DRS trainee drivers.

[garlic bread]

ok, just finished my interview half an hour ago and have to say think it went ok. well in my head it went ok. just kept referring to health and safety in my answers, think they liked it. woman named Lorraine took details then had interview with man and woman but cant for the life of remember their names. the woman took me for interview at assessment stage but cant remember name. interview honestly wasnt as hard as i thought it would be. will keep you posted with outcome, they reckon a couple of weeks. or if anyone has any questions, i will try and help.
ric

Good for you mate. If you could remember any of the questions they asked or any info on the number of vacancies and interviewees that would be a big help and much appreciated.

 

[Beveridges]

When I did mine the interview felt impossible. I dont know if the jobs were already lined up for someone else.

Beveridges, could you share your experience of the interviews with DRS, i have read many threads and posts about the subject of interviews but i think your knowledge would be invaluable. Cheers

Yes, it was hard. Very Hard. By far the hardest Interview I have ever had, and yes, it was worse than the drivers structured interview, and nothing like it. The questions were terrible, endless and there must have been over 45 of them. The interviewers were a panel of five all sat there opposite me. Now I'm not normally nervous in interviews but in front of this panel, and with these questions, I was nervous as hell. If you need help on what questions I got asked let me know and I'll try and see if I can remember some of them, but it was a long time ago, back in Dec 2008, and it's one bad memory.

From what I remember they first ask you to fill in a form then they look at that form and ask you a lot of questions about what you wrote. They asked what I disliked about my current job and then asked why I thought this would be any better at DRS. All sorts of questions of the sort you don't want in front of a panel of 5 or 6. Why do you think flexibility is important in the freight business? They were never happy no matter what I said and always wanted more. They asked for a time I worked well under pressure. I gave an example that would at least match the "pressure" in the job. They then followed it up with "how well do you think you coped"? I said very well but they still wanted more. They then asked what the dreaded question would I have done differently next time? Well they were not happy because I couldn't think of anything, why would I do it differently next time when I did everything right in my example? This is an impossible question to do well on.
They asked how flexible I was? They asked a few questions about security, a few about giving examples in certain situations that could occur. They asked me if in my opinion does the DRS job have more responsibility than my current role? I said no but they wanted more. They asked why I wanted the role. There were many more questions than this. They asked for examples of when I worked well in a team. They asked how do I motivate myself. How do I maintain conscientiousness. What would I do if the train stopped out of course. Why would I enjoy the tasks in this job. They asked about concentration. Lots of questions about the freight industry and they seemed to want to know if I was aware of the differences between working for a TOC and a FOC (seeing as I am coming from a TOC). There were many more questions than this. If you pass this you've also got to go through screening as well as a medical and references.

 

[andyw39]

I also had my interview on Tuesday morning. I felt really positive afterwards and was over prepared if anything. The interview was long and the questions seemed never ending but they werent difficult questions. Answers were very obvious and they really didnt look for as much specific detail as I thought they would. I felt this way after my SI with Scotrail last year though and they jumped on 1 silly mistake that I made and failed me for it. The joys of having so many applicants to choose from. Good luck anyway to everyone else who has made it this far. The waiting to find out is definetly the worst part!

 

[arkangeluk]

Were you asked what you thought about people who use mobiles when they are driving andy?

 

[andyw39]

certainly was. Thought it was a bit of a no brainer but it must catch a few folk out.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Just got the call from DRS. Passed the interview and have been invited to sit the national assessments in Watford in a few weeks time. Over the moon!!

 

[garlic bread]

Quick q, roughly how long between interview and assessment dates? Could be v helpful if i need to juggle shifts at work

 

[andyw39]

They offered me a few dates so i had the option to work around my shifts. Two dates they offered were a week apart. I chose the closest one and its about 4 weeks after the interview date. Dates i was offered were 11th or 17th september if that helps.

 

[arkangeluk]

well i received my thanks but no thanks letter this morning. haven't seen it yet as im early shift but told the wife to open it. will see if theres any feedback or not when i get home. good luckk at watford andy.

ric

 

[andyw39]

Aww gutted for you Ric. It's horrible to go through all that n get told no.

 

[Toottoot]

Andy, so is that you now? You've got the job if you pass the tests? Or they still have more than they need to test, then they'll pick again?

 

[andyw39]

I honestly coundn't tell you. Ive got the assesment center to go and then there's the medical and security vetting so id say its far from a given. I would assume that there would be more than enough candidates sent for assessment, therefore if all were to pass then they'll have to look at other ways of selecting. It has been mentioned twice that there may be another interview if required so still alot of work to be done.

 

[Toottoot]

I had mine today, it wasn't that bad at all. They told me they were concerned I would get bored and have an accident through complacency but was otherwise a good candidate.

So I doubt I'll get a call back.

 

[andyw39]

The e-mail from DRS says that passing the assessments doesn't automatically give you a job. All those that pass the assessments will be reviewed by DRS and another interview arranged if necessary. If you've passed but they have doubts then perhaps you'll get another interview as a final chance to state your case. I wouldn't give up just yet

 

[EggyT]

I had mine today, it wasn't that bad at all. They told me they were concerned I would get bored and have an accident through complacency but was otherwise a good candidate.

So I doubt I'll get a call back.

Hi, first time posting, been lurking a while. I'm down for the assessment day at Watford. I was wondering did they run the full set of tests including the structured interview?

Also what time did you get out as I've booked on the last train home to get back up, which if I miss will mean I'm waiting overnight until the next morning for the next one.

 

[156441]

Had mine today in a bedroom at the Holiday inn at Crewe. Easily the longest interview I've ever had but found it quite run of the mill. I'd go so far as saying the Northern drivers interview which had questions about environmental impact and the such like was harder.

The 2 managers made me feel completely at ease. Just wait for the phone call now!

 

[Toottoot]

Hi, first time posting, been lurking a while. I'm down for the assessment day at Watford on the 17th. I was wondering did they run the full set of tests including the structured interview?

Also what time did you get out as I've booked on the last train home to get back up to Edinburgh, which if I miss will mean I'm waiting overnight until the next morning for the next one.

Sorry, I only did the interview stage, not the assessment stage, about which I have no information.

 

[Stuart-h]

Sorry to high jack the thread.

Going off a bit i spoke to Drs yesterday about the trainee train crew they were advertising for a while back. They havent forgot about me!

Can any one shed any light on what the train crew do at all and what interviews are like for the role with drs?

 

[garlic bread]

Top guess, having read the trainee (wo)man job blurb would be along lines of yard work/ shunting duties. Perhaps bev can shed some light?

 

[Stuart-h]

Hope so Gb! I've also got my pts card as well. Would that help?

Sorry for all the daft questions x.

 

[spesh]

Which depot you apply for, trainmen do different duties depending where you are based, I'm based on the intermodal side of thing with drs.

 

[Stuart-h]

I applied for Crew.

 

[spesh]

The easy trainmen job then!! I'd love to that instead of what I do! Well only till January then ill be starting the driver training program!

 

[Stuart-h]

what do they do there?

 

[spesh]

Flask and charter work.

 

[Toottoot]

I just had a phone call and was invited to the full assessment on the 19th September in Watford.

Congratulations to other successful candidates.

 

[andyw39]

congrats mate. Good luck when it comes!

 

[TDK]

Flask and charter work.

You can add container work and mainly night shifts to that. Mainly 66's

 

[spesh]

TDK Crewe trainmen do not do container work, I should know because I see there roster on a weekly basis! Only Grangemouth deal with containers, no one else!

 

[Beveridges]

Container work, night shifts, 66's - that sounds more like the DRS Drivers role!

The Trainmen jobs are mainly with the nuclear flasks and the classic fleet.

Drivers don't see much of the classic traction and the flasks until they progress into the top link, from what I heard.

 

[TDK]

TDK Crewe trainmen do not do container work, I should know because I see there roster on a weekly basis! Only Grangemouth deal with containers, no one else!

Sorry I misunderstood as the OP title is "DRS trainee drivers" the answer I gave was regarding DRS drivers work.