dj7bee

I'm office based so 10 am start which is a bonus.

Sounds like you've done your research on the station. Do you know whether or not there's parking there??? If I get there early I'll join you for a cuppa!!!

Well I will try again if I don't make it. Had an alert about southern railways yesterday who are also recruiting. But gonna see how this pans out. We really have got the bug!! I just think your decision is so much harder because of having to work away from home. But how great to have be in a position where you can make a real decision because your hired!!!

Do you start early again tomorrow as well. You must be knackered. I am off on Tuesday to travel up to Surrey and a day off can't come soon enough. The only trouble with being away the night before is I won't be able to cram in the last minute study although that might be a good thing having something to take my mind off of it. I am going to get there early there is a costa at the station so I think I will go there and get a coffee and something to eat just to settle my nerves a bit if I can.

I know what you mean I have kind of set my heart on it now and don't want anything else.

Haha!! If it was only that simple!!! Problem is when looking at other jobs none appeal to me as much so now it would feel like I was settling for something less!!!

Censored at last you have finally arrived thank ****. I am not practicing being grilled far to nerve wracking. I reckon you are right one look at us and the job is in the bag. No doubt in my mind

The other thing is I have no one to practice being grilled as I have told anyone!!!

Wahoo. Finally I'm censored!!! Feels kind of good to be that bad!!! Wow I really am straight laced!!!
I've had a personal experience of suicide but don't think it's something is want to mention. Fingers crossed it doesn't get asked! In fact fingers crossed they take a look at the pair of us and say yep perfect the job is yours!!!

So you can't even say **** then or bull****? Testing testing!!

It really won't let me swear this forum they are all over me

A healthy redundancy package is always a bonus. I have come across men in prison who have taken there own lives and it is not a nice thing to see. How I would deal with a person jumping under a train I don't know I would imagine I would just try not to think emoitionally when it happened just practically and then later when I was at home talk about it. I think the worst thing to do is to bottle it up if you feel bad it only makes it worse. If they ask questions like that on the day I will just have to be honest they will soon see through me if I try to bull**** them.

MMI is just impossible. Examples I think of might not be what they are looking for so them probing further will just knock me off balance!!! One of the guys on this forum spoke about questions over fatalities. Been around dying people most of my life but for it to be someone who jumps under your train well how does one answer that!!! Sounds like we are both guilty of overthinking things!! Sometimes that is my strength but can also be my downfall. Think come Tuesday the stress levels will be considerably higher!! Re. Redundancy at the moment it is just stating about expressing an interest so they may not even offer it for over 6 months but the redundancy package would be quite healthy.

Voluntary redundancy could be perfect timing for you will your company pay a good package. The prison service offered one last year but I had nothing to go to so it want right for me. Maybe working until the assessment day is good because it gives you less chance to worry about it. I am office based tomorrow as well so will knuckle down and do a bit more. I am just trying to sort out scenarios for the mmi but that is quite difficult just when I think I may have one I over think it and change my mind. I should just go with my first instincts

I'm office based tomorrow so will be doing just that!!! Got home from work to a letter (sent to everyone) regarding showing an interest in voluntary redundancy!!! It's like this whole process is teasing me!!! That in itself has caused more talk on the rumour mill!! My first day off is the day of the assessment! No time to relax and take it all in. Then there's the working out timings and routes for my 73 mile trip to Swindon!!!

Just my thoughts exactly. I know some people in work who,moan all day and are not prepared to do anything about it. Like your place the prison service is going through major changes and most of them are not for the better. Everybody has an opinion in our place and as soon as somebody does something it flies around and then the phone rings non stop. Having said that I would take great pleasure in being the subject of gossip if it was for something as good as a new job. Like you I am actively looking for something else to do and if not a train driver then at some point it will be something else. It is definitely therapeutic to get stuff of your chest. I did spend a bit of time today when I was supposed to be writing a report on the internet looking at FGW I thought I had better have some idea of them just in case I make interview.

And for the record it's not being bitter at all. You're a realist who doesn't see the point in dealing with unnecessary negativity. I sound criminal now but sometimes it's best not to volunteer information that later on you might regret!

Yep I'm in all weekend. And you know that cadburys would have got me. I understand about not telling anyone. Only reason I know a few people is we've all been letting each other know if any openings come up. I never even told them I got through the telephone interview. I haven't lied they just never asked. Not mentioned it to anyone at work either for similar reasons to yours. Plus it's such a big place that if you tell one person you may as well tell all. Not sure about your job but ours has had so many changes that nearly everyone is unhappy. Difference is where others moan outwardly, I don't but instead try to do something about it. Only when I find another job, this or something else, and have signed contracts, would I hand in my notice. Even then not sure I would make it common knowledge. I get on with people at work but find most quite fickle. They would rather follow suit then be brave enough to form their own opinions! Phew! Rant over! This is therapeutic!

They must have seen something in us then that sparked their interest. I don't know anyone else that applied apart from you I haven't told anyone about it either the only ones who no are my family. I would get to many questions in work which I am happy to avoid. Also if I fail they will never find out so that avoids all the plastic sympathy you get from colleagues who are secretly pleased you failed because they wish they could have had a go. God how bitter am I. Anyway perhaps I sent out a subliminal thought when you walked in the room suggesting you wanted to sit next to me.......or it could have just been that it wasn't cadburys. Do you work weekends I am weekend on so here we go again wish me luck

Oh don't you!!! If I recall you were already at your chair when I came along after careful selection!!!
Yes on the odds I do think it must be from application stage. I know a few people who didn't get past that and 2 others who didn't get past the telephone interview and are more than capable of communicating and selling their skills. That's why I feel like so far I've fluked it

Odds aren't great but I reckon we are already down to the last 30 or 40 so we have done incredibly well to get this far. As far as the SJE is concerned I think you just do what you think is right go with your first instincts I am pretty sure you will nail it. Have confidence in yourself I have in you for sure. I don't sit next to just anyone you know.

In fact most worrying statistic I've come across has been that for every position there are approx 300-400 applicants!!! Odds aren't great!!!

Yep I agree. We could do that with our eyes closed (prob not recommended) they just need to see that in us!!!!
I've looked through material and SJE is causing me concern. I'm middling on answers which I'm sure makes me look indecisive. Can't seem to find any tips online though. Don't want to build this up in my head too much to the point of messing up due to nerves but seems to be going that way!!! Arrrrghhhh!!!! Help!

Ha defo not I have a reputation to keep up. I know what you mean about getting so far and then missing out it would be gut wrenching, but I am a firm believer in fate and if it's meant to be it will be. I am quite looking forward to it and having a go at the tests but not looking forward to the interview for sure. I read somewhere that they are recruiting about 300 new drivers over the next year or so and I reckon you and I are just about perfect for a couple of those jobs

Lol. Love your comments of being locked up! Fancy doing 23 years without breaking the law. We both sound like a change of job is necessary before we get locked up in the loony bin! I'm just hoping that we can get through the next obstacle course! It's all very wushu washy. No idea if numbers they want to recruit and at which depots etc. or even what criteria they deem suitable!!! It's starting to play on my mind a bit as the further I progress the more upsetting it would be to miss out!
On a different note your words about your family and the values you have are really lovely and rare to hear.... (Big Jessie! Don't tell the inmates that!!!)

Dear Debbie.....I agree with everything you say it doesn't matter who you are or what you look like or how you are in bed everybody has there own issues. Once you go through the "honeymoon" period they soon rise to the surface. Anyway it's what being in a relationship is all about dealing with the nice and the not so nice traits of your partner. I found in work that it is often the most guilty that shouts the loudest. I stayed away for about 15 weeks once on a course for work which was hard but like you say the time spent together was extra nice. I am pretty sure that if lucky enough to pass and be offered a place I will take it because eventually (salary) will provide a better quality of life and to be frank I really need a change of job before I go mad. I have been locked up far too long.

It is a difficult way of life. I was the only girl working with that company and was lucky that I had a great team of guys. But hated knowing when they were on pull because I knew their wife's. I don't judge. Each to their own and all but when you've seen people get caught out and losing everything you think was it worth it. The answer is always no. You can have a woman who looks different, better/worse in bed but ultimately it's just packaging. We all end up having the same issues!!!
I used to face constant accusations working away from home but I never did and turned out the accuser was the biggest slag of all!!! Always the way but hey!!
Still we live and learn I guess.
I suppose for you it really would be a major decision and it effects the whole family. But like I said the plus side is (if you make it so) that family time and intimate becomes so much more special. Great I sound like an agony aunt... Dear Debbie!!!

I wouldn't describe prison food as gourmet, close but not quite. Having been married for 21 years I definitely know where all the traps lie and avoid them by quite some distance, but like you I know a lot of men who have fallen foul and behaved not quite as they should. My only niggling doubt about the job is being away from home and it is something I can honestly say I still am unsure of. I will only take it if it's right for the my family and at the moment I am still weighing up the pros and cons, although the pros far out way the cons all apart from the living out of a suitcase part.

I used to work away from home Monday to Friday for 8 years. I was all over the country and lived in hotels. Can get lonely and missed out on so much but on the plus side I was the most attentive patient mum!!!! Makes time spent with family more precious. Just don't fall into the trap loads of the guys I worked with did... My opinion on that topic is don't!!!
I'm still shocked about your lack of enthusiasm over prison grub. Thought it would be gourmet. Still not got my head into the next stage.

I suppose canteen food is an acquired taste, personally after prison food I can stomach just about anything. My family won't relocate it will just be me I will live there whilst working and travel back to the iow when on rest days not ideal but they really do not want to move at the moment, don't know if that will change in the future will have to wait and see. I didn't think about staff notice boards hopefully that will be an option. I have got a friend who is a train driver based out of Reading so I am hoping he will know someone there where I can lodge for a few weeks.