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Gutted
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R
RailUK Forums
I'm afraid you might not get a sympathetic response on here if thats your attitude towards it.
They're not going to change their assessment dates just because its the school holidays!
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telstarbox
Established Member
If you want the job that badly, cancel the holiday!
My point exactly. I would.
Beveridges
Established Member
Is this for a trainee Drivers position?
If so why are they taking on trainees when theres countless Qualified Northern Drivers who would move to VT any day ?
If so why are they taking on trainees when theres countless Qualified Northern Drivers who would move to VT any day ?
Sammy h
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It wont be a trainee driver position unless the OP is already an employee of Virgin, which it sounds like they are not.
185
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There's station CSA assessment days next week at Tatton House.
RJ
Established Member
Ring recruitment and tell them, they may be able to fit you in another time.
Do you know anyone on the inside? You Could have a word with them if you know what i mean! I was in the same boat a few years ago, got 2 weeks notice to attend an interview for a top TOC,when I would have been half way round the world on holiday,it was too late to cancel, my mrs would have strung me up! I asked for a another date,so HR bent over backwards trying but the DTM's had a full schedule so unfortunately I missed out. They liked your application mate so I'm sure you will get the chance again.
Did you not put in your application that you couldn't make specific dates for a potential assessment day if so they should honour it. Personally I would go on holiday as like yourself my misses would go crazy considering I'm already in the grade.
RJ
Established Member
You might as well give up! Personally I'd prioritise the opportunity for career progression over a holiday, but then it depends on how keen you are to get the job.
:cry:
So what you are saying RJ, is life has to be put on hold to get a job? Come on, as the old saying goes, Graveyards are full of indispensable people!
My old team leader at Network Rail died 2 years before he was due to retire with a full BR pension. What's for you, will not go by you.
So what you are saying RJ, is life has to be put on hold to get a job? Come on, as the old saying goes, Graveyards are full of indispensable people!
My old team leader at Network Rail died 2 years before he was due to retire with a full BR pension. What's for you, will not go by you.
Beveridges
Established Member
I would never (at any stage of my life) cancel a holiday to attend an Interview or Assessment. You don't know how low your chances may be at getting the job. Sometimes zero, especially if management *want* someone who they know to get it.
You would have then cancelled the holiday all for nothing!
Jobs come up all the time, what are you going to do, keep cancelling holidays until you get through?
You would have then cancelled the holiday all for nothing!
Jobs come up all the time, what are you going to do, keep cancelling holidays until you get through?
RJ
Established Member
I personally only go for jobs which cause me a minimum of stress because I love doing them. Bus driving, selling tickets and I'm soon to be starting the job of my dreams. I felt the assessment for that last one was one of the most important days of my life as I've been working and studying hard contemporaneously for years just for that opportunity to come.
Yes I make compromises and consider my long term priorities when assessment openings come up. I don't live to work - far from it. Whilst there is truth in what you say, there's nothing quite like regret to give you that sinking feeling. I'm an opportunist and don't tend to let much stop me achieving what I want to do. I suppose a lot of people apply for train driver roles when their heart isn't really in it so it's not surprising that an opportunity, even for Virgin, comes low down in the list of priorities for some! I have no interest whatsoever in driving a train, but in any field I'd want to strive for whoever offers the best T&C/salary deal. Judging by the paucity of openings, turnover appears to be very low for drivers at Virgin compared to several other operators and I suspect there are reasons for that. Conversely, I don't think VT will have any problems finding someone else to fill that space.
As for failing assessments, I don't go around thinking like that. You have to be positive to get ahead.
If the job is a mere means to an end then certainly go for the family holiday!
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Fair enough, but it wouldn't be me. Companies like VT have a huge number of candidates to choose from for these posts, so the chance of actually making it through to the employment stage is very slim. So in this scenario, I've got to go home and tell my wife and kids that the family holiday is being cancelled because I might get through to the selection stage for a job. I would rather not have the job than not have a wife and kids!
I do see you point but everyone who has applied for this role is already a train driver so it's not the end of the world for most.
Personally I applied but I can still earn what VT offer plus more but my reasons for applying was I didn't want to work all the hours I do but if I have too I will continue to do so.
Life's choices I suppose but I would never cancel a holiday for a job that I'm already doing.
Many thanks for all your opinions and views. My application to Virgin is not monetary based but work/route content. Where I am based the routes signed have dwindled, becoming more and more metro. Lorol for less money!
I have options,
Put up and shut up.
Move depot.
Move companies.
I have applied for a depot move which will ticks all boxes.
Virgin was a speculative punt " grass greener etc" which took me aback when I was accepted. If there is any Virgin drivers based at Euston reading this,can you give me some details what you T&Cs, traction.route learning,routes signed, rest days, o/t,privileges and anything else I may have missed.
Once again thanks for all contributions.
I have options,
Put up and shut up.
Move depot.
Move companies.
I have applied for a depot move which will ticks all boxes.
Virgin was a speculative punt " grass greener etc" which took me aback when I was accepted. If there is any Virgin drivers based at Euston reading this,can you give me some details what you T&Cs, traction.route learning,routes signed, rest days, o/t,privileges and anything else I may have missed.
Once again thanks for all contributions.
Your not a GA driver based at Chingford by any chance ?
Beveridges
Established Member
As far as I'm concerned, put up and shut up is never an option
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