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Crosscountry - Apprentice Train Drivers (08/12/22)

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kajojek3232

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I doubt very much the applications have been looked at by anyone, seems everyone who’s applied has received an email today
I don’t think they’d send these to just about everyone. That’d cost them too much with OPC so I’m sure someone has looked at them.
 
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Aviator88

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I don’t think they’d send these to just about everyone. That’d cost them too much with OPC so I’m sure someone has looked at them.

This makes sense - I would also suspect (empirical, I know) that the average RF member has a higher chance of success at each stage overall due to their having sought out information and guidance on best practices etc, so I don't think it's overly surprising to see a high 'hit rate' from members here.

If I applied for another company and have also completed the OPC tests for them, am I not able to complete the tests for this company also?

If you've passed and those passes exceed CC's requirements, you'll not have to sit those tests again. The grey area (from my experience reading these forums) seems to be whether online tests such as the SJT and VSE also fall into this category. Some say yes, some say no, hence why I'm curious!
 

Diedinium

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If I applied for another company and have also completed the OPC tests for them, am I not able to complete the tests for this company also?
If you passed the "real" psychometric tests (the online ones don't count, they're just used for screening) at another company, if it was within 5 years your results may well be good enough that you don't need to do them again for CrossCountry - if not then you'll have to do them again. I'm in the same situation, recently passed paper, computer and MMI with Transport for Wales - but they only do the "national" standard tests so I'm pretty sure I'd have to redo all the tests for CrossCountry if it gets to that point.

There is also the two lives restriction, that means if we fail the assessments twice (or is it just they can only be taken twice overall, regardless of result - someone correct me if I'm wrong) then we can't take them again.
 

Aviator88

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If you passed the "real" psychometric tests (the online ones don't count, they're just used for screening) at another company, if it was within 5 years your results may well be good enough that you don't need to do them again for CrossCountry - if not then you'll have to do them again. I'm in the same situation, recently passed paper, computer and MMI with Transport for Wales - but they only do the "national" standard tests so I'm pretty sure I'd have to redo all the tests for CrossCountry if it gets to that point.

There is also the two lives restriction, that means if we fail the assessments twice (or is it just they can only be taken twice overall, regardless of result - someone correct me if I'm wrong) then we can't take them again.

According to the OPC, CrossCountry also use the national standard, as of 2020 (https://www.theopc.co.uk/files/ADVICE_Train_Driver_Standards.pdf).

I also believe that should one be a glutton for punishment, you could take the tests everyday for the rest of your life so long as you kept passing!
 
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I've currently done stage 1 Paper for Avanti and am waiting to do stage 2 Computer (so stage 1 is passed at Enhanced) - got the email to do the online screening for this one, but don't want it to mess up any existing scores with the OPC especially as being mid-process. Would doing the screening affect any existing application for another operator?
 

Skyrail

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I've currently done stage 1 Paper for Avanti and am waiting to do stage 2 Computer (so stage 1 is passed at Enhanced) - got the email to do the online screening for this one, but don't want it to mess up any existing scores with the OPC especially as being mid-process. Would doing the screening affect any existing application for another operator?
Doing the online screening won't affect your Avanti passes so far. The online tests, although run by the OPC, are not considered part of the official trainee train driver tests, they're an additional requirement often required by particular TOC as a screening tool and will not count as a strike or override any of the "official" tests if you fail.
 

DRK31

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Also applied and said they will be send a online assessment tomorrow.
Through the agency on LinkedIn there was no cover letter to attach that I seen but later came across the ad on indeed which took me through to the site direct and there was
 

ajp777

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Anyone had the email link through for the online assessment/screening yet? Sent my form off confirming details yesterday
 
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Had my reply unfortunately not successful too many applicants and better suited people though I've passed all assessments and mmi oh well good luck to everyone else.
 

DJP78

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Had my reply unfortunately not successful too many applicants and better suited people though I've passed all assessments and mmi oh well good luck to everyone else.
Really sorry to hear your news and better luck next time. Don't give up. Multiple examples on the forums of people who have applied numerous times and who have overcome set-backs to eventually become drivers. Wish you the very best
 

class 9

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It wasn't that long ago somebody claimed XC had a driver surplus (posts 321 and 395 of the XC apprentice driver thread from the start of this year).
It was XC management that said there was a surplus of 97, don't how they came up with this figure as New Street has been massively under compliment for years and for the last year or so there's been a hell of lot of cross covering of jobs between depots.
 

dereksingh291

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Hi guys I applied for the CrossCountry Trains Apprentice Train Driver positions based at Birmingham New Street, I then had an email asking to fill in some details for an online assessment from the OPC, this had to be done by this Thursday at 5PM, I then had an email to say that I am not successful but the email wasn't clear as to what role I am not successful in but It says application in process for this role on the careers website, could this be an error? Any advice would be much appreciated.
 

bcfc171081

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Hi guys I applied for the CrossCountry Trains Apprentice Train Driver positions based at Birmingham New Street, I then had an email asking to fill in some details for an online assessment from the OPC, this had to be done by this Thursday at 5PM, I then had an email to say that I am not successful but the email wasn't clear as to what role I am not successful in but It says application in process for this role on the careers website, could this be an error? Any advice would be much appreciated.

Have you applied for more than one?

I currently have applications in for TM and trainee driver, both say application in process
 

dereksingh291

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Have you applied for more than one?

I currently have applications in for TM and trainee driver, both say application in process
I applied for just Birmingham only, then CrossCountry yesterday emailed me to fill in some details for the online assessment that will come from the OPC, filled the details in and then the next day meaning today I had an email to say that I am not successful and this is confusing me. Surely your supposed to have an email first to say that you're not successful or through to the next stage not have an email to fill in some details and then another email to say that you're not successful??? Im really confused and starting to panic.
 

DJP78

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Hi guys I applied for the CrossCountry Trains Apprentice Train Driver positions based at Birmingham New Street, I then had an email asking to fill in some details for an online assessment from the OPC, this had to be done by this Thursday at 5PM, I then had an email to say that I am not successful but the email wasn't clear as to what role I am not successful in but It says application in process for this role on the careers website, could this be an error? Any advice would be much appreciated.
I'm curious.....

You receive the OPC invite to fill in your details. You submit the form and then subsequently, you've received a separate email saying you're not successful? Are you certain this email about saying not successful is related to trainee train driver XC?? Have you got any other applications open with XC??

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

I applied for just Birmingham only, then CrossCountry yesterday emailed me to fill in some details for the online assessment that will come from the OPC, filled the details in and then the next day meaning today I had an email to say that I am not successful and this is confusing me. Surely your supposed to have an email first to say that you're not successful or through to the next stage not have an email to fill in some details and then another email to say that you're not successful??? Im really confused and starting to panic.
Have you previously sat any psychometrics for train driver positions with other TOCs? Just wondering if they've looked at RSSB website via the NI number perhaps?
 

dereksingh291

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I'm curious.....

You receive the OPC invite to fill in your details. You submit the form and then subsequently, you've received a separate email saying you're not successful? Are you certain this email about saying not successful is related to trainee train driver XC?? Have you got any other applications open with XC??
when I had the email from CrossCountry saying that Im not successful, the email wasn't clear about the trainee train driver role, it didn't say you're unsuccessful for the role of Apprentice Train Driver, I have got quite a few other applications with CrossCountry, I've emailed CrossCountry about this.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

I'm curious.....

You receive the OPC invite to fill in your details. You submit the form and then subsequently, you've received a separate email saying you're not successful? Are you certain this email about saying not successful is related to trainee train driver XC?? Have you got any other applications open with XC??

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==


Have you previously sat any psychometrics for train driver positions with other TOCs? Just wondering if they've looked at RSSB website via the NI number perhaps?
Ive not sat any of the train driver assessment tests before not even once with any other TOC but also do CrossCountry do the VSE & M7SJT?
 

Koko07

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I'm curious.....

You receive the OPC invite to fill in your details. You submit the form and then subsequently, you've received a separate email saying you're not successful? Are you certain this email about saying not successful is related to trainee train driver XC?? Have you got any other applications open with XC??

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==


Have you previously sat any psychometrics for train driver positions with other TOCs? Just wondering if they've looked at RSSB website via the NI number perhaps?
Yeah what I was thinking

Maybe have sat a test in the last 6 months and wasn’t successful and was discovered after the NI etc was sent

It’s worth asking
Hopefully, you are in the clear and it’s just an error

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

when I had the email from CrossCountry saying that Im not successful, the email wasn't clear about the trainee train driver role, it didn't say you're unsuccessful for the role of Apprentice Train Driver, I have got quite a few other applications with CrossCountry, I've emailed CrossCountry about this.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==


Ive not sat any of the train driver assessment tests before not even once with any other TOC but also do CrossCountry do the VSE & M7SJT?
Sorry just saw this after my reply

You can ask opc
 

DJP78

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when I had the email from CrossCountry saying that Im not successful, the email wasn't clear about the trainee train driver role, it didn't say you're unsuccessful for the role of Apprentice Train Driver, I have got quite a few other applications with CrossCountry, I've emailed CrossCountry about this.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==


Ive not sat any of the train driver assessment tests before not even once with any other TOC but also do CrossCountry do the VSE & M7SJT?
As for VSE & M7SJT I'm not certain. Other XC Apprentice TD threads from Feb 22 mention the SCAAT & RAAT screening / pre-psychometric tests via OPC but there's no mention of VSE & M7SJT. Don't quote me on this though

If you've other applications with XC running, perhaps the email relates to one of these?

Good luck
 

dereksingh291

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Yeah what I was thinking

Maybe have sat a test in the last 6 months and wasn’t successful and was discovered after the NI etc was sent

It’s worth asking
Hopefully, you are in the clear and it’s just an error

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==


Sorry just saw this after my reply

You can ask opc
Well I sat VSE & M7SJT for Avanti at Wolverhampton back in Janurary, wasnt succesful had to wait 6 months before I could try again then recently done it again for Freightliner and I dont think I did very well when I recently done it again.
 

Class2ldn

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Well if you've sat them tests twice then I'm sure you can't apply for anywhere that uses them tests again.
Do cross-country use them tests?
If so thats why.
You'll only be able to apply for companies that don't use them tests at the start.
 

dereksingh291

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update - luckily I haven't been unsuccessful for this Apprentice Train Driver job with CrossCountry based at Birmingham, the unsuccessful email was in relation to a customer relations consultant role, thank goodness.
 

gt1441

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I filled the form where they ask national insurance etc yesterday but never received actual SJT to fill.

Do we suppose to receive SJT and send it today by 17.00?
 

Koko07

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update - luckily I haven't been unsuccessful for this Apprentice Train Driver job with CrossCountry based at Birmingham, the unsuccessful email was in relation to a customer relations consultant role, thank goodness.
Good stuff

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

I filled the form where they ask national insurance etc yesterday but never received actual SJT to fill.

Do we suppose to receive SJT and send it today by 17.00?
I don’t think anyone has received the assessment yet , probably after 17:00 today with a deadline which of course won’t be today
 
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