First Great Western - Trainee Drivers

[Brad1985]

Hi Skinny Dave. I don't understand why they would still do the interview if we are all on hold.

When I phoned them they didn't say I was on hold for six months they said I Was on hold until they processed another 60 or so people. She did say nearly all of the roles are already filled.

At least it sounds like they will be looking at recruiting more in six months. time and if that was from May that's only November.

By then the new recruitment process will be in force, does that mean we will have to start from scratch?

Wish I had asked all this when i phoned them about a week ago.

 

[SkinnyDave]

Hi Brad,

I dont understand it either mate

I have heard that they have recruited a lot internally-Your results should stand for 3 years with First TOCs so I dont think you have to start all over again eso since you got to driver manager interview stage.

I think you are entitled to phone them and ask the questions you want to ask.

SD

 

[vanesy01]

Im still waiting from applying last August
Had my DM interview in Bristol early April
Seems that info is hard to come by
Waited nearly 12 months now so whats a few more ha ha
The fact I haven't been told I was unsuccessful gives me hope
Time will tell I guess

 

[rolo101]

snap mate
Im still waiting from August...
Had my DM interview in Bristol April...
haven't been told the out-come.

 

[TPA]

Just heard that all the posts at Bristol have been filled. Not sure what that means for those going through the process, I wish you all the very best of luck. I hadn't even got through the short listing stage due to a last minute application.

 

[SkinnyDave]

Not surprised after the correspondence the last application intake got including myself.

Did HR inform you?

 

[vanesy01]

Should be getting the thanks but no thanks email soon then ha ha
Will be kinda glad to finally see an end

 

[TPA]

Not surprised after the correspondence the last application intake got including myself.

Did HR inform you?

Yup, got an email today. But I would stress I didn't even get through shortlisting so don't take it that everyone is binned.

 

[SkinnyDave]

I hope I don't regret not changing application to Oxford instead

Really would like to work at Bristol

 

[TPA]

I hope I don't regret not changing application to Oxford instead

Really would like to work at Bristol

Just gone through my emails and they are saying that there are trainee jobs going at Gloucester and Westbury, so for me things are looking up! Either of those suit you? I can't seem to get their link to work so will try again and get back if you're interested?

 

[SkinnyDave]

Just gone through my emails and they are saying that there are trainee jobs going at Gloucester and Westbury, so for me things are looking up! Either of those suit you? I can't seem to get their link to work so will try again and get back if you're interested?

Sent you a PM

 

[rob12]

Well I applied for oxford and still haven't heard a thing. Going on some of the most recent posts I find it unbelievable that some guys haven't heard anything for over 12 months, As I have said before I'm not that bothered if I didn't get through this time because others have higher scores than me I just don't want a fail and if I'm in the reserve list with one pass I would like to know because I have two apps in with northern and have been shortlisted but don't know my 1st stage results and if I have failed then I am wasting my time with the northern app and will have to wait 6 months, that being said at the end of august it will be three months down anyway. How much do you think the head of recruitment will be on a year for running firsts HR department? between £70,000 and £100,000 I bet and seems to me like they are failing miserably like most of the country's so called top executives at the moment while the front line guys I'm sure have a huge workload 1000's of apps to go through and are poorly paid for the amount of work they have.

 

[Iwillbeadriver]

I checked my application last night and the status had changed from "awaiting short listing" to "vacancy filled"

 

[daddy_badger]

mine still says invited to assessment and interview ie stage 2, which i attended in April.

 

[Brad1985]

Just checked mine and it still has not changed. The desperate dream lives on. Wish I hadn't called them at the end of the month now so that I could call and get an update now.

 

[PSFGW]

Hello peeps... just joined in and would like to share little info I have (small contribution from my side..) I called the assessment centre today and spoke to the guy incharge of assessments...he said that they are still waiting for the results from OPC..???.. the results will be out before next friday and they will be in touch...this is mainly for the first batch of interviewees who made it to the second stage (reaction test/structured interview at Reading in June)... so fingers crossed..

 

[Mark282]

I called HR last friday who gave me the number for the assessment centre in Swansea... I called Swansea to be told that we would ALL here by email today (9th Aug).

I'm extremely unimpressed with FGW... Not because I have had to chance them for the results, but because I ended up finding out that I had failed the bourdon test by another company who had invited me to an assessment, only to call me back and say, sorry, but you cant come... You failed in May.

I think that is extremely poor of FGW.

 

[AC1986]

I called HR last friday who gave me the number for the assessment centre in Swansea... I called Swansea to be told that we would ALL here by email today (9th Aug).

I'm extremely unimpressed with FGW... Not because I have had to chance them for the results, but because I ended up finding out that I had failed the bourdon test by another company who had invited me to an assessment, only to call me back and say, sorry, but you cant come... You failed in May.

I think that is extremely poor of FGW.

If anyone gets an email it would be great to hear

 

[FlamTap]

... I'm extremely unimpressed with FGW... Not because I have had to chance them for the results, but because I ended up finding out that I had failed the bourdon test by another company who had invited me to an assessment, only to call me back and say, sorry, but you cant come... You failed in May.

I think that is extremely poor of FGW.

Exactly the same happened to a friend of mine! She applied to FGW last August, got invited to stage 1 in March, which she passed; then invited to stage 2 in April. She passed the reactions part of Stage 2, but wasn't told the result of the CBI on the day.

Several weeks passed, during which time she contacted FGW HR several times, only to be brushed off with the usual "you'll know when we do".

In the interim she applied for the recent vacancies advertised by Freightliner HH. She got shortlisted and invited to assessment on the 28th of August. Naturally, she was delighted. Then, a couple of days ago, she received another letter from FHH informing her that as she had failed the CBI in April they were removing her from the shortlist, due to the six-month re-sit rule.

Naturally, she was bitterly disappointed. But, more so, she was disgusted that it took another application with a completely different company to discover her results from the FGW stage 2. She checked her on-line status with FGW yesterday, and it still reads "Invited to assessment and interview"!

So, that might be a lesson to all those waiting on FGW - do not apply the old adage "no news is good news" here! No news from FGW is more likely to mean bad news!

 

[Puremetal84]

Having been through the process with FGW myself, from my perspective it's actually not been too bad this time round. On one application I waited 8 months before being told I hadn't even been short listed.
I don't think First are alone in taking time to get back to people, I think the sheer number of people applying for these vacancies creates a huge amount of work for a small team.
In my recent successful application the process was as good as could have been expected. I can only put this down to having done very well at all the stages (not blowing my own trumpet, just a thought!). Not meaning to rub salt in any wounds, just putting my personal experience forward.
Best of luck to anyone waiting.

 

[Mark282]

Puremetal... I dont have any problem with the length of time that FGW have taken to get back to me (although why send out an email 2 months ago saying you'll have the results in 7 to 10 day when there was no chance of that?

However, I do object to finding out through another company that i didn't make the grade. I'm sure these TOC's know how much we all want this... They have peoples future in their hands, and to not bother telling people the outcome when they have the results is very poor in my opinion.

On the other hand, the company who informed me of my failure have been superb... Very polite and professional, and I'm only sorry that I cant continue my application with them this time around.

Like I said, no problem with things taking a long time, but I object to being informed by a 3rd party!

Incidentally, I may be wrong, but it's looking unlikely that the results email will be sent out today as they told me!

 

[Skilv]

Hey all,

I'm a Guard for SWT and have been for the past 2 years.

I applied for FGW in May for trainee driver @ rdg

I passed my drivers assessments in February for SWT and at the moment, I'm currently waiting for my "database" checks to be complete before they send me interview dates.

Has anyone sat the CBI & DM Interviews on here? What're they like?

Also am I correct thinking that FGW has the same pass marks for the drivers assessment as SWT, seeing as its a network rail group standard assessment I wouldn't have thought it matters.. Just heard a few things from a couple of people, is all..

 

[takeaway]

Received the following email response with regards to my application. I am quite happy with this for the following reasons:

It gave me an insight into the assessment process, I know where I need to improve for the next time.
I haven't lost one of the two lives (although these maybe reset soon)
I am no longer in limbo, allowing me to apply with other companies with the knowledge that I am not on hold for 6 months.
And finally do not have the frustration of dealing with/waiting on FGW HR anymore.

Good Luck to anyone else still waiting on a response - Not knowing the result can drive you crazy!



Thank you for attending the Trainee Train Driver assessment centre.

With regard to your results, you passed the elements of the assessment that you attempted. However, as you achieved a "borderline pass" in some of the criteria, and as First Great Western are committed to safety and progressing the strongest performing candidates first, we will not be progressing your application further at this stage.

Should we find that we require further candidates in the future, we may contact you if you are happy for us to do so.

We have changed the status of your application to reflect this and it now shows as “Borderline Pass - Hold Application”.

We would like to thank you for your interest in the role and the time that you have taken to attend assessments.

Kind Regards

FirstGroup Resourcing

 

[Skilv]

Received the following email response with regards to my application. I am quite happy with this for the following reasons:

It gave me an insight into the assessment process, I know where I need to improve for the next time.
I haven't lost one of the two lives (although these maybe reset soon)
I am no longer in limbo, allowing me to apply with other companies with the knowledge that I am not on hold for 6 months.
And finally do not have the frustration of dealing with/waiting on FGW HR anymore.

Good Luck to anyone else still waiting on a response - Not knowing the result can drive you crazy!



Thank you for attending the Trainee Train Driver assessment centre.

With regard to your results, you passed the elements of the assessment that you attempted. However, as you achieved a "borderline pass" in some of the criteria, and as First Great Western are committed to safety and progressing the strongest performing candidates first, we will not be progressing your application further at this stage.

Should we find that we require further candidates in the future, we may contact you if you are happy for us to do so.

We have changed the status of your application to reflect this and it now shows as “Borderline Pass - Hold Application”.

We would like to thank you for your interest in the role and the time that you have taken to attend assessments.

Kind Regards

FirstGroup Resourcing

Did you find the whole assessment difficult or just parts?

 

[takeaway]

Did you find the whole assessment difficult or just parts?

Hi Skilv,

The GB went fine, the key was to be accurate and consistent.
I let myself down by being too accurate on the trainability parts 1&2, where you are not marked down for incorrect answers. This is where I ran out of time..

This was my first time at a assessment, have a much better appreciation of whats expected for the next time, and consider it a bonus that my 2 lives are intact.
On that topic has it been confirmed when the tests will change? I read somewhere that it could be October.

Thanks, T

 

[siw8158]

Emails you do not wish to recieve #2

Hi Simon,

We’d like to thank you for taking the time to attend your interview for the Trainee Train Driver [First Great Western] role at Various Locations. Becoming part of the FirstGroup team involves a thorough selection process and unfortunately, on this occasion, you haven’t been successful. We receive lots of applications, and although you didn’t pass the interview we’d like to hear from you again - although you’ll need to allow at least six months before reapplying. In the meantime, you can always register for job alerts by visiting www.firstgroupcareers.com

If you would like to receive feedback then please let us know by responding to this email and we’ll endeavour to send this to you within six to eight weeks.

Thank you again for your interest in joining us. We’d really like to wish you well in your future career.

Kind regards

FirstGroup Resourcing


So that's me out for the next 6 months, BUT at least I know the interview structure now HOWEVER my next opportunity will be when the new testing standards have come in..................

Oh well, just got to keep at it, I was lucky to get as far as I did...........

 

[SkinnyDave]

Gutted for you mate.

Do you have an idea as to why you never got through this time?

SD

 

[tone]

Its good that they are letting people know. Even though its not the news you want you at least know where you stand and can plan accordingly. This is a welcome departure from First Group's previous stance of endlessly keeping people in limbo. It's not a lot to ask to let people know and it's easy to do...

 

[Mutley]

Gutted for you, not the email anyone wants to receive.

Was this for the Driver manager interview? if so when did you attend it, or was it the Structured part at the assessment day?

 

[tonymundell]

Hi to all

im trying to become a trainee train driver. and up until now have found it hard to find a company who do training. im in horley in surrey, and will travel with in reason..... any advise you can offer