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DRS trainee drivers.
- Thread starter spesh
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Don't bet on it, you will prob have lot of competition from internals! Someone also posted earlier that DRS interviews are very difficult.
Good luck to you anyway!!
Geargrinder
Member
- Joined
- 13 Oct 2012
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- 144
Jambo, you are right ! This is the trainee X-Factor trail for DRS :
Stage 1 - Shortlisting Shortlisting for all the applications will take place for all applications please be reminded to complete the application as fully as possible
Stage 2 Assessment and Short Interview Assessment and Short Interview will take place for all Trainee Train Driver roles. We endeavour to give plenty of notice for assessments to allow personal arrangements to be made for attendance.
If you are invited for assessment and short interview it is important that you confirm your attendance. Anyone who does not confirm and then attends will not be seen
The assessment and short interview will involve Completion of Verbal Comprehension Ability Test Completion of Mechanical Comprehension Ability Test Completion of Numerical Reasoning Ability Test TRFS Trainability for Safety Test SCATT Safe Concentration and Attention Test Rules and Regulations Test Team Communication Exercise Short Interview
Stage 3 Formal Interview If you are successful at the assessment and short interview stage, you will then be invited back to attend for an interview. We expect interviews to last approx. 45mins to 1 hour with additional time for paperwork to be undertaken.
The formal interview will include questions to demonstrate evidence of interpersonal skills that are applicable to this post, such as Flexibility and Personal Motivation, the interview panel will ask for examples from you to demonstrate. Questions may also be asked to assess your technical ability in such areas as rules and regulations, safety procedures, traction and route knowledge (if applicable).
Stage 4 Industry Psychometric Assessment If you are successful at all the assessment and interview stages, you will be invited to attend a industry psychometric assessment at OPC in Watford.
Following the recent recommendation from the RSSB candidates who have taken the recognised train driver psychometric assessments since 1st July 2004 will have their test score regarded as valid for a period of 5 years from the date of assessment, unless there has been a major life event, such as bereavement, serious illness etc, which may have caused a decrement in cognitive ability. Any evidence of assessment taken will need to be provided at interview stage. Please note that passing the psychometric assessment does not automatically mean you will be successful in gaining a trainee position.
Stage 5 Medical, Drug & Alcohol Screening If you are successful at all the above stages you will then be required to attend for a medical and drug/alcohol screening. These medicals are likely to take place at BUPA Transport and Engineering Occupational Health, based in a location as near to your home address as possible. Dates and time will be confirmed to you if you get to this stage.
Stage 6 - Security Vetting You must be aware that all successful candidates will be required to undergo security vetting including Nationality, reference and identity checks. To ensure you meet these requirements please ensure you can bring with you to your assessment and interview original and valid identification as detailed on the attached list.
Stage 1 - Shortlisting Shortlisting for all the applications will take place for all applications please be reminded to complete the application as fully as possible
Stage 2 Assessment and Short Interview Assessment and Short Interview will take place for all Trainee Train Driver roles. We endeavour to give plenty of notice for assessments to allow personal arrangements to be made for attendance.
If you are invited for assessment and short interview it is important that you confirm your attendance. Anyone who does not confirm and then attends will not be seen
The assessment and short interview will involve Completion of Verbal Comprehension Ability Test Completion of Mechanical Comprehension Ability Test Completion of Numerical Reasoning Ability Test TRFS Trainability for Safety Test SCATT Safe Concentration and Attention Test Rules and Regulations Test Team Communication Exercise Short Interview
Stage 3 Formal Interview If you are successful at the assessment and short interview stage, you will then be invited back to attend for an interview. We expect interviews to last approx. 45mins to 1 hour with additional time for paperwork to be undertaken.
The formal interview will include questions to demonstrate evidence of interpersonal skills that are applicable to this post, such as Flexibility and Personal Motivation, the interview panel will ask for examples from you to demonstrate. Questions may also be asked to assess your technical ability in such areas as rules and regulations, safety procedures, traction and route knowledge (if applicable).
Stage 4 Industry Psychometric Assessment If you are successful at all the assessment and interview stages, you will be invited to attend a industry psychometric assessment at OPC in Watford.
Following the recent recommendation from the RSSB candidates who have taken the recognised train driver psychometric assessments since 1st July 2004 will have their test score regarded as valid for a period of 5 years from the date of assessment, unless there has been a major life event, such as bereavement, serious illness etc, which may have caused a decrement in cognitive ability. Any evidence of assessment taken will need to be provided at interview stage. Please note that passing the psychometric assessment does not automatically mean you will be successful in gaining a trainee position.
Stage 5 Medical, Drug & Alcohol Screening If you are successful at all the above stages you will then be required to attend for a medical and drug/alcohol screening. These medicals are likely to take place at BUPA Transport and Engineering Occupational Health, based in a location as near to your home address as possible. Dates and time will be confirmed to you if you get to this stage.
Stage 6 - Security Vetting You must be aware that all successful candidates will be required to undergo security vetting including Nationality, reference and identity checks. To ensure you meet these requirements please ensure you can bring with you to your assessment and interview original and valid identification as detailed on the attached list.
NI 271
Member
The 6 months from my borderline pass is up on July 10th, so I'm going to apply for this.
Can anyone tell me, are ALL shifts either nights or very early earlies? In other words, are there no day turns? If it's all nights then I'd consider that half-decent, relatively settled hours.
Thanks.
Can anyone tell me, are ALL shifts either nights or very early earlies? In other words, are there no day turns? If it's all nights then I'd consider that half-decent, relatively settled hours.
Thanks.
It's freight so it's 24 hr,you can start and finish at anytime,could be 1am starts one week,could be 1600 week after,dont be surprised if you start on earlies the monday and end up backshift come the friday.Not really sure about there roster at DRS but I am pretty sure it will be near enough the same as other FOCS.
NI 271
Member
Cheers for that. Already work a mix of shifts each week, so it wouldn't be anything I'm not already used to (except with 12 hours minimum between shifts at least I wouldn't have the quick turnarounds I have at the moment).
Getting way ahead of myself there, especially for a job I haven't yet even applied for...
They dropped the requirement for re-testing / group bordon etc for qualified applicants.
About time too - what a stupid idea!
Geargrinder
Member
- Joined
- 13 Oct 2012
- Messages
- 144
Just noticed for the Trainee applications you have to agree, that if you are invited for assessments, then DRS can contact your current employer for a reference at that stage. Could be interesting !!
For a new starter it doesn't matter but if you are already in the the railway pension scheme it cannot be transfered with the current benifits
Beveridges
Established Member
DRS Interview for trainman jobs was insanely difficult 5 year ago Christ knows how hard drivers one is
Freight shifts would mess my head up I already feel tired enough with the "relatively" easy and settled MDD shifts so I wouldn't like hours that are any worse!
Freight shifts would mess my head up I already feel tired enough with the "relatively" easy and settled MDD shifts so I wouldn't like hours that are any worse!
Also everyone who works for DRS need to be vetted as it is government run company and the DRS employees have access to nuclear waste so if you have any skeletons in the cupboard you won't get the job.
The get a lot of container work and also flasks, they sign 20's, 37'7, 47's, 57's and 66's & some sign 67's. Most of the work for the new starters will be 66 work as the cranks all do their best to get the vintage traction work stitching up their colleagues in the process. There are 2 links, normal link and class 1 link, the latter you may on occasion get jolly to do and also thunderbird work on the 57's. Don't get too excited, it took my buddy 2 years to get into the class 1 link and he has been in it for a while and only done 1 class one train and that was a rescue and he is an experienced qualified. The others who joined are still in the other link on nearly permanent nights.
The work is predominantly nights with the day shifts being mega long with the possibility of drivers being after rest continually.
DRS in my opinion is a spotters company, if you are a spotter then it will be great for you if not it will be a nightmare.
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I am not certain but I think DRS have a retainer in the contact for trainee drivers.
garlic bread
Member
- Joined
- 23 Dec 2012
- Messages
- 22
congrats to those who just got their invitation letters from DRS. see you on the 7th. Checked the hotel £50 a night. Not to bad. Just a tad confused, from the pack it looks like the psycho testing is split over 2 dates.Its described as assessments on the day and psychometric tests TBA in Sept. Thoughts anyone?
Beveridges
Established Member
Having had extensive experience of trying to get into DRS over the years:
The assessment is a set of their own tests. These are not the same as the psychometrics, but rather, an extra set of tests. When I sat mine it was SCAAT (with a very High pass mark), a comprehension test (not Glop), Maths and English (relatively basic if you passed your GCSEs in these subjects), Mechanical Comprehension MT4.1.
A fail in these wont blow one of your 2 chances or effect applications with other companies but you will be kicked out of DRS's recruitment programme.
Pass these and you get the industry standard psychometrics. Glop, Dials, Reactions, Dots and Structured Inteview.
The assessment is a set of their own tests. These are not the same as the psychometrics, but rather, an extra set of tests. When I sat mine it was SCAAT (with a very High pass mark), a comprehension test (not Glop), Maths and English (relatively basic if you passed your GCSEs in these subjects), Mechanical Comprehension MT4.1.
A fail in these wont blow one of your 2 chances or effect applications with other companies but you will be kicked out of DRS's recruitment programme.
Pass these and you get the industry standard psychometrics. Glop, Dials, Reactions, Dots and Structured Inteview.
garlic bread
Member
- Joined
- 23 Dec 2012
- Messages
- 22
cheers for the clarification. Suppose it makes sense if you work in HR and want to thin out the herd. guess we all just keep jumping through hoops for the timebeing.
garlic bread
Member
- Joined
- 23 Dec 2012
- Messages
- 22
Said all of them on the form. I dont mind moving or renting digs. Sure i read somewhere they may assist with relocation. Hopefully it may be possible to get on a transfer list post qualifying. (if i get that far)
Anyone else had an assessment date from DRS ? I know a few a few people who have applied but nothing more than a confirmation of application letter received along with myself.
Donachie.
156441
Member
I've got an assessment day for a Crewe vacency on the 13th.
arkangeluk
Member
- Joined
- 3 Aug 2013
- Messages
- 8
i'm down for an assessment day on the 6th for grangemouth
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
does anyone know if you get the job how long you are based at carlisle for training?
ric
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
does anyone know if you get a job how long you are based at carlisle for training
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
i'm down for an assessment on the 6th for grangemouth
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
does anyone know if you get the job how long you are based at carlisle for training?
ric
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
does anyone know if you get a job how long you are based at carlisle for training
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
i'm down for an assessment on the 6th for grangemouth
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