Northern accepting Trainee Driver apps again...

[Neil73]

are you up for terrible shifts ,3am starts and 3am finishes (not the same shift obviously) ,incidents eg hitting a person ? how do you think you'd cope? or large animal ,having a brick thrown threw your window and ending up in hospital ,failures that go wrong ,and of course no matter what time of day or what degraded conditions your working too ,you have to be on the ball all the time even though alot of the journey is fairly boring?

theres no hard work what so ever in being a train driver infact its a fairly lazy job ,just the shifts and the diesel fumes to consider

Ok, thanks for that cowboy.......if you would now point out all the bad points to the job?

 

[ChrisTheRef]

Received an email today regarding the Sheffield position (I also applied for Liverpool, Wigan and Leeds). It stated my assessment was successful, I was now being short listed and will hear whether or not I'll be interviewed within 4 weeks.

 

[WannabeTD]

Received an email today regarding the Sheffield position (I also applied for Liverpool, Wigan and Leeds). It stated my assessment was successful, I was now being short listed and will hear whether or not I'll be interviewed within 4 weeks.

Me too Chris, at least they'll actually read our applications!

 

[stargazer]

are you up for terrible shifts ,3am starts and 3am finishes (not the same shift obviously) ,incidents eg hitting a person ? how do you think you'd cope? or large animal ,having a brick thrown threw your window and ending up in hospital ,failures that go wrong ,and of course no matter what time of day or what degraded conditions your working too ,you have to be on the ball all the time even though alot of the journey is fairly boring?

theres no hard work what so ever in being a train driver infact its a fairly lazy job ,just the shifts and the diesel fumes to consider

Do you not think that we may have considered these eventulaities before applying for the job? Perhaps maybe even carried out a litte research into the role?

 

[Beveridges]

Ok, thanks for that cowboy.......if you would now point out all the bad points to the job?

I hope that was sarcasm as those points made by rochdale's post were extremely serious and worth thinking about before applying. Although the shift work depends on what depot you go to, and while some depots don't have anything as terrible as a 3am start, they all seem to alternate between early's and late's by the week which makes it impossible to establish a regular sleep pattern. Its certainly a very unhealthy job with a lot of inevitable sleep loss, possible damage to the back, lack of physical exercise on the job (unless its a DD role), and you breath in exhaust fumes.

 

[bob hope]

Received an email today regarding the Sheffield position (I also applied for Liverpool, Wigan and Leeds). It stated my assessment was successful, I was now being short listed and will hear whether or not I'll be interviewed within 4 weeks.

Same here! Yipee!! Now the really hard part begins..........

So whats the process like for Northern then? i.e. assesments first? - all on same day? - where at? how long do they normally take from now to the final "yes you're in"?

 

[Neil73]

I hope that was sarcasm as those points made by rochdale's post were extremely serious and worth thinking about before applying. Although the shift work depends on what depot you go to, and while some depots don't have anything as terrible as a 3am start, they all seem to alternate between early's and late's by the week which makes it impossible to establish a regular sleep pattern. Its certainly a very unhealthy job with a lot of inevitable sleep loss, possible damage to the back, lack of physical exercise on the job (unless its a DD role), and you breath in exhaust fumes.

Yes, sorry, it was a bit tongue in cheek. Great points, I have noted them

To everyone who have received there e-mails today, did you apply for the new wave of applications that appeared on northerns site for about 2 days only just a few weeks back i.e Manc stations, Liverpool and Wigan?

Well done by the way....I'll just wait for the morning to get mine l

 

[bob hope]

Mine was for South Yorkshire - applied on the 17th October.

Hope you get some good news too.

 

[WannabeTD]

Yes, sorry, it was a bit tongue in cheek. Great points, I have noted them

To everyone who have received there e-mails today, did you apply for the new wave of applications that appeared on northerns site for about 2 days only just a few weeks back i.e Manc stations, Liverpool and Wigan?

Well done by the way....I'll just wait for the morning to get mine l

Hi

I applied on 16th October for South Yorkshire (Sheffield/Doncaster)

 

[Neil73]

Yep cheers Bob, I hope so too. My application went in on 9 October so looks like things are starting to move now

 

[stargazer]

Mine was for South Yorkshire - applied on the 17th October.

Hope you get some good news too.

I applied for the Leeds job the same day. Not heard anything yet.

 

[rochdalecowboy]

I hope that was sarcasm as those points made by rochdale's post were extremely serious and worth thinking about before applying. Although the shift work depends on what depot you go to, and while some depots don't have anything as terrible as a 3am start, they all seem to alternate between early's and late's by the week which makes it impossible to establish a regular sleep pattern. Its certainly a very unhealthy job with a lot of inevitable sleep loss, possible damage to the back, lack of physical exercise on the job (unless its a DD role), and you breath in exhaust fumes.

hahahaha thanks ,it makes me sound like I'm a plant (not a gerainium though eh)

 

[NI 271]

I hope that was sarcasm as those points made by rochdale's post were extremely serious and worth thinking about before applying. Although the shift work depends on what depot you go to, and while some depots don't have anything as terrible as a 3am start, they all seem to alternate between early's and late's by the week which makes it impossible to establish a regular sleep pattern. Its certainly a very unhealthy job with a lot of inevitable sleep loss, possible damage to the back, lack of physical exercise on the job (unless its a DD role), and you breath in exhaust fumes.

It certainly wouldn't be for everyone, and I bet a lot of people find themselves unable to hack it.

As for me, I was up at 0130 this morning to start at 0230, and will be working from 1530-2345 tomorrow night, train driver shifts would be no different at all, hours-wise, to my current job, with the exception of the minimum time off between shifts. I think that would actually suit me, weeks of lates or earlies at a time would be a relief compared to the almost random mix of shifts I do at the moment. It is possible for me to have done three full 8 hour shifts in less than 42 hours (1630-0030, 0930-1745, 0230-1015), I'd quite happily leave that nonsense behind!
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I applied for the Leeds job the same day. Not heard anything yet.

I applied for Leeds and South Yorkshire. I haven't heard anything about the Leeds position (although the earlier 'online assessment' was in relation to that rather than South Yorkshire), but got the same email as the rest with regards to the South Yorkshire one today. I applied for both on the evening of 16/10. I'd imagine from that that they are doing Sheffield first.

 

[rochdalecowboy]

It certainly wouldn't be for everyone, and I bet a lot of people find themselves unable to hack it.

As for me, I was up at 0130 this morning to start at 0230, and will be working from 1530-2345 tomorrow night, train driver shifts would be no different at all, hours-wise, to my current job, with the exception of the minimum time off between shifts. I think that would actually suit me, weeks of lates or earlies at a time would be a relief compared to the almost random mix of shifts I do at the moment. It is possible for me to have done three full 8 hour shifts in less than 42 hours (1630-0030, 0930-1745, 0230-1015), I'd quite happily leave that nonsense behind!
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I applied for Leeds and South Yorkshire. I haven't heard anything about the Leeds position (although the earlier 'online assessment' was in relation to that rather than South Yorkshire), but got the same email as the rest with regards to the South Yorkshire one today. I applied for both on the evening of 16/10. I'd imagine from that that they are doing Sheffield first.

yes 12hrs rest between shifts and the shifts are earlies one week lates the next ,although you are allowed to swap, shifts can be 6-10hrs long 35hr /4 day week most people would be very pleased with the working arrangments but after a few months on the job they seem to go into complaining mode in a big way

 

[NI 271]

yes 12hrs rest between shifts and the shifts are earlies one week lates the next ,although you are allowed to swap, shifts can be 6-10hrs long 35hr /4 day week most people would be very pleased with the working arrangments but after a few months on the job they seem to go into complaining mode in a big way

People always complain, when I drove buses I worked alongside people who did nothing but whinge about it, yet most of the whingers had done 30 years plus on the job! Aye, it must be terrible, they're martyrs for sticking with it!

That said, I'll bet there are people on the trains who went for the money, hate the shifts but can't afford to get out. Me? I think I'd probably swap for lates most of the time, always preferred working evenings (did eight years of it whilst driving buses, as well as countless overnighters on rail replacement coaches - part time - after I finished driving for a living). Love the midweek days off, did 18 months of Mon-Fri 9-5 from 2006-2008 and hated it.

 

[kleb15]

I don't know if i'm that positive about this, because i also received that email today and when i went back through my application i had answered one of the questions completely wrong wiith an irrelevant answer that had transferred over from a previous question that was on the same part of the application but was different as the role was different, so i'm not getting my hopes up for anything, cos like i say i received that email and i'm sure i completely messed up my application.

 

[Beveridges]

I'd probably swap for lates most of the time

Swapping shifts is not possible at some depots especially if you are new and don't sign many routes and/or traction, you can't just swap with someone as it means you can't cover their work and clearly finding someone to swap for unwanted 0300 shifts would not be easy. So swapping is not always possible. So you'd have to do alternating weeks of earlies and lates for years in most cases before getting preferrable hours.
However compared to the shifts that you are doing at the moment it will be a big improvement I must admit, as at least with train crew its the same shift type all week, instead of (as in your example) getting a late shift, an early shift then a night shift all within 42 hours! That roster in your example is horrendous it's obviously written up by people who don't have to work those hours.

 

[Silv1983]

Swapping shifts is not possible at some depots especially if you are new and don't sign many routes and/or traction, you can't just swap with someone as it means you can't cover their work and clearly finding someone to swap for unwanted 0300 shifts would not be easy. So swapping is not always possible. I'd do mainline driving any day if I could have permenant lates, but I have looked into it and have been told by some drivers that in most cases it is not possible, at least not until after a good few years on the job. So you'd have to do alternating weeks of earlies and lates for years in most cases before getting preferrable hours.

Personally I'd just take the plunge if you've put the hard work in and the only thing stopping you is the shifts! The payrise and variety would help sooth the pain of doing unfavourable shifts for a couple of years.

 

[Beveridges]

That's another thing putting me off the pay on mainline would be lower than depot while training and it would only be by PQA year 2 when the pay gets significantly higher (by £6k + then by £9k more the year after) than depot driving. But it's one thing to consider, go through a rough few years with less money and worse shifts for a better long term future with more money (and better shifts if a regular swap can be found)

 

[bob hope]

That's another thing putting me off the pay on mainline would be lower than depot while training and it would only be by PQA year 2 when the pay gets significantly higher (by £6k + then by £9k more the year after) than depot driving. But it's one thing to consider, go through a rough few years with less money and worse shifts for a better long term future with more money (and better shifts if a regular swap can be found)

I reckon sometimes Beveridges the grass ain't always greener on the other side - you seem to be fairly settled at Blackpool now, and if the work there suits you better then money isn't everything (so they say!).

Out of interest, what shifts do you do now as a depot driver?

 

[Eduardo]

Just had an e-mail confirming that I have met the required standard in the assessments and have progressed to shortlisting stage.

The next update is within the next four weeks confirming whether I have got an interview or not.

 

[Daniel84]

I applied for the Manchester vacancy and I've also received the email to advise that I had passed the assessment, another few weeks of waiting now. When it says short listing for interview, I presume that there is also assessments at some stage?

 

[p412ker]

Just got my e-mail through for the Wigan one, so fingers crossed..

 

[TRACY TRAIN]

My Wigan application has now moved forward to short listing for the interview stage. Upto 4 weeks to wait to here if I have an interview...oh my!

 

[stargazer]

Just got an update for Leeds!

 

[Sammy h]

I'm the same for Wigan, through to short listing.

From people's experience if they do come back to you, how much notice do you get for the interview/assessment day?

 

[Neil73]

Yep, got an email saying I'm through to shortlisting for interview. So, from the people with experience, does that mean managers interview or criteria based interview? Would we have interview then assessments on the same day? Another agaonising 4 week wait now

 

[bob hope]

I'm wondering the same too Neil - although I think its managers interview first, then onto assesments at DBS Doncaster if sucessful?
The managers interview is also a cbi based one though apparently.


Also - does anyone know for sure what the Sunday working is for Northern - according to the ASLEF site there are two different terms and conditions for drivers depending on where you work......

If thats still the case, which depots come under which different t & c's?

 

[NI 271]

Yes, splendid, "progressed to the shortlisting stage" for Leeds as well.

Just had an interview for a manager's position at my current place this morning, hopefully would be good practise for if I got one with Northern...suppose I'd feel a bit sorry for them if I get it and then dropped lucky on the trains shortly afterwards...but then maybe not...

 

[ChrisTheRef]

Had the same email for Leeds and Wigan in addition to yesterday's Sheffield one.

The only one left is Liverpool. Anyone else heard for that depot?