Scotrail Trainee Drivers (Ongoing)

[Junk_girl]

So it looks like I will be starting on 21st Jan too

Absolutely buzzing is an understatement!!!! Thank you to everyone on this forum, the advice and information shared is fantastic.

It has been a long road but all the hard work has paid off .

Congrats to those progressing and also good luck.

And for those who haven’t been successful this time. Don’t give up!!!!! I have been there before but just keep going and hopefully it all works out!

 

[Methodical]

So it looks like I will be starting on 21st Jan too

Absolutely buzzing is an understatement!!!! Thank you to everyone on this forum, the advice and information shared is fantastic.

It has been a long road but all the hard work has paid off .

Congrats to those progressing and also good luck.

And for those who haven’t been successful this time. Don’t give up!!!!! I have been there before but just keep going and hopefully it all works out!

Congratulations , and the very best of luck .

 

[Junk_girl]

Congratulations , and the very best of luck .

Thank you so much! Best of luck to you too, you will smash stage 2

 

[S16]

Congrats Junk_girl!

Hopefully see you on the 21st!

 

[Junk_girl]

Woo hoo! Looking forward to it

 

[Braveheart]

You say you couldn't think of an example. It doesn't have to be from a work situation. And the question , say for example tell us a time you dealt with an emergency , doesn't mean blue light and sirens type. Could be you had to take a relative to hospital etc. Another question asked is tell us a time you had to follow rules and procedures. We do at work , if you drive then you follow the rules and procedures of the highway code , at school you had to follow the teachers/school rules. Think outside the box and good luck next time.

I gave a good example of rules & regulations etc, but even then, the interviewer scaled my answers down to the bone to every mundane detail. I was speaking to a driver friend of mine who said he found some of the questions they asked me, odd!

I contemplated making up an example but that wee voice in the back of my head was saying ‘don’t you fool...you’ll trip yourself up with your lies’ lol. If there is a next time, I’ll be doing just that.

 

[Braveheart]

I prepared for a whole week for my interview, watched every youtube video I could find, spoke to train drivers and DTMs, and still got asked things I wasn't expecting. They also asked things in a different manner to the examples I'd prepared, although they were essentially asking the same question. Instead of "Give me an example of a time when...." they would describe a scenario and ask you how you would respond, then lead you into an example from your own experience.

Sounds identical to myself bud. Visited 2 different depots, spoke to 2 different DTM’s, spoke with a driver friend, another friend who was further on in the process, looked up YouTube videos, looked up Scotrail’s web-site, material the DTM’s gave me, another friend who works for them & done driving even sent me the drivers handbook & signalling info. Many of my answers were out their own guidelines/regulations etc & it still wasn’t enough.

That’s what makes it more annoying. They were textbook answers. The frustrating thing is that they won’t give feedback!

 

[Highlandspring]

There’s a proverb, isn’t there - “A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing”. Perhaps you don’t know and understand as much about it as you think you do. Perhaps you struggled to convey the information you had learned in a meaningful way. Or perhaps, just perhaps, you came across as a bit of a smartarse.

 

[S16]

Not sure I'd have used that exact terminology Highlandspring, but I tend to agree somewhat that if your answers had been too rehearsed, perhaps that stood against you Braveheart?

I really felt that they didn't want to hear my rehearsed answers, and they only asked a few things about what I knew about the company. It was more about me as a person and my attitudes and experiences. Nerves and anticipation might have got the better of you on the day, I know mine almost did. But one huge positive is that you have an insight into what to possibly expect next time!

 

[Braveheart]

Not sure I'd have used that exact terminology Highlandspring, but I tend to agree somewhat that if your answers had been too rehearsed, perhaps that stood against you Braveheart?

I really felt that they didn't want to hear my rehearsed answers, and they only asked a few things about what I knew about the company. It was more about me as a person and my attitudes and experiences. Nerves and anticipation might have got the better of you on the day, I know mine almost did. But one huge positive is that you have an insight into what to possibly expect next time!

That has been playing on my mind. It felt like the more depth I gave them, the more they wanted. I thought putting all that effort in and showing how much of an effort you’d made, would pay off. I know I didn’t come across as a ‘smart arse’.

I was hoping they were wanting more info on the company because I’d looked up a lot of info that I didn’t get out.

Oh well....I’m in for another job with them to get the foot in the door. Fingers crossed.

 

[Nathen]

This is a similar timescale to mine .
The recruitment procedure seems, in some ways, a little haphazard.
The very best of luck to all who have offers already, but how do Abellio know that they are the best candidates for the jobs without completing all the other interviews first.?
Surely there is a decent chance that there are some excellent candidates still to complete the process, who may miss out on a position purely by the fortune or misfortune of the timing of their interview.?
This is in no way a dig at those fortunate enough to be chosen already, rather just a question of how the full process works.

I totally agree with that....as stated in my previous post

 

[DEvans]

Good afternoon all.

I’ve recently passed the first interview. I’m now invited for a day at the assessment centre and then the MMI interview.

Any advice and guidance would be received gratefully.

DE

 

[S16]

Good afternoon all.

I’ve recently passed the first interview. I’m now invited for a day at the assessment centre and then the MMI interview.

Any advice and guidance would be received gratefully.

DE

Well done!

Best advice I can give you is to practice the materials you've been provided with and when it comes to the joystick test on the day, really take your time on the practice session and get a feel for the sensitivity. If you've practiced how to give STAR answers your MMI should be relatively straight forward.

Best of luck

 

[DEvans]

Thank you. The STAR response is well practised. I’ve taken and passed some of the tests.

The MMI interview covers certain questions/situations?

DE

 

[S16]

The MMI interview covers certain questions/situations?

Yes, you have a brief introduction then its straight into the questions. My MMI lasted about 45 mins and if I mind right there were 6 questions.

 

[DEvans]

Thank you for that.

 

[Hapless]

That has been playing on my mind. It felt like the more depth I gave them, the more they wanted. I thought putting all that effort in and showing how much of an effort you’d made, would pay off. I know I didn’t come across as a ‘smart arse’.

I was hoping they were wanting more info on the company because I’d looked up a lot of info that I didn’t get out.

Oh well....I’m in for another job with them to get the foot in the door. Fingers crossed.

I was on the assessment days with S16, couldn't post on here as a few in my work are on here and didn't want word to get out until I had passed medical, too late it seems, told my gaffer today as the rumour mill was in full flow.
Anyway, in my interview I was getting quizzed on the things I knew through research and they tried to pick it apart, I actually said that I stopped researching as I didn't want to start training with pre conceived ideas of what I think I know. Stopped the questions and I start 21st (dependant on medical, but I'm a fine specimen......) so guess it worked.

 

[DEvans]

Congratulations.

Thank you for the advice. It’s a very good point made, being honest. May I ask, how far into the interview did you make your honesty known, out of interest?

 

[S16]

Well done Hapless!

Good luck with your medical

 

[Methodical]

I was on the assessment days with S16, couldn't post on here as a few in my work are on here and didn't want word to get out until I had passed medical, too late it seems, told my gaffer today as the rumour mill was in full flow.
Anyway, in my interview I was getting quizzed on the things I knew through research and they tried to pick it apart, I actually said that I stopped researching as I didn't want to start training with pre conceived ideas of what I think I know. Stopped the questions and I start 21st (dependant on medical, but I'm a fine specimen......) so guess it worked.

Well done @Hapless , many congrats and good luck

 

[Junk_girl]

Well done Hapless. . Good luck for the medical. It is pretty straight forward.

Hopefully see you on the 21st also.

 

[DEvans]

Hello all.

Out of interest. What lines are people applying for? I’d be interested to know the most popular?

 

[Prober]

Have the guys who have been through medicals received contracts soon after?

 

[Junk_girl]

Took me 2 weeks and 1 day to get my contract in after my medical. Received it yesterday

 

[Sportman]

Looking to start pursuing a career as a train driver as I believe it is the right time in my life. Heard a rumour that the trainee roles at Dundee are opening up again soon and also for the positions in Mallaig. Can anyone shed any light on these or any other trainee driver role opportunities to open up soon?

 

[Prober]

Took me 2 weeks and 1 day to get my contract in after my medical. Received it yesterday

Cheers for reply junk_girl, medical next week but trying to calculate notice period. Fingers crossed

 

[Junk_girl]

Cheers for reply junk_girl, medical next week but trying to calculate notice period. Fingers crossed

No worries!! That was just my timescale but everyone might be different. Where you going to be based?

 

[Prober]

Presuming everything good next week ive been told Motherwell

 

[Junk_girl]

Brilliant! Same keep me posted and I am sure I will see you on the 21st Jan

 

[S16]

Hi Prober, I sat my medical on Monday so will let you know as soon as I hear anything. I believe they're trying to move very quickly for Motherwell's positions.

Sportman, there was a shortage of applicants for Mallaig so if that's an area you're interested in then definitely keep your eyes peeled for it being advertised again, or even call/visit Queen Street and ask to speak to the manager for that area.