Invitation for an trainee bus drivers assessment!

[GazUk]

Hello all


A few months ago i created a thread in this section (which is now locked) in regards to myself applying for a position as a trainee bus driver for National express Travel west midlands, and after 4 months or so i've been invited for an written assessment for this saturday, i thought they were never going to get back to me!

Now i kind of know there will be a few tests to undertake (Mathematical and highway code/theory questions -i've been brushing up on the theory test and highway code a bit this week!) but i was wondering what else should i expect? And more importantly what should i wear? I was thinking Shirt,trousers and shoes, but is this to OTT or is being dressed smart a good thing to do to make the right impression?

Hope someone can give me a little insight and maybe heads up on what to expect.

 

[34D]

Agree with your clothing. I would personally include a suit jacket and a tie.

Good luck

 

[Titfield]

You can never be sure who is watching you from the moment you step foot in the depot gates to the moment you leave.

At one NExp depot I know of there is a defined (yellow hatched) walkway from the gates to the depot office door. The route the path takes is not the shortest, some visitors cut across the yard walking across the vehicle manoeuvring area! That's a fail!!

In general if there are a lot of applicants and few posts it can be difficult for the decision maker to take a decision. You can get many applicants with very similar skills and backgrounds. You then tend to judge on attitude and behaviour. Then even the smallest foible can be the difference between being chosen or rejected.

Another tip watch what you do in any waiting area. Applicants who pace up and down or look at their watch can be though of as being impatient. Not a good sign!!

Likewise if you have a smart phone or other device do not use it or play with it whilst waiting. Make sure it is switched off before you set foot on the property and do not switch on until after you have left.

Good luck.

 

[GazUk]

Thanks for the responses gents, i think attire wise the choice shall be, shoes, trousers,shirt,tie and Jumper and i am kind of aware that 1st impressions can be taken into consideration, so no playing on smart phones and just be calm and collective.

Although atm i feel far from it, and i've got to leave my house by 7.30 at the very latest to get to Birmingham for 8.45am, so early to bed (if i can sleep) and plenty of caffeine and nicotine first thing in the morning, and make sure i am dressed and have the paperwork that i need too!
I shall post tomorrow on how i think i got on!

 

[anthony263]

If it is the same to when I did my bus driving asessment a few years ago the asessments are basically a couple of maths questions involving you giving a fare and change to a passenger as well as some questions based on different scenarios.

If you have one take a high vis jacket with you especially when you are walking on site and if there are any green paths follow them where possible to where you need to go. I say take your drivers licence with you as they took us out for a driver asessment in a car on the same day when I did my written asessment.

Feel free to ask me if you have any questions if/when you are doing your driver training

 

[notadriver]

Maybe you could find out a bit about the company - how many routes the depot has, how many vehicles and perhaps the core values of the company. Perhaps you could demonstrate some customer service skills. Also maybe find out about promotion opportunities.

I would like to find out more about rates of pay and terms and conditions but perhaps these are inappropriate questions to ask so early in the process?

 

[anthony263]

First and Stagecoach pay their trainie's £6.50 per hour for a 35 hour week when training. I will take a guess and say National Express do the same.

 

[GazUk]

Hi guys

Thanks for the input, i didn't do too badly on the written assessment/exam type thing, there was a few math based questions about fares,and about people boarding and alighting from a start to terminus and also a few time questions along with a few theory test questions and what not.

And i've got to say i know i've got a few road sign questions wrong, by all accounts i can't tell the difference between a staggered junction and t-junction! But as a rule it went ok, to answer the questions about pay, NXbus pay £46 a day when you go to their main driving depot (at walsall) thats if you pass the driving assessment 1st(thats the next stage..) and if you do get to the 3rd stage they pay £46 a da and in those 16 days you go under loads of heavy training,exams and ofcourse the final bit passing the pcv and cpc.

If people are successful at getting to that stage, and get past it they are then assigned to a garage, start up trainee rate is £8.96 an hour and after 5 years it rises up to Over £11.

 

[anthony263]

Good to hear that everyhting went ok for you. Normally bus operators tend to let you know whether you have been sucessful within a couple of days and give you a week or two's notice of a start date.

After you have done your theory and hazardous perception test you then do a case studies exam where you will have to answer questions on different scenarious. A lot of the questions dont realy relate to the scenarios so make sure you read the theory test handbook as that knowledge will come in handy.

The cpc practical is basically you going out with the instructer 1 at a time and do a basic walk round check effectively show me and tell me. You will also have to explain to the how you would check for hidden packages and illegal imegrants.
.
Not sure how that applies if you are driving a service bus around town but you never know these days