Network Rail Apprenticeships

[Kelsey]

How many people were at the assessment day.. ive gotta go this friday at coventry? Were there many girls at the other assessment days or not?

 

[Hydro]

There's normally a healthy selection of girls applying, the number each year seems to be steadily increasing.

 

[Crossforth]

There was about 110 there (That's what Mark Higgs said)

And I only counted about 3 girls in York

 

[erolosman]

130 people at mine (ours was the largest group assessment day planned), only two girls there. 1 asked how many girls are normally accepted into the scheme each year and i from what i remember it was, 4 girls for the current year, 14 girls previous year 10 the previous year it might of been the other way round but either way ull have a group of girls if you do get accepted into the scheme good luck

 

[Kelsey]

thanks how did your assessment days go.. were the tests difficult or not that bad?

 

[Paul Bond]

Hi
I am from Manchester and my assessment day is 7th April in Manchester anyone else out there.
Thanks to all that have given advice.

Hi, i'm going to manchester on the 7th too. Can't wait!

 

[t o m]

I walked past the Westwood Centre earlier, looks like something off Grand Designs.

 

[desirokma]

How many people were at the assessment day.. ive gotta go this friday at coventry? Were there many girls at the other assessment days or not?

hey kelsey

im going on friday to cov for my assesment too lol and im a girl
REALLY looking forward to it

x

 

[Crossforth]

Anybody who went to York found out if they have got to the next round yet or not? As I haven't heard a peep :?

 

[Kelsey]

lol thats good wat area u wanna do...

 

[Hydro]

Christ, there are loads of you on here now. Good luck to you all. I hope you're not all banned by default from the bowling alley over the road due to the antics of the previous year. It took us weeks to get in there. Ironically, once you're in, they'll give you the Navy discount on beer.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Christ, there are loads of you on here now. Good luck to you all. I hope you're not all banned by default from the bowling alley over the road due to the antics of the previous year. It took us weeks to get in there. Ironically, once you're in, they'll give you the Navy discount on beer.

Do tell...?

 

[jamdogg]

I got an email this morning to say I'm through to an interview!! there were lots of people at york so its probably gunna take longer to go through everyone. i got this on thursaday but am sure they said you'll know by tuesday so they running a bit slow i think

 

[Hydro]

Do tell...?

We all turned up in September, bright eyed and bushy tailed, settled in for a week or so and our attentions to the social activities in the area. A few of the intake went over to the bowling alley, only to be ejected immediately the staff realised they were Apprentices.

Turns out a few elements in the year before had been a bit lively, and earned a blanket ban for the whole shebang. A few of the pubs and clubs in Fareham were wary of the Apprentices too. Took our intake a good while to prove we were new and not the previous lot; only just slightly better. Get 200 young folk in an environment that can be a bit restrictive, first time away from home, and the hormones and cheap beer mix...It was ridiculously stereotypical. Bans from the local amenities, the GU clinic was a regular haunt for some, every weekend someone would end up in the cells at Fareham...

It wasn't all bad. Towards the end some good links were forged with the local pubs and clubs, and the relationship with the sailors was really good in some groups, the crowd I hung around with usually went out with a few matelots from time to time.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Sounds fun! Did Network Rail do anything about those who ended up in Fareham nick?

 

[Ash_bash]

Hi, i'm going to manchester on the 7th too. Can't wait!

Hello Mate nice 2 c u r still around,u have been waiting ages 2 get ur assessment day.Looking forward 2 it.

 

[Hydro]

I don't rightly know to be honest. For obvious reasons, disciplinaries weren't known outside of the concerned parties other than rumours. If it happened in their own time, without any trouble on company or MoD property, then it was pretty much their problem I think. If it impacted on their work, then obviously a dim view was taken. Obviously this applies to the over-18's who fall outside the "duty of care" policy. Big enough and ugly enough to take care of themselves, really.

 

[desirokma]

Had my assesment day today in Coventry's WestWood Management Centre and absolutly loved it. Every second of the day I was in my element.
Met some fantastic people from all walks of life and made some great new friends too.
I know its every man for themself but I do wish all the peeps who went today the best of luck
xxx

 

[ralphchadkirk]

I don't rightly know to be honest. For obvious reasons, disciplinaries weren't known outside of the concerned parties other than rumours. If it happened in their own time, without any trouble on company or MoD property, then it was pretty much their problem I think. If it impacted on their work, then obviously a dim view was taken. Obviously this applies to the over-18's who fall outside the "duty of care" policy. Big enough and ugly enough to take care of themselves, really.

Did NR not worry about the PR? If the apprentices were that 'spottable' by the local bartenders then they can't have got a good impression of NR!

 

[Hydro]

I know some opinions were better than others, but slowly things improved. It was a classic case of a "a few bad apples..." but on the whole, opinions have been on the up from the little contact I've had with subsequent apprentices and staff.

 

[Kelsey]

Had my assesment day today in Coventry's WestWood Management Centre and absolutly loved it. Every second of the day I was in my element.
Met some fantastic people from all walks of life and made some great new friends too.
I know its every man for themself but I do wish all the peeps who went today the best of luck
xxx

I saw u yday.. sorry i didnt stop 2 talk ... it was a great day good luck 2 u what area do u choose? x

 

[erolosman]

hydro or anyone that was an apprentice with the scheme. What was the interview like ( I've never had an interview in my life so im nervous lol) and also did u find out how many get accepted to the interview stage. There was 800-900 people altogether accepted into the assessment days this year so i was wondering how many of them get rejected. Thanks

 

[Kelsey]

hydro or anyone that was an apprentice with the scheme. What was the interview like ( I've never had an interview in my life so im nervous lol) and also did u find out how many get accepted to the interview stage. There was 800-900 people altogether accepted into the assessment days this year so i was wondering how many of them get rejected. Thanks

Yesterday at coventry they said 10,000 applied for the scheme, 1400 made it through to the selection days and 800 will be called back for interviews. so youve got like a 1 in 4 chance of gettin the job

 

[erolosman]

hmmm those numbers just make me worry more lol eh i got till may-july to prepare for my interview, better get researching interview techniques lol. thanks

 

[Kelsey]

some of the apprentices that are in their last year said u will get an email with a few questions and chances are thats what they are gonna ask

 

[t o m]

They said it was quite an informal interview, more of a chat to get to know you. Although they said they might ask you to give an example of when you have organised something, for instance. Look at the main aims of the scheme/Network Rail and try and think when you have done similar.

 

[Paul Bond]

Hello Mate nice 2 c u r still around,u have been waiting ages 2 get ur assessment day.Looking forward 2 it.

glad to be still around mate. I am really looking forward to it. I have been doing mechanics for a few a years now, i dnt know if this will be an advantage, but considering this what would I best be applying for track, plant etc??? I wonder how many people have applied for Liverpool posts?

 

[Hydro]

I had a fairly formal interview, wasn't much different to any other I've had. It's all about creating a good impression, showing a desire to learn, progress and develop. I was asked about previous experiences where I had to use qualities that they were fishing for, in fact it was very similar to the online questionnaire you fill out to apply. It's a fairly standard NR template for recruitment. Dress smart, polish your shoes, arrive early and do your research before hand. Be prepared to answer as to why you want to do what you've chosen, show an understanding of the safety culture as you will be carrying out safety critical duties. Throw any previous experience of working in a safety orientated environment or any job where you've had experience in doing tasks that affect other people. How do you feel about shifts, anti-social hours and hard work? Working under pressure? Interpersonal relationships when working in a small team? All these things may be asked.

Official blurb on the intranet a couple of months ago was that 8,000 applied for around 200 places. To be honest, if you've sought out online outside advice through rail forums or other media, then you're showing the right kind of attitude for the job; get out and get well prepared through any means you can.

 

[Crossforth]

Cool, thanks for that... but I still haven't heard back from them and I was in York over a week ago.
Are they still running behind?

 

[Kelsey]

I got through 2 the interview stage