First Capital Connect Trainee Drivers Bedford & Blackfriars

[SPADTrap]

As the title suggests, FCC trainee drivers at Bedford (x5) and Blackfriars (x2) closing 6th December advertised. Best of luck to all who apply.

 

[theageofthetra]

Do you have a link for this? I can't see anything for these positions on the FCC recruitment website. Thanks

 

[Mark282]

Do you have a link for this? I can't see anything for these positions on the FCC recruitment website. Thanks

Google is your friend!!!

Type in first capital connect careers into google and follow the links!

 

[Sammy h]

Definitely not on the First Group website.

EDIT - The vacancies are on the First Capital Connect website. Not on the group website.

 

[SPADTrap]

And the dedicated train driver jobs page.

 

[Waikikibaby]

Does anyone know why you can't apply if you've applied / taken assessments for First Group in the last 6 months?

 

[LBSCR Times]

Does anyone know why you can't apply if you've applied / taken assessments for First Group in the last 6 months?

Because if you have taken an assesment in the last 6 months and were not offered a job, then they consider you as not good enough......

 

[A-driver]

Does anyone know why you can't apply if you've applied / taken assessments for First Group in the last 6 months?

Partly to reduce numbers and because they don't want the same people applying every time. If they said no before then they want to give to time to improve on what you failed on.

Most employers do the same, you often see "previous applicants need not apply" on job ads.

As for the tests, the 6 month gap between failed attempts is to prevent you treating the first attempt as a practice and then going back a couple of days later to resit them whilst it's all fresh in your head and you have managed to remember all the answers etc.

 

[Waikikibaby]

Thank you. I can understand those reasons, but my situation is slightly different. I've applied to FGW for Paddington and have passed everything up to now. I've got stage 2 assessment coming up soon and have now seen that FCC are looking for Bedford trainees which in all honesty would be better for me than Paddington. I was hoping to apply for FCC and if I pass Stage 2 with FGW then I'd be in an excellent position for the FCC position.

Of couse I'd feel terribly guilty if FGW have spent money getting me this far and then FCC were to benefit from that, but perhaps they have a sharing costs agreement or they could transfer the cost over? I'm not sure but Bedford is ultimately where I'd like to be based, it's just that FGW Paddington was advertised first. Any thoughts?

 

[A-driver]

Thank you. I can understand those reasons, but my situation is slightly different. I've applied to FGW for Paddington and have passed everything up to now. I've got stage 2 assessment coming up soon and have now seen that FCC are looking for Bedford trainees which in all honesty would be better for me than Paddington. I was hoping to apply for FCC and if I pass Stage 2 with FGW then I'd be in an excellent position for the FCC position.

Of couse I'd feel terribly guilty if FGW have spent money getting me this far and then FCC were to benefit from that, but perhaps they have a sharing costs agreement or they could transfer the cost over? I'm not sure but Bedford is ultimately where I'd like to be based, it's just that FGW Paddington was advertised first. Any thoughts?

Have you contacted HR in Aberdeen to explain this? You can't apply within 6 months if unsuccessful. If you havnt been turned down by FGW and the application is in progress them it's different. I don't know if the online application allows you to explain this but if not then I'd contact central first group HR and see what they say. First group sends all offers of employment centrally from Aberdeen with the individual hr departments taking a slightly smaller role so both Bedford and paddington are basically the same company at this stage in the application process. It's definately worth calling them.

 

[W230]

Of couse I'd feel terribly guilty if FGW have spent money getting me this far and then FCC were to benefit from that, but perhaps they have a sharing costs agreement or they could transfer the cost over? I'm not sure but Bedford is ultimately where I'd like to be based, it's just that FGW Paddington was advertised first. Any thoughts?

While they have the same 'parent' group, they are different TOCs and I can see no reason why you could not apply for both. I did a couple of years ago, was put on hold at application phase by FGW but was given an assessment by FCC. Further down the line, I'm a driver with the latter...

I would think it's similar with Southern & South Eastern - they are both Govia owned TOCs but I wouldn't expect an application with one would preclude you applying for the other.

 

[A-driver]

While they have the same 'parent' group, they are different TOCs and I can see no reason why you could not apply for both. I did a couple of years ago, was put on hold at application phase by FGW but was given an assessment by FCC. Further down the line, I'm a driver with the latter...

I would think it's similar with Southern & South Eastern - they are both Govia owned TOCs but I wouldn't expect an application with one would preclude you applying for the other.

The difference is that goahead HR is all down to the individual companies with no interference from head office. With first group all recruitment is done centrally through Aberdeen, hence the single first group jobs website rather than southern and SET who recruit trough their individual websites.

But as you say, I see no reason if you havnt been 'rejected' by FGW to prevent you applying to FCC.

 

[Waikikibaby]

Thank you so much for your replies. It gets even trickier because I already work for FirstGroup but in a different division. I do know a Manager within FCC so I might e-mail him and see if he can find out as well. Funnily enough I was chatting to him yesterday about my upcoming stage 2 and he didn't mention that FCC were recruiting, perhaps he was trying to tell me something LOL

I'll also e-mail Aberdeen and just see what they say, thanks for the suggestions.

 

[rob12]

Does anybody have a link for this?? call me a numpty but I can't find it anywhere not on cc page or firsts page driving me barmy

 

[Waikikibaby]

Does anybody have a link for this?? call me a numpty but I can't find it anywhere not on cc page or firsts page driving me barmy

Here you go lovey - https://traindriverjobs.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/

 

[theageofthetra]

I must admit the wording on their site is unclear and ambiguous. If you have passed your assessments with another TOC within 6 months does that mean you can't apply? I passed with Southern back in August and have an open application with FGW for which I have been advised that I have passed stage 1 by virtue of my pass with the other TOC. Other than the initial FGW sift, online test and phone interview I have not sat any of the national assessments with First Group before. Is there a number of anyone I can speak to in Aberdeen re my situation? Like a previous poster Blackfriars is more convenient than Paddington for me but would be happy working at either.

 

[NLC1072]

It says;

"Please note you are not eligible to apply for this role if you have taken a Trainee Train Driver assessment within the last six months. If you are successful at the initial stages for these roles, you will be required to attend an assessment day in London. The first stage assessments are to be held on 14, 15 and 16 January.
"

Do reckon they mean within first or with anybody?

 

[Waikikibaby]

I decided that there couldn't be any harm in putting in an application which I can withdraw if I have to at a later date. I'd hate to miss the opportunity on a technicality!

I decided not to phone Aberdeen, but I did e-mail someone and they're going to let me know what the situation is. As soon as I hear back then I'll let everyone else know. I can't divulge the e-mail as I'll get shot (current First employee) but I'll let you know what they say about those of us that have passed assessments in the past 6 months.

 

[bengley]

It says;

"Please note you are not eligible to apply for this role if you have taken a Trainee Train Driver assessment within the last six months. If you are successful at the initial stages for these roles, you will be required to attend an assessment day in London. The first stage assessments are to be held on 14, 15 and 16 January.
"

Do reckon they mean within first or with anybody?

If you have failed an assessment with any TOC you can't retake for 6 months. It's an RSSB thing

 

[s.k.g.22]

I have applied for the Bedford trainee position. I have completed the first online assessment, but the second one keeps coming up with an error #5210. It told me to contact support, which I have done by online form (can take anywhere up to a week to get a responce) and tried to phone the training department (closed on weekends). As the close date is the 6th December, I am worried I will not have time to complete my application if this error continues.

Is anyone else having this problem? Or does anyone know a solution?

Thanks

 

[rob12]

Thanks for link baby lol........... Well I have applied having passed stages 1&2 within the last six months and still waiting to hear the results of my dm for fgw at oxford, I read it as ''have you applied for a role with first group in the last six months'' well technically no I haven't I applied for a first group role in April this year that's when my app was submitted so that's 7 months ago in my eyes? and no mat I had no problem with the online App maybe try again from the start? if not Monday is the 3rd I think? so you have plenty of time by the way is that you in the picture?

 

[Waikikibaby]

@ s.k.g.22 - I can't help with the technical problems but just in case you're interested, Greater Anglia are also looking for trainee drivers for Cambridge, Bishops Stortford and Chingford.

You can see the details here: http://apply.greateranglia.co.uk/va...ers/Operations ~ Drivers/Network ~ West Area/

 

[s.k.g.22]

@Waikikibaby thanks for the info, but Bedford is on my local tranline so is ideal for me!

 

[rob12]

Anybody think they completed all the checking assessment correctly? It went really fast, I don't think I did well on that, no where near enough time to check everything correctly almost impossible! I didn't do great on the practice tests LOL

 

[bengley]

Anybody think they completed all the checking assessment correctly? It went really fast, I don't think I did well on that, no where near enough time to check everything correctly almost impossible! I didn't do great on the practice tests LOL

Indeed, I thought it was nonsense.

 

[Waikikibaby]

Although my e-mail seems to have been misinterpreted, I did find this information on the FirstGroup website:

If an application has been unsuccessful, you cannot apply for a job in the same job category within 3 months. If you have been unsuccessful at an assessment or interview you cannot apply for a job in the same job category within 6 months. You can however apply for jobs that are under a different job category. For all current vacancies please visit our website at www.firstgroupcareers.com

I have been told that I failed the checking assessment on my Bedford application which is silly seeing as I passed it a month ago when I did the FGW Paddington application. *Sigh* not sure where I stand on this now?

 

[rob12]

Although my e-mail seems to have been misinterpreted, I did find this information on the FirstGroup website:

If an application has been unsuccessful, you cannot apply for a job in the same job category within 3 months. If you have been unsuccessful at an assessment or interview you cannot apply for a job in the same job category within 6 months. You can however apply for jobs that are under a different job category. For all current vacancies please visit our website at www.firstgroupcareers.com

I have been told that I failed the checking assessment on my Bedford application which is silly seeing as I passed it a month ago when I did the FGW Paddington application. *Sigh* not sure where I stand on this now?

Hi mate, can you tell me if the FCC seemed to go a lot quicker than the FGW test? because honestly I have passed all firsts assessments but failed this checking test as I found it almost inhumanly possible when it got to the 7 & 8 length numbers there was just no where near enough time cheesed me off to be honest because I am obviously suitable to be a driver because I have passed all the tests now but according to this first stage silly on line test I am not? bloody stupid it went way to quick I passed the same test with northern last year but that went a lot slower than this one however I didn't get past the app stage

 

[theageofthetra]

Had exactly the same e-mail saying I hadn't passed the on line assessment despite giving the same answers and having passed the FGW one. Is there a number of anyone you can speak to in Aberdeen to find out what on earth is going on?

 

[Waikikibaby]

I don't know any phone numbers but it might be worth e-mailing them. I found this on their careers website:

If you have any specific question please look at the FAQ's first as your query may be answered, if not you can email the central resourcing team on careers@firstgroup.com your email will be responded to within 36hrs.

It sucks doesn't it, I decided to apply for Blackfriars as that is also closer for me than Paddington, I've done the exact same tests and I'm justing waiting to see what happens next. Good luck everyone xxx

 

[priesty77]

I have just been on their website (FCC) and it is not showing these vacancies any more am I blind or is this right. Closing date is supposed to be the 6th