Southern - Train Driver Recruitment

[GingerbreadMan]

Hi,

Does anyone know what the recruitment process is like for Southern for external applicants.

I have seen a few jobs advertised for the role of Trainee Train Driver in the past and was interested to see if external applicants had a "real" chance of getting the job?

Thanks for all your help everyone.

 

[ghost]

I went for an assessment about 9 months ago, i passed it and then had to wait 2 months before the managers interview. I went to the interview and new all the question they were going to ask from a source on this webite. I was convinced I got the job as my interview went excellent. To my suprise I got a rejection letter. I think the fat slobs that do the interviews are time wasters, they have who they want and just call in all us in to show "look, we had a train driver recruitment drive"

I have got a job on the railway and it will lead to main line in the future, all I can say is southern trains in my personal experience is a joke, don't waste your time there.

 

[E&W Lucas]

It's a largely DOO company. There's not that many staff that they can train internally. Most of the Southern drivers that I have met have been external "boil in the bags".

Just because someone has not secured a job, does not mean that the company are a waste of space. I would suggest that they are one of the better bets for an external candidate wanting to become a driver. Best of luck.

 

[GingerbreadMan]

It's a largely DOO company. There's not that many staff that they can train internally. Most of the Southern drivers that I have met have been external "boil in the bags".

Just because someone has not secured a job, does not mean that the company are a waste of space. I would suggest that they are one of the better bets for an external candidate wanting to become a driver. Best of luck.

Thanks for the info for both your posts! I only have one shot at the driver assesment left and am hedging my bets closely!

Thanks again.

 

[Redahead]

As a fairly recent external applicant from an entirely different industry (doing office work), my view is completely opposite to that of "ghost" and the answer is most definitely Yes - external applicants have every chance of succeeding.

In response to a 2009 campaign, I applied, prepared, worked hard, and succeeded. In my humble opinion the attitude that one demonstrates throughout the process (as in, professional, totally positive, dedicated and well prepared) is absolutely key, and perhaps that is reflected in the success or otherwise of applicants. There were 70% external / 30% internal trainees on my course. Hope that encourages you.

 

[GingerbreadMan]

As a fairly recent external applicant from an entirely different industry (doing office work), my view is completely opposite to that of "ghost" and the answer is most definitely Yes - external applicants have every chance of succeeding.

In response to a 2009 campaign, I applied, prepared, worked hard, and succeeded. In my humble opinion the attitude that one demonstrates throughout the process (as in, professional, totally positive, dedicated and well prepared) is absolutely key, and perhaps that is reflected in the success or otherwise of applicants. There were 70% external / 30% internal trainees on my course. Hope that encourages you.

It does! thanks! at the moment both Southern and LOROL are coming out on top!

Thanks again.

 

[the sniper]

I think the fat slobs that do the interviews are time wasters

You didn't call them that in the interview did you? It might explain where you went wrong.

 

[francisoldfield]

well as some may know. it took me nearly 2 years to progress through the recruitment process for conductor. As for driver, I applied earlier in the year and havent heard anything at all. they say they havent started moving recruitment forward......

 

[57315]

Southern Railway managers are like that.

I had 5 seperate interviews for 5 seperate engineering or operational jobs at various depots after passing all the assesments as well in a year.

It took months for them to get back to me with a decent response with the words, we will not be progressing with your application any further. before that i got emails like "we are doing a management shuffle", or "The managers have not made up their mind who they want for the job".

I gave up in the end got so fed up with their management messing me around. I wont bother with southern again.
Imelda Murphy their HR partner for operational & Engineering is top notch though, a decent lady who knows who should be in the jobs. even one of the letters from her stated i deserved the job. I kept that one!

 

[francisoldfield]

it may help you to know that I am doing my company induction this week and there are three trainee drivers on it. All are external candidates. 1 selhurst and 2 brighton!

 

[Firestarter]

Thanks for the info for both your posts! I only have one shot at the driver assesment left and am hedging my bets closely!

According to friends that went for FCC trainee train driver early this year as from next year theirs every chance you will have multiple chances too go for train driving rather than the current two strikes and that's it so hold tight till next year

 

[GingerbreadMan]

Again thanks for your advice. Hopefully I will pass the next attempt (but then again its always nice to know that they might change the process to allow more attempts).

You never know what a company is like until you ask people who have had dealings with it! Thanks for all the Southern info!

 

[Nutz]

it may help you to know that I am doing my company induction this week and there are three trainee drivers on it. All are external candidates. 1 selhurst and 2 brighton!

Aye up, someone talking about me again.

Nice seeing you today Francis and thanks for the ride to Pulborugh.

I am the Selhurst trainee driver that was on induction with Francis, I applied externally and it took almost a year from the assessment to the start date. My knowledge of the railway was minimal until mid September when they started pumping my brain full of info, it is like being back at school with lots of home work and a test every other day, but I am enjoying it.

The 1st time I applied for Southern (4 years ago) I got turned down on the initial application (probably because I did not put enough thought into it), the 2nd time I applied I spent a week working on the application alone, you do have to give it 120% on all stages, determination and focus is the key.

That is how I see it.

 

[francisoldfield]

Aye up, someone talking about me again.

Nice seeing you today Francis and thanks for the ride to Pulborugh.
That is how I see it.

you are more than welcome! hope you enjoyed the signal box!

 

[GingerbreadMan]

Aye up, someone talking about me again.

Nice seeing you today Francis and thanks for the ride to Pulborugh.

I am the Selhurst trainee driver that was on induction with Francis, I applied externally and it took almost a year from the assessment to the start date. My knowledge of the railway was minimal until mid September when they started pumping my brain full of info, it is like being back at school with lots of home work and a test every other day, but I am enjoying it.

The 1st time I applied for Southern (4 years ago) I got turned down on the initial application (probably because I did not put enough thought into it), the 2nd time I applied I spent a week working on the application alone, you do have to give it 120% on all stages, determination and focus is the key.

That is how I see it.

Thanks for your story! Is there any top tips or any advice you could give me that may help my application along?

Thanks again for your help.

 

[9K43]

Thanks for your story! Is there any top tips or any advice you could give me that may help my application along?

Thanks again for your help.

Why do you want free bus travel withdrawn?
While you are at it why do,nt you as for my free rail passes withdrawing?
After all, it took 3 decaades to earn.

 

[GingerbreadMan]

Why do you want free bus travel withdrawn?
While you are at it why do,nt you as for my free rail passes withdrawing?
After all, it took 3 decaades to earn.

I don't! Ithink you have the wrong quote!

 

[the sniper]

I don't! Ithink you have the wrong quote!

You do though, secretly, don't you. :P

 

[navydavy1968]

you are more than welcome! hope you enjoyed the signal box!

Hey Francis I remember that, it was a good day out there eh?

I remember the bloke in the box was a bit nuts though haha!

 

[francisoldfield]

thats what happens when your in a little signal box everyday on your own with very few trains an hour!!

 

[TDK]

I went for an assessment about 9 months ago, i passed it and then had to wait 2 months before the managers interview. I went to the interview and new all the question they were going to ask from a source on this webite. I was convinced I got the job as my interview went excellent. To my suprise I got a rejection letter. I think the fat slobs that do the interviews are time wasters, they have who they want and just call in all us in to show "look, we had a train driver recruitment drive"

I have got a job on the railway and it will lead to main line in the future, all I can say is southern trains in my personal experience is a joke, don't waste your time there.

From your attitude I can see why you didn't get the job and the interviewer probably noticed this as well,