CrossCountry - Apprentice Train Driver - Recruitment Discussion

[chris89]

What were the personality questions like ? Was it multiple choice or a slider, or did you actually have to type in your answer ?

Multiple choice and select with mouse etc.

 

[jaybon92]

Will jump on the assessments at the weekend. Dont wanna be doing it while tired from work.

Practise practise practise during work times

 

[M2025]

Can you do the personality assessment before the spatial? Or does is have to be in order as presented in the email? Thanks.

 

[chris89]

Can you do the personality assessment before the spatial? Or does is have to be in order as presented in the email? Thanks.

Which ever order you want to.

 

[nlknraeflnvaek]

Multiple choice and select with mouse etc.

Nice one, thanks

 

[jaybon92]

Just curious, do you get more than one date to book for in person interviews and assessments?

 

[SJN]

Has anybody who had the email last week regarding these online tests not received another one with the link to tests at all please?

 

[sktt25]

Just curious, do you get more than one date to book for in person interviews and assessments?

When I did the psychometric tests they had every day available Monday - Friday for that week but it was an 8am start each day. For my DMI I think it was across two or three days with one hour slots throughout the day

 

[jaybon92]

When I did the psychometric tests they had every day available Monday - Friday for that week but it was an 8am start each day. For my DMI I think it was across two or three days with one hour slots throughout the day

Okay thankyou, I work days and nights on weird shifts. Don't want to be forced to do it coming off nightshift haha

 

[Mihigo26]

Just did a few practice tests on my lunch breaks there.

First one 3/16
Second one 15/18
5/10

Luck of the draw isn’t it

 

[Vidal1996]

Just did a few practice tests on my lunch breaks there.

First one 3/16
Second one 15/18
5/10

Luck of the draw isn’t it

Sorry if It's already been said but what are you using to practice with? Thanks.

 

[mr_ixolite]

Just did a few practice tests on my lunch breaks there.

First one 3/16
Second one 15/18
5/10

Luck of the draw isn’t it

seems an element of that yes, I did the 5 practice questions SHL supplied before the test proper and got 5/5, unfortunately the test proper was a lot harder

 

[Kieranmcd]

seems an element of that yes, I did the 5 practice questions SHL supplied before the test proper and got 5/5, unfortunately the test proper was a lot harder

Just wondering how you accessed the practice tests? I've not received anything from SHL to prep with, or do you need to click the "start assessment" link before you're offered a practice?
Cheers

 

[mr_ixolite]

Just wondering how you accessed the practice tests? I've not received anything from SHL to prep with, or do you need to click the "start assessment" link before you're offered a practice?
Cheers

yeah when you click start assessment it gives you the option of a practice test before taking the proper one

 

[Kieranmcd]

yeah when you click start assessment it gives you the option of a practice test before taking the proper one

Good to know, thanks. Can you exit after the practice test or do you need to go straight to the real thing?

 

[mr_ixolite]

Good to know, thanks. Can you exit after the practice test or do you need to go straight to the real thing?

you can exit

 

[nlknraeflnvaek]

When I did the psychometric tests they had every day available Monday - Friday for that week but it was an 8am start each day. For my DMI I think it was across two or three days with one hour slots throughout the day

Have you been given a start date yet or are you still in the pool.

 

[sktt25]

Have you been given a start date yet or are you still in the pool.

I am still in the pool

 

[Netto_7]

Also got my online assessments to complete before 26th.

Tried a few practice tests by googling it but does anyone know where there are additional or better ones online?

 

[jaybon92]

Also got my online assessments to complete before 26th.

Tried a few practice tests by googling it but does anyone know where there are additional or better ones online?

I've been looking everywhere. Problem is there is good ones... but they don't randomise questions so you end up practising the same questions

 

[offtherails174]

I would say complex 3d shapes are what you should be looking at both in a flat plane and then figuring out which shape matches from different angles. This is a sifting test, you could be the best potential train driver out there but if you don’t make the cut you won’t be going any further. The tests aren’t related to anything else in the process. Just to cut down 1000’s down to less than 100. Probably even less. I would use all the time you have to do the tests if you’re not confident on this type of thing. I completed 22/25 when i did them. I felt like I did awful but apparently did well.

 

[jaybon92]

I would say complex 3d shapes are what you should be looking at both in a flat plane and then figuring out which shape matches from different angles. This is a sifting test, you could be the best potential train driver out there but if you don’t make the cut you won’t be going any further. The tests aren’t related to anything else in the process. Just to cut down 1000’s down to less than 100. Probably even less. I would use all the time you have to do the tests if you’re not confident on this type of thing. I completed 22/25 when i did them. I felt like I did awful but apparently did well.

Got any decent sites for practise? The stuff that comes up on Google is okay to complete once. But they don't change the questions so it's not practise.

 

[nlknraeflnvaek]

The spatial tests available online are very much easier than the actual test for XC. The constant change of patterns was very annoying. As others have said, apparently XC uses more difficult spatial tests to sift out numbers from 1000's to less than 100. Supposedly enhanced testing TOC's have less difficult tests .

 

[timmy827]

Got any decent sites for practise? The stuff that comes up on Google is okay to complete once. But they don't change the questions so it's not practise.

I used assessmentday.co.uk. I paid about £20 and got something like 4 or 5 tests. They don’t change the questions but the tests were exactly the same idea as the one for the sift. I passed and that was useful practice.

 

[mr_ixolite]

apparently XC uses more difficult spatial tests

Supposedly enhanced testing TOC's have less difficult tests .

Great. Now you tell me

 

[nlknraeflnvaek]

I'm sure everyone will be fine, we have to stay optimistic ! I do wonder however how exactly they grade it ? Are the personality and spatial worth 50% each ? Does personality matter more ? Or perhaps it's wether you have the ability to transform a 2d shape into 3d, who knows .

 

[Arne]

On the spatial test, can you skip a question if you don't know or do you have to answer to get to the next one?

 

[mr_ixolite]

On the spatial test, can you skip a question if you don't know or do you have to answer to get to the next one?

Think you need to answer before moving on, which you may as well anyway if you don't know, rather than skipping it, you've got a 1 in 4 chance of getting it right

 

[irish_rail]

I would say complex 3d shapes are what you should be looking at both in a flat plane and then figuring out which shape matches from different angles. This is a sifting test, you could be the best potential train driver out there but if you don’t make the cut you won’t be going any further. The tests aren’t related to anything else in the process. Just to cut down 1000’s down to less than 100. Probably even less. I would use all the time you have to do the tests if you’re not confident on this type of thing. I completed 22/25 when i did them. I felt like I did awful but apparently did well.

What utter nonsense, how can a test like this be applicable to train driving?! I'm awful, and I mean awful at puzzles like this, yet as a train driver I have a near perfect record. XC need to find a more appropriate way of whittling down candidates in my opinion!

 

[Kieranmcd]

What utter nonsense, how can a test like this be applicable to train driving?! I'm awful, and I mean awful at puzzles like this, yet as a train driver I have a near perfect record. XC need to find a more appropriate way of whittling down candidates in my opinion!

Unfortunately, this might be true. These roles are often over subscribed and it helps whittle the numbers down. Harsh? Yes. Fair? Probably. All recruitment is a numbers game and the drivers roles are popular. Good luck to everyone sitting the tests!