Northern driver operator talent pool Blackpool

[8ball]

Hi I'm new to this forum. I applied for a driver operator role at Blackpool /Barrow in July last year. Finally got an interview around September, then went for assesments in November and December and successfully passed all the tests. The role was subsequently put on hold and I've been sat in a talent pool ever since!
Is there anyone else in the same situation or has any info about these positions as i believe northern only hold you in the pool for six months. I was over the moon when I passed back in December and I'm really worried I'll lose out on the job now after all the hard work I put in to get though the interview and tests. I have been in regular contact with HR but keep getting told its still on hold.

 

[302PS]

Plenty in pool for manchester, not sure about blackpool, may be worth calling them?

 

[Andrew32]

Your interview score is valid for six months (6 months talent pool period) so you MAY need to be re-interviewed to gain a new score, ask HR as mentioned above.

 

[Bert and Ernie]

Hi 8ball I'm in the same position and I've heard nothing, what do you do at the moment?

I know of two other candidates in the same position all inc me from the railway

 

[8ball]

I recently left the navy and currently working as a elec tech, but very keen to get into the rail industry. It's frustrating when you go to all the effort and expense to attend assessments to then get told the job is on hold. Was really just trying to find out if anyone who already works on the railways has any inside info on why its on hold and I were likely to hear anything anytime soon.

 

[hughavinalaf]

I recently left the navy and currently working as a elec tech, but very keen to get into the rail industry. It's frustrating when you go to all the effort and expense to attend assessments to then get told the job is on hold. Was really just trying to find out if anyone who already works on the railways has any inside info on why its on hold and I were likely to hear anything anytime soon.

In the meantime.....is it worth you applying for the new conductor roles that went on line yesterday?

 

[8ball]

You can only have one application in at a time for driver and conductor roles. There is a pre application questionnaire to complete that tells you this, so i'm afraid it's a no go at the moment.

 

[hughavinalaf]

You can only have one application in at a time for driver and conductor roles. There is a pre application questionnaire to complete that tells you this, so i'm afraid it's a no go at the moment.

Apologies,i wasn't aware of that.

That being the case,personally,and depending on what HR's latest situation is..... I'd be considering withdrawing the driver application and turning my attention to the conductor role,doing this might just be a way of speeding up your entry into the industry and at least getting a foot in the door.

Just a thought.

 

[Andrew32]

Have you contacted HR 8ball?

 

[Louby]

You can only have one application in at a time for driver and conductor roles. There is a pre application questionnaire to complete that tells you this, so i'm afraid it's a no go at the moment.

You have passed soI can't see why you can't apply?? You can't have 2 apps going at once but you haven't as you are in a pool?? Ring themto dbl check but think you will be ok

 

[hidden]

Mate, hold out for the talent pool for driver, it'll come soon enough.

Not going to look good if you drop for a pending drivers role for a conductor. Maybe that's just me but if I were a DM i'd be questioning intention. Look at it from their view, know what I mean?

And, what if you failed conductor interview / assessments? Then you wouldn't have either

 

[8ball]

Good advice Holden. They were my thoughts exactly. Thanks to everyone else for the advice. Hopefully I'll hear something soon.

 

[johnsonr380]

Good advice Holden. They were my thoughts exactly. Thanks to everyone else for the advice. Hopefully I'll hear something soon.

Don't be disheartened by being on hold, think it's standard procedure. It's certainly seems that way. I've been in a pool for nearly 8 weeks, but there are people who have waited a few months longer.

It's banked fir now, just sit tight. If you have a knee jerk reaction now, you may regret it in the future !

 

[beavercreek]

I was in a pool for Seven months for trainee driver but got the call eventually so it can be a long wait.

 

[Bluebri]

Hi 8Ball. I'm in a similar position for the MDD role in Allerton. Although not as long in the pool so far, I get exactly where you're coming from. As most have said, I'd pick up the phone to HR and ask periodically. It is frustrating as hell in this pool and the analogy couldn't be better, as it feels like you've been left there treading water. The longer you are there, the more tired and frustrated you get. It is a limbo that is nerve wracking. I get the impression when I have spoken to HR, that they are as much in the dark as us. It is like there is a big surge on the horizon and this is the calm before the storm. Sorry for all the metaphors, but just hang in there, I'm sure you'll get a call before long.

 

[BJRD86]

Hi all I have been in talent pool for blackpool for just over two years now, I'm still holding tight, has it definately been confirmed that you cannot be in the talent pool and still apply for a conductor role!

Many thanks

 

[Beveridges]

You might want to hang on to the Blackpool position, MDD is a good job. Though you might want to go for the conducting position as backup in case the DD job is cancelled altogether.

 

[Andrew32]

What position you in pool for and have you been reinterviewed?

 

[BJRD86]

Driver, I was interviewed again last April I believe, passed interview again however the job was cut by Northern

 

[8ball]

Hi bjrd86. I got the information from trying to apply for the conductor role. When you apply online you have to fill in a pre qualifying form. One of the questions is do you have any active applications for driver or conductor roles. Seeing as I'm still sat in the talent pool for the driver operator role I ticked the yes box. That's as far I was then able to proceed without withdrawing my driver application which I'm not prepared to do. HR May be able to shed more light on the subject, but they get inundated with enquiries of this nature, so expect a generic reply.

 

[BJRD86]

Hi 8ball I rang them myself today and they confirmed to me I could apply for the role of a conductor as my application for driver is no longer live due to being over 6 months, however was told that if a role does come up then I would be notified, they did shed a little light telling me at this time there are no plans for trainee driver jobs for this year however things could change...
Still remaining positive

 

[Andrew32]

So in a nutshell, your no longer in the talent pool and if a drivers job came up you would need to re-apply?

 

[BJRD86]

Not at all, still in the talent pool, I've got a friend who was in it over 2 1/2 years, blackpool is such a bad place for jobs! I would just need to have another interview

 

[Andrew32]

Thats good then

Seems to be alot of re-interviewing going on now, good that there doing that instead of letting candidates go and saves money on fresh recruitment events and assessments.

Just a pain for those waiting in the pools, good luck anyway buddy.

 

[BJRD86]

Thanks mate

 

[8ball]

Had the dreaded email of HR today telling me the position is no longer open and I'm not being held in the talent pool any longer. A bit gutted really after waiting so long for some positive news. I suppose a positive is that the psychometric driver assessments are valid for 5 years if I want to reapply, but not holding out much hope as positions at blackpool seem to be few and far between.

 

[Andrew32]

Sorry to read the bad news mate, good luck with the future.

Andy

 

[Bluebri]

I'm starting to wonder about the methodology behind these talent pools. It is starting to look like a way of getting recruitment statistics up rather than a concerted effort to recruit fresh 'talent'. By that, I mean that it seems that there are a very large amount of people who are 'successful' and are then just left to pasture in these pools as there are no vacancies to fill. I understand things can change, but this is not a random occurrence, in fact, it increasingly seems like the norm. Being in a talent pool after being told you have been successful for the grade, but unsuccessful for the available jobs would be a much more ethical way to deal with this, rather than give so many people false hope and then keep them in an employment limbo. The TOC HR's may not agree, but being in these pools under the current circumstances does affect how people are making decisions around their lives and it is morally wrong to continue to keep people dangling on empty dreams or promises. I would guess that peoples decisions around taking holidays, pursuing other employment opportunities or committing to advancement in their current employment is adversely affected by this 'limbo'. I really do not think it would be much to ask that the TOC's are straight about the 'real' positions available and when they will be filled. I personally am happy to sit in a pool, but would massively appreciate knowing what my realistic chances of employment are, rather than just hoping on hope I hear something soon.

 

[302PS]

Hit the nail on the head bri
Sorry to hear your news 8ball.. How long were you in the pool?

 

[8ball]

Hi all thanks for the support. I was sat in the talent pool for six months, bit originally applied for the post last July! It is morally wrong to keep you waiting so long, and yes I have made decisions about employment elsewhere that in retrospect have probably been incorrect. This was the job i really had my heart set on after leaving the navy so to have it snatched away is hard to take. In fairness to HR they have been helpful when I've been in touch, but I wouldn't have received any updates if I'd not rang them.
The thing that annoys me most is I've been doing a job for the last 6 months that Ive been really unhappy in and I would have looked for something else, if it wasn't for the carrot that Northern had left dangling.