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Trainee drivers Freighliner HH
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choochoochoo
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For the reactions and CBI?
Nice post!
If you've got the aptitude, can demonstrate some experience of responsibility, a bit of life experience and common sense, train driving isn't a hard career to get into, provided you can work in a part of the country, where vacs exist.
Some think far too deeply about it. I wonder how many successful applicants, have spent hours dreaming up strategies for the tests and interviews?
Or have they just gone in there, and done what comes naturally?
Good point.
I know when I started out there was no such thing as group bordon, dot tests and panels of 'experts' being paid to make you feel as uncomfortable as possible.
On the other hand there was no Internet to turn to for tips,answers and advice.
Some failed the mechanical tests and interviews, others didn't but there was very little pressure as it was simple to try elsewhere for equal or better wages.
The rewards nowadays are far better but it seems the pressure at interview stage is exponentially linked.
The department handling fresh intakes was called 'personnel'.
Now it's 'human resources'.
I think there's a deep meaning hidden there...
Yes internals.
choochoochoo
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I thought all the internals had made it through to DM interview already ?
Hope they won't make the externals who've already taken stage 2 wait until then to find out their results.
I expect they will
Beveridges
Established Member
Im one of them!
Whether I really needed to is another question that I'll never be able to answer, but better to put the hours in and be safe than take the risk and possibly miss the opportunity.
How is that ridiculous? The best potential drivers are weeded out at each stage of the process, if you're good enough you'll pass.
When I posted my message last night, it was aimed at the negative posts that constantly appear on here helping nobody. I've benefited greatly from reading the advice of other users on here, just be selective in what you read. Some of it is complete and utter drivel.
By all means continue to research the job, application process and company you'll potentially be working for but don't get disheartened by reading certain posts on here.
choochoochoo
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well that was a toughie....Reactions done fine. CBI was a beast. 'How did that make you feel, then what happened?, then what did you do ?'
There's really no way to guage how one did on something like that. I'd rather do a psychometric multiple choice test than that. Please tell me they're one of the tests going in the overhaul of the assessments for driver recruitment.
There's really no way to guage how one did on something like that. I'd rather do a psychometric multiple choice test than that. Please tell me they're one of the tests going in the overhaul of the assessments for driver recruitment.
I have decided to be proactive whilst waiting for the results of my CBI and prepare for the possible line manager interview. I have trawled the forums and come up with a few questions that could be asked. However I was hoping someone on here might have more of an insight on what to prepare for. This is what I have found so far:
1. Give an example of when you have undertaken a repetitive task.
2. How did you prevent yourself from getting bored with that and keeping your concentration?
3. How do you cope with stress?
4. How do you cope with fatigue?
5. Have you had to undertake studying for something before?
6. Have you done shift work before?
7. Explain an emergency situation where you have been directly involved.
8. Why do you want to be a driver?
9. If a work colleague had to describe you what would they say about you?
10. Explain a time when you have worked in a team
11. Tell me what you know about the company.
12. What is your sickness record?
13. How would you get to work at 3am in the morning?
14. Have you ever worked alone or spent time on your own for long periods, ie. a hobby?
Has anyone else got some info?
1. Give an example of when you have undertaken a repetitive task.
2. How did you prevent yourself from getting bored with that and keeping your concentration?
3. How do you cope with stress?
4. How do you cope with fatigue?
5. Have you had to undertake studying for something before?
6. Have you done shift work before?
7. Explain an emergency situation where you have been directly involved.
8. Why do you want to be a driver?
9. If a work colleague had to describe you what would they say about you?
10. Explain a time when you have worked in a team
11. Tell me what you know about the company.
12. What is your sickness record?
13. How would you get to work at 3am in the morning?
14. Have you ever worked alone or spent time on your own for long periods, ie. a hobby?
Has anyone else got some info?
choochoochoo
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would you get bored driving the same route every day ?
It's 3am, your train is 3 hours late and your stranded an a que in the power station, would you stick with it, or would it be 2 fingers and dump it??!!!! Lol
FLHH, GBRF wait with it, DBS screw it down and ring a taxi!
I think the deep meaning could be days gone by children used to follow in their parents footsteps a great deal and because of the method of employment and the tasks that had to be done they didn't need such recruitment, if your dad, brother, uncle were on the railway you got a job.
I feel that too many people out there are just too fanatical on getting a drivers job and will do anything to get it, cheat, lie etc. It seems that many " have to have this job" I cannot see why. I am a driver and, yes it's a good job but I certainly wouldn't get to the stage that some folks about get to, I wonder how long it will be before someone is so depressed that they need medical help or even worse!
Aviation is the same sadly now. Guys will do almost anything, 100k worth of debt against parents home just to sit in the left hand seat of a shiny jet earning a fraction of what is has cost to get there. Where it will all end is another matter. We all know fine well there are people out there that would gladly pay a large sum of money to become a train driver.
Certainly I'm not trying to put anyone off from applying (and of course if you do not apply, then you have zero chance of getting the job). However, what people need to realise is that getting a driving job is very difficult and the vast majority of those who apply will not get the job. A lot of people assume that passing the tests and SI will just about guarantee a job, which it won't. On that intake I mentioned the pass rate was around 40% give or take a few percent, yet there were only 15 or so posts. With the new testing regime coming in, it appears that the pass rate will be no where as high as 40%.
What I would suggest is for prospective applicants to be looking at other roles as well as the driving role, which often give the same skills that drivers need. I sometimes hear people saying that train presentation or on board staff is below them, but this gives you a good head start above others. Most importantly, it is a lot easier to progress up the ladder once you are in the company compared to off the street.
Well said 142094. I am awaiting the results of my FLHH stage 2, and yes it would be great to get a driving job. But, saying that, I would consider other railway work, and have applications in for other ( non driving) jobs too.
Platform staff - great, conductor / guard - great. I would just like to work on the railways ! I know it's hard to get in, especially on safety critical positions, but I'll keep trying till I do get in.
Platform staff - great, conductor / guard - great. I would just like to work on the railways ! I know it's hard to get in, especially on safety critical positions, but I'll keep trying till I do get in.
You've given two contradictory pieces of advice there. (Are you railway staff?).
Do you know what train presentation staff of buffet crew actually do?
The former are cleaners. Hard, dirty, downright unpleasant work. I respect people that are willing to get stuck into that.
On board is a waiting job. Happy clappy, fluffy bunny! No different to working in a restaurant, etc. anywhere else.
Both have pay and conditions better than any comparable job, maybe outside the airlines. Both have their attractions, but they do no "give an advantage" in going for driver's jobs, as there is minimal skills overlap.
My employer must have a four figure number of on board crew; I can think of a couple who've succeeded in getting a driver's job in the last five years. Meanwhile, how many trainees drivers have our neighbouring unit operators recruited, in many cases as a direct entrant?
Cleaning is largely contract work; dead end, unless you go into management within that company.
Nowt wrong with being on board crew, etc, but my advice from there would be to keep your sickness and timekeeping record spotless, work into a supervisory role, or guard, etc, then apply to the unit operators as a direct entrant for driving.
Application is in for that, I think I would find that an interesting job.
Congratulations
they certainly are doing these stages all over the country lol. When did you sit stage 2?
Lincoln_biker
Member
Well done F1Fan. I got an invite through the post for next week too! Good luck. LB
Congratulations
I didn't - already completed that with another TOC beforehand.
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Congratulations to you too!
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