Hi, I see from the London Midland website that they are recruiting again for various roles, does anyone know about the status of the trainee driver roles? A lot of people completed the assessments over the Xmas period, me being one of them so would be interested of any updates if anyone knows anything. Thanks.
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Perhaps harder the guess the timescales this time as external recruitment was frozen presumably to give those that were facing redundancy the opportunity to pass the tests for trainee driver. How many did and how big the talent pool is now is anyone's guess.
I would speculate a longer duration than average, but as I said, it's only speculation. Remember nobody from that round made it further than stage 1 assessments.
I would speculate a longer duration than average, but as I said, it's only speculation. Remember nobody from that round made it further than stage 1 assessments.
plastictaffy
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Yes - as an internal. Never heard a thing. LM are apparently waiting for "instruction from upper management", which basically means they're not sure what or when they're going to do anything.
The positions you speak of have been filled by four internals and four externals. When you consider the amount of internals that LM have on their books that want to drive trains, (me included) taking people from outside the industry is crazy.
The positions you speak of have been filled by four internals and four externals. When you consider the amount of internals that LM have on their books that want to drive trains, (me included) taking people from outside the industry is crazy.
Thing is everybody started off " external" at some point !!
plastictaffy
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Yes, I agree. However, as a Guard, I am already safety critical, I already know (and can get up for!!) the shift pattern. They know what my sickness record is like, what my safety record is like, and what sort of person I am. I already sign more than the routes I'll be expected to drive as a Guard. I also hold a PTS certificate, and more than a basic understanding or the rules and regs that encompass everything we do on the railways.
Somebody off the street coming straight in as a driver?? Risky, in my opinion.
Somebody off the street coming straight in as a driver?? Risky, in my opinion.
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I understand what you're saying but I am a driver who came off the street with no railway experience and I certainly wouldn't class myself as a risk.
The fact you can get up for ****s etc is a bonus, however you say you sign the routes as a guard? A drivers route knowledge has to be a lot higher to sign the route and you still have to do the required minimum amount of trips regardless if you signed them as a guard or not.
Also on my drivers course there were a few conductors and they still had to go through pts and the other basics with the rest of everyone.
I get your point, all I'm saying is sometimes, an external can be just as good as an internal.
The fact you can get up for ****s etc is a bonus, however you say you sign the routes as a guard? A drivers route knowledge has to be a lot higher to sign the route and you still have to do the required minimum amount of trips regardless if you signed them as a guard or not.
Also on my drivers course there were a few conductors and they still had to go through pts and the other basics with the rest of everyone.
I get your point, all I'm saying is sometimes, an external can be just as good as an internal.
I think it is refreshing to see internals given a shot of late!....especially guards...let's not forget over the last 5-10 years internal candidates were well overlooked in terms of getting a drivers job and external recruitment was the preferred option!.......(I know of internal staff who were actually told on the lowdown they'd have more chance of getting a drivers job if they resigned from their current roles and applied as an external applicant)
crazily the safety critical roles such as despatch and guards even more so given their safety backround!.....you'd of had more chance getting a drivers job internally from a booking office or cleaning role than you would from safety crit roles which once again came down to money simply because they were cheaper to replace than those who were safety crit!
No one doubts an external's qualities or capabilities as let's not forget we were all external at one point....I think the point plastictaffy is making is that from a company perspective you know what you are getting as a whole package from an internal in terms of record and personality......you don't get that from an external until they are at least on the course or out there doing the job!
there are positives and negatives for both!
crazily the safety critical roles such as despatch and guards even more so given their safety backround!.....you'd of had more chance getting a drivers job internally from a booking office or cleaning role than you would from safety crit roles which once again came down to money simply because they were cheaper to replace than those who were safety crit!
No one doubts an external's qualities or capabilities as let's not forget we were all external at one point....I think the point plastictaffy is making is that from a company perspective you know what you are getting as a whole package from an internal in terms of record and personality......you don't get that from an external until they are at least on the course or out there doing the job!
there are positives and negatives for both!
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Well, completed the medical for driver role, and now awaiting the official feedback/confirmation of appointment. Like a lot of people it's been a bit of a long haul, and I would be interested in some views on one point. It's been said I am being 'selfish' in planning to put the family through the whole training ordeal. Training salary will be significantly less than I earn now, and I've already started scaling back, cancelling things in preparation. For me, the fact I hope to eventually earn good money is a bonus, it's a lifestyle change I am after with better work/life balance. So, am I seeing the grass too green and truly being selfish?
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theironroad
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I guess it depends who is calling you selfish. It's your family who may be affected and they are the only ones you're accountable to really, it ex colleagues or friends etc.
I guess it also depends on what your current job pays and what your driver pay is after you go productive. Sure training is a big financial hit, but for most people it is a short term sacrifice to provide a better long term future, with good pay, good pension and benefits despite the shift work. That is the opposite of being selfish. If it is your family saying you're being selfish, I think they could be more supportive and see the long term picture.
I guess it also depends on what your current job pays and what your driver pay is after you go productive. Sure training is a big financial hit, but for most people it is a short term sacrifice to provide a better long term future, with good pay, good pension and benefits despite the shift work. That is the opposite of being selfish. If it is your family saying you're being selfish, I think they could be more supportive and see the long term picture.
The initial 9/10 months will be hard financially as the training salary can feel low if its less than your current pay and you won't really have any opportunity for Overtime until you're doing your handling hours with your instructor. On the plus side the classroom hours will mean plenty of time at home with your family in the evenings and weekends for most of the first 5-6 months. Also means you can start enjoying your free/discounted travel and go out at the weekends with travel costing you close to nothing.
Once Qualified all the hardship pays off pretty quickly with the huge jump in pay to around £37K for the next 12 months before rising to the full pay which will be over £50K by the time you get there.
You will need an understanding family behind you as when you are out driving, getting rest in is essential if you are to keep a clean Driving record. This means you will be going to bed at 6/7pm when on earlies, sleeping through the day on nights etc.
Its a great job, well done for getting it. As long as you've gone into it with your eyes open you'll love it.
plastictaffy
Member
Is that for London Midland?? Allegedly, there is a course starting in October. However there is some doubt as to whether this WILL actually happen. As far as I am aware, LM are still sifting through the applications they had last July - at least that was what the last correspondence to us internals said in January.
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