Avanti - Trainee Train Drivers - Recruitment Discussion

[MDS72]

Wolves applicant here. Completed initial tests, VSE and SJT...... still awaiting response

 

[ScouseScoff]

I finished my VSE and M7 today, and I'm pleased with the VSE:
Section 1: No mistakes.
Section 2: Three mistakes with the shapes.
Section 3: One track error and four shape errors.

They're the only ones I saw, so fingers crossed. The "yes" and "no" tricked me a few times.

It's difficult to say whether I'm what the M7 is looking for, but I answered honestly and hope they are looking for someone with my aptitude for those scenarios.

Best of luck to everyone.

 

[GPR]

I finished my VSE and M7 today, and I'm pleased with the VSE:
Section 1: No mistakes.
Section 2: Three mistakes with the shapes.
Section 3: One track error and four shape errors.

They're the only ones I saw, so fingers crossed. The "yes" and "no" tricked me a few times.

It's difficult to say whether I'm what the M7 is looking for, but I answered honestly and hope they are looking for someone with my aptitude for those scenarios.

Best of luck to everyone.

For Liverpool?

 

[Tom1878]

There's no exact amount of time unfortunately. Some stay for days or weeks, some for months, and some never even get a job offer.

The only rule with talent pools is don't quit your current job until you pass your medical and sign your contract

Oh I couldn't agree more in regards to quitting my job. I have experienced being in a somewhat similar situation with a different job in the past, I just get a bit apprehensive on how long you maybe waiting to start if successful!

 

[Gc85]

Anyone that applied for Polmadie done j7 and VSE yet?

 

[Nel247]

Anyone that applied for Polmadie done j7 and VSE yet?

Nope. Submitted my initial 5 assessments on 11/3 with a 14/3 deadline. Not had anything back at all (not even the 28 day email).Don’t see a lot of Polmadie or Edinburgh people that are progressing yet.

 

[Funkyfairy]

Nope. Submitted my initial 5 assessments on 11/3 with a 14/3 deadline. Not had anything back at all (not even the 28 day email).Don’t see a lot of Polmadie or Edinburgh people that are progressing yet.

I applied for Liverpool and Manchester and I haven’t heard anything back at all either. Still keeping my fingers crossed for a successful email

 

[Plob]

I know this thread is just getting longer by the message. Can I ask is there anyone still waiting from the original tests.

I have emailed opc but keep getting they are busy with this vacancy but this seems excessive for me seeing as some people seem to be getting invited to classroom assessments.

Also want to ask about a comment I saw a while ago. About cbi and mmi. I have recently passed the mmi and saw someone had said their application was withdrawn due to not being allowed to take part in cbi. This will be the case for me also but surely its your choice to take the cbi and if you fail you lose a life. This seems very limited and taking something out of your control that isn't your fault and avanti's choice to have cbi not mmi.

 

[JGB3]

I know this thread is just getting longer by the message. Can I ask is there anyone still waiting from the original tests.

I have emailed opc but keep getting they are busy with this vacancy but this seems excessive for me seeing as some people seem to be getting invited to classroom assessments.

Also want to ask about a comment I saw a while ago. About cbi and mmi. I have recently passed the mmi and saw someone had said their application was withdrawn due to not being allowed to take part in cbi. This will be the case for me also but surely its your choice to take the cbi and if you fail you lose a life. This seems very limited and taking something out of your control that isn't your fault and avanti's choice to have cbi not mmi.

That will be if you have taken the test in the previous 6 months

 

[Funkyfairy]

I know this thread is just getting longer by the message. Can I ask is there anyone still waiting from the original tests.

I have emailed opc but keep getting they are busy with this vacancy but this seems excessive for me seeing as some people seem to be getting invited to classroom assessments.

Also want to ask about a comment I saw a while ago. About cbi and mmi. I have recently passed the mmi and saw someone had said their application was withdrawn due to not being allowed to take part in cbi. This will be the case for me also but surely its your choice to take the cbi and if you fail you lose a life. This seems very limited and taking something out of your control that isn't your fault and avanti's choice to have cbi not mmi.

Me!!! I haven’t heard anything at all since the original 5 assessments. It’s getting quite frustrating tbh especially as you say there are others who are being invited for their classroom assessments.

 

[Spincity]

I know this thread is just getting longer by the message. Can I ask is there anyone still waiting from the original tests.

I have emailed opc but keep getting they are busy with this vacancy but this seems excessive for me seeing as some people seem to be getting invited to classroom assessments.

Also want to ask about a comment I saw a while ago. About cbi and mmi. I have recently passed the mmi and saw someone had said their application was withdrawn due to not being allowed to take part in cbi. This will be the case for me also but surely its your choice to take the cbi and if you fail you lose a life. This seems very limited and taking something out of your control that isn't your fault and avanti's choice to have cbi not mmi.

There are 1000s of applicants to check, this will take time to ensure in travel distance, eligible to take tests, etc. it appears that the thread has identified that depots are bringing prioritised, probably on Avanti needs. It’s completely irrelevant if you want to sit the CBI, it’s not choice, it’s about the 6 month rule, you can’t sit it within 6 months of either MMI or CBI as the interviews are similar and like the other tests have to have a wait time. If you’ve recently sat the MMI you’ll not be allowed to progress with application, which is why the delay so after the initial limited depots/invites all the other checks can be completed. And those not within 60 mins, sat process within 6 months, 2 failed attempts etc will be taken out. All covered in the online advert. Also worth noting you fail the CBI will invalidate the MMI so would you want to jeopardise that pass?

 

[Dave1986]

Hi, Im new to this forum- but interesting post thank you,
I have applied for Edinburgh
Completed my VSE AND M7SJT ON 26/03/2023 and now waiting,
Very excited and nervous

 

[Plob]

There are 1000s of applicants to check, this will take time to ensure in travel distance, eligible to take tests, etc. it appears that the thread has identified that depots are bringing prioritised, probably on Avanti needs. It’s completely irrelevant if you want to sit the CBI, it’s not choice, it’s about the 6 month rule, you can’t sit it within 6 months of either MMI or CBI as the interviews are similar and like the other tests have to have a wait time. If you’ve recently sat the MMI you’ll not be allowed to progress with application, which is why the delay so after the initial limited depots/invites all the other checks can be completed. And those not within 60 mins, sat process within 6 months, 2 failed attempts etc will be taken out. All covered in the online advert. Also worth noting you fail the CBI will invalidate the MMI so would you want to jeopardise that pass?

What if you do want to make the choice to take the cbi as its avanti who you want to be employed by.
I just find it hard to understand that if you pass all the testing you can be invalid due to a choice in testing the toc make. All the other testing is the same, so why should you be punished if you've taken a mmi instead of a cbi.

 

[Shinigami]

I know this thread is just getting longer by the message. Can I ask is there anyone still waiting from the original tests.

I have emailed opc but keep getting they are busy with this vacancy but this seems excessive for me seeing as some people seem to be getting invited to classroom assessments.

Also want to ask about a comment I saw a while ago. About cbi and mmi. I have recently passed the mmi and saw someone had said their application was withdrawn due to not being allowed to take part in cbi. This will be the case for me also but surely its your choice to take the cbi and if you fail you lose a life. This seems very limited and taking something out of your control that isn't your fault and avanti's choice to have cbi not mmi.

Just to save you the trouble, you should probably withdraw your application if it’s not been 6 months since you passed your MMI. It’s a waste of everyone’s time including your own.

You are not able to apply again within 6 months even if you passed. No offence but this is all too common with people doing multiple applications just to be told that they can’t do it again.

Your best bet is to focus on one application and see it through. These are already fairly crowded and it doesn’t help the OPC, other applicants or yourself that they have to go through loads of invalid applications as well as the valid ones.

Again, not trying to be rude, it’s just very common and doesn’t benefit anyone.

 

[Plob]

Just to save you the trouble, you should probably withdraw your application if it’s not been 6 months since you passed your MMI. It’s a waste of everyone’s time including your own.

You are not able to apply again within 6 months even if you passed. No offence but this is all too common with people doing multiple applications just to be told that they can’t do it again.

Your best bet is to focus on one application and see it through. These are already fairly crowded and it doesn’t help the OPC, other applicants or yourself that they have to go through loads of invalid applications as well as the valid ones.

Again, not trying to be rude, it’s just very common and doesn’t benefit anyone.

Thank you for replying but I'll be asking why this choice wasn't laid out when I completed the mmi. Because I feel some people would choose not to complete this stage as it would limit their chances with certain companies. I'll wait until opc contact me Because at the current rate my mmi would be over 6 months by the time they come to testing which would mean I would be capable on taking the cbi.

People can apply for various companies because they may not be offered the role when reaching the dmi. I don't think your rude but people can apply for multiple companies even when they don't make it clear of technicalities. I should have the choice to take the cbi even if I know I may fail and this invalidates my other test scores.

 

[Spincity]

What if you do want to make the choice to take the cbi as its avanti who you want to be employed by.
I just find it hard to understand that if you pass all the testing you can be invalid due to a choice in testing the toc make. All the other testing is the same, so why should you be punished if you've taken a mmi instead of a cbi.

i

What if you do want to make the choice to take the cbi as its avanti who you want to be employed by.
I just find it hard to understand that if you pass all the testing you can be invalid due to a choice in testing the toc make. All the other testing is the same, so why should you be punished if you've taken a mmi instead of a cbi.

It’s not about choice…it’s about the process. I’ll spin it another way…why take the assessment with another TOC who you aren’t wanting to work for. Although it’s not going to be the reason for Avanti using the CBI and not the MMI, I think it’s a clever way of identifying whose interested in being a driver and who wants to be an Avanti driver.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Mar 2023 ==

Thank you for replying but I'll be asking why this choice wasn't laid out when I completed the mmi. Because I feel some people would choose not to complete this stage as it would limit their chances with certain companies. I'll wait until opc contact me Because at the current rate my mmi would be over 6 months by the time they come to testing which would mean I would be capable on taking the cbi.

People can apply for various companies because they may not be offered the role when reaching the dmi. I don't think your rude but people can apply for multiple companies even when they don't make it clear of technicalities. I should have the choice to take the cbi even if I know I may fail and this invalidates my other test scores.

Why should another TOC tell you about another TOCs process. They’ve paid for you to sit an assessment for them. Why would the a) care b) know about another TOC. That’s for the individual to find out not the other TOCs.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Mar 2023 ==

i

It’s not about choice…it’s about the process. I’ll spin it another way…why take the assessment with another TOC who you aren’t wanting to work for. Although it’s not going to be the reason for Avanti using the CBI and not the MMI, I think it’s a clever way of identifying whose interested in being a driver and who wants to be an Avanti driver.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Mar 2023 ==


Why should another TOC tell you about another TOCs process. They’ve paid for you to sit an assessment for them. Why would the a) care b) know about another TOC. That’s for the individual to find out not the other TOCs.

Ohh and if you sit the CBI you won’t be able to apply for another TOC for 6 months because they won’t except the CBI and will potentially supersede the MMI

 

[Plob]

i

It’s not about choice…it’s about the process. I’ll spin it another way…why take the assessment with another TOC who you aren’t wanting to work for. Although it’s not going to be the reason for Avanti using the CBI and not the MMI, I think it’s a clever way of identifying whose interested in being a driver and who wants to be an Avanti driver.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Mar 2023 ==


Why should another TOC tell you about another TOCs process. They’ve paid for you to sit an assessment for them. Why would the a) care b) know about another TOC. That’s for the individual to find out not the other TOCs.

So if applied and completed all assessments and then the jobs were withdrawn. Until further notice. I'm still on the books with said company but before them I had applied for avanti and completed part of the assessments.

If not the toc, opc should make it clear that completing a certain part of your testing would make you invalid for companies and vice versa. Doesn't have to tell you the company but people can figure it out. My plan was originally to work with avanti but now by passing a assessment it have possibly limited my ability to progress further in the process.

 

[FlyinScotsman.]

Hi, Im new to this forum- but interesting post thank you,
I have applied for Edinburgh
Completed my VSE AND M7SJT ON 26/03/2023 and now waiting,
Very excited and nervous

How do you feel you did on the VSE?

 

[Shinigami]

So if applied and completed all assessments and then the jobs were withdrawn. Until further notice. I'm still on the books with said company but before them I had applied for avanti and completed part of the assessments.

If not the toc, opc should make it clear that completing a certain part of your testing would make you invalid for companies and vice versa. Doesn't have to tell you the company but people can figure it out. My plan was originally to work with avanti but now by passing a assessment it have possibly limited my ability to progress further in the process.

I see what you mean, however, if you look at it from the companies perspective, people like you are a massive risk to them. It costs time and money to test people. Offering someone the opportunity of a lifetime essentially and potentially taking that opportunity away from someone else, only to have them go off and work with a competitor is a massive blow for them.

Avanti, being one of the premier TOCs to work for, it would only make sense that they are trying ti recruit the best of the best as well as people that genuinely want to work for them.

One of the questions you may be asked in the DMI is why do you want to want to work for the company (Avanti) specifically. This goes beyond why you want to be a driver. Everyone wants to be a driver but are you the type of person that wants to work for that specific TOC (In this case Avanti).

It might be an uncomfortable feeling for you and annoying that you might not be able to apply to multiple but from their perspective, the type of person that’s applying to multiple TOCs and just wants to be anywhere isn’t the type of person they would want.

It’s harsh but from their perspective, it’s fair. It’s not the OPC or the TOCs responsibility to ensure that you have all job prospects available to you. It’s their job to recruit the best candidate.

 

[Plob]

I see what you mean, however, if you look at it from the companies perspective, people like you are a massive risk to them. It costs time and money to test people. Offering someone the opportunity of a lifetime essentially and potentially taking that opportunity away from someone else, only to have them go off and work with a competitor is a massive blow for them.

Avanti, being one of the premier TOCs to work for, it would only make sense that they are trying ti recruit the best of the best as well as people that genuinely want to work for them.

One of the questions you may be asked in the DMI is why do you want to want to work for the company (Avanti) specifically. This goes beyond why you want to be a driver. Everyone wants to be a driver but are you the type of person that wants to work for that specific TOC (In this case Avanti).

It might be an uncomfortable feeling for you and annoying that you might not be able to apply to multiple but from their perspective, the type of person that’s applying to multiple TOCs and just wants to be anywhere isn’t the type of person they would want.

It’s harsh but from their perspective, it’s fair. It’s not the OPC or the TOCs responsibility to ensure that you have all job prospects available to you. It’s their job to recruit the best candidate.

Thank you for the reply. I hope you succeed in your application.

I will if I am sifted question the process regardless of the situation. I applied for avanti before all else so that is the toc I would like to work for. Premium toc in the current climate, its more they are the highest paying toc compared to theirs. Yet I do understand some people just want to be a driver regardless of the company.

 

[Shinigami]

Thank you for the reply. I hope you succeed in your application.

I will if I am sifted question the process regardless of the situation. I applied for avanti before all else so that is the toc I would like to work for. Premium toc in the current climate, its more they are the highest paying toc compared to theirs. Yet I do understand some people just want to be a driver regardless of the company.

The process is quite long so fingers crossed you’re outside the time limit by the time it comes around to your interview.

Also, thanks for the well wishes but I’m not a part of this recruitment drive. I was part of the last one and completed the process not too long ago. Found out I successfully made it into the talent pool recently.

You’re already familiar with the process so I won’t offer any unwanted advice and I completely understand where you’re coming from but I can also understand why the Avanti process is the way it is

 

[Spincity]

So if applied and completed all assessments and then the jobs were withdrawn. Until further notice. I'm still on the books with said company but before them I had applied for avanti and completed part of the assessments.

If not the toc, opc should make it clear that completing a certain part of your testing would make you invalid for companies and vice versa. Doesn't have to tell you the company but people can figure it out. My plan was originally to work with avanti but now by passing an assessment it have possibly limited my ability to progress further in the process.

Why should the opc do that. They are employed by a TOC to administer the process for that TOC. Why would they be discussing another TOC.

 

[Chippychips]

Just to throw a curveball in here, its possible to have a CBI and MMI valid at the same time. It is down to company discretion. There's not a set rule on accpetance/refusal.

 

[KF29]

Anyone for Euston heard anything back after m7/vse

Just received my invite for the next stage assessments in Watford.

 

[JoeE]

Just thought I’d sign up with a little update, as I’ve been touching in and out of this thread through my own application process.

Applied for Euston, did the initial sift and then my SJT and VSE last week.

Was CONVINCED I’d binned the VSE. Thought stage 1 was clearly too easy and must’ve missed something, definitely made 4-5 mistakes in part 2 and thought part 3 was an absolute car crash of missed errors in the loop and mistakes on the symbol matching.

Got invited to the next stage this afternoon. So I wouldn’t stress yourself too much until you hear back, as people have said. You really do appear to be in the running until you hear you’re not.

 

[ScouseScoff]

For Liverpool?

Yep, for Liverpool.

 

[DanielWhitt]

Just thought I’d sign up with a little update, as I’ve been touching in and out of this thread through my own application process.

Applied for Euston, did the initial sift and then my SJT and VSE last week.

Was CONVINCED I’d binned the VSE. Thought stage 1 was clearly too easy and must’ve missed something, definitely made 4-5 mistakes in part 2 and thought part 3 was an absolute car crash of missed errors in the loop and mistakes on the symbol matching.

Got invited to the next stage this afternoon. So I wouldn’t stress yourself too much until you hear back, as people have said. You really do appear to be in the running until you hear you’re not.

When did you do yours last week, I did mine Monday night and haven't heard anything back yet. I didn't get anything wrong on the first and second parts, and then only a few on the third part. It's just frustrating just not knowing, never refreshed my emails so much

 

[User7]

When did you do yours last week, I did mine Monday night and haven't heard anything back yet. I didn't get anything wrong on the first and second parts, and then only a few on the third part. It's just frustrating just not knowing, never refreshed my emails so much

I completed mine on the 18th and haven’t heard anything. I scored around the same as you from what I could gather. Aslong as there is no unsuccessful email we are all good

 

[DanielWhitt]

I completed mine on the 18th and haven’t heard anything. I scored around the same as you from what I could gather. Aslong as there is no unsuccessful email we are all good

The only thing ive received was an email Saturday just gone saying about a 28 day wait or something ?

 

[Spincity]

Why should the opc do that. They are employed by a TOC to administer the process for that TOC. Why would they be discussing another TOC.

If your plan was to work for Avanti, why did you go to another TOC

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Mar 2023 ==

Just to throw a curveball in here, its possible to have a CBI and MMI valid at the same time. It is down to company discretion. There's not a set rule on accpetance/refusal.

If both a passes that’s going to be ok. But if you failed a CBI after passing the MMI would they still accept it?.