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Northern accepting Trainee Driver apps again...

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NI 271

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The very best of luck to all you lucky ones who got through. I'm not sure how I could improve on that interview (I have had loads of experiences through work which fitted the questions to a T), but I've got to assume it somehow wasn't enough as I haven't had the invite.



I can't remember feeling this gutted ever, and I haven't even had the official knock-back yet...
 

bob hope

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NI 271 - it ain't over yet mate - so dont get yourself down until you get some news.
And even if the news is bad - at least you'll be able to get feedback off Northern to help you out.
These recruitments all seem to work in the weirdest kind of ways!
 

WannabeTD

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The very best of luck to all you lucky ones who got through. I'm not sure how I could improve on that interview (I have had loads of experiences through work which fitted the questions to a T), but I've got to assume it somehow wasn't enough as I haven't had the invite.



I can't remember feeling this gutted ever, and I haven't even had the official knock-back yet...

I share your pessimism at this stage. I haven't heard anything yet and can't think of any reason why some people who have progressed would hear before others. Similarly gutted.
 

stargazer

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21 Oct 2012
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I haven't even had the yes or no for the stage before the interview yet. Needless to say I have given up on it now. I assume they have just forgot to contact me.
 

bob hope

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I share your pessimism at this stage. I haven't heard anything yet and can't think of any reason why some people who have progressed would hear before others. Similarly gutted.

The only reason I can think of is that those invited so far have maybe already completed part of the assessments?? I've passed the first stage fairly recently........

Hang on in there
 

WannabeTD

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The only reason I can think of is that those invited so far have maybe already completed part of the assessments?? I've passed the first stage fairly recently........

Hang on in there

Shows how much I know, just had an email to attend next Friday in Leeds. Brightened up my weekend somewhat!!
 
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Well, despite having previous experience and passing the initial online test, I had an email from Northern today saying they weren't progressing my application any further.
I can only assume it's due to me not living within the required distance from Leeds.
 

aszu

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2 Dec 2009
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Well, despite having previous experience and passing the initial online test, I had an email from Northern today saying they weren't progressing my application any further.
I can only assume it's due to me not living within the required distance from Leeds.

I don't want to sound nasty, but i don't think, that not living within the required distance is the case. There are drivers living faaar away from their depo. I know of people who were employed (obviously asked to come for interview and assesment first) while living in different county than the depo is. At the interview stage they stated they are willing to relocate and that was good enough at that stage.

And remember about one thing. There are thousands of applications for every single job. There are people already working for the company - internals, like guards, who don't get interviews, because the application form is not good enough. The have enough people, to choose from.
Also be aware, that just passing the assesment might not be good enough. Only the best ones are being accepted.
Anyway, good luck to everyone!
 

nottienoo

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Hi peeps, newbie here on the forum, I had an interview on 27th for leeds position and i never heard anything back from them until I went onto the candidate page and it said I progressed to the assessment stage!! Happy because I thought it went well but didnt want to get too excited!!! A little stressful that I hadnt been contacted especially when I got in touch with the lady at HR who told me that the assessments are tommorow!!! Arrggghhhh!! They mistook my underscore in my emal address for a space, which they did the same thing with my interview offer!!

So I have missed this assessment, but she said they are hopefully planning more for January which I could attend, but it means I would miss the training course for January if I was successful and then I would be put in the talent pool until a course came up.......

Anyone had any experience of this and the "Talent Pool" and possibility of waiting what feels like an eternity for some good news??
 

de5139

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6 Nov 2012
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It's five and a half weeks since I heard from Northern to say I had passed the initial assessment for Hull. Since then I have heard nothing at all. I haven't seen anyone else mention they have heard from Hull either. Is it worth an email or should I carry on playing the waiting game?
 

Silv1983

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Hi peeps, newbie here on the forum, I had an interview on 27th for leeds position and i never heard anything back from them until I went onto the candidate page and it said I progressed to the assessment stage!! Happy because I thought it went well but didnt want to get too excited!!! A little stressful that I hadnt been contacted especially when I got in touch with the lady at HR who told me that the assessments are tommorow!!! Arrggghhhh!! They mistook my underscore in my emal address for a space, which they did the same thing with my interview offer!!

So I have missed this assessment, but she said they are hopefully planning more for January which I could attend, but it means I would miss the training course for January if I was successful and then I would be put in the talent pool until a course came up.......

Anyone had any experience of this and the "Talent Pool" and possibility of waiting what feels like an eternity for some good news??

From the mouth of the Head of organisational development itself - Northern are planning to have a big drive next year for new drivers. 95 is the figure brandished about. They're even hiring a new trainer and rennovating another of the old waiting rooms at Bolton station to accommodate this. So all i'll say is: it looks good for you ;)
 

nottienoo

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hey silv, thanks for the reply :) I was absolutely shocked and so excited to even realise I had an interview, I actually screamed and did a little dance in the kitchen!!! I was even more shocked at how the interview went, it was really pleasant, the two guys were really nice and relaxed, possibly the nicest interview I have ever had.....so to even be considered for that and the next stage really blew my head off because just through reading through the forums I can see how difficult it is and how many people get blown back. Feel like something positive is happening in my life which is GREAT!!!

Also to everyone who didn't get through I hope you try again and never give up if it's what you really want :) i'll be routing for you all!
 

TDK

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I don't want to sound nasty, but i don't think, that not living within the required distance is the case.

With the new European directive on the fatigue index it is essential that drivers and safety critical staff are close to their home depot, after December this year I would go as far to say that if you are any further than 40 minutes from a depot you will suffer with an employment offer, as you quote there are thousends of applicants for driving jobs and to be honest the driver nearer to the depot have a much better chance of attaining a job!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
From the mouth of the Head of organisational development itself - Northern are planning to have a big drive next year for new drivers. 95 is the figure brandished about. They're even hiring a new trainer and rennovating another of the old waiting rooms at Bolton station to accommodate this. So all i'll say is: it looks good for you ;)

This will probably de down to the new european fatigue index, most depots will need more driver to be able to comply
 

Silv1983

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This will probably be down to the new european fatigue index, most depots will need more driver to be able to comply

I don't think they're concerning themselves with this complexity...

Probably more to do with handing the franchise keys back in just over a year and not wanting to get fined for having a reduced compliment of drivers.

Infact, I believe the rest-day working ban for drivers' is being reviewed because there are so many in arrears with route learning/refreshers and reviews etc they need cover to allow this to go ahead.
 
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bob hope

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Double check with hr if you have taken other assessments in last 6 months even if you have passed! As they won't let you take these for some reason.
:cry:
 

WannabeTD

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Surely that cannot put you out of the running? How ludicrous would that be?

Unfortunately I can confirm Bob is correct. In exactly the same boat. Passed everything except mech comprehension (which I didn't take as FTPE don't require it), but I am not allowed to take it. Got to wait six months. Gutted.
 

Eduardo

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7 Jun 2011
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The news regarding a mass driver recruitment next year is somewhat uplifting. :D

My six month ban is up in March 2013. :(

Hopefully the Northern recruitment 'blitz' will be after then.

I'm wondering now whether thats why I got the knockback from Northern, having taken the tests and borderline passed for FTPE last Sept.
 

NI 271

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Unfortunately I can confirm Bob is correct. In exactly the same boat. Passed everything except mech comprehension (which I didn't take as FTPE don't require it), but I am not allowed to take it. Got to wait six months. Gutted.

That's desperate. How can they not just do the Mechanical Comprehension for you if you have already passed the rest? I daresay if I were in HR I'd be MORE inclined to give first crack to someone who has already proved they can pass the rest.

Commiserations, I'm still awaiting confirmation that I'm not getting a go at them either (but feel quite sure I'd have heard by now if I was), but I'd possibly be quite embittered if I were in your or bob's shoes.
 

bob hope

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Trying my best to remain positive - but struggling to make sense of the reasoning behind it all. What's the point of nationally standard tests if they aren't recognised?

I'd certainly be more embittered if Manctain hadn't been good enough to warn me. Would have cost me an expensive journey if he hadn't - so just to say a very public "Thanks mate"
 

Paul6549

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24 Oct 2012
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Waiting here if I have qualified for the psychometric assessments or not. Wondering if anyone knows if you receive information/confirmation via email or post. My postal address has recently changed and I'm worried that they may have sent information there.

Please can someone with experience of this help me???


Thanks a lot
Paul:D
 
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Dannypen1

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13 Dec 2012
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Hi folks very sorry to crash this thread but im not able to start my own because im new! Basically i passed the online visual comparison assessment on the 6th november for Y2012/123 Driver (shifts) Liverpool. Was told they'd email again within 4 weeks but ive not heard anything. Has anyone else?
 

NI 271

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Hi folks very sorry to crash this thread but im not able to start my own because im new! Basically i passed the online visual comparison assessment on the 6th november for Y2012/123 Driver (shifts) Liverpool. Was told they'd email again within 4 weeks but ive not heard anything. Has anyone else?

Have you checked your account on northern's careers site? Your email spam folder? If yes, they might just not have got round to you. Most of the threads about vacancies on here seem to share one common theme, the seemingly inordinate amount of time taken to be responded to.

I'm in a similar boat, had an interview just over a fortnight ago and was told we'd be informed "by the end of next week at the latest", which I took to mean last Saturday, assuming TOC working weeks run Sunday to Saturday. I'm still waiting, and so are many others it seems.

Might be worth giving their HR department a call just to make sure.
 

MacRae13

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28 Aug 2012
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Hi folks very sorry to crash this thread but im not able to start my own because im new! Basically i passed the online visual comparison assessment on the 6th november for Y2012/123 Driver (shifts) Liverpool. Was told they'd email again within 4 weeks but ive not heard anything.

Same here. I've just assumed I've not been successful. But I live in hope - I periodically check my Northern account and spam folder as suggested.
 

elboobio

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9 Nov 2012
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Just to maybe clear a few things up for you guys, I'm at the very end of the recruitment stage and not once did they reply in the time frame they gave me, however they got quicker and quicker the further in to the process I got.

Good news is they let you know either way through email not post and your email and account on the Northern website are updated at the same time.

I'm in to the final wait to see if I've passed the final interview and can be progressed to medical, it's been 2 days and the next 5 can't disappear quick enough.

Good luck to you all.
 

NI 271

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Just to maybe clear a few things up for you guys, I'm at the very end of the recruitment stage and not once did they reply in the time frame they gave me, however they got quicker and quicker the further in to the process I got.

Good news is they let you know either way through email not post and your email and account on the Northern website are updated at the same time.

I'm in to the final wait to see if I've passed the final interview and can be progressed to medical, it's been 2 days and the next 5 can't disappear quick enough.

Good luck to you all.

And to you. Thanks for the update.
 
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