Northern Train Driver (initial sift)

[TheRailMan]

Hello all,

I’m new so be nice

I know this thread may help others out as well as myself. I have applied for several train driving jobs in the last year and cannot seem to get past the initial sift! I am currently working for NWR but looking on a career change. I’m 25. Anybody have any idea what I could be doing wrong? Or what I could do to improve my chances?

Thanks all

 

[LCC106]

Welcome to the forum! Do you need to send a CV for these roles? If so, it’s worth checking the layout, format, make me sure that all relevant courses and qualifications are on there. Check for any spelling mistakes.

What sort of questions are asked? Make sure you clearly demonstrate following rules and procedures, working safely etc.

Look at the job description and tailor your application to the skills and qualities needed.

Hope this helps a little, not seen the application process for a while.

 

[TheRailMan]

Thanks for the reply I appreciate it! Yes a CV and cover letter. I will definitely go over and check my cv and correct any mistakes I find. I hope they recruit in Liverpool/Wigan again in the near future, as I know they have only finished recruiting a couple of months ago. Hopefully something comes up to give me a chance.

 

[LCC106]

The cover letter is a great place to showcase the skills and experience you can bring to the job. Good luck.

 

[C J Snarzell]

Welcome to the forum

Talking from experience, I've had quite a few knock backs from Northern for non driving roles and I didn't get past the paper sift on a handful of occasions. Don't take it to badly as the application market for TOC jobs is very very competitive.

What you need to do is tailor your CV and cover letter to perfection and draught a A4 document detailing your references which is an optional format on the application page of the Deutsche Bahn website.

I still believe my first couple of applications to Northern were binned because I didn't download details of my references. The portal on the application page does say this is optional but like I said you're competing against many other people and anything extra you can add will always be an advantage.

I'm sure if you're already working in the rail industry you should be aware that trainee driver roles attract applications in treble figures sometimes for one role. It really is a lottery trying to get your foot in the door but as long as your application is 110% as good as you can get it you cannot be asked to do anymore!!!

Finally, we have discussed previously on this forum that because of the volume of applications HR receive, generally they are fed through a computer which cherry picks applications that meet the criteria. Therefore the point I'm making is that your application may not have even been seen by human eyes.

If I were you, I would research CV writing on the net or even look up someone with good CV writing skills to review how your own CV looks to others.

I hope I have been of some help here.

C J

 

[TheRailMan]

Welcome to the forum

Talking from experience, I've had quite a few knock backs from Northern for non driving roles and I didn't get past the paper sift on a handful of occasions. Don't take it to badly as the application market for TOC jobs is very very competitive.

What you need to do is tailor your CV and cover letter to perfection and draught a A4 document detailing your references which is an optional format on the application page of the Deutsche Bahn website.

I still believe my first couple of applications to Northern were binned because I didn't download details of my references. The portal on the application page does say this is optional but like I said you're competing against many other people and anything extra you can add will always be an advantage.

I'm sure if you're already working in the rail industry you should be aware that trainee driver roles attract applications in treble figures sometimes for one role. It really is a lottery trying to get your foot in the door but as long as your application is 110% as good as you can get it you cannot be asked to do anymore!!!

Finally, we have discussed previously on this forum that because of the volume of applications HR receive, generally they are fed through a computer which cherry picks applications that meet the criteria. Therefore the point I'm making is that your application may not have even been seen by human eyes.

If I were you, I would research CV writing on the net or even look up someone with good CV writing skills to review how your own CV looks to others.

I hope I have been of some help here.

C J

Thanks for taking the time for the detailed reply, it has helped me a lot! I will try and tailor my CV even more in order to suit the criteria of the next job opening, and get it looked at.

I suppose at this stage it’s better to not be disheartened, as you said there’s a lot of applications for these roles. I’ve seen on here that others take the psychometric tests before they even apply? Not sure whether to go through this route too.

Thanks

 

[Jamie Price]

Hi there I've recently been offered a job with Transport For Wales as a conductor, and at my interview I was advised by one of the 2 conductor managers that he had done the paper sift, and it was one comment I wrote that stood out and got me through to the next stage, and ultimately I got all the way, this was the first time I'd ever made it past the paper sift, and it was one a few parts of my application that I really went to town on, rewriting and tweaking, and this was what got me through. So as said above maybe some are done autonomously, but really sell yourself as that one extra piece of info can make all the difference! Plus, your experience will surely set you up in good stead whatever happens. Good luck mate hope you get through next time! I'd been trying for years so if I can then anything's possible