Southeastern - Trainee Driver - Recruitment Discussion

[mickeyC]

As am I, I’m really excited to get stuck in with everything!


And yeah as the previous people on here have said, the DMI is very relaxed but do as you said, study that TPWS sheet and make sure you know the contents of it, make sure you know their company policies and ways of working and make sure you know the SE by numbers on their website. Also make sure you know their London terminals as they asked me that on mine. Then it’s just 3 situation based questions based on the ways of working.

You’ll be fine though it’s a really pleasant experience as far as interviews go

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Also, anyone who’s sat there medical, how did it go?

The medical is very relaxed.
You get weight, height, blood pressure, ECG, colour blind test and vision test, hearing test in a small booth.
You’ll have a chat about any medication you are taking or have taken recently then a urine sample given.
After you’ll be asked to bend down as far as you can then twist side to side, then done.

 

[typicalalex1]

After you’ll be asked to bend down as far as you can then twist side to side, then done.

I never got asked to do that….

 

[Folkestonechap]

I never got asked to do that….

Neither did I.

 

[typicalalex1]

Neither did I.

Oh dear Mickey...

 

[Folkestonechap]

For those who are already doing their training at the moment or have recently finished it. What's the drop out rate? Do most people pass?

 

[GemmaLouise]

I had my MMI last Wednesday and can confirm that is still the case on both fronts.

That's good to know. Thankyou. I have mine coming up soon. Getting nervous

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You get both. They say the 21 questions will not be marked against your performance of the interview, not sure why that is the case. Hope that makes sense. I was the last one to leave the room for the stj. Thank goodness it wasn’t timed. This is done before the interview. We were given a break in which my interviewer came to have a chat and give me the pre interview form which she left with me. She was about to conduct an interview before mind and said there would be a wait of around 45 minutes until she was ready for me.

Have you gotten any interview dates yet? You should drop them an email every so often for an update. Wonder if they prioritise people who live closer to the depots?

I've got my MMI booked. Coming up soon. I'm getting nervous.
I will ask about DMI when I'm there and then if I pass I will definitely start chasing them more for DMI dates.
How's everything going for you?

 

[mickeyC]

For those who are already doing their training at the moment or have recently finished it. What's the drop out rate? Do most people pass?

Currently in rules and regs about to take mod4 Friday and from what I hear the drop out rate is extremely low, if you put the effort in and contribute to discussions, you’ll pick up what you need to know for the exams.
If you don’t put in the effort and revise etc then you’ll never pass, guessing in the exams won’t work.

 

[Twin82]

That's good to know. Thankyou. I have mine coming up soon. Getting nervous

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I've got my MMI booked. Coming up soon. I'm getting nervous.
I will ask about DMI when I'm there and then if I pass I will definitely start chasing them more for DMI dates.
How's everything going for you?

That's good to know. Thankyou. I have mine coming up soon. Getting nervous

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Jul 2026 ==


I've got my MMI booked. Coming up soon. I'm getting nervous.
I will ask about DMI when I'm there and then if I pass I will definitely start chasing them more for DMI dates.
How's everything going for you?

Glad to hear. Did you have to chase them down to get it booked? In any case, I wish you all the best. You’ll be absolutely fine. The ladies there at the hub are extremely friendly. They have a way of calming you down and getting the best out of you. Just prepare solid answers and you will be fine.

I’m still trying to prepare for this dmi. Very very nervous about it. Hopefully I will be prepared for it.

 

[ollie_3D]

Currently in rules and regs about to take mod4 Friday and from what I hear the drop out rate is extremely low, if you put the effort in and contribute to discussions, you’ll pick up what you need to know for the exams.
If you don’t put in the effort and revise etc then you’ll never pass, guessing in the exams won’t work.

How many people are in your group? Curious as to how many there are on average per group,
I’m excited to meet everyone in September!

 

[mickeyC]

How many people are in your group? Curious as to how many there are on average per group,
I’m excited to meet everyone in September!

10 in the group, previous group to us had 12

 

[CFRAIL]

Anyone else receive the 'update' today? Essentially no new information but MMIs will be booked in due course.

 

[Ellwill]

no new information

Story of my life...

 

[GemmaLouise]

Glad to hear. Did you have to chase them down to get it booked? In any case, I wish you all the best. You’ll be absolutely fine. The ladies there at the hub are extremely friendly. They have a way of calming you down and getting the best out of you. Just prepare solid answers and you will be fine.

I’m still trying to prepare for this dmi. Very very nervous about it. Hopefully I will be prepared for it.

This whole process has been extremely nerve racking. Never had an interview process that has made me this nervous in my life.

Currently sitting here doing some studying now. Trying really hard to keep on top of it.

Good luck for your DMI I'm sure you will do just fine. This Forum has been so helpful all the tips you pick up.

 

[Sotac464]

This whole process has been extremely nerve racking. Never had an interview process that has made me this nervous in my life.

Currently sitting here doing some studying now. Trying really hard to keep on top of it.

Good luck for your DMI I'm sure you will do just fine. This Forum has been so helpful all the tips you pick up.

When did you pass your assessments?

 

[Twin82]

This whole process has been extremely nerve racking. Never had an interview process that has made me this nervous in my life.

Currently sitting here doing some studying now. Trying really hard to keep on top of it.

Good luck for your DMI I'm sure you will do just fine. This Forum has been so helpful all the tips you pick up.

I can relate. I’ve never had an interview as far as I can remember. Not a formal/structured one anyway.

You’re doing the right thing. If I can pass it, then you will sail through it.

Thank you. And likewise. It has really been helpful. A lot of really helpful patient people. Very grateful for this. Hope to hear some good news from you soon.

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When did you pass your assessments?

We were sat beside each other. Oct 29,2025. 13 of us made it to VSE. 12 passed.

 

[Sotac464]

I can relate. I’ve never had an interview as far as I can remember. Not a formal/structured one anyway.

You’re doing the right thing. If I can pass it, then you will sail through it.

Thank you. And likewise. It has really been helpful. A lot of really helpful patient people. Very grateful for this. Hope to hear some good news from you soon.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jul 2026 ==


We were sat beside each other. Oct 29,2025. 13 of us made it to VSE. 12 passed.

When's your DMI Twin?

 

[Twin82]

End of the month bud. Needless to say I’m so nervous.

 

[Sotac464]

End of the month bud. Needless to say I’m so nervous.

Mine all went really quickly Assessments in April then MMI and DMI in June. Start date pending medical in August.

Nerves are good and they know you will be nervous, but their job is to make you feel relaxed.

My 2 interviewers said to me, listen the way we want to do this is just 3 blokes having a bit of a chat. That was basically it, of course I had to tell them everything I knew, and I had strong answers for everything but it was very informal.

Good luck.

 

[Twin82]

Mine all went really quickly Assessments in April then MMI and DMI in June. Start date pending medical in August.

Nerves are good and they know you will be nervous, but their job is to make you feel relaxed.

My 2 interviewers said to me, listen the way we want to do this is just 3 blokes having a bit of a chat. That was basically it, of course I had to tell them everything I knew, and I had strong answers for everything but it was very informal.

Good luck.

Appreciate it man. Thanks a lot. I hope I will be properly prepared. You and the other guys have been a big help. Wish you all the best moving forward. Is there another course after the August batch? If I’m correct, they had coarses for July, August , September. Not 100% sure

 

[Sotac464]

Appreciate it man. Thanks a lot. I hope I will be properly prepared. You and the other guys have been a big help. Wish you all the best moving forward. Is there another course after the August batch? If I’m correct, they had coarses for July, August , September. Not 100% sure

I believe their are courses in September. You've got this far so they believe you have the qualities and attributes to be a Train Driver

That's what I kept telling myself.

 

[Twin82]

Oh ok. That makes sense. I’m proud of myself to have gotten this far. Are you coming from a safety critical background?

 

[Sotac464]

Oh ok. That makes sense. I’m proud of myself to have gotten this far. Are you coming from a safety critical background?

Nope, I come from a background that involves safety but its not safety critical.
I went in with self belief and confidence, that goes a long way.

 

[typicalalex1]

Appreciate it man. Thanks a lot. I hope I will be properly prepared. You and the other guys have been a big help. Wish you all the best moving forward. Is there another course after the August batch? If I’m correct, they had coarses for July, August , September. Not 100% sure

I'm on the September course.
I know there are courses in Jan & Feb.
They don't run them in December due to xmas, it might be the case for November as well but I can't remember the conversation I had fully!

 

[Twin82]

I'm on the September course.
I know there are courses in Jan & Feb.
They don't run them in December due to xmas, it might be the case for November as well but I can't remember the conversation I had fully!

Thanks for clearing that up. Congratulations to you. When did you do you final interview and how long after did you find out that you passed? Trying to establish a timeline in your case.

 

[ollie_3D]

Bouncing off what the others have said, I’m on the September course as the interviewers at the time said that’s all they had space for. As for finding out when you pass after the DMI, I found out less than 6 hours after I sat the interview, they phoned me to tell me the good news but I guess that depends on how many interviews they have that day! Bottom line, you should find out pretty soon after you sit the interview!

 

[jjjjjjonny]

Thanks for the all the info. I have another random question that probably doesn't have an answer but...

Do you think it's possible to ask to put on a later course date? Ideally even picking one for next year? I will accept whatever I get but this year is not an ideal start for me.

 

[typicalalex1]

Thanks for the all the info. I have another random question that probably doesn't have an answer but...

Do you think it's possible to ask to put on a later course date? Ideally even picking one for next year? I will accept whatever I get but this year is not an ideal start for me.

I was given the choice yes

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Thanks for clearing that up. Congratulations to you. When did you do you final interview and how long after did you find out that you passed? Trying to establish a timeline in your case.

Start of May. I found out 5-6 days later.

 

[jjjjjjonny]

I was given the choice yes

Oo that's good!

 

[typicalalex1]

Oo that's good!

But obviously it is dependent on a position being available at the time. There might not be openings next year

 

[WillyT]

Hi All. I have passed the assessment day and am currently awaiting a date for my MMI. Any advice and or tips on how to prepare?
I have all the training material that they have emailed me etc. and will learn all of this in time but looking for any additional advice