Delighted to have purchased 60 minutes wifi access to find I've been invited to interview next week for a vacancy at Victoria, I'm absolutely made up. I had been kicking myself thinking I should have flown home Monday and came back Wednesday. The next couple of days will be a lot sweeter than the last few, a long way to go all the same, but a chance at least.
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NorthernRail Trainee drivers 2013
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Eduardo
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- 7 Jun 2011
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- 83
Nice one mate. Thats great news. Really pleased for you.
Make sure you do lots of research on Northern and learn as much as you can about the company.
They'll be getting into your ribs about everything so you'll need to know your onions.
Good luck.
Hi Daniel, they must be very interested in you for them to reschedule an interview, this is rarely done unless the applicant had a very good application process. Good luck fella.
If you need any advice feel free to PM me mate. Well done though and good luck.
Thanks mate, fingers crossed.
Well I had my interview yesterday and received an email last night to invite me to assessment in a couple of weeks, two big ifs, but if successful and if I was then lucky to be offered a position training would begin the following Monday. Good luck to me explaining that to my current work, it's obviously a conversation I'd love to have the chance to have though. Thanks for all the advice and kind words so far.
Silv1983
Member
Northern are ruthless in this area and notorious for doing this to potential recruits. I don't know if it's because they're aware they can get away with it because of how sought after the training spots are; or whether they're just ignorant to good recruitment practices. All I'll say is they demand 6 months notice when you leave them - and what goes around comes around I say!
Well done all the same.
Tunawholesaler
Member
Ive got the psychometric tests in Doncaster on Weds. Does anybody know somewhere decent to stay the night?
Also, assuming i get through it all, what time will i be leaving? Ive got a gig to get to by 7pm in Crewe. Im guessing its going to be tight??
Any hints or tips?
Also, assuming i get through it all, what time will i be leaving? Ive got a gig to get to by 7pm in Crewe. Im guessing its going to be tight??
Any hints or tips?
TOCDriver
Member
- Joined
- 24 Jan 2013
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- 609
Whatever you do, don't mention this to them. It will make you look as if you have your priorities wrong!
I presume your thoroughly prepared for it?
Downloaded..... Practice dots test and Practice reaction test?
Prepared for the CB interview? I'd say this is most important although it will be last out of all the tests so you may not get this far....
Good luck anyway let us know how it goes.
Hi mate, in terms of somewhere convenient to stay I noticed a premier inn type place close by. Which station and TOC have you applied for? I'm there next week all being well.
Silv1983
Member
I stayed in the Travelodge Doncaster Lakeside - opposite DB building almost. Very very convenient as you know traffic won't be an issue as it can be walked. Nice modern building too - £19 if booked far enough in advance and £29 if you've missed the boat.
In terms of finishing I think the first successful candidates were finished by about 14:00 - and I was done by about 15:00 as I had to wait my turn for interview. So you'll get to your gig in plenty of time.
Tunawholesaler
Member
Haha....it certainly wont be mentioned.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I havent downloaded the program but ive done alot of the practise material but its hard to gauge how good i am at them.
Reactions wise ive beaten Bop-it! Lol. Not much else i can do there other than keep going.
CB-Interview - Can you prepare for one of them? Ive been in many emergencies working as a pilot for the last 9yrs. Worked in teams as a pilot too. Used co-ordination and concentration. Even taught other people but i guess its all useless if they dont ask about that.
I'll let you know...
Silv1983
Member
Are you aware that you dicate the examples in this "interview"?
Tunawholesaler
Member
Cheers!
I just booked there.
Fingers crossed....how did you get on?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Yes, i understand that. What are the questions like that they ask?!? From my own research it seems to me that Northern DTM interviews use almost identical questions to the ones in the CB-interview. My DTM was solely based around example questions.
Silv1983
Member
I did well! - as i'm now driving for Northern
The questions were very similar. I can't actually recall the specific questions - it was nearly a year ago - but I think if you cherry pick your best answers relating to:
- Keeping Calm under pressure;
- Dealing with an emergency;
- Working alone for long periods of time;
- Solving a problem;
- Following Rules and Regulations
- Prioritising;
- Working as part of a team;
- A time delivering a difficult message.
There were 5, and you get 25 minutes to decide and bullet point or provide a paragraph to assist the interviewer. There are sub-questions too. I know I was definitely asked about working alone for a long period of time: and I was 'probed' shall we say with things like "How did you cope with boredom?" and "How did it affect your concentration". The core competencies above overlap and can be interchangeable - so make sure you have a good handful of examples to mind.
They are flexible - and if your example isn't up to scratch - you get a minute or two to suggest another example!
Best of luck.
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Tunawholesaler
Member
I did well! - as i'm now driving for Northern
The questions were very similar. I can't actually recall the specific questions - it was nearly a year ago - but I think if you cherry pick your best answers relating to:
- Keeping Calm under pressure;
- Dealing with an emergency;
- Working alone for long periods of time;
- Solving a problem;
- Following Rules and Regulations
- Prioritising;
- Working as part of a team;
- A time delivering a difficult message.
There were 5, and you get 25 minutes to decide and bullet point or provide a paragraph to assist the interviewer. There are sub-questions too. I know I was definitely asked about working alone for a long period of time: and I was 'probed' shall we say with things like "How did you cope with boredom?" and "How did it affect your concentration". The core competencies above overlap and can be interchangeable - so make sure you have a good handful of examples to mind.
They are flexible - and if your example isn't up to scratch - you get a minute or two to suggest another example!
Best of luck.
Nice one mate. Thanks very much for that.
Ive flown big planes in a team of two and ive flown small planes on my own so hopefully ill be ok. Ive also had a few emergencies where my bottom could have exploded!! Fingers crossed!!
Nightmare with regards to my scheduled assessment. As per some of my previous posts I took the assessment in February with DBS for a position they had. I passed the concentration, trainability and mechanical areas, but failed a non standard bit, so couldn't complete the reactions and CBI.
My application for this job comes from being put on hold before the DBS assessment and I informed Northern of the outcome after the tests. However, double checking what is required of me to complete at this assessment, DBS have informed me that any test would not be classed a retest as I had not failed the original, whilst Northern have informed me that any external candidate must complete all tests together, but DBS will not retest any elements within 6 months. Aaaargh.
So, I'm out of this one and will have to hope something comes up later in the year and I can get through all of the tests again, it will happen one day I'm sure...
My application for this job comes from being put on hold before the DBS assessment and I informed Northern of the outcome after the tests. However, double checking what is required of me to complete at this assessment, DBS have informed me that any test would not be classed a retest as I had not failed the original, whilst Northern have informed me that any external candidate must complete all tests together, but DBS will not retest any elements within 6 months. Aaaargh.
So, I'm out of this one and will have to hope something comes up later in the year and I can get through all of the tests again, it will happen one day I'm sure...
BravoGolfMike
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- Joined
- 21 Jan 2011
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- 150
I cant help but ask, if you hold a CPL/APTL which surely you must if you have a multi crew rating, what on earth are you doin applying to become a train driver? Don't get me wrong, it is a fantastic career and with your experience you'll "fly" through the tests and training (non technical skills are here in a big way, you will be familiar with them I am sure,) but surely being a pilot is the next step up? Good luck anyway!
Tunawholesaler
Member
Indeed, i have the full ATPL and have worked for a well known airline for the last 9yrs. Ive taken redundancy and its time for a change....thats not to say i'll never return to flying. I might aswell try the train tests and see how i get on.
Aviation is on its bum at the minute....id struggle to get a job if i tried.
But, you just never know.
Eduardo
Member
- Joined
- 7 Jun 2011
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- 83
Good luck with the process.
Out of interest were you based at EGCC?
That's my former place.
Also what about the Tuna wholesale market?
Out of interest were you based at EGCC?
That's my former place.
Also what about the Tuna wholesale market?
Tunawholesaler
Member
A jobs a job at the end of the day....when i was 19 it was important to be important and wealthy. At 33 im more interested in being happy and sleeping in my own bed.
Many many reasons....some personal....some various other and redundancy a big factor.
Yeah i was based in EGCC...but ive also been based at EGTE, and EGHD.
Just on lunch by the way! ;-p
BravoGolfMike
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- Joined
- 21 Jan 2011
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I have always said that if the opportunity came up for me to become a commercial pilot (I curently fly for fun,) then that is one of the few things I would give my career up for. I wonder if our managers would let us do a straight swap
Tunawholesaler
Member
I passed all the tests today guys....thanks to everyone for their help.
Best wishes to the girl who didnt make it.
Tough tests...mt4.2 was a difficult one but isnt part of the STANDARD tests....its specific to northern.
The dials were much harder...there was 4 dials with 4 sections as opposed to 3 like in the practise material. The colours were very very similar and the dials would often have the needles in the same section. If the needles were in the same section/colour then they would have numbers above the needles like on real gauge. The lowest numbers were the highest priority.
Very good passes on Reactions and trainability.
Normal pass on the dots.
I didnt massively prepare if im honest due to time constraints and personal circumstances. So, with preperation, theyre easily passable.
The interview questions were -
An example of an emergency
An example of solving a difficult problem
A training course you have been on that lasted over 2wks.
An example of a time you have worked alone
An example of when you have followed rules and procedures.
Best wishes to the girl who didnt make it.
Tough tests...mt4.2 was a difficult one but isnt part of the STANDARD tests....its specific to northern.
The dials were much harder...there was 4 dials with 4 sections as opposed to 3 like in the practise material. The colours were very very similar and the dials would often have the needles in the same section. If the needles were in the same section/colour then they would have numbers above the needles like on real gauge. The lowest numbers were the highest priority.
Very good passes on Reactions and trainability.
Normal pass on the dots.
I didnt massively prepare if im honest due to time constraints and personal circumstances. So, with preperation, theyre easily passable.
The interview questions were -
An example of an emergency
An example of solving a difficult problem
A training course you have been on that lasted over 2wks.
An example of a time you have worked alone
An example of when you have followed rules and procedures.
156441
Member
Tuna, nice to meet you today and glad you passed as well dude!
All the best for getting a course and look forward to seeing you on the depot!
All the best for getting a course and look forward to seeing you on the depot!
Tunawholesaler
Member
baldyman26
Member
- Joined
- 2 Aug 2012
- Messages
- 137
The 3 careers I would hop skip and jump out of my current sentence all mentioned here.
1 Pilot
2 Train Driver
3 Paramedic
Ah well.
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