SWT 'Guard' Vacancy Query

[ItchyRsole]

Hi all. New poster here & wondered if anyone could shed any light on my predicament.

I applied for a position of guard at Waterloo with SWT a while ago, actually the closing date was 04/02/2011 (almost 6 weeks ago) since this closing date I have not heard a thing with regards to being rejected or being accepted for an assessment.

I emailed them a week after the closing date thinking I may have been lost in the system somewhere & got an email back saying 'your application form is waiting to be screened' Is it the norm to be waiting so long for some kind of result?

I have noticed the position hasn't been advertised again so I presume people are being taken on / rejected.

Thanks in advance.

 

[tagzy]

I've applied as well and heard nothing so I wouldn't worry, it can take a while. Good luck!

 

[ItchyRsole]

I've applied as well and heard nothing so I wouldn't worry, it can take a while. Good luck!

Thanx for the quick reply mate.

Ok fair enough I guess they will get back when they are ready.

Good luck also!

 

[Matt Taylor]

Yes, this is quite normal. I applied in May of last year but wait two months for an assessment and a further five months for an interview.

 

[ItchyRsole]

Yes, this is quite normal. I applied in May of last year but wait two months for an assessment and a further five months for an interview.

wow!!! Seriously?

 

[francisoldfield]

welcome to world of railway recruiting... SWT told me on the phone yesterday that they are just about to start the sifting for Fratton depot and should here in the next few weeks...

I would recommend ringing them if you want a better response SWT have a habit of not really answering questions very well via email they just send back specific phrases...

 

[455/8]

I know of a few people that applied back in October of last year and so far none have heard anything back from SWT recruitment, unfortunatly it's just a matter of waiting and every couple of months just keep phoning them to let them know that your still interested in the role.

 

[Tubeman]

SWT recruitment are all over the place as far as I can tell.

I applied for driver (the advert that closed in December), got through every assessment and had an email confirming this, then heard nothing for 2 weeks so called them February 2nd. They called me back and said all the vacancies were gone and they might call me later in 2011 or early 2012. I then applied for guard (same vacancy as you I guess) and advised by email I wanted them to consider my driver application as the questions are identical (maybe this sped the process up for me). I got called up for assessment end of February, passed, and have now been called for interview Monday week.

How I can get to interview and you hear nothing in the same timeframe I really don't know, as I say maybe my application was pre-approved because it was good enough for driver?

Either way, the waiting and not knowing sucks. I'd just say email and call them and gee them up, they all seem very pleasant people, just disorganised.

If you need any advice re: Guard assessment just ask

 

[ItchyRsole]

SWT recruitment are all over the place as far as I can tell.

I applied for driver (the advert that closed in December), got through every assessment and had an email confirming this, then heard nothing for 2 weeks so called them February 2nd. They called me back and said all the vacancies were gone and they might call me later in 2011 or early 2012. I then applied for guard (same vacancy as you I guess) and advised by email I wanted them to consider my driver application as the questions are identical (maybe this sped the process up for me). I got called up for assessment end of February, passed, and have now been called for interview Monday week.

How I can get to interview and you hear nothing in the same timeframe I really don't know, as I say maybe my application was pre-approved because it was good enough for driver?

Either way, the waiting and not knowing sucks. I'd just say email and call them and gee them up, they all seem very pleasant people, just disorganised.

If you need any advice re: Guard assessment just ask

Top man tubeman thaks for that.

You are right it seems a little odd how they go about things. A pal at SWT told me they are looking for 40 guards so I would of thought they'd get their skates on a bit.

I will mail them Monday if you have a phone number for recruitment would you mind sending me it please mate if you don't mind.

 

[Tubeman]

I'll send you a phone number and an email address tomorrow mate

 

[francisoldfield]

this sounds similar to what they said they would do for me.

Because I have applied to be a guard before and got through to the interview stage (where I let myself down a bit and failed it) they said that my new application should get straight through to interview as well... however, I have rung them in the last week and they said it could be weeks yet...

as you said, nice people, poorly organised...

 

[ItchyRsole]

Just had a letter come through the door from SWT inviting me to an assessment in Basingstoke, so at least things are moving forward slowly but surely.

Any tips from anyone that's done the assessment??

 

[Galvanize]

Just had a letter come through the door from SWT inviting me to an assessment in Basingstoke, so at least things are moving forward slowly but surely.

Any tips from anyone that's done the assessment??

Just sent you a PM!

 

[Matt Taylor]

They'll send you practice material, don't worry about it. When you get an interview date let us know and we'll see how we can help you further.

I went through the whole process last year, it is painfully slow but I promise it is worth the wait!

 

[ItchyRsole]

They'll send you practice material, don't worry about it. When you get an interview date let us know and we'll see how we can help you further.

I went through the whole process last year, it is painfully slow but I promise it is worth the wait!

Hi mate thanx for the post. Before I get to interview obviously I have to go to Basingstoke for assessment, I hear its quite hard. Any advice?

 

[Matt Taylor]

best advice I can give is to work as much as you can on the practice papers you get given.

 

[ItchyRsole]

Cheers Matt

 

[Fincra5]

Sorry to slightly take this off-topic but does anyone know which Routes Guards work from Guildford and Strawberry Hill depots?

Cheers.

 

[Matt Taylor]

Strawberry Hill:

Traction is 455, 450 and 444.

Windsor
Weybridge via Staines
Hounslow Loop
Kingston Loop
Hampton Court
Chessington
Woking
Guildford via Cobham


I don't know about Guildford but I am confident they do Aldershot and Ascot, Haslemere, Waterloo via Cobham/Epsom/Worplesdon/Ascot. They will do others too but I don't know what they are.

 

[ItchyRsole]

Matt I have a SWT assessment for a guard position down in Waterloo next week. Can you tell me a couple of things if possible please.

1) Is all the guard training done in Basingstoke?

2) How long is the training before you go 'live' as such?

 

[Matt Taylor]

Training is based in Basingstoke but will incorporate days in Clapham yard and a few days train working.

The classroom course is six weeks which includes training on Desiro traction, add three days per traction type for 455s and 458s. Then there is approximately six weeks route learning plus two weeks commercial training (if applicable).

From start date to going solo is around three months but may be a little longer if you need to learn several traction types, have a commercial course or have a high number of routes to learn.

 

[ItchyRsole]

Wow sounds like a long process.

May sound a silly question but if someone gets the guard job & were not up to scratch on the training would they have the job taken from them or would they give people more time to pass out? Not saying I'm thick as I'm not but I just want to know all possibilities!

 

[BestWestern]

Hi Itchy, you should find that you'll be faced with a positive and encouraging attitude when undergoing your initial assesments, as it's really not in the interests of the ToC to fail you having invested a considerable amount of time and money training you. If you find particular aspects tricky you'll realise this during the training, and you should be given the support you need on those aspects prior to exmaination time. As for having your job taken away from you, it's highly unlikely, unless there were some pretty major issues happening. It's not as daunting as it sounds, honestly! Just enjoy the learning curve!

 

[Matt Taylor]

The initial assessments and interview are part of the process of ensuring that the people who get past this stage are capable of completing the training. Throughout the training process there are continual assessments which culminate in the final exam and ride assessments, if you are not up to standard it will become evident quite early on and you will get encouragement to get you through, it is in nobody's interest for you to fail-but you do need to have the right approach, the training requires 100% commitment and focus.

If you have the wrong approach and don't take things seriously you can expect to get your P45 and be kicked out. If you have the right approach but are falling a little short of the required standard you will get support to help you through, but only up to a point. At the end of the day the course is designed to ensure that delegates are capable of working a busy train on their own, and if necessary dealing with an emergency situation on their first day.

 

[ItchyRsole]

Bestwestern & Matt thank you.

Makes sense what you are saying & has made me feel a little better about the whole thing.

Cheers.

 

[francisoldfield]

just a heads up for anyone waiting on fratton vacancies. A friend of mine who has applied to work at Fratton has spoken to SWT and they have said they have filled all their vacancies now and are not looking until the end of the year. If you're still waiting, may be worth a phone call.

 

[garethmorgan]

Hi,

doe's take a while. I have recently applied for guards position at Guidford, although my applications been accepted i anticipate a wait for the next stage.

gareth