First Great Western - Trainee Drivers

[carlejo]

It's strange how different TOC's work ?

I sat the tests at beginning of April and was told on the day that I had passed everything........... keep your fingers crossed

 

[charlie873]

First Capital Connect told us on the day in 2010. I've spent in the region of £400 on tickets going for various tests and interviews for first group over the years and they don't have the courtesy to let me know how it went.

 

[Big Dan]

I haven't heard anything from the 3rd June Bristol assessments either.

Not that I'm sat by the phone in front of the computer waiting or anything.........

 

[reapz]

It means you passed but your scores are low so you go to the bottom of the pile as first dont take people with borderline passes for mainline driving but do except them for depot drviers.

About 6 months ago loads of drivers with borderline passes got letters saying to be extra vigilant even though some had 5 years clean record lol ... it went down like a very heavy balloon!.

But this is first hr and how hard they are pushing the no low scores on test atm

 

[Puremetal84]

There was only 6 of us at the 2nd stage in Reading yesterday.

 

[charlie873]

I managed to get through to HR today and got told they're still processing the results...really? Funny how folks who did they're tests after me have already been to 2nd stage testing. I just need to know either way soonest.

 

[fabdasilva]

has any one who attended the 1st stage assessments in ready on the 31st of may had a reply yet?

 

[BromleyBoi]

has any one who attended the 1st stage assessments in ready on the 31st of may had a reply yet?

I was at the morning session in Reading on the 31st for the first stage assessments & not heard anything yet. I'd guess it's down to the volume of people they saw over that week.

 

[KT530]

There was only 6 of us at the 2nd stage in Reading yesterday.

That's surprising considering how many sat Stage 1

 

[Aviator88]

fabdasilva and BromleyBoi,

Same boat here! Attended on the 30th in Reading.

 

[Red18]

I read a report for the RSSB that stated the average number of applicants per vacancy is 317. (this was in 2006)
Of the 317 34% (106) drop out before the sift leaving 211 to go into the sift.
Of the 211 only 31% (65) pass this sift.
Another 34% drop out before the Assessment Centre Leaving 43.
Of those 41% fail the assessment centre leaving 17.
Another 10% drop out before the final selection leaving 10.
In the final selection stage an average of 48% will pass Leaving 4.
2 of these will drop out before the medical leaving only 2 to go for the medical.
Of these 1 - 2 will pass and 1 will be recruited.

So if these figures are still accurate then of all those applying just over 3% will progress to the final stage of the recruitment process.

Obviously these figures are based on the average of 317 applications per position (and it was in 2006) but you can see how the numbers are quickly reduced at each stage.

 

[reapz]

I read a report for the RSSB that stated the average number of applicants per vacancy is 317. (this was in 2006)
Of the 317 34% (106) drop out before the sift leaving 211 to go into the sift.
Of the 211 only 31% (65) pass this sift.
Another 34% drop out before the Assessment Centre Leaving 43.
Of those 41% fail the assessment centre leaving 17.
Another 10% drop out before the final selection leaving 10.
In the final selection stage an average of 48% will pass Leaving 4.
2 of these will drop out before the medical leaving only 2 to go for the medical.
Of these 1 - 2 will pass and 1 will be recruited.

Obviously these figures are based on the average of 317 applications per position (and it was in 2006) but you can see how the numbers are quickly reduced at each stage.

I would double that now as everyone wants to be a train driver

 

[Red18]

I would double that now as everyone wants to be a train driver

The numbers will be higher yes and possibly the number of positions available but you need to ignore that and look at the percentages.
If the percentages are still accurate then only 3% will progress to the final stage.

 

[reapz]

The numbers will be higher yes and possibly the number of positions available but you need to ignore that and look at the percentages.
If the percentages are still accurate then only 3% will progress to the final stage.

% will be lower as lots of tocs do not take boarder line passes now and in 2006 they did

 

[Red18]

% will be lower as lots of tocs do not take boarder line passes now and in 2006 they did

eeeek

If FGW had say 10 positions to fill (I have no idea but let's just assume) then using the figures from this report they would need to attract well over 3000 applicants.
Some posts I've read on here suggest that the recruitment figures over the coming years could be considerably higher so you can only imagine the huge amounts of processing the HR departments could be expected to do.

 

[reapz]

eeeek

If FGW had say 10 positions to fill (I have no idea but let's just assume) then using the figures from this report they would need to attract well over 3000 applicants.
Some posts I've read on here suggest that the recruitment figures over the coming years could be considerably higher so you can only imagine the huge amounts of processing the HR departments could be expected to do.

Tbh a lot of it is luck right time right place

 

[Hughqq]

I too was at the assessment centre on morning of 31st may and have not heard anything. I e mailed FGW and received a reply saying they were waiting to hear from the recruiting manager. Does anyone know if this indicates that I passed the assessment centre and being considered for stage 2?

 

[welshjpc]

I'm in the same boat chaps. Was at Reading on the 30th but have heard nothing back. Would at least like to know if I have not been successful so that I can move on with my life!!

The HR lady said that we should know either way within a fortnight.....

 

[FGW_DID]

Try reading my post #312 on this thread. The FGW assessment 'team' is very very small indeed and as well as all the driver assessments, deal with the assessments for TMs, dispatch etc etc.

The first time I applied for a driving role, from initial app to assessment centre to (unsuccessful) interview was roughly 6 months.

It's a very competitive market and unfortunately the TOCs can be extra choosy, if people have been invited to the next stage and you haven't heard anything yet (been there!) it means they have scored higher then you. When I eventually got my DM's interview it was way after some people had their medicals, some of those even had start dates!

As for the poster who has recently failed the DM's interview, don't be downhearted, the assessments are valid for 2-3 years with FGW. In the two years I've been with the company I've been quite surprised at how many times they have advertised.

Now you have your assessment pass, keep an eye out for Manoeuvre roles, yes it's Depot Driving but it's experience, knowledge that may help in any further app for mainline driver. A few guys from Reading have successfully transferred across recently. The pays not to shabby either

 

[welshjpc]

Thanks for the info FGW_DID, I appreciate the scale of the applicants that the staff have to work through. I'll just bide my time.

Just thinking... If I had failed the assessments would I have heard by now then? I can accept that I may not have had a perfect group bourdon but if failures have had the "thanks but not this time" already then at least there's light at the end of the tunnel (although how bright the light and how long the tunnel is a mystery).

 

[KT530]

This thread has gone quiet!

Anyone heard back from the recent Stage 2 assessments yet?

 

[SkinnyDave]

I'm awaiting date for DM interview

 

[willias3]

This thread has gone quiet!

Anyone heard back from the recent Stage 2 assessments yet?

equally - has anyone had the 'not met the grade' email?

I'm hoping no news is good news (I was 5th June @ Bristol)

 

[KT530]

equally - has anyone had the 'not met the grade' email?

I'm hoping no news is good news (I was 5th June @ Bristol)

Was that after Stage 1 or Stage 2 and CBI?

 

[svrdan]

Im still awaiting for stage 1 results from the 3rd June in Bristol. Im assuming no news is good news at the moment.

 

[willias3]

Was that after Stage 1 or Stage 2 and CBI?

Just the first stage - dot to dot!

 

[TPA]

I'm still awaiting shortlisting...........

 

[carriageline]

Me too, although the email I got the other week was reassuring, just a case of holding tight!

 

[Big Dan]

Im still awaiting for stage 1 results from the 3rd June in Bristol. Im assuming no news is good news at the moment.

Me too, I was on the 11.45 assessment on the 3rd and still waiting to hear back.

The OPC guy running the assessments said it would be a week before we heard but I think that may have been slightly ambitious.

But while I'm waiting they haven't given me a NO yet so there's still hope............

 

[Pilgrim]

Me too, although the email I got the other week was reassuring, just a case of holding tight!

Yeah same. Just keeping the faith