Application Process Northern Rail Driver

[loco100]

Can anyone describe the recruitment process with Northern following submission of the application form.I understand that if successful with the application you are required to complete an on line assessment initially, followed by a series of psychometric tests and then interviews.

I was hoping someone who has been through these stages recently, would be kind enough to explain each step in a little more detail.

What does the online assesment involve and can you prep for it?

What pysch tests do Northern use? I know about SCAAT,GB and mechanical etc. Any others like numerical or personality?

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[Silv1983]

Hi,

Prior to your application being reviewed, you'll be invited to complete a 'Visual comparison test'. This involves looking at 4 pairs of alpha-numeric digits and spotting which pair doesn't match. The odd one out will have a subtle difference, such as: '4G56QS7 - 4G65QS7'. The remaining 3 pairs will be identical. You get one quick practice go. There is a time limit of 5 minutes and the general consensus on here from successful applicants is about 50ish correct with minimal errors. I suggest you use a PC with a mouse because a laptop touchpad is fiddly and slows you down.
If you pass that your application will be reviewed and scored by HR.
Pass the application and you'll be invited to an interview with a driver manager and one other person. This will he a mix of competency skill based questions, and questions specific to your understanding of the company, e.g. How many stations do Northern run, passengers figures, growth, who is the MD etc etc.
Pass that and its off to an assessment centre for the day. Same as all the other info on this forum (there's bucket loads of threads on this).
If you pass the assessments with a good enough score, you'll get a conditional offer of employment, and a date for a medical. References and a questionnaire also need completing but they let you start before gathering all of this info.
Its a fair bit of waiting early in the process, but it suddenly gathers pace towards the end.
Best of luck

 

[loco100]

Thanks Silv1983 very helful.Do you know what pysch tests Northern use? I only ask as it appears that some TOC'S use numerical tests and some don't.Some use SCAAT and some use GB etc. Obviously It would be beneficial in terms of prep, if I knew where to focus my time and attention.

 

[evoluzione]

Northern use:

Mech - Mechanical 4.1
TRP - Trainability for Rules and Procedures
Dials
Group Bourdon - Paper based
DTG - Reactions
Structured Interview - Written and Accessed

Northern gets a fair bit of knocking on here, but it's a great company to work for, Training is excellent, and on the West at least we have very very good T&C's, much better than other TOC's with fancy traction

 

[Sammy h]

Which depot have you applied for out of interest? I applied for the Wigan vacancy.

 

[loco100]

Thanks Evoluzione really helpul Info.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Hi Sammy H. I applied to Wigan as well first time application.What about you? Any hints,tips or useful threads your aware of.

 

[Sammy h]

Applied a few times for Northern, but never got anywhere. Already work on the railway and been to a couple of recruitment days for other TOCs to be a driver, but no luck yet.

The search bar at the top of the forum is handy, but for now we play the waiting game....

 

[rob12]

how many lives you got left then, having been a couple of times?

 

[gholi06]

hi guys I have applied for the Wigan position as well. I was hoping no one else had seen the advert on the website and that I would be the only candidate.. wishful thinking I suppose.

First time applying for driver position. I recently got rejected after applying for conductor role at Manchester Picc. I passed online sift and went to the interview last week. I hadn't had a serious job interview in a long time so was nervous and I think I fluffed some of my answers. I have asked for feedback but not heard anything yet.

Has anyone applied for the freightliner position that was open a while back? Anyone heard anything about the sift for that?

 

[loco100]

Hi

First time application for me.What sort of interview questions did they ask?

A post earlier says the sift for drivers involves identifying an incorrect alpha numeric sequence,was it the same for conductors job?

 

[Sammy h]

Full quota of lives, passed the tests no problem, relocating and age were the factors in me not getting the jobs apparently....

Hopeful I get something back from this one.

 

[daddy_badger]

age? surely discriminating factor?

 

[gholi06]

yeah I had the numerical online assessment. It wasn't to hard you are given four combinations of pairs and have to figure out which pair don't match. You get 5 min to do 150. The aim is accuracy and not finishing the assessment. Time flies past really quick. I took it easy at first and when I took a look at the clock and realised 2min left picked up the pace. I got to 50 and no mistakes which got me through.

In the interview the questions were almost the same as the application form. Apart from a few differences. There was one which was have you every helped a handicapped person in the past. I had not prepared an answer for that one as no where had it been mentioned before. Just thought about it and remembered and occasion when I had helped a couple down some stairs. The lady was in a wheelchair. There was no disabled access and they had to get downstairs. It was a short answer not sure whether this was the cause of me not getting through.

I am still waiting on feedback as really want to know why I didn't get through. I really thought I nailed all the questions as I have plenty of transferable skills in my current job which although not in the train sector I think should have got me through to the assessment at the very least. When I got the email that I had not got through I was fairly disappointed. But it doesn't look like feedback to fail candidates is high on the list of priorities.

Anyone heard anything yet about the wigan position?

 

[gholi06]

also just been reading some other posts on the site and came up with a question that has worried me slightly. How far away do you live from Wigan station or the relevant depot you have applied for. I live about 35-40 min away Even though they say 60min on the application do they look more favourably to applications which are closer?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
seems like my earlier post didn't get through for some reason here it is again:

for the conductor position I did have to do the online assessment which was fairly simple. You get 4 pairs of numbers 3 pairs are the same and 1 pair is almost the same but a few numbers don't match you have to find the odd one out. I got to 50 out of 150 all correct. I was quiet slow actually as I didn't want to make a mistake and do think if I did it again I would get better.

Regarding the interview. It think I was very nervous. It had been a while since I have had to do an interview. I arrived early and the interviewer was just about to go on lunch. Said person did not look to happy and found a place for me to sit and wait. I'm not sure whether this went against me in the interview.

Also not all the questions asked corresponded to the questions on the application there were some different questions and I had not prepared an example for one of them. I cant remember for the life of me what the question was. I had to take some time to think of scenario and this may also counted against me.

I have asked for feedback but not heard anything. I think feedback to failed candidates is probably not high on the agenda!!!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
hi guys. Just a quick check. Has anyone received or done an online assessment yet for the wigan driver position? I was just wondering if you have already done the test previously for another position does that result still count if it was within the last 6 months?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
hi guys anyone heard anything back from the Wigan application yet?

 

[Sunday_mornin]

also just been reading some other posts on the site and came up with a question that has worried me slightly. How far away do you live from Wigan station or the relevant depot you have applied for. I live about 35-40 min away Even though they say 60min on the application do they look more favourably to applications which are closer?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
seems like my earlier post didn't get through for some reason here it is again:

for the conductor position I did have to do the online assessment which was fairly simple. You get 4 pairs of numbers 3 pairs are the same and 1 pair is almost the same but a few numbers don't match you have to find the odd one out. I got to 50 out of 150 all correct. I was quiet slow actually as I didn't want to make a mistake and do think if I did it again I would get better.

Regarding the interview. It think I was very nervous. It had been a while since I have had to do an interview. I arrived early and the interviewer was just about to go on lunch. Said person did not look to happy and found a place for me to sit and wait. I'm not sure whether this went against me in the interview.

Also not all the questions asked corresponded to the questions on the application there were some different questions and I had not prepared an example for one of them. I cant remember for the life of me what the question was. I had to take some time to think of scenario and this may also counted against me.

I have asked for feedback but not heard anything. I think feedback to failed candidates is probably not high on the agenda!!!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
hi guys. Just a quick check. Has anyone received or done an online assessment yet for the wigan driver position? I was just wondering if you have already done the test previously for another position does that result still count if it was within the last 6 months?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
hi guys anyone heard anything back from the Wigan application yet?

Heard nothing yet regards positions at Wigan Wallgate.

You will not be required to resit the online visual test if you have already passed it within the previous 12 months.

Ian

 

[bhardy2013]

Hi All I completed my Visual Comparison Test for Northern Rail on Thursday 8th August and am wondering roughly how long your expected to wait before they contact you with a decision? I believe I answered around 47 to 48 but they where certainly all correct. I look forward to a response..

 

[Fred Dinenage]

Hi bhardy2013..

I completed my Visual Comparison test for Northern on 23rd July, heard i'd reached the required standard 2 days after that. Then 11 days to be e-mailed an Interview appointment which took place yesterday,9 days after the e-mail. Just waiting to hear either yea or nay!

Best of luck

 

[Fred Dinenage]

Hi Ayamonte,

My replies are in reference to a Maintenance Depot Driver role in Newcastle, not mainline driving.

 

[gholi06]

Anyone heard about the Wigan position? Im finding it hard not to check my emails every five minutes.

 

[Sunday_mornin]

Anyone heard about the Wigan position? Im finding it hard not to check my emails every five minutes.

You won't hear anything yet mate, the deadline for the Visual Test is the 24th IIRC. So maybe next week you will hear from them but even then I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

[Andrew32]

Hi

Regarding the recruitment of drivers for West Yorkshire as mentioned above, does this mean that there will be no further recruitment of conductors?

Seems an odd question but I'm waiting for two conductors to go on training for driving roles they applied for in late June/early July before I take thier place.

What is a train crew plan anyway and how does it work and do I need a conductor to vacate a position before I'm taken on?

Thanks in advance

 

[gholi06]

Thanks for the heads up for the Visual Test sunday mornin. I thought so regarding the dates but still doesn't help with patience. Just want to get on with it really.
Have you applied for the position as well or do you work for Northern already?

 

[Sunday_mornin]

Thanks for the heads up for the Visual Test sunday mornin. I thought so regarding the dates but still doesn't help with patience. Just want to get on with it really.
Have you applied for the position as well or do you work for Northern already?

Unfortunately no I don't work for Northern but it isn't through lack of trying. I've had a few applications with varying levels of failure and success but the ultimate still eludes me. I'm currently in the same boat as you and awaiting news with regards the Wallgate positions. The one thing I have learned is to try and relax during this process, it is long and tedious and it is too easy to get stressed and impatient. What will be will be, good luck!

Ian

 

[Sammy h]

Anybody heard from the Wigan vacancy? Still nothing at my end.

 

[Sunday_mornin]

Anybody heard from the Wigan vacancy? Still nothing at my end.

Haven't heard anything since completing the online test

 

[gholi06]

Neither have I. Also there is a position opened at Manchester Piccadilly but I cant apply as I have this application still open. that one closes today!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I thought you could apply for as many positions as there were on the site?

 

[Sammy h]

Had a reply e-mail off Northern. Online tests passed, which I was already aware of. Through to shortlisting and they will be in touch in 4-6 weeks.

Ahh, the fun of recruitment on the railway

Anyone else hear back?

 

[Sammy h]

Anybody heard anything regarding this yet? I know it has only been just over three weeks. Original application was in March 2013

Just shows how slow the process is.

(Wigan vacancy)

 

[richie26188]

I applied for Liverpool role in August, online test, sift and interview already done, assessment day next week.

 

[Sunday_mornin]

Anybody heard anything regarding this yet? I know it has only been just over three weeks. Original application was in March 2013

Just shows how slow the process is.

(Wigan vacancy)

They had the interviews for Wigan last week. You should have been informed already.

Ian