OBS Role With Govia Thameslink Railways - Brighton base

[brighonboi]

Hi have an interview next week for an OBS role out of Brighton (not sure if the roles are on Southern, Thameslink or Gatwick Express).

I was wondering if anyone currently in the role on here can advise on the shift pattens that the role requires, are there different shift patterns that you can opt for, or does everyone work the same shift pattern.

Also, the interview in a competence based interview with two people, lasting 45mins to an hour. Are there any interview pointers that you can give.

Finally, what is your view of the job and the company?

Thanks!

 

[Horizon22]

Hi have an interview next week for an OBS role out of Brighton (not sure if the roles are on Southern, Thameslink or Gatwick Express).

I was wondering if anyone currently in the role on here can advise on the shift pattens that the role requires, are there different shift patterns that you can opt for, or does everyone work the same shift pattern.

Also, the interview in a competence based interview with two people, lasting 45mins to an hour. Are there any interview pointers that you can give.

Finally, what is your view of the job and the company?

Thanks!

The OBS role is just Southern.

Shift patterns will vary, but you'd be looking at anything from starting before 0500 to finishing after 0100 on ~8 hour shifts. You will have a set roster that will rotate every X weeks and you'll need to follow. You can't "opt" for anything, however you may be able to swap with colleagues.

Best practice for a competency based interview is to follow the 'STAR' interview process.

As for the company, we will see if any current colleagues are around to give their view.

 

[brighonboi]

Thank you so much. I have a friend who is a train manager at GWR, and I know that he has opted to do all late shifts, they don't work Sundays unless as overtime, but I believe that GTL is different after the industrial action of a few years ago. I am currently a bus driver for Brighton and Hove buses, which is also a G-Ahead company, the standard shift is a 5 day week, with two days off, but not necessarily together, and then, once a month, 4 days off over a weekend. However, if you go on a list, and wait a few years, you can go onto a 4 on 4 of shift as there are various other options, so I was wondering if the GTL OBS are similar. I had read on this bread that the shift was 7 on earlier, 2 off, 7 on lates, 5 off repeating, so i was just wondering if that was the case.
The early and lates starts and finishes are much like my bus role.

 

[winks]

OBS salary £39,648 once fully qualified. Pretty good but you’ll need that if you live in Brighton!

 

[Sly Sloth]

booking on times vary from 4am starts to 2.30am finishes with night turns still on a Saturday! Turns vary from 6 hours upto 11 hours in length! You’ll work southern trains most of the time covering Gatwick Express when needed but nothing with Thameslink except when you pass to/from Haywards Heath.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Dec 2024 ==

Job is good for money

 

[brighonboi]

booking on times vary from 4am starts to 2.30am finishes with night turns still on a Saturday! Turns vary from 6 hours upto 11 hours in length! You’ll work southern trains most of the time covering Gatwick Express when needed but nothing with Thameslink except when you pass to/from Haywards Heath.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Dec 2024 ==

Job is good for money

Thanks! What is a 'night turn'?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Dec 2024 ==

Thanks for your help. At the next stage after medical and contract arrives there is referencing. What does that entail?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Dec 2024 ==

The OBS role is just Southern.

Shift patterns will vary, but you'd be looking at anything from starting before 0500 to finishing after 0100 on ~8 hour shifts. You will have a set roster that will rotate every X weeks and you'll need to follow. You can't "opt" for anything, however you may be able to swap with colleagues.

Best practice for a competency based interview is to follow the 'STAR' interview process.

As for the company, we will see if any current colleagues are around to give their view.

Thanks for your help. At the next stage after medical and contract arrives there is referencing. What does that entail?

 

[Horizon22]

Thanks! What is a 'night turn'?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Dec 2024 ==

Thanks for your help. At the next stage after medical and contract arrives there is referencing. What does that entail?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Dec 2024 ==


Thanks for your help. At the next stage after medical and contract arrives there is referencing. What does that entail?

Referencing is just that - background checks, and contacting your references I would imagine.

 

[Sly Sloth]

Thanks! What is a 'night turn'?

Brighton to Victoria then to Three Bridges and back (maybe twice) then back to Brighton Sunday morning on the 4/5.02

 

[whoosh]

Thanks! What is a 'night turn'?

A 'turn' / 'turn of duty' / 'duty'

Your shift for the day (or night).