Hi, does anyone know what northern rails holiday policy's are, the training course is set to start in June and I have 3 days golfing booked at the end of June and 10 days family hols to alcudia booked in August. If I were fortunate to get through to the final stages should I mention them or just write them off.
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NorthernRail Trainee drivers 2013
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Eduardo
Member
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- 7 Jun 2011
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Hi Jesslin,
Have you had an interview yet?
They are very specific on their policy, should you be successful in your application.
Basically they state you need to write off all holiday commitments for the first few months whilst the course is on-going.
The driver manager who interviewed me asked if I was prepared to do this.
Naturally I said 'yes'.
I have a weeks all inclusive booked in June for me and the family.
Also have another week in Cornwall booked in September.
If I got the job then I'd simply not go. I'd pay a small admin fee to have someone else from the family take my spot. My wife and daughter would still go.
As you can imagine, I'm not the most popular person in the house currently.
To be fair, I have full support from the wife, albeit through gritted teeth.
Overall, its a small price to pay for a career I've longed to do.
Have you had an interview yet?
They are very specific on their policy, should you be successful in your application.
Basically they state you need to write off all holiday commitments for the first few months whilst the course is on-going.
The driver manager who interviewed me asked if I was prepared to do this.
Naturally I said 'yes'.
I have a weeks all inclusive booked in June for me and the family.
Also have another week in Cornwall booked in September.
If I got the job then I'd simply not go. I'd pay a small admin fee to have someone else from the family take my spot. My wife and daughter would still go.
As you can imagine, I'm not the most popular person in the house currently.
To be fair, I have full support from the wife, albeit through gritted teeth.
Overall, its a small price to pay for a career I've longed to do.
Their holiday policy will be the same as other TOCs. You can mention them - but you'll have to write them off!
Beveridges
Established Member
You could mention them and although you would probably have to chose between either writing them off or turning the job down, there is a chance they may offer you an alternative start date. For example if there is a course that starts in September they could put you on that, so you can still get your holidays in. This has been known to happen, though not guaranteed.
Another thing to consider is the training course has a 9-day period of time off built into it (after a certain number of weeks) so you could get lucky if that happens to be the same week as the week your off.
evoluzione
Member
Unfortunatley You'll have to write off your golfing trip if you start in June.
I started in Jan and get my first week off in April, as long as DTM is happy with progress otherwise it's back to class for a week.
We also get a week off before starting 3 months of Practical Handling, this should be around June for me.
Hope that helps.
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Hi does anybody have an idea on time scale for when northern will let you know if you passed the online test?? took mine on Sunday and it's killing me :roll: I haven't heard anything as yet nor do I have any idea how many I got, All I know is I went as quick as possible and if I had the chance to do it again don't think I could do any better than I have already, However I would be surprised if I got 50 or above, some of the other boys on here must be superhuman as I have read about people getting 50,60,70 even one who had 80+ I am seriously thinking that I am going to pay for the test my self at Crewe so I can go into my next app having already made the grade might just get me my nose out in front for sifting
daddy_badger
Member
Paitence is a virtue they say, unfortunately that is the railway-way. Northern will email you the results eventually. I cant remember the exact timescale myself. I would not bother paying for the test privately, you may end up getting sent on an assessment with Northern. Besides if you did pass, you would still need to find a TOC willing to take you on as a trainee and these positions do not come up very often.
Sunday_mornin
Member
What location have you applied for and when was the closing date, you usually find out soon after the closing date.
I applied for Darlington as I live in Barnard castle but will apply for any positions in the north west because moving back to Morecambe is no problem nor is going too Bolton where my sister lives........... but man, I got my fingers crossed life has been real tough for the past 2 yrs as i'm sure it has been for most of us, the advantage to applying for Darlington is that there is not much around it Middleborough and Newcastle but to be within the 60 commute distance it is not like Manchester or Blackpool Preston Blackburn Burnley so on and so forth where there are millions of people within that catchment there is a lot don't get me wrong but not as much as the others
Sunday_mornin
Member
You should know soon enough but get used to the waiting game, it's all part of the game. I'm sure I read about people passing the visual test with scores in the low 40's.
Tunawholesaler
Member
Ive just had my invite to an assessment and in the email there are a few example tests.....
Well, you can imagine my shock when i find the answers to the example tests are wrong!!!! Well done Northern, almost threw me with that cheeky little gotcha!!
Well, you can imagine my shock when i find the answers to the example tests are wrong!!!! Well done Northern, almost threw me with that cheeky little gotcha!!
Also got an invite and the practice tests, for the Leeds depot.
It's weird it states it is an interview but then gives out assessment practice material. I wonder if this is the driver manager interview or structured. The email says driver manager but I do find it strange!
It's weird it states it is an interview but then gives out assessment practice material. I wonder if this is the driver manager interview or structured. The email says driver manager but I do find it strange!
dougster007
New Member
- Joined
- 28 Mar 2013
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Hi does anybody know if distance will automacilly stop you getting an interview I live over an hour away but just put that I lived within 60 minutes as I would relocate or live with relatives if I got a job offer. I got an e-mail this afternoon to say i'd met the required standard for the visual comparison test and my application had been forwarded to the next stage, once shortlisting has taken place we will contact you again within 4 - 6 weeks to advise whether you were succesful at this stage?
This was for the Darlington job. I'm a bit worried as I don't want to automatically bomb out because my home address is over an hour away.
Thanks, Chris
This was for the Darlington job. I'm a bit worried as I don't want to automatically bomb out because my home address is over an hour away.
Thanks, Chris
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Tunawholesaler
Member
daddy_badger
Member
Yes and no. I applied for blackpool and live well out of the hour criteria. I passed the visual test but my application was rejected. Northern don't give feedback so couldn't confirm whether it was indeed distance as a factor.
No, and it says driver manager - but it seems weird they would hand out all the practice papers at this point, with a warning not to share them about. I'm 99.9% sure it's the driver manager interview, just find it a bit weird. I want to confirm as I am currently attending the FTPE selection process too, so trying to balance the 2!
Eduardo
Member
- Joined
- 7 Jun 2011
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- 83
I'm booked in for the assessments too. 
Maybe see you guys there.
Thats interesting. Which particular tests are incorrect?
Maybe see you guys there.
Well, you can imagine my shock when i find the answers to the example tests are wrong!!!! Well done Northern, almost threw me with that cheeky little gotcha!!
Thats interesting. Which particular tests are incorrect?
Well boys got through the online assesment whih is the easy part, i only got 4-6 weeks now to find out nice! Just got me fingers crossed, as for living outside the catchment area i presume that when they say 60 mins i excpect they mean 60 mins i live in barnard castle 10 15 mins away also going for darlington as its in my back garden pretty much, how many did you get right online? I havent a clue but presume its over 40 which is surprising as the 5 mins actually felt like one! Just a quick shout to the fellas who replied to my posts ... Nice one boys
Tunawholesaler
Member
I'm booked in for the assessments too.
Maybe see you guys there.
Thats interesting. Which particular tests are incorrect?
The second concentration test where you have to pick out all the D's. Let me know if you found the same.....their emails are full of spelling mistakes too!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Whoooops, the second test youre supposed to pick out the b's!!! Thats me failed already!
RTFQ
daddy_badger
Member
The second concentration test where you have to pick out all the D's. Let me know if you found the same.....their emails are full of spelling mistakes too!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Whoooops, the second test youre supposed to pick out the b's!!! Thats me failed already!
RTFQ
That would be the test that Mimics the GBT and SCAAT.
It is common for a driver manager to attend both interviews
Silv1983
Member
Not for Northern candidates. DTM's are busy enough and lament having to walk down a flight of stairs to the broom cupboard to do 'manager interviews'. The structured interview is a scripted thing done by the girls at DBS. They would never attend. Can't speak for other TOCs though!
My first interview with Northern was with a DTM and a Train Guard Manager (I think this was roughly her job title). It was an example-based interview.
Silv1983
Member
Yes, that's normal. Usually one DTM and whoever else is free at the time.
I used to do both on a regular basis as I felt if I have to manage the successful candidates I want to see what they are about first
Great, thanks for the feedback. So it is confirmed this is not Structured interview as part of the psychometric testing... just the Driver Manager interview? Thanks! Isn't it typical how you wait for months and then all of a sudden 2 companies come along at once, still I'm not complaining at all!
Tunawholesaler
Member
Is the structured interview easier than the DTM interview?
Beveridges
Established Member
No yes or no answer as DTM Interviews vary between different TOC's, depots and roles.
But the DTM interview is easier in the sense that if you fail, you've not got the "two strikes and your out" to worry about, so theres not that much pressure.
daddy_badger
Member
I found that the CBI asks you questions like you would normally get asked in your application - ie Have you ever had to act in an emergency situation.. etc... whereas the DTM may ask similar questions, they are really trying to get a whiff of your personality and work ethics etc...
Tunawholesaler
Member
The northern DTM interview was an example based interview which im guessing is the same as the structured one.....
Theres only so many times i can tell people about the time i saved 19,000,000 people single handedly from a huge fire then worked in a small team to resusitate the burned people which all lead to a successful outcome.
Theres only so many times i can tell people about the time i saved 19,000,000 people single handedly from a huge fire then worked in a small team to resusitate the burned people which all lead to a successful outcome.
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