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Transport for Wales - Trainee Train Drivers
- Thread starter L33mcc
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Jaylfc147
Member
Just found out I've passed DMI, such a relief to get through. Hope it's not too long to wait for a course but I'm not hopeful. Thanks for all the advice and support on here, definitely got me through all the stages!
jessica1306
Member
Amazing news, congrats! Waiting times vary, some are a month or so, I’ve been waiting since mid January with no news
hope you get a medical date soon and things get moving for you! Where have you applied to? 
Jaylfc147
Member
Thanks Jessica, such a relief isn’t it! Wow, you’ve been waiting ages! Do they keep you updated or have you just got to sit it out? Fingers crossed you won’t be waiting much longer!Amazing news, congrats! Waiting times vary, some are a month or so, I’ve been waiting since mid January with no news
Applied for Crewe, they told me it will be at least September
jessica1306
Member
No just a case of waiting out pretty much—painful! But they will be in touch eventually.
Ah ok, I saw on here something about August and September courses. When you say at least, do you mean September at earliest or latest?
Jaylfc147
Member
September earliest, unfortunately
harleyluna
Member
Would it benefit me to be part of an union before my DMI , is it something they're likely to ask ? Cheers
JackJones81
Member
Does anyone know how often TFW will be recruiting? Just been told I failed my DMI last week, I can’t apply for another 6 months but my tests are valid until next May.
harleyluna
Member
What were the questions like ? What you expected or some curveballs ??
JackJones81
Member
No curve balls, all standard stuff, what do you know about the company, give examples of when you did this or that. Bizarre thing is I found the MMI harder and actually gave better examples on the DMI as my line of work is heavily governed by HSE/rules & regulations and is a safety critical role. So not entirely sure what went wrong.
harleyluna
Member
Interesting to hear that , thanks .
I also messed up the DMI a couple of months ago, not too bothered as I am happy in my current role and only applied in hope of not having to resit my OPC tests (which I did anyway as they were over 2 years). I knew it had gone badly at the time. I found it a bit awkward during the actual interview - I have sat driver interviews before and made it into talent pools (which due to covid unfortunatley expired) but this one was completely different to the previous. I didn't like the whole sitting miles away from the interviewers thing they had going on, presumably some daft covid thing thats still being dragged out. One of the interviewers seemed a bit grumpy(?) - very scruffy, no tie, half his shirt buttons undone. Neither talked much except to ask questions. Previous interviews Ive sat the interviewer would dig a bit deeper into answers you give (like in the MMI) whereas in this one they just wrote down what I said and moved onto the next question. I got asked a question something like "Name a time you've had an argument with a manager' - absolutely no idea what to come up with for that as I never have, nor see it happening in future and I think this is the one that let me down. Another one was something along the lines of "What was your favourite career/job and why did you leave it/why do you want to leave it".
Not the end of the world, like I said I am very happy in my current role so no loss!
Best of luck to those still in the running!
JackJones81
Member
Likewise here. I’m fortunate that the current role I do is quite sought after, would I like a job on the trains…absolutely, is it the end of the world…nope.
The strange thing is I found my panel quite engaging, there was plenty of general conversation outside of the questions about my current job, very relaxed and seemed to have a good rapport. When giving my answers they were writing done plenty, with one commenting that her hand was aching as she was writing so much! The other was sat there nodding with my answers and chirped up a few times with, ‘nice, good answer’. So it’s left me all a bit puzzled as to what has gone on here! I’ve sat a fair few interviews both inside my current and previous careers and generally know when I’ve bombed an interview but this one I came out thinking I had done enough, so to have this was very disappointing.
Does anyone know how much more recruiting TFW will be doing? How far off they are from getting the numbers they require ?
Tricky1972
Member
That's slightly annoying as they don't even seem to have assessed everyone they shortlisted. I appreciate this isn't the way they tend to do it so why shortlist so many??
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JackJones81
Member
I heard from a source inside the job that it will take another 3 years to get the number of drivers they need, so who knows ♂️
kallyvintage
Member
You have to shortlist many more people than jobs available, as some people won't progress each round.
Although they might have enough potential drivers for now, thats not to say in a year or so some people back out of the talent pool, retire, change jobs etc etc..
Tricky1972
Member
No, I appreciate that. It just seems that people who applied in the same batch as others get done first. Suppose it's done by depots!!
kallyvintage
Member
Its either done by depots, or by order of when the application email landed on the recruitment desk, or by a scored application. Either that or just pulled out at random!
I found out this Monday 15th May that I passed my DMI. Just waiting like yourself having replied to the email with contact details. Can't wait for the phonecall now. Ready to go!
No, they won’t ask
harleyluna
Member
Ok, thanks
Congratulations mate, I've received a phone call this week. I waited 4 weeks which i didn't think was too bad. Looks like courses in Cardiff are starting back up again now, so hopefully you won't be waiting too long
Aspiring-drive
Member
Hello! Got my MMI booked in and feeling nervous. It’s booked in at Cardiff even though i’ve applied for north wales position. Is this always the case? Thanks
Yes it is...Good luck.
Katwag1
Member
Are we thinking recruitment is done now then for Crewe? I was shortlisted awaiting further news but shall stop awaiting patiently if they have reached the number they need.
Congratulations my friend. All the best going forwardCongratulations mate, I've received a phone call this week. I waited 4 weeks which i didn't think was too bad. Looks like courses in Cardiff are starting back up again now, so hopefully you won't be waiting too long
kallyvintage
Member
Does anyone know for the Chester depot if the handful of trainers that are there take their new intakes all at once, or do they stagger them (i.e one trainer starts with a group, the next month another trainer starts with another group and so on)