NorthernRail Trainee drivers 2013

[156441]

Tuna, yes!

Baldyman26 Paramedic is not all it's cracked up to be chief! Trust me!

 

[Geeves]

Well done guys. If you make it all the way to the Interview and get through what sort of time scale are we looking at, 4pm?

Did you guys get your results right there and then?

Thanks in Advance

Tony

 

[Tunawholesaler]

I was out at 3pm but that was the only interview that afternoon. Im guessing if you were in a queue of 4people then it would be quite a bit later.
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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.

So whats your career then?!?

Its horses for courses really with jobs. I liked being a pilot when i could slag it about and have a nice uniform but i wasnt much fussed on lightning strikes and other emergencies. Aviation is a very nagative industry....many pilots work for free! Whilst people are willing to work for free i'll never be treated well.

 

[TOCDriver]

If you really want to be a train driver and want to have a definite advantage when it comes to recruitement, it's best to do your planning before you leave school. One definite advantage as far as I'm concerned is by joining up to the special or regular constabulary after doing some good A levels in science subjects at 18. In addition to that, driving buses or trucks for a couple of years after 21 will provide a very strong background for train driving jobs. Those two roles combined will provide all the experience and skills you need to impress the TOC's, without a shadow of a doubt

 

[baldyman26]

I sit behind a desk, Monday to Friday, 10 hours a day. The problem is we have too much access to tv etc. We see the nice side of jobs and think I can do that. Being a Paramedic and working on the railways was always the 2 things that I wanted to do. (flying was and is a hobby until wifey took charge of the finances!!) Don't know why, but circumstance never allowed for it. I don't blame anybody but me, I just settled for easy and went with it. Kids are at an aged now where I should be pushing myself into a "career". I will keep applying and who knows.

 

[Geargrinder]

It's a sad reflection on how things are when Paramedics, Pilots, Police etc start looking to leave their jobs and/or face redundancy. Those roles used to be careers that kids aspired to achieve.

 

[Tunawholesaler]

It's a sad reflection on how things are when Paramedics, Pilots, Police etc start looking to leave their jobs and/or face redundancy. Those roles used to be careers that kids aspired to achieve.

Very very true. Aviation is taxed to death nowadays and its certainly not supported by the government. For that reason pilots are working longer hours for less pay. The industry is a mess and it wont be long before the 'Buffalo' crash is repeated over here.

Trains, on the other hand, are supported by the government. Lots of investment and TOCs make a decent profit that will sustain good driver wages and better working life.

Ive got friends who work for Jet2. They fly a hsndful of times a month. Theyre so naive that they think its great. If that was me id be wondering how an airline can survive using its pilots so little.


Ps, no word from Northern yet.

 

[Geeves]

Theres a few internals going down on Tuesday next week, me included

So no doubt youll be hearing pretty shortly after we have all been thrown out

 

[Daniel84]

Theres a few internals going down on Tuesday next week, me included

So no doubt youll be hearing pretty shortly after we have all been thrown out

I was due then, but can't go now for the reasons above. Gutted, good luck though.

 

[madmack37]

Well I received an email last week from northern rail. I did get the position as I didn't meet the criteria for them job.

Mark

 

[Geargrinder]

Northern currently advertising for Trainee Drivers at Leeds. Closes 4th July.

 

[NI 271]

Northern currently advertising for Trainee Drivers at Leeds. Closes 4th July.

Gutted. My 6 months runs out SIX DAYS later.

 

[Silv1983]

Gutted. My 6 months runs out SIX DAYS later.

The 6 months rule is for attending assessment centres. There's at least one example on this forum I know of where a member has asked HR if he could apply 5 months after dipping the AC knowing it would be over the 6 months mark if he got through again. Im sure Northern said it was fine.

 

[NI 271]

The 6 months rule is for attending assessment centres. There's at least one example on this forum I know of where a member has asked HR if he could apply 5 months after dipping the AC knowing it would be over the 6 months mark if he got through again. Im sure Northern said it was fine.

I've applied, and emailed HR to check it's not a problem, noting that it would be after the six months by the time it came to assessment. I had thought it would be ok, if it isn't I can always withdraw the application.

 

[Sunday_mornin]

The 6 months rule is for attending assessment centres. There's at least one example on this forum I know of where a member has asked HR if he could apply 5 months after dipping the AC knowing it would be over the 6 months mark if he got through again. Im sure Northern said it was fine.

Correct, as long as the assessment is sat after 6 months it won't matter. Northern confirmed this with me via email.

 

[Daniel84]

I've applied, and emailed HR to check it's not a problem, noting that it would be after the six months by the time it came to assessment. I had thought it would be ok, if it isn't I can always withdraw the application.

You'll be fine I would have thought, they'll have to do the manager interviews first. I was told that there are assessments due in July, but my six months isn't up until August. Good luck.

 

[Quickthorn]

Another one up, this time in Hull

Northern Trainee train Driver, Hull

Closes this Friday

 

[Lincoln_biker]

My application has been submitted for the vacancy in Hull. Good luck to those who have applied. LB

 

[JCLeeds]

Anyone who has done the assessment day recently, know of any good ways to practice the reaction test? Any computer based or online ones?

 

[daddy_badger]

Theres some sort of downloadable reactions test on this forum, never used it myself however Bop It is a good start.

 

[JCLeeds]

Thanks DB; I've dowloaded this:

Reactions test:

http://www.krismason.org/files/reactiontest.zip


[[/B]
But I have no idea how to work it; colours flash up on the screen and there are beeps, but there are no instructions, what are you meant to do?

 

[Geargrinder]

Does anybody know when the training course for the latest trainee driver jobs advertised at Leeds and Hull would be due to start ?

 

[VT_Valenta]

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

What were you flying when you were based at PLH just out of interest? Your'e not a fabled Dash 8 driver are/were you?

 

[TMLB UK]

Does anybody know when the training course for the latest trainee driver jobs advertised at Leeds and Hull would be due to start ?

Might be a bit late but I think it will be end of September.

My course starts sept 30th.
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Thanks DB; I've dowloaded this:

Reactions test:

http://www.krismason.org/files/reactiontest.zip


[[/B]
But I have no idea how to work it; colours flash up on the screen and there are beeps, but there are no instructions, what are you meant to do?

Print the keyboard layout, put it in front of you, as the colours come up slap the bit of paper with the corresponding colour/sound. As the yellow blocks appear in the bottom left and right corners use your feet to pretend you have pedals beneath them to hit.

There's no score or anything you just gauge how well you do. The layout on the day though is very similar.

 

[Tunawholesaler]

What were you flying when you were based at PLH just out of interest? Your'e not a fabled Dash 8 driver are/were you?

I was indeed. Flown the 300 and the 400. About 2000hrs on each. I left PLH in Dec07. Although, i have still got an apartment on Manadon Park.

Ps, Fabled as a hero? Lol

Pps, it takes big balls to fly a Dash into PLH on crappy day.
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Anyone who has done the assessment day recently, know of any good ways to practice the reaction test? Any computer based or online ones?

I did it about two weeks ago. I used a Bop It XT. It was 30£ from Argos.....it took me about 4 days to get the magical score of 100 (at 100 you beat bop it, its an amazing achievement!).....i passed the actual reactions test with a Very strong pass. So, im guessing if you get 100 on bop it in 4 days then you'll do the same as me.

Part of me feels that good reactions are one of those things you can either do or you cant but, I think Bop it helped to speed me up a little and it also gave me a technique for any reaction test. My technique during the test was to follow what the screen asked but also keep running the buttons through my mind and keeping in mind what commands havent shown up for a while. Ie, you havent pressed the pedals for a while - so expect it soon!!

Also, on the day you have to listen for hi or low sounds....it took my brain a second to process the sounds.....expect the machine to get really fast then it will play the sounds out of nowhere back to back! Ie- hi then low then hi then low again then hi!! Sounds bad i know but its what it does!

Good luck anyway.

Personally, i found the mechanical comp verrrrrrry hard - i did MT4.2

 

[Handyandy]

Online visual comparison test complete, waiting on feedback and hopefully the next stage of the process now. Fingers crossed.

 

[Tunawholesaler]

Ive gone into the talent pool.....not sure what that means in terms of ever getting a job but there you go!

 

[Eduardo]

Ive gone into the talent pool.....not sure what that means in terms of ever getting a job but there you go!

Don't be disheartened Tuna. I'd say that's definately as a result.

You haven't failed the process, instead you'll be put on hold until they need a spot filling.

Things change on a daily basis. Personal circumstances, medical failures, people dropping out etc..

Two lads on my course were in the talent pool for several months.

Then got a call at very short notice.

If the call comes, it'll probably be out of the blue when you least expect it.

I was never placed in a talent pool, but I did get a phone call offering a spot on a course with only 12 days notice!

Thankfully my previous boss, a brilliant fella, let me go early with his full endorsement.

The waiting is a killer but you've done everything you can now.

 

[bassethound77]

Handy andy I've also just done the visual test for Hull vacancy. I reckon I got61 all correct out of 150. How did you do?

 

[Handyandy]

Chrispick1977 I think it was around 50.
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For the leeds vacancy