London Midland Trainee Driver Worcester

[DRFT101]

I see London Midland are looking for trainee drivers at Worcester. The assessment/interview etc dates are very rigid; makes you wonder, if they want the 'best' candidate surely that person may be in a responsible role and can't make such short timescales, and so many days?

 

[ultra4]

I see London Midland are looking for trainee drivers at Worcester. The assessment/interview etc dates are very rigid; makes you wonder, if they want the 'best' candidate surely that person may be in a responsible role and can't make such short timescales, and so many days?

Also must be living withing 30min. from Worcester town centre... when applying.
That is the biggest issue I guess.

 

[Kukua]

Also must be living withing 30min. from Worcester town centre... when applying.
That is the biggest issue I guess.

That's the most annoying part of the job :cry: i wonder if i should apply anyway lool and for once the dates are printed makes it more tempting...

 

[westbrom]

Already have a application in for birmingham and passed stage one,its the 30min rule that isn't very clear,i work in Worcester at the moment,somedays can easily get there in 30 mins,other days can take an hour depending on traffic.
Where as new street is just a 10 min train journey away

 

[Casey Jones125]

Applied for this post yesterday, got an email this morning saying that i was not being considered. I live more than 30 mins from Worcester, but i am in the Armed Forces and when i get out will relocate where the work is. Why is this a problem for crying out loud?

 

[SPADTrap]

Because you live more than 30 minutes away and it says you need to live inside 30 minutes. That's why it's a problem. This isn't anything new.

 

[Casey Jones125]

Yes i know it is part of the sift criteria, but there are people who will relocate at the drop of a hat. I just find it annoying when i am actively looking for a second career.

 

[SPADTrap]

There are also many who don't need to relocate! Not sure what else to say. Look for a more local TOC? Relocate to an area where there are many? I've had the location problem many times, frustrating as hell! All the best with the hunt!

 

[ultra4]

Yes i know it is part of the sift criteria, but there are people who will relocate at the drop of a hat. I just find it annoying when i am actively looking for a second career.

It's a shame you missed on FGW massive recruitment. They also don't mind where you live, anyone can apply as long as they are willing to relocate.

 

[Casey Jones125]

There are also many who don't need to relocate! Not sure what else to say. Look for a more local TOC? Relocate to an area where there are many? I've had the location problem many times, frustrating as hell! All the best with the hunt!

Thanks Spad.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It's a shame you missed on FGW massive recruitment. They also don't mind where you live, anyone can apply as long as they are willing to relocate.

I have an application in with FGW, but have not got further than stage 1, i really wish they would bin me or say your going to do stage 2.

 

[Cow6490]

Having looked at applying, there is a question relating to height in the application form. It asks if you are between 5'2" and 6'4". I am 6'6", does anyone know if this would automatically preclude me from selection?
Also do other TOC's have similar height restrictions?
Thanks in advance.

 

[SPADTrap]

Having looked at applying, there is a question relating to height in the application form. It asks if you are between 5'2" and 6'4". I am 6'6", does anyone know if this would automatically preclude me from selection?
Also do other TOC's have similar height restrictions?
Thanks in advance.

I don't know about other TOCs, but if you're taller than what they ask for how can you still be unsure? That said, I've never actually heard of anyone being told they're "too tall!" I can only guess that by applying knowing you're too tall would leave them asking questions of your ability to follow 'rules' like "So if that speed restriction is 30, does that mean that 50 is speeding if I do it?" might be extreme but if they say it on their application I guess it's the same.

 

[1sammaskell]

Hi all I have applied for this position too, have passed all the assessments (twice now!) have an interview for the trainee driver position at new street at the end of the month scheduled. I have applied for the worcester position, I live in Kidderminster which is 32 minutes away when I google mapped it, hope i will be ok.

 

[Cow6490]

I don't know about other TOCs, but if you're taller than what they ask for how can you still be unsure? That said, I've never actually heard of anyone being told they're "too tall!" I can only guess that by applying knowing you're too tall would leave them asking questions of your ability to follow 'rules' like "So if that speed restriction is 30, does that mean that 50 is speeding if I do it?" might be extreme but if they say it on their application I guess it's the same.

Thanks for your reply. I think you are right. I will wait and apply for a different company.

 

[Sammy h]

Vacancy now closed. Anyone heard anything? Probably far too early, but assessments are only two weeks away.

 

[ultra4]

Vacancy now closed. Anyone heard anything? Probably far too early, but assessments are only two weeks away.

Still no response.
There will be not much time for prep. should we be successful.

 

[plastictaffy]

To the person that posted about the height question - there are already some very tall (and very short) Guards and Drivers on with LM. I don't see them asking about your size, and we have some BIG drivers!!!!! As long as you pass the tests, jump through the hoops, and pass the medical, I don't see how they could prejudice about someone's height.......... I know of a guy (I'll not embarrass him by naming him) on my intake who had to have uniform specially made for him as LM couldn't get his size. He had to wait 6 weeks for uniform to fit. He's not safety critical, but even so....... Then he went and lost a shedload of weight. I hadn't seen him for months until I went up his end of the line a few weeks ago to quite literally, find him half the man he once was!!!!

 

[Cow6490]

To the person that posted about the height question - there are already some very tall (and very short) Guards and Drivers on with LM. I don't see them asking about your size, and we have some BIG drivers!!!!! As long as you pass the tests, jump through the hoops, and pass the medical, I don't see how they could prejudice about someone's height.......... I know of a guy (I'll not embarrass him by naming him) on my intake who had to have uniform specially made for him as LM couldn't get his size. He had to wait 6 weeks for uniform to fit. He's not safety critical, but even so....... Then he went and lost a shedload of weight. I hadn't seen him for months until I went up his end of the line a few weeks ago to quite literally, find him half the man he once was!!!!

Thanks very much for taking the time to reply. It was a yes / no question on the application along with others regarding where you lived. I looked at other application forms from LM for comparison and none of the others including the one for qualified train drivers asked the same question. I will see if they advertise again whether or not the question is included.

 

[Sammy h]

Still no response.
There will be not much time for prep. should we be successful.

They have to give you at least one week so I would say we will be told by at least Thursday whether successful or not. Even that is cutting it fine....
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Received an e-mail today and saw 'unfortunately' and I nearly stopped reading, but it was an unfortunately due to the fact that the dates etc that were announced for the tests/interview have been delayed due to the vast interest in the job. So my fingers continue to be crossed Phew.

 

[ultra4]

They have to give you at least one week so I would say we will be told by at least Thursday whether successful or not. Even that is cutting it fine....
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Received an e-mail today and saw 'unfortunately' and I nearly stopped reading, but it was an unfortunately due to the fact that the dates etc that were announced for the tests/interview have been delayed due to the vast interest in the job. So my fingers continue to be crossed Phew.

Got exactly same message
Strange that, especially all dates were preciselly set.
Makes me wonder:
a) How many people applied? It is not particulary populated area.
B) How many vacancies are there?

 

[plastictaffy]

Makes me wonder:
a) How many people applied? It is not particulary populated area.
B) How many vacancies are there?

Let's put this into perspective. For the job I got with LM, there were over 2000 applicants. On my intake, there were 12 people. Another 24 have started since I did, with another 12 still to start, all from the same lot of initial enquiries, well over a year ago. So basically, that's 48 people from 2000 that applied have got through. Believe me, they will have had a LOT of applications.
Let's look at the facts.
Good Union(s).
Subsidised travel on most services in the UK.
36 hour working week.
The same 36 hour week is usually spread over 4 days - although it's a different set-up to the Guard's roster.
A long weekend every three or four weeks.
A final salary pension scheme.
And the pay is around 47,000 a year.
And you don't reckon they had a lot of applicants??
Also, it's worth bearing in mind that there are a good few other vacancies being filled by the HR department as we speak, and they are currently in dispute with members of the TSSA union. I have been in the HR office at 102, and they are always very busy.
Another thing worth remembering - it takes 12-18 months training to become a passed out driver. A lot of this training is in the classroom, but a huge chunk of it is with an instructor driver. At my depot, there are probably around a dozen instructors - so trying to start more drivers would be difficult if there are no instructors to put them with!!