Can anybody explain precisely the two strikes please as I'm getting confused?

[scottwam1]

Hi All, Can anybody explain the two strikes when applying to become a driver?

I applied last year and completed all assessments and tests and got to an interview stage where I was unsuccessful.

I applied again after six months and completed an online questionnaire set by the toc but was unsuccessful at this stage (first stage) (Which didn't make any sense?? oh well).

I would like to apply again to other toc's am I still eligible to do this?

Am I correct in saying that you only get two attempts with regards to the assessments set at the national standard?

I really appreciate any help on this as I'm at loose end and need to know what my next point of action is, I have received a positive email asking me to complete an application form with regards to trainee driving, just wanted to know whether to keep going with it?

Thanks for your help and good luck in all your ventures!

Scott

 

[FGW_DID]

As far as I'm aware the "two strikes" only relate to attempting the assessments.

Once you have a pass, any number of unsuccessful applications will not matter within the time period you assessment pass is valid for (3 years???)

I can only presume that if your pass time expires before you are successful, then it's back to square one but you would still retain the two strikes.

 

[scottwam1]

FGW DID, Thank you for your help, that is so reassuring!

So just to clarify, as I applied this January, I've now got to wait another six months before I can re-apply with another TOC?

Thanks for your help, really appreciate it!

 

[greatkingrat]

FGW DID, Thank you for your help, that is so reassuring!

So just to clarify, as I applied this January, I've now got to wait another six months before I can re-apply with another TOC?

Thanks for your help, really appreciate it!

It sounds like that on your second application you were not shortlisted, you didn't actually fail any of the assessments. So you can apply to another TOC straight away.

 

[scottwam1]

It sounds like that on your second application you were not shortlisted, you didn't actually fail any of the assessments. So you can apply to another TOC straight away.

GreatKingRat, That is so positive, great news, thank you!

If I were to have another interview then, would this count as a strike? I'm sorry to ask so many questions, as you can imagine, I really don't want to mess up and miss this opportunity, knowing how hard and how high the number of applicants are! Any pointers would be very much appreciated!

Scott (Happy again)

 

[nick40uk]

GreatKingRat, That is so positive, great news, thank you!

If I were to have another interview then, would this count as a strike? I'm sorry to ask so many questions, as you can imagine, I really don't want to mess up and miss this opportunity, knowing how hard and how high the number of applicants are! Any pointers would be very much appreciated!

Scott (Happy again)

It depends on what interview you had. If it was a Driver Manager interview then it won't count as a strike as those are TOC/FOC specific and not part of the main assessments, if that makes sense.

 

[Bletchleyite]

A question if I may - what is the benefit of "two strikes" for life? I see no particular benefit to excluding a 40 year old who may have failed the assessments twice at the age of 20.

Would it perhaps be better if the "two strikes" lasted perhaps 5 years?

 

[scottwam1]

It depends on what interview you had. If it was a Driver Manager interview then it won't count as a strike as those are TOC/FOC specific and not part of the main assessments, if that makes sense.

Hi Nick40uk,

Thanks for your help, I completed all assessments and mmi, it was just line managers interview where I was unsuccessful, that's great news as I was reading different things and didn't quite grasp exactly how it worked!

Thanks again, back to the studying and any help would be much appreciated, I failed on my knowledge on the company, as I haven't worked in the rail industry I researched as much as I could with what was available.

Onwards and upwards!

 

[455driver]

A question if I may - what is the benefit of "two strikes" for life? I see no particular benefit to excluding a 40 year old who may have failed the assessments twice at the age of 20.

Would it perhaps be better if the "two strikes" lasted perhaps 5 years?

Maybe the 20 year old that failed the first time should wait a few years before re-applying!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Maybe the 20 year old that failed the first time should wait a few years before re-applying!

Maybe they should, but I see no reason in this case[1] for a misjudgement of youth to shut someone out in later life. And the railway may lose out on an excellent candidate.

[1] I know some criminal offences will do precisely that, but failing a test is not a criminal offence.

 

[Economist]

I failed on my knowledge on the company

MTR Crossrail?

 

[scottwam1]

MTR Crossrail?

Yes, exactly the same!! Onwards and upwards!!

 

[Economist]

MTR Crossrail either require their candidates to know some very obscure stuff about the company or they simply use company knowledge as the feedback as to why the don't employee the candidate in question.

When I applied they only did feedback via email, made me take a rather cynical view because it's much easier to hide the real reason for not employing a candidate. On the phone, if someone asks a couple of awkward questions they can't exactly just hang up.

I was unsuccessful with a different TOC a couple of weeks beforehand who phoned me and discussed feedback over the phone. I could relate the feedback to the interview and they discussed both positive and negative aspects of my performance, much better in my opinion.

 

[greatkingrat]

A question if I may - what is the benefit of "two strikes" for life? I see no particular benefit to excluding a 40 year old who may have failed the assessments twice at the age of 20.

Would it perhaps be better if the "two strikes" lasted perhaps 5 years?

The two strikes got cleared when the new process was introduced a couple of years ago. I am sure the process will change again at some point in the next 20 years so they don't really last for life.

 

[ComUtoR]

Two strikes is more than fair and has been discussed at length before. I would only really accept that failure of the MMI is a little unfair as it is more subjective and your answers may be better with age and experience.

 

[scottwam1]

MTR Crossrail either require their candidates to know some very obscure stuff about the company or they simply use company knowledge as the feedback as to why the don't employee the candidate in question.

When I applied they only did feedback via email, made me take a rather cynical view because it's much easier to hide the real reason for not employing a candidate. On the phone, if someone asks a couple of awkward questions they can't exactly just hang up.

I was unsuccessful with a different TOC a couple of weeks beforehand who phoned me and discussed feedback over the phone. I could relate the feedback to the interview and they discussed both positive and negative aspects of my performance, much better in my opinion.

I totally agree, I would much prefer a more personal constructive criticism and have something to build on and improve on. I did request feedback but it was very minimal, along the lines of, I proved to have flexibility for the drivers role but my knowledge of the company was not sufficient! I can't argue with that though, given the information available and the timescales etc and having not worked for the rail industry before. I'm very pleased that for my first attempt at all the assessments and passing, I'm very happy! Also it has been 16 years since I last had an Interview, so I can only hopefully improve and now know what to expect.

Onwards and upwards my friend, I wish you well and good luck.

 

[Class73]

The two strikes clock has been reset following the introduction of the revised assessment process. You have two strikes under the new process, regardless of previous results.