First Great Western - Trainee Drivers

[SkinnyDave]

so you changed your depot choice after applying and your DM interview? How did you manage that?

Before DM interview it was

I kept on at the guy who was looking after my application who is subsequently not there anymore

 

[Rocombe11]

I kept on at the guy who was looking after my application who is subsequently not there anymore

I hope you didn't cause him to leave

Exactly what I'm thinking. If they need loads more drivers in the next 3 years or so then I think they'd better make it more appealing for current drivers to become DIs or there's no hope.

It is strange though, you have people waiting, but put more candidates through the assessment process. I thought maybe they want a big pool to choose the "best" candidates but that would be easily achieved by only taking enhanced opc passes, or perhaps maybe FGW only want to take on the ones who interviewed the best, or maybe they are going to take on 50 in one go!! (I am seeing flying pigs now). Whatever reason we can only wait and see what happens in the coming months. I have 18 months left on my assessments before FGW would require a retake, I sat stage 1 in June 2013. Managers interview June 2014. Hopefully, job offer +++ 2015!! What I wouldn't give to have a mooch in the FGW HR offices for 5 minutes.

 

[watts14]

i work for fgw dispatching and i got talking to a driver on friday and he said that there is soon to be 150 trainee jobs and they will be starting fresh. so people held waiting for answers or the part will have to start again. im not sure how much he knows but thats what i was told. im like most an wanting to progress to driver.

 

[oxoneil]

i work for fgw dispatching and i got talking to a driver on friday and he said that there is soon to be 150 trainee jobs and they will be starting fresh. so people held waiting for answers or the part will have to start again. im not sure how much he knows but thats what i was told. im like most an wanting to progress to driver.

Soon, soon, soon, always that word

There is no way they are going to start the testing/interview process all over again. That opinion is based purely on what others "on the inside" have previously said about being "on hold"...it just wouldn't make financial sense to make everyone start again.....would it???

 

[tlionhart]

As OXONEIL says, I would doubt everyone would have to start from fresh. Also this would contradict an email sent last Aug from FGW advising they intend to have positions available early 2015. (Anytime between now and June)
I was told in my DM that they were looking for 300 drivers across the network. Especially at depots like Reading that were expanded. In addition to this my understanding and was told, is the new contracts are TUPED to Crossrail When it opens. Makes sense. Due to open soon, gives time for drivers to train up, qualify and gain experience. Therefore come open day, there isn't a let down due to shortage of drivers.
My mate was lucky to get on the course that I just missed out. They said they have still not met the required amount of drivers in their recruitment drive and are half way. I think most of what you've said is probably right but starting from scratch is over the top. If they did start from scratch it would be a bit pointless given half of us in the holding bucket would re-apply again with our passes...

Also since my mate started one thing I've learnt...even though candidates get onto training courses, not everyone makes it. Members on here like TDK, Driver455, etc make good remarks about those trying to 'score points' in the assesment stages. Believe it or not, the training isn't what a lot of people think it is...from my mates course and courses before them, lots of failed ( severely ) or dropped out as they are struggling with both home life and the training. In addition to those in the hold pool. Some drop out. Offered elsewhere, different job, circumstances, etc
I wouldn't be surprised if they actually start a new trainee driver advert in addition.

 

[387star]

Is that guy a troll what utter nonsense

 

[tlionhart]

Is that guy a troll what utter nonsense

Well those going through the assessments now, would have to start again. If this poster is right...so highly doubt it.

 

[Rocombe11]

i work for fgw dispatching and i got talking to a driver on friday and he said that there is soon to be 150 trainee jobs and they will be starting fresh. so people held waiting for answers or the part will have to start again. im not sure how much he knows but thats what i was told. im like most an wanting to progress to driver.

I think the driver was on a wind up, he knew you wanted to be a driver (Paddington?), had taken some of the tests, and were waiting on FGW. You took the bait; hook, line and sinker!! I do believe the 150 drivers wanted this year though, and good luck in your application.

 

[oxoneil]

Has anyone else noticed how much higher the post count is in this thread compared to any other? Says a lot about the way things have gone over the last 18 months or so.

 

[Rocombe11]

But it is also a massive recruitment!

 

[Driverb]

Has anyone contacted hr recently to see when things might start moving?

 

[oxoneil]

Has anyone contacted hr recently to see when things might start moving?

Not me, I'm just following the message from my last email which was if we want you and there's a vacancy we'll be in touch. I'm not going to get in touch again as I think it just annoys them.

I don't subscribe to the "keep pestering to show them how keen you are" theory, trust me, I'm as keen as anyone to get this.

 

[Driverb]

Yeah I get what you mean. Just wondering if there was any indication out there from hr... Instead of all this hearsay.

 

[Johncleesefan]

I did contact the driver manager who interview ed me 2 weeks ago who told me they are looking to start courses April/May.

Hypothetically if we are to start then we need to give notice at current job, say one month in advance would be march and need to arrange medical before that in Feb? So sometime soon we should be contacted for that I would hope.

Here's for some wishful thinking.

I do like to contact them every do often and will continue to as I try to be as up ru date as poss. ??????

 

[Nuttytoffee]

I am a driver at Oxford. We too have heard the need for 150 additional drivers but wouldn't be sure it would be from a new recruitment drive. My guess is they will firstly pick those waiting who have the best overall assessment scores and work through the list that way. As for giving notice, when I went through the recruitment stage, I initially applied in July'13. Never heard a word until 5 days before my first assessment in Dec'13. Then nothing until 3 days before my 2nd lot of tests in Feb 14. Had my DM interview a week later and my medical around 12 days before the course started (April 14), so wasn't able to give the full 4 weeks notice at work.......but who cares when a job like this is on offer!

 

[Greg1205]

That is a little notice. So how long did your course last if you are a driver already. Everyone seems to be processed a different way. Some have been waiting months for results, others have been waiting for an invitation for an assessment... It must be obvious that they pick candidates with best scores first.

 

[Rocombe11]

There may be something happening, just had an email from HR asking me to confirm my date of birth so that they can check assessment scores. Might be nothing but housekeeping but......

 

[387star]

------------

 

[Rocombe11]

I am hoping that it is a final dot your i's and cross your t's check to ensure that you are eligible prior to offering medicals!!!

 

[Driverb]

Ooooooooh it may well be soon

 

[tlionhart]

I am hoping that it is a final dot your i's and cross your t's check to ensure that you are eligible prior to offering medicals!!!

This is most likely, especially if you have sat the tests elsewhere. Perhaps they are making sure you've sat all the required tests they require? In a best case scenario we will hear from them in the next few weeks...

 

[Rocombe11]

This is most likely, especially if you have sat the tests elsewhere. Perhaps they are making sure you've sat all the required tests they require? In a best case scenario we will hear from them in the next few weeks...

That is what I am thinking, I began the process with FGW in sitting Stage 1 in June 2013, but then FGW suspended the recruitment for external candidates three weeks later. I finished the assessment process with Freightliner, had the Mechanical Test thrown in for good measure. I actually completed the Glop test, all questions, all the Mech Test questions, 36 out of 40 of the dials, only had one stutter on the coordination test, and the interviewer on the SI (MMI) actually told me I had passed at the end of the SI. On the basis that TOCs interview you in order of test scores I was on the second day of interviews for Freightliner. So all in all, I think my test scores should be ok. The only one I was worried about was the Group Bourdon, I hadn't slept for two days when I sat Stage 1, and the light in the room was terrible, trouble is you don't know when you will be offered the tests again if you cry off.

I had actually written off the First application when I had an email inviting me to interview a week later, that was a year after I had sat Stage 1 for them.

The worry for me is why are they asking for my date of birth, when they have copies of passport, driving license and application form filled twice because the original First Recruitment site was changed last year and I had to create a new profile on the new site and receiving an email asking me to complete a handwritten application and send it back the day before my DM interview. Not the most straightforward of applications I guess.

Anyway, hopefully all is ok, either way I think I will find out in the near future. If posts are handed out and I am not among them I guess I can say game over-got there but not quite good enough.

 

[tlionhart]

That is a bit strange...
More than likely there is a tad of confusion their end and they just needed your DOB to check the tests. (Given you sat the first stage with them in 2013 it was prob unclear to them what tests you sat at Frieghtliner) if you got through to the DM interview I would say your fine. Could also be your application form got misplaced? As for the proof of ID at the assesment centres, I think the ID is more of a proof that the person sitting them, is who they are? After all they are official exams, like taking a driving tests, college/university exam...
Goes to show something is happening. They also prob checked you have sat all the tests before they draw the process to an end. (The drive was for 18months, however suspended last April)
I think people will hear shortly, courses might be arranged as; April, May June, July..? Well that's me being hopeful.
I would keep your chin up, if any test was outstanding you would be invited to do it

(This forum is superb at creating fear or anxiety. See my thread about not being able to attend stage 2. Members made doom-and-gloom remarks and told me I blew my chance and I was stupid. Well very much to their surprise I was contacted a month later to do it. I kinda regret delaying the process as I would mostly likely be in training by now...)

 

[387star]

[deleted

 

[Rocombe11]

I dont think it is about missing any part of the tests, or having to retake them, they are what they are. I am more worried about a snafu on OPC's behalf. Anyway going to drop FGW a email to confirm all is ok.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Had a reply back, everything is OK-they are in the process of finalising plans for this year and hope to be in contact again soon.

 

[Johncleesefan]

Oh yes ?????? that is some good news. No indication as to when? Is that being greedy.

 

[Rocombe11]

Oh yes �� that is some good news. No indication as to when? Is that being greedy.

That is being very greedy!!!

 

[DaveCheeseman]

Yes I have rang them, and have been told that there are no more positions for Bristol, and as I have said there have been two training courses since my DM interview of which neither I had been invited too, even though when I received a call informing me I had been succesful at DM interview that I would be on the next scheduled training course early in the new year.

So I do think that I have a right to be slightly aggrieved considering they will not give me a reason as to why I was not put on either of those courses nor what is actually happening with my application.

You have every right to be aggrieved. This is a disgusting way to treat potential future employees. Either they have courses and want you or they don't. Nearly a year down the line is just unacceptable.

Just because the job they are offering is highly desirable that is no excuse to treat people this way. Sadly however it does seem to be the case, unfortunately you are dispensable, for every person currently 'on hold' there will be a hundred more banging on the door desperate to apply. FGW and probably every other TOC out there know it and quite frankly they don't care.

The irony of it all is, if you're ever lucky enough to get a drivers job, management will be constantly banging on at you about giving customers information, particularly during disruption and quite rightly so. Nobody likes being kept in the dark.... Perhaps that philosophy should be passed onto the HR department departments.

 

[Nuttytoffee]

My course lasted around 4 months in the classroom and 10 months with my instructor.

 

[455driver]

You have every right to be aggrieved. This is a disgusting way to treat potential future employees.

If you dont like it remove yourself from consideration!

If you think this is bad wait until you work for them and you see how they treat their employees!