private train driver assessments

[lambretta lady]

I hear a rumour that the DBS assessment centre are going to be offering the train drivers assessment process to the general public in the coming weeks. Has anybody else heard anthing?

 

[SPADTrap]

Why would you when a TOC does it free, out of interest?

 

[TDK]

I hear a rumour that the DBS assessment centre are going to be offering the train drivers assessment process to the general public in the coming weeks. Has anybody else heard anthing?

The assessments are the easy part it is the TOC interview that is the hard part to pass.

 

[red2005]

wouldn't waste your money! did it with them a few years back and having passed the tests makes no difference if you're application isn't right!

I'd just apply straight to the toc and do it for free!...either way you've still gotta put a decent application in matey

 

[Withnailandi]

Lambretta Lady
Not heard this one but if true then go for it. It would show initiative in my opinion. Good luck if they do. Why not give them a call?

 

[Driver068]

If this is true, then would it go towards your 2 strike rule?

 

[GB]

Yes it will.

 

[bob hope]

Well here's an extract from an email I received a couple of years ago from the HR Director of a large TOC:

"I can confirm that currently the data from nationally recognised tests are maintained on a common database which the TOCs access to see if some one has already passed the tests.

I cannot comment on whether or not taking the tests privately would enhance your prospects as would still need to assess your overall capability and also consider internal applicants. However it does show personal initiative and would show you whether or not you have the type of profile to be a successful driver.

What ever you decide to do - I would like to wish you well."

As it happens a few weeks after receiving this email I was invited to assessments with another company which I eventually - after a very long process - got offered the job for.
In the meantime I had contacted the original TOC again - told them about my passes, went straight to interview and I was offered a job. Happy days.

Morale of the story - erm....
I believe anything you can do to stand out above the crowd can only be a positive. Put yourself in HR's position - if you have two equally good applications in front of you but one of the candidates has already passed the assessments, which one would you choose?

One caveat though - be careful if the your chosen TOC is Northern or possibly TPE (there maybe others). Northern can be a bit funny about accepting other companies passes and I believe they insist on their candidates doing the complete assessments with them only - they do not recognise part passes, and they will not allow you to take any part of a test if you have taken some other parts within the last 6 months (even if they are passess). Definitely check with them first.
Also bear in mind some TOC's & FOC's like to do additional tests over and above the standard ones...

 

[banku]

If yes , any rough idea that how much would they charge for it?

 

[red2005]

I paid 130 quid about 5 years ago......complete waste of money!

 

[Urobach]

I disagree with most of the above, it felt like I wasn't even being considered until I took the private tests. The next two I applied to both took me through to the managers interview and I'm now a driver.

 

[Johncleesefan]

I would always recommend standing out and doing anything that may be considered advantageous. If youre serious about thejob then thr answer should be obvious

 

[455driver]

Some TOCs wont accept the private results and will insist on you sitting them all again.
But then one TOC makes qualified drivers sit them!

 

[johnsonr380]

I'm sitting in a trainee driver pool, so not much help. Whilst waiting for a vacancy I done a free study at home course in race and diversity as I didn't have any recent qualifications. Not role specific but it went down quite well at the DM interview. The course was only two months long and not really time consuming.

My point being do as much as you can, it can't hurt.

 

[Todo Recto]

Does anyone have a website link to the private assessment centre ?

I've searched but can't find details.

Thanks

 

[TheVicLine]

I don't think anyone can really say conclusively if it helps or doesn't help, except maybe the HR departments and even they seem to vary from TOC to TOC. Can't see any advantage myself though.

Just because you pay for a test then get a job offer isn't proof that the reason you got a job offer was due to you paying for the test yourself. Part of the recruitment process is for the TOC to put you through the tests, they expect to do this and it this so I would say it is irrelevant to them either way.

Don't waste your money if you are good enough to get the job offer you will get it whether you pay for the test or they pay so why pay for it yourself?

 

[bob hope]

Advantages:

1 - You pick the date of your test (so no having to throw a sicky if you only get 7 days notice of an assessment day)
2 - You do all the tests in one day - many TOC's / FOC's split the assessments into two days - therefore more time off work.
3 - Nice people at DBSchenker, they'll put you at ease.
4 - It MAY get your application a push to the top of the pile.
5 - Free car park....

Disadvantages

1 - You have to pay for it

Your money - your choice.
If your application isn't good enough in the first place then its a waste of time and cash.

 

[TDK]

This is a complete waste of money and time, the only real way to get a trainee driver job is to apply with a TOC from scratch. I know of hundreds of people who a while back took the tests with most failing, the ones I know who did pay and pass did not get trainee drivers jobs.

 

[red2005]

It may look good on an application form but I seriously doubt it'll be the defining factor on whether you get through or not as I'd imagine they will look at far more important decision making criteria long before they get to see that you paid for assessments privately! Get the rest of the form spot on! The tests will take care of themselves!

 

[SkinnyDave]

I sat them at Donny and and passed and I passed out as a driver last week so I can only speak from my own experience and it worked for me..

 

[TheVicLine]

I sat them at Donny and and passed and I passed out as a driver last week so I can only speak from my own experience and it worked for me..

Would you be a train driver now if you hadn't paid for them yourself or do you think it makes no difference?

 

[SkinnyDave]

Would you be a train driver now if you hadn't paid for them yourself or do you think it makes no difference?

It did help me they invited me to Assesments then I rang them to remind them I had already done them and then I went through to DM interview..
My main motivation for doing it was to have a test run under exam conditions and get a chance to do them all at once and I done them with a bunch of Northern Trainees that were only doing half of them on the day..
It was quite weird as we lost half of them after only half an hour

 

[387star]

Amazing how many times this comes up

 

[SkinnyDave]

I'd also like to point out that as difficult the assesments can be the driver managers interview was the hardest part of the whole process and you can't sit that Privately!!
A lot of people get to manager interview stage and think they are clear and can see finishing line..
Think again

 

[Todo Recto]

Interesting thread. I guess there is no harm having a go if you are happy to pay the £££.

Does anyone have a link to further info on this ?

Where can you book the tests etc ?

Thanks

 

[red2005]

oh there is no harm whatsoever as I say I think it'll look pretty on an application form (should they even look at something like that on the form).......but in terms of advantage?.......not so much...... I can only talk from experience but I was already in the industry as a conductor and it didn't help me whatsoever! there are numerous things that have to be right with the application in general before privately taken assessments come into play

it'll also sound nice in an interview but you have still got to get there with a top application form.......and to be honest I would be VERY surprised if they even looked at things like private passes on the form as most companies make u take them again anyway and if they don't make you take them again that is generally because you have had to phone up and remind them that you have taken them when you receive the letter inviting you to the assessments lol

 

[TheVicLine]

Agree no harm in taking them yourself, but also no advantage so why waste your money?

Take them yourself and pass/fail them or let the TOC pay for you to take them and pass/fail them it's no different. It's the same test whether you pay or they pay and it won't have any negative effect on your application if you don't pay so why waste your time as you may never even get past the initial application stage.

 

[GB]

Advantages:

1 - You pick the date of your test (so no having to throw a sicky if you only get 7 days notice of an assessment day)

I thought you were supposed to have two weeks notice?

2 - You do all the tests in one day - many TOC's / FOC's split the assessments into two days

Doing everything in one day could also be seen as a disadvantage.

Disadvantages

1 - You have to pay for it

Your money - your choice.
If your application isn't good enough in the first place then its a waste of time and cash.

...an added disadvantage could be the TOC or FOC your applying for won't accept your test pass and make you sit them again or they may have more or different tests for you to do.

As you say...its your money so its your choice.

 

[Big Trainz]

Hi everyone.

I was informed if you passed all the Mandatory tests and you apply for another TOC they can't make you re - sit the tests as you have passed them within 6 months likewise if you fail them you have to wait 6 months before you can re - sit them

 

[TDK]

That all depends on what tests the TOC carries out and the requirement the TOC needs. It is by far better to apply and do the tests with a TOC. The only advantage is you will not have to take them if they are up to the standard the TOC requires.