Train Driver DMI feed back

[SE FC]

Hello,

I recently (10 days ago) had my DMI interview following successfully passing all the assessments and MMi interview at the end of that.

I think my interview went ok, having planned for it and remaining honest, and being myself. I think I had a good rapport with the 2 chaps that I met.

I was just wondering if anyone knows how long it should take to get feed back and an update?

Since I originally applied it's been almost 2 years I've been in the system now, so it would be great to get going, if I'm being progressed? Hopefully . I've wanted to be a train driver for years and years.

Thanks for any tips that anyone can offer.

M.

 

[AlwaysLearning]

Hello mate, I would assume it depends on a number of things. Personally, I received a response the next day but all TOCs are different and it depends on how many applicants the managers have to interview. Sounds like you really put the effort in to pass and I wish you all the best.

 

[SE FC]

Hello mate, I would assume it depends on a number of things. Personally, I received a response the next day but all TOCs are different and it depends on how many applicants the managers have to interview. Sounds like you really put the effort in to pass and I wish you all the best.

I did mate. Researched the company for hours. Knew the stations, and the rolling stock types, CEOs name and character etc.
Talked about my commitment to Customer Service and safety.
Remained positive and upbeat the whole way through.
The only thing I was worried about really was when I was asked my age at the end and I had to confess to being 50!!!
Not sure that's an issue. Hope not.

 

[BoroAndy]

I did mate. Researched the company for hours. Knew the stations, and the rolling stock types, CEOs name and character etc.
Talked about my commitment to Customer Service and safety.
Remained positive and upbeat the whole way through.
The only thing I was worried about really was when I was asked my age at the end and I had to confess to being 50!!!
Not sure that's an issue. Hope not.

Isn't age now a discriminatory offence when being selected for employment? Add 10 to that and I'm still hoping.....albeit with ever decreasing expectations. Anyway, good luck with your decision.

 

[SE FC]

Isn't age now a discriminatory offence when being selected for employment? Add 10 to that and I'm still hoping.....albeit with ever decreasing expectations. Anyway, good luck with your decision.

Yes it is unlawful to dismiss an individual's candidacy based solely on age, however, naturally there are always ways to disguise it as something else. It's not difficult.
I'm ex military and still in good shape, so hopefully that was obvious to them. I guess a legitimate concern would be there "return on investment" (ROI) for the expenses of putting an individual through the training?
Anyway...50s not that old...is it?? Haha.
I've still got a good 15 years work left in me, at least. Nor is 60.mate. My old man's 75 and still working, part time...so he doesn't get bored mostly, but he's out there plugging away.
Good luck to you too matey

 

[T-Karmel]

Congratulations on passing all The OPC tests and good luck with this, or other, drivers applications.

As you mentioned you applied two years ago, that itself should give you a hint there's no timescales for anything in the railway, especially when it come to recruitment.

To give you an example, I was successful at three interviews. The very first one I heard back a day after the interview and it took another two years for them to offer me a start date (that being another four months away from that call). The second one I heard back three and a half weeks after the interview and never was offered a start date, despite them stating during that call "you'll definitely start by the end of the year" which was said to me in July few years ago. And the third one I heard back a fortnight after interview with a job offer starting couple of months later during the same call.

My point is, regardless of being successful or not, keep applying whenever new vacancy comes up near you until you physically start the course. When I started my course there was another course planned for four months later with people booked in for it. A month in my course, that later course got cancelled and never resumed. Two guys from my group were originally offered that later course but were then asked to push their start dates forward. They find themselves really lucky.

 

[SE FC]

Congratulations on passing all The OPC tests and good luck with this, or other, drivers applications.

As you mentioned you applied two years ago, that itself should give you a hint there's no timescales for anything in the railway, especially when it come to recruitment.

To give you an example, I was successful at three interviews. The very first one I heard back a day after the interview and it took another two years for them to offer me a start date (that being another four months away from that call). The second one I heard back three and a half weeks after the interview and never was offered a start date, despite them stating during that call "you'll definitely start by the end of the year" which was said to me in July few years ago. And the third one I heard back a fortnight after interview with a job offer starting couple of months later during the same call.

My point is, regardless of being successful or not, keep applying whenever new vacancy comes up near you until you physically start the course. When I started my course there was another course planned for four months later with people booked in for it. A month in my course, that later course got cancelled and never resumed. Two guys from my group were originally offered that later course but were then asked to push their start dates forward. They find themselves really lucky.

Wow
Ok buddy. Thanks for the information. Certainly sets the scene. I thought the 2 year delay in getting past vetting and on to actually doing the assessment was just due to the pandemic situation...obviously not now I've read your experience.
Cool. I'll remain positive anyway...and hopefully something good will come of it all sooner rather than later.
Thanks mate
Appreciate it.
M.

 

[baz962]

I did mate. Researched the company for hours. Knew the stations, and the rolling stock types, CEOs name and character etc.
Talked about my commitment to Customer Service and safety.
Remained positive and upbeat the whole way through.
The only thing I was worried about really was when I was asked my age at the end and I had to confess to being 50!!!
Not sure that's an issue. Hope not.

I started elsewhere as a trainee at 48. Age won't usually be an issue

 

[PringlePopper1]

Hello,

I recently (10 days ago) had my DMI interview following successfully passing all the assessments and MMi interview at the end of that.

I think my interview went ok, having planned for it and remaining honest, and being myself. I think I had a good rapport with the 2 chaps that I met.

I was just wondering if anyone knows how long it should take to get feed back and an update?

Since I originally applied it's been almost 2 years I've been in the system now, so it would be great to get going, if I'm being progressed? Hopefully . I've wanted to be a train driver for years and years.

Thanks for any tips that anyone can offer.

M.

Hi M.

Congratulations for getting all the way through! I personally heard back 2 days after my DMI but I know people who work for the same TOC heard back after a few weeks so I really wonder how it works behind the scenes.

With regards to your age, don’t let yourself think that would be a deciding factor because I’ve known trainees range from 21 right through to 59 in the last 5 years. I’m sure you’ll hear back soon, and to echo the above, I hope you hear good news!

 

[Sonkicks]

Wow
Ok buddy. Thanks for the information. Certainly sets the scene. I thought the 2 year delay in getting past vetting and on to actually doing the assessment was just due to the pandemic situation...obviously not now I've read your experience.
Cool. I'll remain positive anyway...and hopefully something good will come of it all sooner rather than later.
Thanks mate
Appreciate it.
M.

This depends on who it’s with and the situation they are recruiting for a lot places now recruit and only move people on in the application process regarding available jobs so usually if you get through there are jobs there

 

[TurboMan]

Yes it is unlawful to dismiss an individual's candidacy based solely on age...

That's not quite true. It is generally the case, but an employer can make a decision not to employ someone based on someone's age if they can show that it is objectively justified and proportionate. Which could mean that someone applying for a train driving job in, say, their early 60s might be excluded on the grounds that the employer might not be able to recoup through productivity the considerable costs involved in training a driver from scratch before the individual retires. I don't know if there is any case law to test the principle or the age at which it would be legitimate to discriminate in this way, that would be something for a tribunal to decide.

 

[MrC]

The only thing I was worried about really was when I was asked my age at the end and I had to confess to being 50!!!
Not sure that's an issue. Hope not.

Frankly it's not permitted to discuss or ask a person's age as it's a protected attribute under the equality act. However if the interviewee mentions it unprompted then it could be discussed depending on context and then the interviewers would generally include that in their notes. I'd not take being 50 to be an issue at all.
(Having carried out more than a few DMIs before retirement)

 

[Dazed10]

Hello,

I recently (10 days ago) had my DMI interview following successfully passing all the assessments and MMi interview at the end of that.

I think my interview went ok, having planned for it and remaining honest, and being myself. I think I had a good rapport with the 2 chaps that I met.

I was just wondering if anyone knows how long it should take to get feed back and an update?

Since I originally applied it's been almost 2 years I've been in the system now, so it would be great to get going, if I'm being progressed? Hopefully . I've wanted to be a train driver for years and years.

Thanks for any tips that anyone can offer.

M.

I heard back from my DMi the following day.