South Eastern Trainee Driver Assessment

[Justjaymo1]

Hi Everyone,
Tomorrow i sit my assessment for trainee driver, thank you all for the information on here, its been very helpful.
Any last minute advice appreciated and i was also wondering if anyone knows how long i would have to wait for the next stage (roughly) if i do pass tomorrow.

Many Thanks.

 

[ComUtoR]

First and foremost; relax.

Get a decent nights sleep and ensure you are well rested and have a good breakfast in the morning. Plan the journey to the testing center and make sure it is stress free and you arrive early. Get yourself into the building and meet and greet other candidates and the assessors. You want no stress of any kind on the day so getting there early will enable you to familiarize yourself with the environment.

Physical and mental preparation can make a big difference to performance.

 

[Futuredriver77]

Hey Justjaymo1.

Firstly well done for making the assessment centre. That is half the battle just to get seen!
Be prepared for a full day if you pass all the elements, It works as a knock out system for each section so they would not ask you to stay for the next assessment if you did not pass that particular stage.
The last part of the day is the Multi Modal Interview which lasts around two hours.

I passed the assessment centre and MMI at the end of last year, but still waiting on a Driver Manager Interview, but understand there is a recruitment freeze on at certain depots, which means that I probably won't go forward this year. It is a very slow process so just a matter of being patient and putting it to the back of your mind while waiting I think.

All the best of luck for tomorrow!

 

[Nobby]

From the feedback on here about peoples' experiences with the process, it's incredible that there are any train drivers at all. Or is it just certain TOC's that are oversubscribing trainees and keeping them dangling for months and months on end?

 

[ComUtoR]

Or is it just certain TOC's that are oversubscribing trainees and keeping them dangling for months and months on end?

Talent pools are evil.

 

[Justjaymo1]

Hey Justjaymo1.

Firstly well done for making the assessment centre. That is half the battle just to get seen!
Be prepared for a full day if you pass all the elements, It works as a knock out system for each section so they would not ask you to stay for the next assessment if you did not pass that particular stage.
The last part of the day is the Multi Modal Interview which lasts around two hours.

I passed the assessment centre and MMI at the end of last year, but still waiting on a Driver Manager Interview, but understand there is a recruitment freeze on at certain depots, which means that I probably won't go forward this year. It is a very slow process so just a matter of being patient and putting it to the back of your mind while waiting I think.

All the best of luck for tomorrow!

Thank you, i've waited just under 2 years since applying.

Anything that you found a little more difficult than you thought you would?

 

[Futuredriver77]

Thank you, i've waited just under 2 years since applying.

Anything that you found a little more difficult than you thought you would?

I didn't find anything particularly difficult.
As long as you have at least read through the training materials and done some practice tests, the thing to remember is stay calm, and if you think you missed something - do not dwell on it, as it is very fast paced and you need to keep in the moment.

I'm now approaching 3 and a half years since my initial application for future opportunities, so really hope they progress me soon as I think that is long enough !

 

[Dot2018]

Good luck dude. Make sure you know a bit about each test before you arrive. Presumably you’ve been doing that anyway

 

[Justjaymo1]

i passed everything but the dot test, gutted because i know i could of gone quicker, was concentrating on accuracy.

I would say to anyone doing it to concentrate on that because as long as you have a brain cell the rest is pretty straight forward. The beeps whilst searching for information is a little tricky but its just about making yourself comfortable and getting a counting pattern going.

 

[Nobby]

i passed everything but the dot test, gutted because i know i could of gone quicker, was concentrating on accuracy.

I would say to anyone doing it to concentrate on that because as long as you have a brain cell the rest is pretty straight forward. The beeps whilst searching for information is a little tricky but its just about making yourself comfortable and getting a counting pattern going.

You failed on speed? I didn't think they told people the details?

 

[Justjaymo1]

You failed on speed? I didn't think they told people the details?

Yea, i didn't do enough lines down on the dot test.

 

[Nobby]

That's hard. Sorry. How many did you manage on each sheet do you think?

 

[Justjaymo1]

Between 4 and 5 i think, i could of done quicker....i will try again asap. The rest is just reading the info in front of you and acting on it, mentally a little tiring but pretty straight forward.

 

[Joliver]

Between 4 and 5 i think, i could of done quicker....i will try again asap. The rest is just reading the info in front of you and acting on it, mentally a little tiring but pretty straight forward.

Sorry that you failed. You'll have to wait 6 months now before you can re-sit.

 

[Nobby]

Between 4 and 5 i think, i could of done quicker....i will try again asap. The rest is just reading the info in front of you and acting on it, mentally a little tiring but pretty straight forward.

I think you have to aim for about 8 or 9 lines to be on the safe side - aswell as being accurate of course. Tough test.

 

[Futuredriver77]

Sorry to hear that you didn't pass on this occasion.
The Bourdon test can often be the thing that causes many people to struggle. You can guy blank test books cheaply from Amazon if you want to practice and try again. Sorry to hear mate!

 

[Driver2B]

Hello all,

Congratulations to all those who did well on their assessment days and condolences to those who weren't successful!

I have received an e-mail from Southeastern to confirm that I've passed the sift and will be invited to their assessment centre, but they'll let me know nearer the time. (Related to a trainee driver role)

I wish to spend as much time as possible practising to I wonder if people can advise me what tests they have (I know that they will provide training materials, but I'd like to make an early start). From the above, it appears to be Group Bourdon? Is that correct? Does that mean not SCAAT?

What other tests were there?

Many thanks in advance to everybody with an answer!

 

[Greaseball3220]

Good luck, failed the dots years back for focusing on accuracy thinking they were looking for that above speed, speed and accuracy and at least 3/5 of the way down on each section and you'll be fine, worked for me second time round.

 

[Driver2B]

Good luck, failed the dots years back for focusing on accuracy thinking they were looking for that above speed, speed and accuracy and at least 3/5 of the way down on each section and you'll be fine, worked for me second time round.

Glad to hear that you passed second time!

That's why I want plenty of practise! Was it with Southeastern?

 

[Greaseball3220]

Glad to hear that you passed second time!

That's why I want plenty of practise! Was it with Southeastern?

No.Chiltern, OPC level pass but didn't make stage 2 as Chiltern had the 'enhanced pass rate' thing going on, bittersweet as you can imagine, would have been impossible to do more lines so maybe it's just a way of whittling down applicants to specifically chosen ones.

 

[Driver2B]

No.Chiltern, OPC level pass but didn't make stage 2 as Chiltern had the 'enhanced pass rate' thing going on, bittersweet as you can imagine, would have been impossible to do more lines so maybe it's just a way of whittling down applicants to specifically chosen ones.

Oh, really sorry to hear that mate!

Hope you manage to find a non-enhanced TOC to take you on.

 

[Theooboy]

Hello guys I know I’m abit late , but can anyone breakdown the process because I’ve just been put in the pool and wondering what happenes next thanks

 

[GMT]

Hello guys I know I’m abit late , but can anyone breakdown the process because I’ve just been put in the pool and wondering what happenes next thanks

First and foremost stay in the shallow end of the pool, safety in the railway industry is top priority. Secondly buy an anti mould spray, you may wait there for ages. I applied for a post of trainee shunter driver for Southeastern about three years ago, I'm still in the pool, my fingers are all wrinkly.

Jokes apart, did they put you in the pool after all the assessments and interviews or before sitting them? If it's the former your case, congratulations and just be patient, I would say you have one foot in the job, providing you pass the medical test. If the latter is your case (congratulations all the same), again, be patient, sooner or later they will call you for assessments and interviews, but it may be a long way. As far as I gathered, with Southeastern it is assessment centre and MMI on the same day. Then they call you for the driver manager interview, and lastly for the medical assessment.

Browse through this forum, you will find all the answers you need, and more.

 

[Teddyward]

Hello guys I know I’m abit late , but can anyone breakdown the process because I’ve just been put in the pool and wondering what happenes next thanks

I’ve been in a pool for dartford for a little while. Maybe 3 months? No timescale just sit tight and wait. I updated hr couple weeks ago I’d passed all the psychometrics and this was acknowledged quickly with thanks so if you have a reasonable question drop them a message.

 

[Rhia]

Hi guys. Have Any if you Already completed the assessment centre stage as I have one upcoming and would appreciate any help any of you can give please. Thanks in advance ☺️

 

[tempuser]

Hi,

Have you got a date for your South Eastern assessment? I'm waiting on a date myself.