Recent content by mmbeak78

Assuming that the roles are for the same TOC, stick with the mainline role. The application process is generally almost identical, but the pay grade is usually significantly higher for mainline and you can easily wait 3+ years to be eligible for the potential move from depot driving to...

Yes I was thankfully! The TOCs will usually give you some practice material prior to an assessment day, but the additional material available to purchase is worth it IMHO. Only having two attempts coupled with a 6-month wait to reapply for your second try (plus the huge number of applicants...

I bought a few of the ‘How2become’ books when I applied a few years ago; the most important of which for me personally was the Group Bourdon/‘Dots’ test book (that was the test that I failed on my first application, so making use of that to improve my speed and accuracy on the day of my second...

Hi, There is a designated car park that you should be able to use; ask for the relevant form from your trainer/instructor when you start your training, which then needs to be filled in by yourself and a Network Rail rep (their office is located on the concourse near platform 15 IIRC)

That's great news - Congrats! No option of Liverpool Street at all?

Sorry - I was just sharing what I was able to find. Cannot find anything concrete on Depot Driver wage (I believe it to be ~£30k). Trainee wage tends to be around half the Qualified wage - although some Operators will increase the wage during training.

On that note, ASLEF site states: East: £45,758; West: £44,367; North: £45,056 London weighting is currently £2,307.

Good luck mate - you'll be fine :)

Personally, I have found that rapport goes a LONG way in the interviews. As mentioned previously - smiling, eye contact and (where possible) interesting, detailed, genuine examples will serve you in VERY good stead. AFAIK, the interviewer for the MMI will (usually) push you in the right...

Agree that the DMI is not what I was expecting either - I spent hours and hours doing company research, only to not be asked a single question regarding it! The DMI felt fairly relaxed though and the the interviewers let me take my time to reply to all the questions. I was told the interview...

Got the invite too, but can't attend the 2 dates offered. I've asked for an alternative date (hopefully not too far in the future!). Best of luck with yours, mate!

You will have the DMI followed by the MMI at a later date. There are numerous threads on here to help with the details, but my tips would be: thoroughly research the TOC, be honest, dress smartly, be punctual, make plenty of eye contact, smile, answer the questions using the STAR...

15 days between assessment centre and DMI is really quick! Hopefully they won't keep you waiting too long for the MMI. The MMI only tends to be done alongside the stage 1 tests if those tests are split over 2 days. And yes - GTR do the DMI before the MMI (for whatever reason!).

Yeah that's right - thanks again for the help with the DMI

Cheers mate! Sorry to hear about the appeal result, but you're definitely taking the right attitude towards it! Already had a DMI with Southern (as you probably remember) which I passed, so that will hopefully serve me in good stead