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Virgin CSA Application advice

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Bombaybob

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28 Mar 2013
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Hi guys, I'm new to this forum and after some advice from current or past Virgin trains staff. I've applied for an onboard CSA role based at Euston on a fixed term contract and I've been invited to an assessment day in Crewe. I've noticed on the Virgin trains career oral that they are now recruiting for permanent onboard CSAs in Chester which is ideally where I would want to be, as looking to eventually relocate back North. My question is, if I was to contact the recruitment team what is the likelihood of me being able to be considered instead for the Chester role? I don't want to contact them and possibly jeopardise my application if there is no chance of swapping preferred base at this stage. Thanks in advance.
 
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sw1ller

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4 Jan 2013
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Hi guys, I'm new to this forum and after some advice from current or past Virgin trains staff. I've applied for an onboard CSA role based at Euston on a fixed term contract and I've been invited to an assessment day in Crewe. I've noticed on the Virgin trains career oral that they are now recruiting for permanent onboard CSAs in Chester which is ideally where I would want to be, as looking to eventually relocate back North. My question is, if I was to contact the recruitment team what is the likelihood of me being able to be considered instead for the Chester role? I don't want to contact them and possibly jeopardise my application if there is no chance of swapping preferred base at this stage. Thanks in advance.

Ring them up they are very nice and helpful. I have applied a couple of times and got to the structured interview both times. I think you would have to start your application from scratch and this shouldn't have any impact on your current application. It shouldn't take you any time at all to fill in the app as you can use the app you did for Euston. If that one made it to the recruitment event then there's no reason the new app for Chester wont make it through.

I had a couple in last year for Crewe and Manchester at the same time and I made it through. Good luck pal, hope this helps.
 

Bombaybob

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28 Mar 2013
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Thanks for the reply, I've been in touch and applied for Chester...fingers crossed
 

craigybagel

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Good luck to both of you. Just to warn you though, unless things have changed since I came off the trains and moved to platforms a year ago there are only 3 CSA's based at Chester as opposed to the hundreds based at Euston, so if you kept your application open for Euston your odds of getting the job there are a bit better.
 

sw1ller

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4 Jan 2013
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1,567
Good luck to both of you. Just to warn you though, unless things have changed since I came off the trains and moved to platforms a year ago there are only 3 CSA's based at Chester as opposed to the hundreds based at Euston, so if you kept your application open for Euston your odds of getting the job there are a bit better.

I live in chester so its really the only one I want. Lets just hope im that awesome that I get it then eh! haha
 

craigybagel

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I live in chester so its really the only one I want. Lets just hope im that awesome that I get it then eh! haha

Hah, fair enough! If it doesn't work out though, don't get too downhearted (for one thing, even in Chester the competition for this job will be huge), Liverpool depot, whilst smaller than Euston, is still a whole lot bigger than Chester so they're more likely to recruit in the short term, or if you're just looking for a way in to the railways, Crewe and Warrington recruit fairly frequently for platform staff. Platform duties for Virgin at Chester are actually covered by staff based at Crewe as part of their normal roster.
 

Blul23

New Member
Joined
4 Apr 2013
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Can anyone give me any help or advise for the application form, I applied for station jobs at Man, Wigan, and Crewe and didn't get a invite to any. I'am a customer service supervisor within aviation for the past 10yrs and also my dad was attain driver for p but even his advice didn't seem to help my application, just not sure what they are looking for? Any advice would be much appreciated.
 

sw1ller

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Joined
4 Jan 2013
Messages
1,567
Can anyone give me any help or advise for the application form, I applied for station jobs at Man, Wigan, and Crewe and didn't get a invite to any. I'am a customer service supervisor within aviation for the past 10yrs and also my dad was attain driver for p but even his advice didn't seem to help my application, just not sure what they are looking for? Any advice would be much appreciated.

The standards are very, very high. With HUNDREDS of applications for every spot, getting all the small things correct can put you above 60 odd per cent (guestimate of course). Spell check AND proof read your answers. Don't just rely on the spell check alone as it won't pick out wrong things like to, too, their, there, they're ect. Capital letters and full stops where they need to be too.

Sounds petty but if your application scores the same marks as somebody else for your answers and they have less grammar mistakes then its going to be you that misses out.

That's my main advice on it anyway... Can't really tell you what to write as it has to be your own experiences but at least by following this advice you will have the best possible chance for what answers you give.

Hope this helps.
 

Blul23

New Member
Joined
4 Apr 2013
Messages
3
Thank you for advice I will re check everything and just just keep trying I guess, just was not sure if there was some kind of specific answers they were looking for in the questions, doesn't help when my dad advises you could just walk on to the railway back in the day!!!! Ha....
 
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