Driver assessment....

[playmore64]

Sammy's big day is tomorrow, he's probably enjoying the luxury 5 star hotel Arriva so kindly arranged for him.

All in all I wish him all the best, some very good points made in this thread!

 

[choo~choo]

Any update Sammy???

 

[Sammy h]

Thanks for all your well wishes and good luck messages, but unfortunately it was not to be.....

The day involved a little waiting and it was a little unorganised I thought. It started with the Glop test (written test) followed straight away by the dials test.

We were then advised that it would be a mix and match, people would be invited for the manager interviews and three at a time would be invited to the computer area to complete the reaction and GB tests.

I was invited firstly to do the tests, but my computer kept jumping two dots at a time so I refused to use the computer and only two were used.

I wasn't really expecting the manager interview so was a little shocked, there was a woman from recruitment and also two driver managers.

I thought my interview went really really well, I am still awaiting feedback as to why I was not selected so I will update you as I receive it.

We received the results of the tests one by one and I was advised that the GB test was perfect and one of the fastest they had seen as well as the reaction tests. The dials was the same, I got 37/43 (not enough time to finish the rest) and my weakest was the Glop which I knew straight away.

Once we got out results we were advised to go back to the hotel and await a phone call to see whether you have been invited to the structured interview.

I obviously received the phone call and was gutted.






Just a few questions, I believe the SI is part of the assessment? I was advised I can class this as a half pass and with any future TOC interviews they will only require me to do the SI, however I know they are changing the process at the end of the year anyway....

Overall I am gutted, they did quiz me a lot on relocating and I advised them I had no problem what so ever with it, but I do think it is this that has let me down. We shall see. Anyway time is on my side being only 21, so we take it on the chin and go again!!!

Thanks for all your help everyone.

 

[Dave1987]

Thanks for all your well wishes and good luck messages, but unfortunately it was not to be.....

The day involved a little waiting and it was a little unorganised I thought. It started with the Glop test (written test) followed straight away by the dials test.

We were then advised that it would be a mix and match, people would be invited for the manager interviews and three at a time would be invited to the computer area to complete the reaction and GB tests.

I was invited firstly to do the tests, but my computer kept jumping two dots at a time so I refused to use the computer and only two were used.

I wasn't really expecting the manager interview so was a little shocked, there was a woman from recruitment and also two driver managers.

I thought my interview went really really well, I am still awaiting feedback as to why I was not selected so I will update you as I receive it.

We received the results of the tests one by one and I was advised that the GB test was perfect and one of the fastest they had seen as well as the reaction tests. The dials was the same, I got 37/43 (not enough time to finish the rest) and my weakest was the Glop which I knew straight away.

Once we got out results we were advised to go back to the hotel and await a phone call to see whether you have been invited to the structured interview.

I obviously received the phone call and was gutted.






Just a few questions, I believe the SI is part of the assessment? I was advised I can class this as a half pass and with any future TOC interviews they will only require me to do the SI, however I know they are changing the process at the end of the year anyway....

Overall I am gutted, they did quiz me a lot on relocating and I advised them I had no problem what so ever with it, but I do think it is this that has let me down. We shall see. Anyway time is on my side being only 21, so we take it on the chin and go again!!!

Thanks for all your help everyone.

Comiserations! I think though that the SI interview and the other tests are all part of one so you would have to do all of it again. At least that is what I was told but then again I did my tests a quite a while back now. Other thing you need to consider Im afraid is you cant do the tests again for six months.

Anyway keep your chin up! You still have another go at it in six months time and you can use your experience to your advantage!

 

[Sammy h]

I can't do it for six months even though I passed them? Arriva told me that with other tocs I just needed to do the SI, obviously that is down to the TOC.

I have open applications with Northern and First and I have notified them of my circumstances and asked them to update my application.

As far as I'm aware all I would have to do is complete the SI and then I could be employed. Very unfair if not because I have passed.....

 

[Dave1987]

I can't do it for six months even though I passed them? Arriva told me that with other tocs I just needed to do the SI, obviously that is down to the TOC.

I have open applications with Northern and First and I have notified them of my circumstances and asked them to update my application.

As far as I'm aware all I would have to do is complete the SI and then I could be employed. Very unfair if not because I have passed.....

The SI is part of the assessment process so unfortunately you have used up one of your two goes. I was specifically told that I hadn't passed the assessment until I passed the SI. I don't think your applications with Nothern and First will be able to progress for six months now. If that is what Arriva have told you then that may well be the case that you just need to do the SI then.

 

[Sammy h]

How could I have used up one of my two goes? This DOES NOT count as a fail? I PASSED the tests. That is what Arriva told me anyway. The way they held the assessments was manager interview and tests one day and SI the next day (subject to invitation)

I do not see how this classes as one of my two shots as I PASSED.

 

[evoluzione]

If you passed the Dots, Glop, Mech, DTG and dials then it sounds like you only failed the Managers interview which isn't part of the assessments.

Did you take the written part of the SI at all?

 

[LCC106]

I'm with Sammy h and Arriva on this one! Bad luck but you've done the right thing my informing the other TOCs. Not 1 of your 2 shots at all.

 

[Dave1987]

How could I have used up one of my two goes? This DOES NOT count as a fail? I PASSED the tests. That is what Arriva told me anyway. The way they held the assessments was manager interview and tests one day and SI the next day (subject to invitation)

I do not see how this classes as one of my two shots as I PASSED.

The SI is part of the OPC assessment so if you haven't done that you have not completed all the tests but it seems I misunderstood the what you have said. It seems that you did your managers interview first but not your SI interview. I which case I don't think you will have used one of your two goes up then.

 

[bob hope]

From my very recent (December 2012) experiences with Northern I'm afraid it's bad news for you Sammy.

Northern will NOT allow you to only take part of the assessments - they insist that you take the complete set of assessments with them.

And the further bad news is that they will not allow you to take them within six months of your tests with Arriva.

On the positive side though you definately haven't used up one of your two chances, and you now know exactly what to expect next time with the tests so you shouldn't have anything to be worried about next time round.

Best of luck.

 

[W230]

Northern will NOT allow you to only take part of the assessments - they insist that you take the complete set of assessments with them.

Interesting. Last year, (admittedly it was May so before you're one in December), after already passing the tests with another TOC I was invited to attend and sit only the Mechanical Comprehension test. They said I didn't have to do all the others as I had already passed them (the other TOC didn't do the Mechanical Comprehension test).

Look at it positively Sammy, you know where you went wrong, you haven't used one of your two chances and next time you apply you can say that you have already passed the majority of the tests, not being given the opportunity to take the structured interview.

I think I read on here that you're 21, so plenty of time to have another crack at it - next time you'll pass!

 

[Sammy h]

Thanks everyone for your feedback, suppose we will just see what happens. I have advised Northern, they just said my application has been updated.

Very gutted if its a case of waiting six months, but I might not even get an interview with them so we shall see.

At least I know I can pass the tests with no problem anyway

 

[Dave1987]

Thanks everyone for your feedback, suppose we will just see what happens. I have advised Northern, they just said my application has been updated.

Very gutted if its a case of waiting six months, but I might not even get an interview with them so we shall see.

At least I know I can pass the tests with no problem anyway

Yup think positively and keep up the enthusiasm! I think it is very wierd that they asked you to do the DM interview before the SI interview but never mind. If they had done the SI interview first and you had passed it you would be at the next stage. Anyway in six months go for it again, and the very best of luck to you.

 

[TDK]

Thanks everyone for your feedback, suppose we will just see what happens. I have advised Northern, they just said my application has been updated.

Very gutted if its a case of waiting six months, but I might not even get an interview with them so we shall see.

At least I know I can pass the tests with no problem anyway

Thats a shame Sammy, I feel that your location may have had an influence as if there are candidates who do not need to relocate and they are on the same level as you they will get the job. Location now with this new European directive (I have mentioned this many times) is very important probably one of the most important factors. I do feel for you buddy getting so far and hope you are OK matey!

 

[henryedward61]

I had my managers interview before progressing to the assessments, culminating with the SI, so I do not think it's anything out of the ordinary.
My application was with Northern and there was a guy there only sitting certain elements of the test, so that also seems plausible.

Unfortunately -although its of no comfort to anyone- luck is a big factor in reaching the door. Law of averages says that with the shear number of applicants these TOCs receive, you are surrounded by many other candidates of similar abilities.

Keep plugging away, I didn't make the initial sift with the first TOC, however, I got a job with the next.

It seem like an overhaul is imminent. The current tests do seem to be flawed in many respects. Played to my strengths fortunately, but whether they function in selecting the best candidate's is highly debatable.

 

[Bonehead]

If it helps I marked my paper based gbt on the day with a tiny pencil mark 10 lines down. After each 2 minutes i had hit 10 lines down.
I don't know my score, obviously, but I passed and I am no speed merchant. As TDK says, don't become obsessed with speed...