GWR Train Driver talent pool

[Daydr3am3r]

Do you possibly think it depends on what Depot you have chosen and also demand.

Yes, but in my head I was leading with the exceptional standard of the candidate

 

[Stigy]

Yes, but in my head I was leading with the exceptional standard of the candidate

You’ll be doing some *waving* soon

I keep telling myself that’s why I got a date on course though so soon though, too .....that or I was one of the only applicants

...did I mention the limited number of vacancies for my chosen depot?

 

[Scott1991]

You’ll be doing some *waving* soon

I keep telling myself that’s why I got a date on course though so soon though, too .....that or I was one of the only applicants

...did I mention the limited number of vacancies for my chosen depot?

How long did you wait? I'm in the talent pool for HEX and have been for 3 weeks. The wait is killing me ha

 

[Stigy]

How long did you wait? I'm in the talent pool for HEX and have been for 3 weeks. The wait is killing me ha

I didn’t have to take any psychometric assessments as already had current ones;

DMI - 27/01/19
In pool - 28/01/19
Conditional offer - 1/4/19
Medical - 18/4/19

Course starts 1 July.

So not long for me considering at my DMI they said they had one vacancy and another soon to be vacancy (I’ll be honest, after they said that I didn’t think I stood much of a chance this year at least).

 

[Scott1991]

Thanks. I shouldn't get too down about not hearing anything just yet then. Gosh I hope to hear sometime soon though. They said potential for the October course in my interview but having read this forum those spaces seem to have been filled.

 

[Stigy]

Thanks. I shouldn't get too down about not hearing anything just yet then. Gosh I hope to hear sometime soon though. They said potential for the October course in my interview but having read this forum those spaces seem to have been filled.

They mentioned a May (27th I think) course in my interview which would have been lightning quick!

 

[Scott1991]

They mentioned a May (27th I think) course in my interview which would have been lightning quick!

Thanks for the info. In that case I'm hoping for a 3 month wait like you. Fingers crossed

 

[Stigy]

Thanks for the info. In that case I'm hoping for a 3 month wait like you. Fingers crossed

As has been said, it varies so much on a lot of factors, but fingers crossed for you!

 

[Liam00086]

You’ll be doing some *waving* soon

I keep telling myself that’s why I got a date on course though so soon though, too .....that or I was one of the only applicants

...did I mention the limited number of vacancies for my chosen depot?

Let’s hope there is space for me

 

[Stigy]

Let’s hope there is space for me

Since they’re still assessing for Fratton I’d imagine there must be vacancies coming up? It’s just such a small depot for GWR.

They said to me I’d only be offered a job once they’d completed the talent pool, which would indicate that you’re part of a separate recruitment campaign to me (I assume you applied more recently?) so they must have anticipated vacancies coming up?

Of course, I don’t know anything for sure and I could be spouting a load of old codswallop

 

[Liam00086]

Since they’re still assessing for Fratton I’d imagine there must be vacancies coming up? It’s just such a small depot for GWR.

They said to me I’d only be offered a job once they’d completed the talent pool, which would indicate that you’re part of a separate recruitment campaign to me (I assume you applied more recently?) so they must have anticipated vacancies coming up?

Of course, I don’t know anything for sure and I could be spouting a load of old codswallop

I applied on the 2nd of December lol, yeah I got to pass DMI yet anyway, someone did say to me at my MMI they heard that another 2 positions were coming up, so fingers crossed lol

 

[Tommytootoot]

Hi All,

Sorry to jump on the thread, but hoping for a bit of a pointer, if you can help.
I applied for the Exeter Talent pool and seemed to breeze through everything but dipped at the DMI. I know a couple of questions I could have done better on but I thought I did pretty well. Obviously not. I had heard that there'll be another process later this year so I'm hoping on applying gain once my six months are up. Those of you that got through can you help with any pointers? Cheers..

 

[Daydr3am3r]

Hey Tommy

It’s pretty difficult to give solid advice for the DMI, as they are very individual.

You have to make sure you have as many examples for questions in your head for whatever question is asked.

I know it’s not much consolation but you will be able to seek feedback. If you apply this to the fact that you have now been through a DMI I’m sure you would smash it next time.

Where did you hear the possibility of further recruitment later in the year? Not want to put a dampener on it at all but I would be amazed if Exeter was included due to the sheer amount of people in the queue akready.

 

[Top Link]

xxxxxxx

 

[Daydr3am3r]

Wow. This makes me concerned. Passed my DMI last October and was placed into the pool that same month. Still waiting to hear from them with regards a start date. Contacted them once to ask how my application was progressing and was told I'd be informed once positions were available. Well, there clearly were some available but I've been passed over in favour of others. Time to start looking at other TOCs methinks?

What depot have you applied for? It may well be that there has been very little moment at this depot, add this to maybe a couple of higher scoring candidates and that could be the reasons for the wait.

Would be nice if Recruitment were able to share a little more info for you for peace of mind at least.

I would try Recruitment again and politely ask for a manager so you could at least explain your concerns.

 

[Top Link]

xxxxxx

 

[Stigy]

Wow. This makes me concerned. Passed my DMI last October and was placed into the pool that same month. Still waiting to hear from them with regards a start date. Contacted them once to ask how my application was progressing and was told I'd be informed once positions were available. Well, there clearly were some available but I've been passed over in favour of others. Time to start looking at other TOCs methinks?

There are loads of people in the same boat as you I’d imagine. A friend of mine was placed in the pool just before me and he’s not heard a thing either. He was for Reading though. I think they’re not saying much because they genuinely can’t due to the logistics of arranging this sort of thing. There are people who have been in the pool much longer than you, who then suddenly receive a phone call. I’d definitely look at other TOCs if I were you anyway, as it makes sense to keep options open of course.

 

[Tommy222256]

There are loads of people in the same boat as you I’d imagine. A friend of mine was placed in the pool just before me and he’s not heard a thing either. He was for Reading though. I think they’re not saying much because they genuinely can’t due to the logistics of arranging this sort of thing. There are people who have been in the pool much longer than you, who then suddenly receive a phone call. I’d definitely look at other TOCs if I were you anyway, as it makes sense to keep options open of course.

I’m in the same boat waiting for oxford but mines is only a couple of months wait so far. Do TOCs not look kindly at you applying to other TOCs or do they not care?

 

[TheGoldfish]

I guess they'd know about other TOC applications as they all share the psychometric testing results?

 

[tiptoptaff]

I guess they'd know about other TOC applications as they all share the psychometric testing results?

All the database shows is what you passed/failed and when. And that's all they really care about at the testing stage

 

[TheGoldfish]

they knew with which TOC on mine as well? .. but they didn't comment beyond that ?

 

[tiptoptaff]

Because they don't care

 

[Stigy]

they knew with which TOC on mine as well? .. but they didn't comment beyond that ?

They’ll know about the assessments as Tiptoptaff said, but nothing more. The only paper trail are those assessments. If you took them a couple of years ago for example, and applied for several TOCs since, all that would be shown is who it was who assessed you and/or which TOC it was.

 

[Tommytootoot]

Hey Tommy

It’s pretty difficult to give solid advice for the DMI, as they are very individual.

You have to make sure you have as many examples for questions in your head for whatever question is asked.

I know it’s not much consolation but you will be able to seek feedback. If you apply this to the fact that you have now been through a DMI I’m sure you would smash it next time.

Where did you hear the possibility of further recruitment later in the year? Not want to put a dampener on it at all but I would be amazed if Exeter was included due to the sheer amount of people in the queue akready.

Thanks Dreamer!
I've a friend who's in the same position as me and knows a driver in Devon, who been told that recruitment is going to continue for sometime. When I had my interview I was told that they were interviewing 30 people for 20-30 posts this year, with a view to further next...
I asked for some feedback and it took a while to come but finally got it, it was very short and told me to concentrate on and research NTS? I'm still hopeful...

 

[Devon156]

Tommy how long did you have to wait for your DMI feedback?

 

[Tommy222256]

Tommy how long did you have to wait for your DMI feedback?

Me mate?, I passed mine and in the pool!

 

[Stigy]

Me mate?, I passed mine and in the pool!

I think he means @Tommytootoot?

 

[Top Link]

xxxxxxx

 

[Stigy]

With respect, you've only been in the pool since January you told me on a private message. So that friend of yours has been in it since what, December? And as I recall you were concerned that your results expired in a few months; you weren't quite so cool about waiting in the pool then...

I daresay there are people who have been in the pool longer than me, and that isn't right either. How are we supposed to arrange holidays, book things up with our family, plan for our kid's education if one day, out of the blue, we get a call saying 'Oh yeah we're ready for you now, so drop everything.' My current employer is keen to progress me, so do I allow them to waste their time and resources on me knowing that I might be leaving in the next 6 months? The again, it could be 4 years. Or maybe next week. Other TOCs place you in a talent pool and then allocate jobs to people as they entered the pool, whereas GWR are taking the pick each time. Doesn't do much to improve employer/employee relations and a sense of loyalty to the firm.

Not sure quite how to take that post to be honest.

I was of course apprehensive, and the whole process can be frustrating, what with the uncertainty and all that, but I don’t believe I ever apportioned blame to GWR about how it’s panning out or how long I’m likely to be in the pool for? I know from reading posts here how long people can be in pools, as I’m sure do you. What are you looking for when you post exactly? It’s not a new thing that railway recruitment is painfully slow. With respect, they will expect you to drop everything when they phone you and offer you a course, because as with all railway recruitment, it’s a captive audience and they can afford to do so.

I was just trying to be my usual, helpful self.

 

[tiptoptaff]

It's employer/employee loyalty that sees external candidates bumped down the waiting list every so often. It's one of the only TOCs I'm aware of that actively ensure their current staff get job priority.

I personally think they're great to work for in that regard.

The fact they rank the pool is no secret and they never try to hide it from you. And it's done so it's fairer. That someone doesn't get a job before someone else just because they could get a slot at an assessment a few weeks earlier.

Pools are tough but suck it up buttercup. You'll not find a TOC that doesn't use the system these days.

And before you say owt, I'm Internal, and even I was in a pool for a year, when the recruitment drive was internal only.