Driver Manager Interview / Final Selection Interview SWT

[Martin Dolan]

I sat mine yesterday.

I found that out of all the competency based questions I'd prepared for only 2 of them were asked. The rest of the questions apart from the 'tell us about yourself' ones I wasn't that well prepared for in all honesty.
However as the interview progressed I felt I was getting somewhere and saying all the right things without waffling on.
I left not feeling cocky but feeling like it had gone well.

I received an email this evening saying after careful consideration the outcome of the interview had resulted in me being unsuccessful on this occasion and good luck in the future. Nothing else.

I obviously will be asking for feedback but until I can get hold of anyone tomorrow I have a couple of questions maybe some of you could clear up for me:

If another candidate was given the vacancy instead do you think they would still send me the above email? What I'm asking I suppose is are they telling me that I failed the interview or that someone else got the job?

Also if I simply have failed the DM Interview does that count as a strike/life used up?

Lastly, my TOC its 6 months until I can reapply again, do you think I will have to literally reapply and go to the back of the queue or as I'm internal do you think there's a chance I can take up where I left off in 6 months time?

Oh and how long do the assessment results stay valid for?

Looks like its a long walk to the back of the queue


Cheers for any feedback!

 

[tlionhart]

The chances are they prob interviewed a few candidates. So let's say 10 were interviewed for say 3 positions, then 7 would receive the email you got. Most times the dear John letters are generic.

The good news is, this doesn't count as one of your strikes. So you could use your passes at another TOC/ FOC. ( Actually valid for 5yrs with RSSB, but TOC will only accept them up to 3yrs) so if first group or southen recruited now, you can apply. If swt recruited then you need to wait 6 months before you can re- apply.
You may however need to sit additional tests that swt didn't make you sit. For example if you haven't done a mechanical test then you would be required to only sit this test and a DM interview.

Do ask for feedback as this will help with future applications. It seems your weekends is the 'tell me about yourself' type personality questions. These are important to answer properly because it's your opportunity to sell yourself. Bad luck in not getting the job and keep trying.

 

[Martin Dolan]

Cheers for that mate.
It's all about getting the feedback at this point as I'm at a lost to where I went wrong in the interview really.

You can only pick yourself up, dust yourself off and try again. Perseverance pays off n all.

Right now gutted doesn't come close but I'll keep trying and will be ready next time.

Cheers!

 

[CC 72100]

Cheers for that mate.
It's all about getting the feedback at this point as I'm at a lost to where I went wrong in the interview really.

Getting the feedback is really important.

I've recently attended assessment centres with two different transport companies. I was unsuccessful at the first one, but the feedback was really important (even if it was a little hard to take) as it showed up something that I'd been missing out in my interview technique.

Although I prepare for interviews to the max, thinking where I demonstrated that competency, in the interview at the first assessment centre, I never mentioned what was the deliverable or benefit of whatever I was doing in the workplace, what were the risks and how did I manage them, what would I do differently/ self reflection.

This feedback helped me to prepare for the next assessment centre with this in mind, so that I was introducing this sort of element naturally as opposed to relying on follow-up questions.

Your 'weak point' will most likely be completely different as it's for a very different role, but it shows how useful feedback can be, and how it can help you to work on problems that in my case, I didn't even know were problems/weaknesses in the first place!

Good luck!

 

[Martin Dolan]

Yes I can relate to that, especially relying on follow up questions.

I felt I answered questions very well but some of my answers needed prompting.
Maybe too vague, after all you're being marked on what is written down hence what you choose to say, NOT what is read between the lines on the day in that room.

I thought as the Interview progressed that the two interviewers were starting to understand 'me'.
Probably my downfall, your judged on the answers written down only.

Keen to get this feedback and move forward!

 

[Mumbo]

Sorry to hear this but at least you don't have a strike and are free to keep applying.

I had a structured DM interview on Monday and got the job, perhaps I was helped by the fact GTR are looking to recruit lots of drivers at the moment although they are no doubt undertaking lots of interviews.

I prepared for lots of different standard interview questions which really helped. I also learnt a lot of states/facts about the TOC which I could see really impressed them, were you asked about the TOC?

The feedback is vital and will let you know what you need to work on so I hope they get back to you.

Good luck for the future

 

[HarleyDavidson]

Personally I think your mad going for a DM job.

Nothing but pressure, pressure & yet more pressure and stress.

I know of at least 10 driver managers who've quit, because of it, because of the way other departments treat them and now they've quit and moved companies, they've returned to driving and are so much happier.

Just remember as a driver manager, you can be moved at will, you can be called on 24x7x365, you will lose things such as a 4 day week and you can be chucked out without real good cause, if you don't meet up to their expectations in any shape or form you're out on your ear.

Don't forget you'll forfeit most of your driver friends too, as managers aren't trusted.

Still want to be a manager?

 

[Class2ldn]

No i think you've got the wrong end of the stick, his interview was with a dm for a drivers position.

 

[spider8]

I've been told by my manager "Unofficially, there's a block on." Are you (Martin Dolan) sure you're not just getting blocked by your company. My TOC is notorious internally for blocking fitters, shunter drivers, etc. from moving on to main line driving due to the fact that practically anyone can apply to be a driver and they're trained once. But if an internal employee is given the job the TOC now has a vacancy and will need to pay to advertise, replace and train the new employee. If it's a fitter then experience and engineering qualifications are required - not that easy to replace, hence the unofficial block.

It's illegal but can't be proved.

 

[Martin Dolan]

Hi spider8 yes I have shared your view n the past, seen it with my own eyes - fact!

In this instance though my TOC contacted me a month ago out of the blue as a vacancy had been created at one of my chosen depots.

I met only 1 other candidate on the assessment applying for the same vacancy and a I feel the interview went well I initially assumed they'd been give the job over me.

However its more likely I failed the interview.
I would like to know what criteria the interview is marked by.

Also something even the two driver managers seemed puzzled by was I am yet to sit the SJE and MMI. You would think I'd sit them before the final selection interview, hence the title!

 

[TDK]

Hi spider8 yes I have shared your view n the past, seen it with my own eyes - fact!

In this instance though my TOC contacted me a month ago out of the blue as a vacancy had been created at one of my chosen depots.

I met only 1 other candidate on the assessment applying for the same vacancy and a I feel the interview went well I initially assumed they'd been give the job over me.

However its more likely I failed the interview.
I would like to know what criteria the interview is marked by.

Also something even the two driver managers seemed puzzled by was I am yet to sit the SJE and MMI. You would think I'd sit them before the final selection interview, hence the title!

DM interviews are not marked by all TOC's in fact I do not know any TOC's that do mark them. The questions they ask in the DM interview are questions not covered in the BCI and also questions to see whether a candidate is the perfect one for the job, there are many questions about any subject that can be asked from hobbies, social life, family commitments, past experiences etc. all these questions are directed to let the interviewer know whether there is anything that will affect your capability to carry out the job in connection to safety, punctuality and attendance. For example, a dedicated football fan will need Saturdays off, someone with a big family may not want to work overtime, someone who has a sports car or powerful motorbike may be a potential speeding driver, a dedicated railway enthusiast/spotter may get distracted, there are lots of things that can trip you up and this is why the DM interview is difficult to pass.

Sorry you didn't get the job and it is most likely that there was another candidate who ticked more boxes than you when it came to their suitability for the role.

 

[Martin Dolan]

Yes had my feedback.

In a nutshell:

Examples given for organisation and safety were too weak.

Lack of understanding of the role of a mainline driver.

A touch too desperate for the job.



I'm kicking myself as I work within a depot there are loads of suitable examples I could've used that were better than the ones I gave. My desperation to succeed knocked my nerves on the day.

I've spoken to the interviewer directly and they told me where I went wrong and it comes down to me not being specific enough at times I was waffling on. They are looking for a clear, concise well formed answer to a question. I just didn't have it in me to form my words as best I could in the interview.

That along with giving weak examples that made me appear as If I didn't know what I was talking about. One example on safety probably ruined my chances altogether.

The good thing is having gone through the process once I now know what I have to do to get it right next time.

I thought I'd done my homework, I spent enough nights staying up revising questions and writing out my answers.

The shock of failing is unbearable, almost as bad as having to wait 6 months to reapply.

You just gotta take it on the chin and move forward, no point moping around!

Cheers

 

[387star]

I'm like you failed a recent interview

I'm to have feedback too and yours could easily be mine. .. I know exactly where I went wrong

Only thing keeping me positive is I have passed with another company and on hold

I did fail my very first interview which was completely different in format (no comp questions and ten minutes perhaps decieved)
Like me plenty of people on here can fail one even two but pass another one

It all going well on the day has a lot to do with it... also each of the three I had were completely different b which makes the DM interview slightly harder to prepare for

 

[theironroad]

Unlucky Martin, have to say I'm a little surprised as you come across on here well.

I guess one positive could be that you've not been kept waiting around for a decision or feedback. You know the result and what to to work on. I'm sure that doesn't seem much hlep know, but at least you can move on.

Out of interest, which depot was the interview for where there was a vacancy?

 

[Martin Dolan]

Yep a lot of it has to be how you perform on the day I suppose but thinking back to some of my examples just makes me cringe. Don't know what I was thinking

@ theironroad - Cheers for that, felt I stood a good chance and had revised enough but ultimately I let myself down, can't blame anyone or anything else. The vacancy was Salisbury for SWT

 

[theironroad]

Did they elaborate on the lack of understanding about mainline driving? Seems a bit odd sort of feedback as you're a depot driver, as I guess you must have picked up bits and pieces from drivers etc or on here.

 

[plastictaffy]

The shock of failing is unbearable, almost as bad as having to wait 6 months to reapply.

You just gotta take it on the chin and move forward, no point moping around!

Cheers

True that. I don't know how I held it together when OPC told me I'd failed one of the assessments. And, unlike you, it WAS one my lives used up.

 

[Martin Dolan]

I remember talking about signing on, picking up a diagram, checking for any notices that may affect me, speed restrictions, changes to stock, safety notices.
Being responsible for hundreds of passengers and getting them to work etc on time and safely.

Insanely that's probably all I said.
I never talked about having to deal with emergencies, broken rails, points failure, fatalities, fault finding, phone a friend, standing my ground as far as working over hours, dealing with signaller and control. Staying calm in an emergency, being proactive in finding solutions to problems.

No doubt you'll have more examples too.

I just didn't come up with the goods, plain and simple.

 

[theironroad]

Don't be too hard on yourself.

Sure, there's a 1001 things you could talk about, the stuff you did talk about was all good, but I guess it's just getting a balance between showing them you've done research, Which you have, and not boring them and I guess it also depends on the manager doing the interview and how they ask the questions.

You can't be expected to waffle about everything involved with driving without some scenario question like: so your driving along and you see a trespasser walking alongside the track, what do you do?

Nothing wrong with being keen for the job, unless your were on the floor holding their feet and begging for the job lol

 

[Jph140]

Well done Martin for getting this far to date. I passed the 1st stage of assessments 2 years ago and still waiting. I'm trying also for Salisbury and have been on the waiting list for a few years. Frustrating for me but you are very nearly there now so keep going.

All the best
Jon

 

[Martin Dolan]

Thanks for the advice and good luck too Jon

 

[TDK]

Yes had my feedback.


A touch too desperate for the job.

This is common now and obvious when interviewing

 

[spider8]

This is common now and obvious when interviewing

So what? I'm currently studying "How 2 Become a Train Driver"
Does this make me too keen? It's almost like you can't win either way - sounds to me like an excuse not to give MDolan the job rather than a genuine reason.

 

[TDK]

So what? I'm currently studying "How 2 Become a Train Driver"
Does this make me too keen? It's almost like you can't win either way - sounds to me like an excuse not to give MDolan the job rather than a genuine reason.

The main question is " why do you want to be a train driver" I have interviewed people who were keen and it was either life or death metaphorically speaking if they got the job. When you asked the above question many of them didn't know why they wanted the job or failed to furnish the details! If you are studying "how to become a train driver" it's your choice, anyone can study as much as they like or can but when asked questions at interview about why they want the job if they cannot come up with a structured reason they have no chance. As I have mentioned before this is by far the most important question that needs to be answered.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Did they elaborate on the lack of understanding about mainline driving? Seems a bit odd sort of feedback as you're a depot driver, as I guess you must have picked up bits and pieces from drivers etc or on here.

This actually means that the candidate did not either understand the role, had not done enough research on the role or thought they know everything about the role when in fact they don't. This is generic and not aimed at the OP by the way.

 

[Moedot7]

The main question is " why do you want to be a train driver" I have interviewed people who were keen and it was either life or death metaphorically speaking if they got the job. When you asked the above question many of them didn't know why they wanted the job or failed to furnish the details! If you are studying "how to become a train driver" it's your choice, anyone can study as much as they like or can but when asked questions at interview about why they want the job if they cannot come up with a structured reason they have no chance. As I have mentioned before this is by far the most important question that needs to be answered.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


This actually means that the candidate did not either understand the role, had not done enough research on the role or thought they know everything about the role when in fact they don't. This is generic and not aimed at the OP by the way.

Hi TDK. I have sent you a private message. Please get back to me at your earliest convenience.

 

[Johncleesefan]

You only failed BECAUSE someone else got the job. Doesn't count as your 2 lives no.
I think internals may have an unfair disadvance in dm interviews as its like they're expected to know a lot more about the driver grade already than someone off the streets as they work in the industry. Opinion only as I was off the streets myself. Just an observation of course.