Thanks! (but I have another question)

[jon.fra.sim]

Hi folks,

First off let me thank everyone on the forum for the invaluable help I’ve got here.
I received a phone call today to tell me that I have passed everything to become a train driver!

Only problem is – there are too many candidates for the jobs available at the moment.
I’ve been told to wait for 2 weeks as there are still candidates doing the final stage (structured interview and the co-ordination test) – so hopefully that process will whittle the number of candidates down.

My question is: does this mean I have got the job?

I was told my ‘pass’ is valid for 3 years – so I could get offered a job in 2 weeks time or at any time in the next 3 years.
But in people’s experience does this mean I’m definitely getting a job or is there still scope for me to be sat on the shelf for 3 years and hear nothing from the TOC.

Just a bit confused what it all means.
I’m sure I will learn more in 2 weeks time but if anyone can shed some light I’d be grateful.

Thanks

 

[Joe20365]

Hey,

Just out of curiosity which TOC is this with?

I'm in similar (I think) position with Northern for a driver position in Leeds.

 

[Dave1987]

First of all congrats on passing all the tests!

Second the world is your oyster now my friend! You are on the national database of passing the tests so if they dont offer you a position dont just wait for them contact you in future start looking out for other trainee positions as you are likely to go straight through to the DM interview stage as you have already passed the assessments.

 

[jon.fra.sim]

Hey Joe,
It's with Scotrail. They have been excellent in terms of info and getting back to me. I think I should have asked more question though when on the phone this morning.
Doh!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Thanks Dave for the reply. I'll wait the 2 weeks and see what happens, if I don't get a job I can start looking elsewhere.

 

[Brian. M]

Hi Jon,
I'm in the same boat with scotrail. Passed everything plus the medical which I had the end of Dec. I was told on the phone last week that I will be contacted within the next 2 weeks for a start date, I'm assuming your the same??

 

[jon.fra.sim]

Hey chrislen
You're a step ahead of me. I've not been for a medical yet. But I reckon we're probably in the same batch of candidates.

 

[Brian. M]

Yep sounds the same story, are you going for the Tweedbank post?

 

[TDK]

Generally speaking when a candidate is told there are too many applicants for the position they are on hold, this can be for many reasons from location to grades when passing the tests and interviews however take the advice given on here and wait the 2 weeks, if you hear nothing in 3 weeks contact their relevent department for an update.

 

[Driver170]

Well done guys !! I started back in november with SR as a trainee driver. There was meant to be a course starting this month i believe but got cancelled. Just hold on, patience i know its hard lol. Use will have a position they are prob just sorting out the last batch of candidates and getting it altogether! Mind they are still recruiting for tweed bank so they will have another batch to sort out etc. hope thats some use to you guys.

 

[Coldstream]

TDK,
I don't want to bull you up too much but you obviously know what you are talking about....

I have a question for you which has been asked numerous times on this forum but it is a little ambiguous so I will tailor it to my requirements exactly.

I took a trainee driver assessment on 14 December at Leeds, I did well in most tests however I only achieved a borderline pass in one of the tests (reactions).
I was told all this at the centre and that I would not be able to apply with Northern again for 6 months.
Further to this I received an email stating "Thank you for attending the Driver Psychometric Assessment. We regret to inform you that you did not meet the required standard that has been set by Northern Rail. We are therefore unable to progress further with your application at this time.
If you are considering applying for a future Driver vacancy with Northern, we would like to remind you that this result remains valid for 6 months from the date that the assessment was taken. We are therefore unable to progress any further applications you submit for Driver vacancies within the next 6 months".

What I would like to know if you or anyone else can help is this...

A) Could I apply for the current FTPE trainee driver vacancies, stating the date I took the assesment (bearing in mind it wasn't a fail)?

B) Have I used up one of my 2 chances (again bearing in mind it wasn't a fail)

Again, to anyone reading I know this subject has been discussed at length, however there seem to be a myriad of options, hence why I went into so much detail.

Thanks for any replies/help!

 

[reapz]

TDK,
I don't want to bull you up too much but you obviously know what you are talking about....

I have a question for you which has been asked numerous times on this forum but it is a little ambiguous so I will tailor it to my requirements exactly.

I took a trainee driver assessment on 14 December at Leeds, I did well in most tests however I only achieved a borderline pass in one of the tests (reactions).
I was told all this at the centre and that I would not be able to apply with Northern again for 6 months.
Further to this I received an email stating "Thank you for attending the Driver Psychometric Assessment. We regret to inform you that you did not meet the required standard that has been set by Northern Rail. We are therefore unable to progress further with your application at this time.
If you are considering applying for a future Driver vacancy with Northern, we would like to remind you that this result remains valid for 6 months from the date that the assessment was taken. We are therefore unable to progress any further applications you submit for Driver vacancies within the next 6 months".

What I would like to know if you or anyone else can help is this...

A) Could I apply for the current FTPE trainee driver vacancies, stating the date I took the assesment (bearing in mind it wasn't a fail)?

B) Have I used up one of my 2 chances (again bearing in mind it wasn't a fail)

Again, to anyone reading I know this subject has been discussed at length, however there seem to be a myriad of options, hence why I went into so much detail.

Thanks for any replies/help!

A) Could I apply for the current FTPE trainee driver vacancies, stating the date I took the assesment (bearing in mind it wasn't a fail)?

No all first group companys use the same cut offs as northern

B) Have I used up one of my 2 chances (again bearing in mind it wasn't a fail)

No you passed the test in line with Dft marks however tocs use higher grades to thin the numbers down.

 

[455driver]

Could I apply for the current FTPE trainee driver vacancies, stating the date I took the assesment (bearing in mind it wasn't a fail)?

A)No all first group companys use the same cut offs as northern

B) Have I used up one of my 2 chances (again bearing in mind it wasn't a fail)

No you passed the test in line with Dft marks however tocs use higher grades to thin the numbers down.

A) yes because you did not fail the tests so are free to apply to any TOC straight away except Northern (6 months wait).

B) as stated above by reapz.

 

[Dave1987]

Im not sure whether you can take the test again within 6 months even if you've passed regardless of TOC.

 

[Coldstream]

Thanks for the replies.

It is a bit ambiguous and all the answers do make sense.

I did think that most TOCs would require similar standard passes to Northern.

I am currently in the same boat that a few other people on the forum are... in limbo, trying so hard to be part of something and having to wait and watch.

 

[455driver]

Im not sure whether you can take the test again within 6 months even if you've passed regardless of TOC.

He isnt taking the tests again, he passed them all!

 

[Dave1987]

He isnt taking the tests again, he passed them all!

Yes but if FTPE don't accept borderline passes he will have to retake them which I don't think you can do within 6 months even if you passed. But he hasn't used any of his 2 lives.

 

[455driver]

So we are both right!

You could have mentioned in what context you meant the "6 months wait" because it wasnt clear.

 

[Dave1987]

So we are both right!

You could have mentioned in what context you meant the "6 months wait" because it wasnt clear.

Apologies I should have made what I was trying to say clearer.

 

[455driver]

No problem, we are all guilty of that one.

 

[Brian. M]

Hey Joe,
It's with Scotrail. They have been excellent in terms of info and getting back to me. I think I should have asked more question though when on the phone this morning.
Doh!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Thanks Dave for the reply. I'll wait the 2 weeks and see what happens, if I don't get a job I can start looking elsewhere.

Hi Jon,

Any news yet?

 

[jon.fra.sim]

Hey Chrislen

Unfortunately not yet. It's only been a week so far and the wait is killing me! I start a new job in my current profession in Feb so really wanting to hear soon to see if I should take the job (if I need to wait 6 months or something for the driver training course) or if I can call them and apologies and say I have a better offer.

Not a bad situation to be in though.

Have you heard back?

 

[Brian. M]

Hi Jon,
Nope nothing yet, hopefully we shall get an answer soon...

 

[jon.fra.sim]

Does anyone have advice on Scotrail? Passed everything but I seemed to be shelved and got told to wait for a position to open. Any other alternatives? Could I approach another TOC? Virgin or the like?

 

[sw1ller]

Does anyone have advice on Scotrail? Passed everything but I seemed to be shelved and got told to wait for a position to open. Any other alternatives? Could I approach another TOC? Virgin or the like?

I have nothing to do with the railways so I could be wrong but I have heard that you need to be an experienced mainline driver to get in at virgin. they never take on trainees but I suppose you will never know unless you try.
As for the general question, I have also heard that once you have passed everything you can apply to anyone and you should get straight to the managers interview unless the tocs need you to go through the whole process again. hope this kinda helps but its fairly inconclusive.

 

[scotraildriver]

The HR recruitment department is struggling just now with 2 out the 4 staff off work so everything is a bit slow. I wouldn't worry and there are defo training courses starting soon.