Is it normal to have extremely long wait between Assessment and Depot Interview? (SWT

[Firey868]

Just wondering if it's normal to have a 3months (or longer) wait between successfully passing your assessment day until actually being given an interview at depot for job as a guard with SWT??

Unsure if this is just standard and normal for the rail industry.


Thanks

 

[tracerboy]

That does seem quite a long time to me, my wait was roughly 2 weeks between each stage but I may have been very lucky

 

[nuts & bolts]

Just wondering if it's normal to have a 3months (or longer) wait between successfully passing your assessment day until actually being given an interview at depot for job as a guard with SWT??

Unsure if this is just standard and normal for the rail industry.


Thanks

With the onset of the new franchise taking over during September, they may have a different training regime!

 

[superhands]

I had two years before,
it's all about business requirerments.
Some HR departments can be petty
(like throwing away your applicatication if you phone up)
and some really helpful.

 

[Bourlea]

I agree, it could be just down to the franchise change and how First / MTR decide to do their training courses.
I'm surprised that you say that you were having your interview at depot as my guards interview was at Southampton (with two guards managers) and I was being offered Waterloo.

 

[Firey868]

Well they call it a depot interview, however it may being held at Southampton like the assessment centre day was.


I have tried to phone them up 2x, but just got told that i will be contacted when an interview date becomes available.

And so i don't know if i should chaseup again if not heard within 2-3more weeks though, as i don't really want HR to just bin my application for hassling them too much. :/


Thanks for the replies though guys

 

[12guard4]

3 months is quick ??????

 

[wils180]

Hi, i am also waiting for an interview date and have had an email from them saying the next lot of interview dates won't be until september, where they will then be progressing candidates to interview in order of oldest application first. i do think it has something to do with the changeover, as i had previously been told end of july would be most likely

 

[Lasbrisas]

Hi, i am also waiting for an interview date and have had an email from them saying the next lot of interview dates won't be until september, where they will then be progressing candidates to interview in order of oldest application first. i do think it has something to do with the changeover, as i had previously been told end of july would be most likely

Yes I think your right, my application and tests (passed) date back to December so go figure, I am so fed up with waiting that I am now pursuing a signalling career.

 

[wils180]

really? that's exciting, do you think you'd fancy that a bit more?

 

[Val3ntine]

Wils180 and Lasbrisas, are both your applications for Driver or Guard may I ask?

 

[Lasbrisas]

Wils180 and Lasbrisas, are both your applications for Driver or Guard may I ask?

Mine is for both, I wish I knew what is going on as I have seen on this forum that some people have been offered jobs recently so it's not like they have stopped the process, they don't answer my emails, maybe they don't have an answer. I don't want to annoy them further by keep ringing them as I guess they could just close my applications. I'm getting further with signalling jobs, I have an interview next week.

 

[wils180]

mine is for guard

 

[Bourlea]

Just hang on in there guys (and any girls).
The franchise owner is about to change and SWT have the slight complication of a small blockade at Waterloo to deal with in a few weeks!
It could be that the guard managers / driver managers aren't being released to do interviews due to this.
Believe me, the wait is worth it

 

[jballz72]

I to am awaiting an interview date, spoke to a lady in HR and she advised that the interview stage will not start until mid to late September at earliest due to the franchise change over.
Think we'll have to hang in there for a while longer, I know it's frustrating but all good things come to those that wait, apparently.

 

[pompeyfan]

Just hang on in there guys (and any girls).
The franchise owner is about to change and SWT have the slight complication of a small blockade at Waterloo to deal with in a few weeks!
It could be that the guard managers / driver managers aren't being released to do interviews due to this.
Believe me, the wait is worth it

To add to this driver and guard managers are piloting trains to Reading, plus any other unfamiliar track. It's literally all hands to the pumps.

 

[Al8oy]

I did the assessments and DMI in Jan & March respectively. I've been waiting for MMI ever since. I spoke to recruitment and they said I will be notified when a position becomes available. It's frustrating as I've seen others offered jobs but hopefully things will pick up once the new franchise starts. Anybody else waiting on the MMI?

 

[Treadstone]

I did the assessments and DMI in Jan & March respectively. I've been waiting for MMI ever since. I spoke to recruitment and they said I will be notified when a position becomes available. It's frustrating as I've seen others offered jobs but hopefully things will pick up once the new franchise starts. Anybody else waiting on the MMI?

When did you first apply?

 

[Bigfoot]

It's also down to where you applied for too...

 

[Al8oy]

When did you first apply?

I applied in Dec 16 for Waterloo. At DMI they had me down for Staines.

 

[Firey868]

Wow surprised to see all the replied and responses of other people in the same boat as me!

Guess it's nice to see that im not the only one.

However it does add a horrible feeling that they gna be massively over-supplied by the time they do start doing interviews again though,
and so the number of job vacancies actually availble vs the number of candidates who are on the waiting list will be very very bad for for the candidates.

 

[Roblovesrock]

If you look into the new franchise they are offering a lot more services than swt and a Sunday service the same as Saturday. Meaning a huge increase in drivers. They run the classroom courses every 5 weeks so it's a matter of waiting patiently. Applied over a year ago April 2016 to Woking and will not begin till November at another depot. Currently work for nwr in the alliance and can tell you this is the most exciting time for all involved especially trainee train driver roles on this route. Hold tight as the demand is there to deliver what they set out. The most profitable franchise route in the network so they will meet the needs to win it again

 

[Pineapple]

Hello all,

I've successfully passed the recruitment process for the trainee driver position at Waterloo and am awaiting a medical and start date.

I've been reading into the new franchise and wanted to know if anybody could clarify what travel concessions employees of the new franchise would recieve?

I have read on the FAQ's that employees of the new franchise will enjoy the benefits offered to both First and MTR employees.. Does anybody know if that means I will be offered the oyster travel card and spouse pass as MTR offer this to their employees also?

Any advice/discussion is much appreciated

 

[pompeyfan]

Hello all,

I've successfully passed the recruitment process for the trainee driver position at Waterloo and am awaiting a medical and start date.

I've been reading into the new franchise and wanted to know if anybody could clarify what travel concessions employees of the new franchise would recieve?

I have read on the FAQ's that employees of the new franchise will enjoy the benefits offered to both First and MTR employees.. Does anybody know if that means I will be offered the oyster travel card and spouse pass as MTR offer this to their employees also?

Any advice/discussion is much appreciated

I'm not sure on what perks you'll get from MTR, but first are offering you and your spouse;
Unlimited lesiure travel for you and your spouse (no spouse commuting though!)
5 self dated boxes on GWR
5 self dated boxes on TPE
10 self dated boxes on Hull Trains
75% off walk up fares on all other TOCs
75% off walk up foot passengers rates for Wightlink/Red Funnel/Hovertravel
The opertunity to buy 20 x £6 FirstBus week ticket (not valid in London)
Plus the usual share/Healthcare/days out packages.
I very much doubt you'll get an Oyster card, but you might get priv discount loaded onto one?

 

[Firey868]

Just wondering if anyone has had any updates regarding their depot interviews??


I had my assessment in early May, was told interview would likely be in June or July,
its now end of July though and not even been given a date in August for when it will be....


Wondered if anyone else whos in the process has received any news or updates though??

 

[jballz72]

Franchise changeover in less than a months time, think we'll find out more once that has been completed, as for your question, I to have heard nothing, patience is the key me thinks.

 

[PCOEvs]

Do they have an issues between offering you a job and the start date. My current work would try and get me to work 2 to 3 months to hand work over to another employee.

Could this potentially be a problem?

 

[WishfulThinker]

I applied for this role but the application is still marked as 'new'. Guessing the Plymouth postcode was a bit off putting!

 

[PCOEvs]

However it does add a horrible feeling that they gna be massively over-supplied by the time they do start doing interviews again though, and so the number of job vacancies actually availble vs the number of candidates who are on the waiting list will be very very bad for for the candidates.

This sounds exactly like my present employee, they try to get as many people as possible to attend their assessment days. So they have a bank of people available when positions become available.

Tells you something about the company and their regards to people and potentially how they treat their staff. Try and keep your options open elsewhere.

 

[Lasbrisas]

Things could start moving again soon, I had a call from SWT today offering me an interview for the Guard position I applied for back in October. I also have a driver application in, when I asked about it I was told that they may startup the process after the Waterloo works have finished, also that some 600 people applied and they only have one person sifting them which seems crazy !