Southeastern - Trainee Driver - Recruitment Discussion

[Pablo 45]

No, I don’t recall doing the WCT

Ok great

 

[Purplerain77]

Hi guys, applied for Tonbridge in October. Still waiting on an assessment date but I know that it maybe be another year before I hear back nice going through this thread though and looking at what I'll be doing at some point hopefully soon. Crazy how differing peoples timelines are though, I know someone that applied at the same time and got an assessment date booked the next day, currently in training now. Few questions. First mainly for any women on here but happy to have anyone reply, what do I wear to the date? Being a female really not sure what to do. Secondly, how long is the day? Assuming everything goes well is it like 9-4 scenario or are the written and computer parts done on separate days?

 

[CFRAIL]

Hi guys, applied for Tonbridge in October. Still waiting on an assessment date but I know that it maybe be another year before I hear back nice going through this thread though and looking at what I'll be doing at some point hopefully soon. Crazy how differing peoples timelines are though, I know someone that applied at the same time and got an assessment date booked the next day, currently in training now. Few questions. First mainly for any women on here but happy to have anyone reply, what do I wear to the date? Being a female really not sure what to do. Secondly, how long is the day? Assuming everything goes well is it like 9-4 scenario or are the written and computer parts done on separate days?

Morning,

I'll leave any ladies to respond as appropriate for what to wear, although on my day it appeared to be trousers and a top.

Lots depends on the depot you've applied for and the turnover of drivers, some locations have a higher turnover. Some of the recruitment is based on assumptions that people will leave/retire and when that doesn't happen it creates a bit of a bottleneck. Some people wait years and years from applying to starting training and others can get through in less than a year. Perhaps to help manage expectations, I applied in June 2024 and I'm still waiting for both interviews.

As for the day, if all goes well you're likely to be there from around 08:45 until around 15:00, but I believe this can vary depending on how many candidates are there on the day and also how many do well. On my day, I'd say it was around 20/25% success rate. We did all of the required assessments (barring MMI) on the same day.

Good luck for when the time comes.

 

[blabberhaus]

Hi guys, applied for Tonbridge in October. Still waiting on an assessment date but I know that it maybe be another year before I hear back nice going through this thread though and looking at what I'll be doing at some point hopefully soon. Crazy how differing peoples timelines are though, I know someone that applied at the same time and got an assessment date booked the next day, currently in training now. Few questions. First mainly for any women on here but happy to have anyone reply, what do I wear to the date? Being a female really not sure what to do. Secondly, how long is the day? Assuming everything goes well is it like 9-4 scenario or are the written and computer parts done on separate days?

Hi! Fellow female here I wore black trousers, black shoes and either a white shirt or a smart, unfancy top (been to Ashford a few times now). You're likely be there 10-4pm depending on how you get on. There's a fair amount of sitting around between tests while they go through them, so bring a book. Good luck!

 

[newbiewannabe]

Morning,

I'll leave any ladies to respond as appropriate for what to wear, although on my day it appeared to be trousers and a top.

Lots depends on the depot you've applied for and the turnover of drivers, some locations have a higher turnover. Some of the recruitment is based on assumptions that people will leave/retire and when that doesn't happen it creates a bit of a bottleneck. Some people wait years and years from applying to starting training and others can get through in less than a year. Perhaps to help manage expectations, I applied in June 2024 and I'm still waiting for both interviews.

As for the day, if all goes well you're likely to be there from around 08:45 until around 15:00, but I believe this can vary depending on how many candidates are there on the day and also how many do well. On my day, I'd say it was around 20/25% success rate. We did all of the required assessments (barring MMI) on the same day.

Good luck for when the time comes.

I also applied in June 24 and still waiting on interviews. Last week I spoke to a trainee driver at my chosen depot who only applied last summer and is already on the course! I emailed recruitment explaining this and asked if I’d been overlooked and pushed back for some reason and all they could say was I’m still in the talent pool. Seems a bit unfair to me and I’m fearing it could be because of my age (47) so who knows how the process works.

 

[Brickz]

I also applied in June 24 and still waiting on interviews. Last week I spoke to a trainee driver at my chosen depot who only applied last summer and is already on the course! I emailed recruitment explaining this and asked if I’d been overlooked and pushed back for some reason and all they could say was I’m still in the talent pool. Seems a bit unfair to me and I’m fearing it could be because of my age (47) so who knows how the process works.

Im 35 and had same issue but the whole time I've just been applying for any toc/foc that I'm within the travel distance and now due to start in April with another company. All my in person OPC stuff has been done via other toc and foc, I've had all my passes including the MMI since July last year which southeastern knew as I updated them as and when I passed the assessments but still no sign of a DMI. I'm also within the travel distance to three of there depots.
You're best off applying for all that your within distance too as then gives you the more options.

 

[mickeyC]

I also applied in June 24 and still waiting on interviews. Last week I spoke to a trainee driver at my chosen depot who only applied last summer and is already on the course! I emailed recruitment explaining this and asked if I’d been overlooked and pushed back for some reason and all they could say was I’m still in the talent pool. Seems a bit unfair to me and I’m fearing it could be because of my age (47) so who knows how the process works.

Don’t give up hope yet.
It’s a painfully long process. I’m a June 2024 applicant and after completing the first online test in June 2024 I heard nothing till Late October 2025 and since mid November it’s just accelerated at a fast pace.
DMI in January, medical and MMI in Feb and I’m now booked on the April course.

 

[CFRAIL]

I also applied in June 24 and still waiting on interviews. Last week I spoke to a trainee driver at my chosen depot who only applied last summer and is already on the course! I emailed recruitment explaining this and asked if I’d been overlooked and pushed back for some reason and all they could say was I’m still in the talent pool. Seems a bit unfair to me and I’m fearing it could be because of my age (47) so who knows how the process works.

I don't think they make it clear how the process works, perhaps it could be that our assessments are scored somehow and they use that to determine who starts when etc... I'm internal and applied the same time as a colleague, I've had assessments and he's still waiting so I wouldn't read too much into it.

 

[martinpage23]

Morning All, reading all this has made me wonder if i am in the right mind set for it. everyone seems very excited and always wanted to do the driver job. I did apply as fancied it and got through to having an assessment booked in a couple of weeks. But my knowledge of the southeastern is very limited and i was surprised i even got down from the 16000 that applied to the 3000 that have the assessment day booked. i Get very nervous for tests and also just wondering if i want to put my self through it being that if i fail i would not be the end of the world. others on here seem so keen i just don't think i am in the right mind set....

 

[newbiewannabe]

Im 35 and had same issue but the whole time I've just been applying for any toc/foc that I'm within the travel distance and now due to start in April with another company. All my in person OPC stuff has been done via other toc and foc, I've had all my passes including the MMI since July last year which southeastern knew as I updated them as and when I passed the assessments but still no sign of a DMI. I'm also within the travel distance to three of there depots.
You're best off applying for all that your within distance too as then gives you the more options.

Thanks for the advice. I’m going to do the same. It’s just frustrating to find out somebody that applied a year after me at my chosen depot has got the job and is already on the course. Good luck!

 

[Chibi_robo]

I also applied in June 24 and still waiting on interviews. Last week I spoke to a trainee driver at my chosen depot who only applied last summer and is already on the course! I emailed recruitment explaining this and asked if I’d been overlooked and pushed back for some reason and all they could say was I’m still in the talent pool. Seems a bit unfair to me and I’m fearing it could be because of my age (47) so who knows how the process works.

Same. I'm super paranoid it's because I'm 46. Applied July 24, passed my assessments and MMI in August 25. They said at the time my chosen depot would likely be January 26 and I'm still waiting with no idea where I am on the wait list for DMI or even how it's organised.

 

[newbiewannabe]

Don’t give up hope yet.
It’s a painfully long process. I’m a June 2024 applicant and after completing the first online test in June 2024 I heard nothing till Late October 2025 and since mid November it’s just accelerated at a fast pace.
DMI in January, medical and MMI in Feb and I’m now booked on the April course.

That’s brilliant. I was hoping mine would speed up after I passed my assessments in September then I thought things would get moving after I did the Arctic Shores assessments four weeks ago and there’s been nothing so far. I’m still hanging in there as I really want this job, I’m just using the extra time to read up on as much information about the company as I can and get it branded on my brain for when I finally do get an interview date. Congratulations mate and good luck!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Feb 2026 ==

I don't think they make it clear how the process works, perhaps it could be that our assessments are scored somehow and they use that to determine who starts when etc... I'm internal and applied the same time as a colleague, I've had assessments and he's still waiting so I wouldn't read too much into it.

Trust me, I’m trying not to. Guess I’m just getting frustrated cause I want to get the interviews done and get cracking if I pass!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Feb 2026 ==

Same. I'm super paranoid it's because I'm 46. Applied July 24, passed my assessments and MMI in August 25. They said at the time my chosen depot would likely be January 26 and I'm still waiting with no idea where I am on the wait list for DMI or even how it's organised.

I know the feeling!!!

 

[blabberhaus]

I wouldn't worry about the individual points. Nnkng them three values is key, and then elaborating how you meet these key values a d how you demonstrate how you do XYZ. Everyone's DMI process seems to be slightly different guess it depends on depo managers. Mine where very by the book and regemented, where I've heard others say it's very casual

I don't think I responded to this, but thanks for the tips! I've now got my DMI date and am trying to crowbar all the info into my feeble brain. I'm coming from an industry where most interviews are 'vibes based' and not very professional, so the DMI is both daunting and reassuringly thorough?

 

[Gul]

Applied back in July 2024, did the M7SJT in August 2024 and have been waiting for an assessment day since. This week had an invite for Arctic Shores, so looks like they are starting to send these out to old applicants who haven't yet been to the assessment day.

 

[CFRAIL]

Applied back in July 2024, did the M7SJT in August 2024 and have been waiting for an assessment day since. This week had an invite for Arctic Shores, so looks like they are starting to send these out to old applicants who haven't yet been to the assessment day.

Good luck for your Arctic Shores, I found them relatively straight forward although one of them was certainly more tricky than the other.

I did my assessment centre prior to Arctic Shores, but it sounds like there's some movement for you finally.

 

[Savanuoris]

Good luck for your Arctic Shores, I found them relatively straight forward although one of them was certainly more tricky than the other.

I did my assessment centre prior to Arctic Shores, but it sounds like there's some movement for you finally.

Hiya, would you be able to shed some light on what to expect from Arctic Shores? How many tests are there in total, and how long does it take?

 

[typicalalex1]

Hiya, would you be able to shed some light on what to expect from Arctic Shores? How many tests are there in total, and how long does it take?

I found the assessment days to be quite easy as I had prepared a lot for them. But I found Arctic Shores quite challenging to be honest, though the results at the end suggested I did extremely well.
You cannot prepare for those tests, you're either good at them or you're not. They're just designed to see how your brain works. They say it isn't a pass or fail type of test.
3 tests with practices at the start. Took about 30 minutes I think.

 

[Gul]

Hiya, would you be able to shed some light on what to expect from Arctic Shores? How many tests are there in total, and how long does it take?

3 tests with practices at the start. Took about 30 minutes I think.

Took me just over 30 mins too, you get feedback straight after although as typicalalex1 says, they say it's not pass/fail.
I think the tests are also designed to see how you react if you make a mistake, so just keep calm and reset if it starts to get tricky.

 

[CFRAIL]

Hiya, would you be able to shed some light on what to expect from Arctic Shores? How many tests are there in total, and how long does it take?

I only did 2 of the 3, because I'd previously sat Arctic Shores for another role and they deemed one of them was the same/similar so I only needed to do 2. As others have stated they're not a pass/fail and the feedback afterwards is instant and mine seemed fine.

As for the tests, one was essentially a puzzle; continue the pattern, place the shape in the correct position, correct orientation, correct colour etc...
The other was a series of shapes; rounded sides on some, straight edges on others, some contained odd numbers, others contained even numbers, react as necessary.

 

[mickeyC]

Well that’s my contract all signed and I officially start the training course 27th April
I’m over the moon

 

[stbtraindriver]

Has anyone heard back from southeastern after doing the artic shore assessment?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Feb 2026 ==

Well that’s my contract all signed and I officially start the training course 27th April
I’m over the moon

Congratulations!!!

 

[blabberhaus]

Well that’s my contract all signed and I officially start the training course 27th April
I’m over the moon

Weyhey! Congrats! Drinks on mickeyC everyone! (I bet you're glad this is anonymous)

 

[Mcfc2907]

Does anyone else’s application now say that it’s only Ashford and Tonbridge? Even though I applied in 2024 and still have had nothing but I’m in Margate so right next to Ramsgate which it asked what my preferred depot was at the time?

 

[Gul]

Does anyone else’s application now say that it’s only Ashford and Tonbridge?

I think they re-opened the position for a few days a while back just for these two depots, so I presume they recycled the original job posting.

 

[CFRAIL]

Well that’s my contract all signed and I officially start the training course 27th April
I’m over the moon

Well done and congratulations

 

[mickeyC]

Well done and congratulations

Thank you mate, appreciate it.

 

[Pablo 45]

Well that’s my contract all signed and I officially start the training course 27th April
I’m over the moon

Congrats!!!

 

[mickeyC]

Thank you everyone, I’m pinching myself to think I’ve finally made it.

 

[Ash0110]

Has anyone heard back from southeastern after doing the artic shore assessment?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Feb 2026 ==


Congratulations!!!

I haven’t heard a thing. My chosen depots are Faversham and Ramsgate

 

[newbiewannabe]

Well that’s my contract all signed and I officially start the training course 27th April
I’m over the moon

Nice one!!! Congratulations!