Southern application

[ninja_man]

I applied for a trainee train driver in january, Im still waiting for a response as there is nothing on the site in my completed applications... Ive emailed southern and I was told my application is still being considered but still there is nothing. Did any one elses application take a while?

 

[Greg1205]

It's normal. The whole progress of trainee train driver can take months and months. I know a lot of people who applied and gave up as another oportunity came up. Some companies are useless. You pass one stage then wait weeks, then pass another one and then they make you wait for months and at the end you find out that the course has already started, but hr deny. after all I think there are a lot better, less responsible and stresless jobs out there to keep hanging around. It's not I'm trying to put you off dude, but the recruitment for the role is really weird...

 

[Jones]

Believe they had 1200 applicants.

Some on here have started to hear from Southern regarding assessment days, but I'm in the same boat as yourself.

 

[Holt0121]

I applied beginning of jan and have had assessment, interview and medical. They did state that they've had a lot of applications and they are slowly working through them all.... I think another round of applications has just closed so guessing they'll be rolling more assessments out soon....

 

[EmZa]

I applied for London Depots advert that closed on 28th Oct 2013. I have been told that due to volumes, assessments had to be batched and I am due to get an invite before end of March 2014.
It'll be worth the wait..... Hopefully.

 

[Kukua]

I applied for London Depots advert that closed on 28th Oct 2013. I have been told that due to volumes, assessments had to be batched and I am due to get an invite before end of March 2014.
It'll be worth the wait..... Hopefully.

Oh nice congratz...ive been invited to the assessment day, was wondering if you did tge new test or the old? If you did the new ones what tests did you take?

 

[Greg1205]

I applied for FGW back in September, passed 2 stages and still waiting for DM interview. I put me off a little bit. Just got a job as a supervisor, better hours and the money is almost same. No critical risk, so if you don't get it it's not the end of the world. A friend of mine started as a platform assistant and graduated to a station manager. Me makes a lot more than a driver. Anyway good luck to everyone applying.

 

[Vicpaul]

It really does vary massively.

They're opening up every available room at the moment as "training centres" to cater for massive increase of drivers they need to train.

Those who haven't heard bare with the company itself and those that have dates well done and see you out there.

 

[ukcinc]

What depo did you go for. I just got a invite for tests for brighton.

 

[EmZa]

Oh nice congratz...ive been invited to the assessment day, was wondering if you did tge new test or the old? If you did the new ones what tests did you take?

Sorry, I haven't been for a driver assessment yet. Just been told that I should be invited by the end of the month, so I'm behind you.
I do know that Southern use the paper Group Bourdon for Conductor assessments though.

 

[Kukua]

Sorry, I haven't been for a driver assessment yet. Just been told that I should be invited by the end of the month, so I'm behind you.
I do know that Southern use the paper Group Bourdon for Conductor assessments though.

Oh right when is your assessment? Was wondering because i have already done some of the tests with LM

 

[EmZa]

Oh right when is your assessment? Was wondering because i have already done some of the tests with LM

No date yet. Just had a conversation with a guy in resourcing and was told I should get an invite before the end of this month.
Did you get any practise material? If there's a verbal comprehension test it might be worth giving it some extra attention. I've heard it can be quite tricky.

 

[Kukua]

No date yet. Just had a conversation with a guy in resourcing and was told I should get an invite before the end of this month.
Did you get any practise material? If there's a verbal comprehension test it might be worth giving it some extra attention. I've heard it can be quite tricky.

Thats the thing there was nothing attachedto the email apart from a time reminder for my calender...a lil confusing tbh

These are tests ive already done with LM
Group Bourdon (Concentration)
Trainability for Rules & Procedures Test (TRP 1 & 2)
Driver Fault Finding Test (DFFT)
Test of Everyday Attention (Tee-Occ)

Sssooo im not sure what i will be doing lol

 

[EmZa]

Thats the thing there was nothing attachedto the email apart from a time reminder for my calender...a lil confusing tbh

These are tests ive already done with LM
Group Bourdon (Concentration)
Trainability for Rules & Procedures Test (TRP 1 & 2)
Driver Fault Finding Test (DFFT)
Test of Everyday Attention (Tee-Occ)

Sssooo im not sure what i will be doing lol

Strange.
I have been to a Conductor Assessment with Southern and the invite for that included Practise Material (Concentration, Trainability, Ticket Selling, Ticket Checking and Role Play). As well as a covering letter with date and venue that doubled up as a travel pass.
I would have expected to see something similar for the Trainee Driver Assessment but as I haven't been invited yet I can't really help you.
Hope it all works out.

 

[Latecomer]

Are there going to be enough DI's for route learning? I've heard route learning can take a while as it is - let alone with such a large contingent of new trainees coming through.

 

[Vicpaul]

In short no, you will only be with a DI for your hours. route learning you are left to it yourself

 

[JB25]

In short no, you will only be with a DI for your hours. route learning you are left to it yourself

A DI will give you a route brief and do your route assessment. Other than that you are out there on your own doing the trips to acquire the relevant route knowledge.

 

[Latecomer]

In short no, you will only be with a DI for your hours. route learning you are left to it yourself

I forgot that with Southern trainees don't necessarily do their hours on routes they'll initially sign. It looks like it could still take quite a while for this batch of trainees to become fully productive with demands on DI's time. From a cost point of view I would have thought it makes more sense for trainees to complete their hours on routes they'll first sign but I guess that wouldn't go down well with DI's? Nevertheless it could make economic sense to pay DI's a premium to work those initial routes with trainees so they become productive earlier. It seems like quite a big wage bill to keep trainees nonproductive for such a time, although granted there's nothing wrongth with getting a broad depth of experience.

 

[JB25]

I forgot that with Southern trainees don't necessarily do their hours on routes they'll initially sign. It looks like it could still take quite a while for this batch of trainees to become fully productive with demands on DI's time. From a cost point of view I would have thought it makes more sense for trainees to complete their hours on routes they'll first sign but I guess that wouldn't go down well with DI's? Nevertheless it could make economic sense to pay DI's a premium to work those initial routes with trainees so they become productive earlier. It seems like quite a big wage bill to keep trainees nonproductive for such a time, although granted there's nothing wrongth with getting a broad depth of experience.

The trouble is who would you get to cover the DI's work if they are taken off jobs to concentrate on certain routes with trainees? At my depot there are people who have gone up links who are still waiting to do their routes. It's all becoming a bit of a complicated mess at the moment.

 

[Latecomer]

The trouble is who would you get to cover the DI's work if they are taken off jobs to concentrate on certain routes with trainees? At my depot there are people who have gone up links who are still waiting to do their routes. It's all becoming a bit of a complicated mess at the moment.

Fair point. Lack of advance planning it would appear. Until people get productive and progress through the links there will always be a shortage it seems. Classic Catch 22.

 

[rob12]

I applied beginning of jan and have had assessment, interview and medical. They did state that they've had a lot of applications and they are slowly working through them all.... I think another round of applications has just closed so guessing they'll be rolling more assessments out soon....

Hi mate, what depot did you apply for, thanks

 

[Holt0121]

Hi mate, what depot did you apply for, thanks

I initially applied for Selhurst but after my interview I was asked where my preference would be and I asked for Victoria. If I get that or not is a different story.....

 

[Vicpaul]

I initially applied for Selhurst but after my interview I was asked where my preference would be and I asked for Victoria. If I get that or not is a different story.....

You'll get it

 

[Holt0121]

You'll get it

How come?

 

[JB25]

How come?

I think Chewie is being hopeful.

 

[Vicpaul]

They will put you at your preference. Happens all the time

 

[ninja_man]

Thanks for the responses guys. I guess I should rely soley on the trainer job and start applying elsewhere. All I need is to be updated, that's the least they could do

 

[JB25]

They will put you at your preference. Happens all the time

I didn't even get asked a preference.

 

[Vicpaul]

I did

 

[JB25]

I did

All four London depots?