks again guys. Your support and words of wisdom are invaluable and its nice chatting to people who've been through the processes and understand the stresses and worries.

 

[Twin82]

Thank you twin82 and Ziggy.

I remember a few of the questions, and think ive got some good indepth answers. I'll remember the start method to answer the questions.

One I think was what ive done in the past that was similar to train driving. I put down things I do as a bus driver. But i'll give them an answer thats more specific and an actual day I remember which includes alot of things that could potentially happen as a train driver.

In terms of how it makes you feel. Thats a hard one, but think they might be looking for a cool head and dealing with issues rationally rather than saying something like a bit worried or even worse I dont know.

Ive got nearly two weeks to prep and might fully research the star method and mmi interview techniques.

Thanks again guys. Your support and words of wisdom are invaluable and its nice chatting to people who've been through the processes and understand the stresses and worries.

You’re welcome. And it’s not start method, it’s STAR method
S-Situatuon
T-Task
A-Action
R-Result

I’m actually a bus driver! Been doing it for 24 years mate! All my answers were based on that job role. You’ve made some good points. Just ensure you structure your answers properly and you can answer any probing question.

You pretty much have said it. They want to see that you are in control and calm despite how pressuring that situation was. They want to know that you will be calm under press and make the right calls at all time on the train.

That’s your homework mate. Would t hurt having a backup answer as well.

There are some amazing people that still take the time to help out even after becoming train drivers. Good luck mate. You’ll be alright if you put in the work.

 

[JoeRich]

Predictive text is a devil. Meant star method. Yes having a few examples will help, already thinking and planning to have two for each question, and considering how it made me feel, in a professional way.

Have you been through the medical yet?

 

[Twin82]

Predictive text is a devil. Meant star method. Yes having a few examples will help, already thinking and planning to have two for each question, and considering how it made me feel, in a professional way.

Have you been through the medical yet?

Lol figured it was a typo reading further down your post. Sounds like you got it covered mate.

Actually had it today. Was told I’m fit for work. Have to wait 7 days for the results to come back.

 

[JoeRich]

Brilliant news, congratulations. Do you remember how they do the colour blind test. I might be worrying for nothing. But about 5 years ago I had a test with the met police, and they used a machine for the colour blind test, and I was fine up until the last slide, couldn't see anything. Heard you need to pass it 100%. Im not at all colour blind, but this is worrying me a little.

 

[Purplerain77]

Brilliant news, congratulations. Do you remember how they do the colour blind test. I might be worrying for nothing. But about 5 years ago I had a test with the met police, and they used a machine for the colour blind test, and I was fine up until the last slide, couldn't see anything. Heard you need to pass it 100%. Im not at all colour blind, but this is worrying me a little.

For mine it was just like 10 of those sheets that you see all over the internet where there is/isnt a number in a circle of dots with different colour combinations

 

[Unobrow]

Brilliant news, congratulations. Do you remember how they do the colour blind test. I might be worrying for nothing. But about 5 years ago I had a test with the met police, and they used a machine for the colour blind test, and I was fine up until the last slide, couldn't see anything. Heard you need to pass it 100%. Im not at all colour blind, but this is worrying me a little.

If you can’t see a number, it’s probably because it’s not there. As already answered, they use the flip cards and I had the same. I looked confused and just said there isn’t one, and he laughed and said correct!

 

[Twin82]

Lol figured it was a typo reading further down your post. Sounds like you got it covered mate.

Actually had it today. Was told I’m fit for work. Have to wait 7 days for the results to come back.

Thank you!! They gave a few A4 size pages with the coloured diagrams to look at. Wasn’t hard at all. I hated the hearing test. I thought a made a blunder of it but was told I smashed it. I don’t think you got anything to worry about.

 

[JoeRich]

This was what I was hoping for. The Met Police had this machine in which you put your head into a viewer/goggles type contraption. Saw all of them, but the last one. Said I couldn't see any number, but either the guy running the test was kidding me, or literally didnt realise the last one was blank. Im thinking the latter, as he kept pushing me for an answer, beyond what would be considered a joke. Thanks all, this clears it up, ive done the tests on paper and have no issue. Cheers all.

 

[Twin82]

This was what I was hoping for. The Met Police had this machine in which you put your head into a viewer/goggles type contraption. Saw all of them, but the last one. Said I couldn't see any number, but either the guy running the test was kidding me, or literally didnt realise the last one was blank. Im thinking the latter, as he kept pushing me for an answer, beyond what would be considered a joke. Thanks all, this clears it up, ive done the tests on paper and have no issue. Cheers all.

Ahhh no! Nothing like that. It was like an optician telling you to look at a chart of letters, which they also did. You will be fine.

 

[Ludus]

Where are the medicals held? How much medical history/documents do they want?

 

[adedoyin1925]

Please at the assessment centre will I be doing all this same day

TRP 1 & 2
Group Bourdon (Paper)
TEA-OCC
WCT
WAFV
ATAVT
2 hand Co-ordination test