Southeastern Conductor Talent Pool

[SEC20]

Hey everyone. I am currently in the hold pool with Southeastern for a Conductor role. Just seeing if there is anyone else out there in the same position waiting for a start date?

Also if anyone has any information they'd like to share that would be great.

 

[PaulJ]

I believe there are start dates on 7 September and 7 October. I’ve been offered a position, subject to successful medical. A medical has been arranged for 11 August and I can’t give in notice to existing employer without knowing the medical outcome. Looks like I’ll be on the October intake. I’d like to know what the training looks like. As far as I know, it starts with 2 months at either Ashford or Orpington. Can anyone elaborate?

 

[SEC20]

Great to hear you have been offered a position, hope all goes well with your medical! When did you find out about your medical?

 

[Blackkat]

Hey everyone. I am currently in the hold pool with Southeastern for a Conductor role. Just seeing if there is anyone else out there in the same position waiting for a start date?

Also if anyone has any information they'd like to share that would be great.

Can i ask what location you applied for?

I applied for Tonbridge and i have only just completed the online assessments and awaiting my results.... can i ask when you did apply?

congratulation for getting a position.

 

[PaulJ]

I received a call last week regarding medical arrangements. I applied for Ramsgate, although Faversham would also suit.

 

[Blackkat]

Hi can anyone tell me the next stage after you are successful from the online assessments please.
Thanks!

 

[CFRAIL]

Application, online assessments, assessment centre (more assessments and a role play exercise), interview with depot manager(s) and then a medical. Classroom training is Monday to Friday 09:00-15:00/16:00 for around 7/8 weeks (although currently some is being done via Teams), then to depot where you'll work with a Conductor Instructor and learn your routes before passing out.

 

[Blackkat]

Application, online assessments, assessment centre (more assessments and a role play exercise), interview with depot manager(s) and then a medical. Classroom training is Monday to Friday 09:00-15:00/16:00 for around 7/8 weeks (although currently some is being done via Teams), then to depot where you'll work with a Conductor Instructor and learn your routes before passing out.

Thanks for the reply.. can i ask what are the assessments at the assessment centre? are they the OPC ones from a driver?

thank you

 

[CFRAIL]

Thanks for the reply.. can i ask what are the assessments at the assessment centre? are they the OPC ones from a driver?

thank you

They're similar to the online ones. There's a simple 'maths' based one where you deal with timetables and ticket sales. Also did the group bourdon and a ticket checking/customer service role play

 

[Blackkat]

They're similar to the online ones. There's a simple 'maths' based one where you deal with timetables and ticket sales. Also did the group bourdon and a ticket checking/customer service role play

GREAT
THANKS SO MUCH!

 

[SEC20]

I believe there are start dates on 7 September and 7 October. I’ve been offered a position, subject to successful medical. A medical has been arranged for 11 August and I can’t give in notice to existing employer without knowing the medical outcome. Looks like I’ll be on the October intake. I’d like to know what the training looks like. As far as I know, it starts with 2 months at either Ashford or Orpington. Can anyone elaborate?

Good luck with your medical tomorrow. Let us know how it goes.

 

[PaulJ]

Oh thanks for asking. So, you fill a cup with urine which is sent away for drugs testing. Blood pressure taken. Breathalyser test. Hearing test. Eyesight test. Questions asked around medical history/any surgery/any ailments. Took just over an hour. Apparently I’m slightly deficient in hearing out of one ear. I’d never had a hearing test before and didn’t really know what to expect. Effectively you go into a soundproof booth and put headphones on. Different tonal frequencies are played - one ear at a time - and you press a button when you hear them. I’m told my slightly deficient hearing in one ear won’t be an issue. Everything else was all good and I should hear the result of the drugs test in 3/4 days, but don’t expect any issues!!

 

[Sri141]

I'm in the talent pool for Faversham, just waiting to here back about dates for a medical

 

[Sri141]

Has anyone else applied for Faversham?

 

[SEC20]

Oh thanks for asking. So, you fill a cup with urine which is sent away for drugs testing. Blood pressure taken. Breathalyser test. Hearing test. Eyesight test. Questions asked around medical history/any surgery/any ailments. Took just over an hour. Apparently I’m slightly deficient in hearing out of one ear. I’d never had a hearing test before and didn’t really know what to expect. Effectively you go into a soundproof booth and put headphones on. Different tonal frequencies are played - one ear at a time - and you press a button when you hear them. I’m told my slightly deficient hearing in one ear won’t be an issue. Everything else was all good and I should hear the result of the drugs test in 3/4 days, but don’t expect any issues!!

Wow! Thanks for the details that is great to know. Hope all has gone well and you've passed. Hopefully you hear confirmation of your start date soon.

I'm in the talent pool for Faversham, just waiting to here back about dates for a medical

Hopefully we all hear soon about a date for a medical.

 

[Sri141]

Anybody heard anything recently?

 

[PaulJ]

Anybody heard anything recently?

No, not yet. Where are you in the process?

 

[Sri141]

No, not yet. Where are you in the process?

Still waiting for a date for the medical

 

[Rossim83]

Hi,
I too am waiting for a medical and start date I think, been a long process but had my interview with depot managers on 3rd August and was successful but haven’t heard anything more

 

[Sri141]

Hi,
I too am waiting for a medical and start date I think, been a long process but had my interview with depot managers on 3rd August and was successful but haven’t heard anything more

What depot have you applied for?

 

[Rossim83]

What depot have you applied for?

Gillingham

 

[Sri141]

I emailed southeastern today and all I was told is that when vacancies for our selected depots are available, our applications will go forward. I guess we just have to be patient

 

[Rossim83]

Yeh I have a friend who already works at the Faversham depot and he said some people can wait over a year in the talent pool but others may only wait a month just depends on position becoming available

 

[Blackkat]

No, not yet. Where are you in the process?

Wow so you’ve had the medical and still not been given a start date!

 

[PaulJ]

Wow so you’ve had the medical and still not been given a start date!

I think there’s a slight delay due to holidays etc

 

[CFRAIL]

It took me around 2 years from application to joining. Assessment centre was October 2017, interview was October 2018, medical May 2019 and started on 1st July 2019.

 

[SEC20]

Still not heard anything here, can't wait to get started so hope some news comes soon!!

 

[PaulJ]

It took me around 2 years from application to joining. Assessment centre was October 2017, interview was October 2018, medical May 2019 and started on 1st July 2019.

Can I ask where you’re based? How long does it take from the end of class based training to formally passing out? What have been the highs and lows for you over the last year? Any regrets?

 

[CFRAIL]

Can I ask where you’re based? How long does it take from the end of class based training to formally passing out? What have been the highs and lows for you over the last year? Any regrets?

Evening, I'm based at Faversham. It took me around 4 weeks from finishing classroom training to passing out, but generally will take as long as you need and is depot dependent due to routes etc too... So for example, at Faversham, we sign 9 routes. I believe Ramsgate (for example) sign 14/15 routes so naturally is likely to take longer to pass out. No regrets really if I'm honest, maybe should've joined years ago but that's about it. Passing out I'd say was my high. As for lows, I'd say dealing with those that despite you treating them with decency and respect, still treat you appallingly. Also getting caught up in disruption without much information to pass on to passengers is frustrating.

 

[PaulJ]

Evening, I'm based at Faversham. It took me around 4 weeks from finishing classroom training to passing out, but generally will take as long as you need and is depot dependent due to routes etc too... So for example, at Faversham, we sign 9 routes. I believe Ramsgate (for example) sign 14/15 routes so naturally is likely to take longer to pass out. No regrets really if I'm honest, maybe should've joined years ago but that's about it. Passing out I'd say was my high. As for lows, I'd say dealing with those that despite you treating them with decency and respect, still treat you appallingly. Also getting caught up in disruption without much information to pass on to passengers is frustrating.

That’s great to hear - thank you. I wonder what drop out rate there is - either people not making the grade, or deciding the job is not for them? Slightly mercenary question! Clearly the salary is basic throughout the training period, but at what point is the salary increased to the usual rate?