Internal v External applicants: more chance as internal?

[Buel]

Hi all,
Are the chances of success for a train driver role greater if you already work for that particular rail company, or does it differ from company to company?

 

[221129]

Some jobs are only advertised internally so from that respect it definitely helps.

 

[pdeaves]

Sometimes if a job's advertised externally it's because there is no suitable internal applicant. Other times, if it's advertised externally it's because policy says that has to happen and an internal candidate is already favoured.

 

[Scouse_scott]

Once your application has been accepted and your invited to start the recruitment process there is zero benefit to being internal over external. You will have to sit the OPC tests which are independent. If you are successful at all those the TOC will pick the best candidate regardless of the candidate being internal or not.

 

[Driver2B]

As some people said, some roles are advertised internally only. All roles must be advertised internally.
Being an internal candidate will almost certainly assist you getting through the sift, and that can be half the battle!
Being an internal candidate won't directly help you with assessments, although you might know more people who can help you prepare for these - but you've got us for that anyway!
It's debatable whether it would help you in a DMI, but I would say that experience of the railways and the railway way of doing things, policies, routes, etc. would give you another advantage here.

In summary, I'd say that internals probably have a huge advantage!