Why Is The Recruitment Process So SLOW

[Traineeconductor]

The first part was reasonably Fast.

Interview on 6th Nov

Medical On 20th Nov

Between the 20th Novemeber and now i heard nothing. over 3 weeks in waiting for the results of the drugs results and a start date i heard nothing.

So what happens in that time and the rest cos im getting bored of waiting.

I have rang up HR Thursday 28th and im told i should hear something within 7 days and still heard nothing. So getting a bit ancious to no what the score is. Also i have another job interview to attend which ideal i would one the rail job as its like not minimum wage but looks like im gonna after take the lower paid job because i aint gonna hear nothing in the next couple of weeks and wanna leave my current job

Any ideas what i should do?

 

[455driver]

Any ideas what i should do?

Learn to spell for a start!

Seriously though, give them a call, Recruitment are never quick but there is a a lot of jobs coming up at the moment so they are extremely busy.

 

[SPADTrap]

If you want it that much wait, if not pass the opportunity and move on. It's a painfully slow process but if like me you're 22 and waiting to start your career on the railways a few month wait isn't a lot for a 40 year career.

 

[Andrew32]

Hi mate, I agree with both of the replies.

I have been waiting for nearly six months now after passing my conductor assesments in June for the Skipton depot and been put on hold for three months and then the course was cancelled and I am now in the talent pool, I havent even had a medical.

So tbh, you could be in a worse situiation and if I dont get offered a job by the time i come out of the talent pool at the end of february I will try and try again.

Don't give up and in time you will succeed.

regarding responses, I have sent two emails askng for information on the next courses for conductors in the last two weeks and not got a response, maybe because they are to busy.

Good luck anyway mate.

 

[455driver]

Skipton isnt a big depot so you will be waiting for a position to become available, yes its a pain waiting but at least it isnt a no.

 

[Andrew32]

455 Driver

I know some conductors have retired this year and they have just put new Leeds and Skipton conductor applicants through thier assessments and gave them thier results last Tuesday and told them that they will update them on thier application statuses by next Tuesday.

I am told that the next course is early January but I have to serve a months notice and so does one of the other applicants, cutting it fine aren't they or will they move the start date?

Just one other question, should I be worried about any of the October applicants outscoring me regarding my conductor assessment I took in June?

I'm the only person left in the talent pool from Aprils recruitment drive and scored enough to be put on hold for a job.

 

[shedman]

Its the railway.... Everything takes ages!

 

[Traineeconductor]

Yes Shedmad i kinda noticed. And no im not new to the railways as such but other positions i have had within the Railway have been agency so things have been alot quicker in getting started.

 

[Beveridges]

If you think that's slow, heres what I had once with Arriva Trains Wales for a Trainee Drivers role:

Application form December 2008
Telephone Interview January 2009
Assessments skipped (already had the "pass")
Manager Interview / Medical February 2009

Phone call telling I've passed and advising me to not book any holidays -March 2009

Letter saying I have passed the recruitment process March 2009

Letter in August 2009 explaining that the start date is being delayed...


Email in August 2010 saying the company "currently has no plans to recruit trainee drivers" at the depot I applied for.


Not that I cared much by that point anyway!

Its the railway.... Everything takes ages!

Including the trains themselves!

 

[talltim]

I can understand the training for some roles being long, but why does the recruitment process take so long? I can't see that's it's that different to employing people for other jobs. Because it takes so long isn't there a risk ( for the employers) that the best candidates will find something else in the meantime and so will have wasted the exam and medical costs?

 

[185]

Learn to spell for a start!

Tell that to the nation's pride and joy, Vigrin.

".....did you check you spelling and grammer??"

 

[Beveridges]

I can understand the training for some roles being long, but why does the recruitment process take so long? I can't see that's it's that different to employing people for other jobs. Because it takes so long isn't there a risk ( for the employers) that the best candidates will find something else in the meantime and so will have wasted the exam and medical costs?

Reading application forms. Companies who have the policy "Just read 5% of them and bin the rest without even reading them!" get that stage over and done with quicker.
The railway generally read and mark every single one of them as their recruiters have to follow strict laid down rules and regs [1]. (as is the norm on the railway)
[1] With the exception of First Group maybe!

Arranging assessments takes a while as the TOC has to book it with a different company (CCL, DB or OPC) who has to fit the TOC's applicants in. Often the assessment company can only give the TOC a date that is about a month in advanced.

There is also arranging the managers interviews. Line Managers are busy and often have things coming up unexpectedly. It can be a long wait to find a day that they are free to fit the interviews in.

For the medical the TOC has to book it with a different company who often give a date thats a month or longer away.

They then have to wait for a course start date before they can give you a contract. Organising the courses is time consuming and it is only when they have a date set in stone they can give you the contract. The number of vacancies on that course varies all the time, and "changes in business requirements" (the way they put it) can often mean you will now not be on the next course, and in some cases, leave you waiting forever as no vacancies come up all in future at the depot you were successful for.




Vacancies for drivers courses are only predictions based on how many vacancies they believe they will have in a years time at each depot. Sometimes they get it wrong and leave successful applicants with no course places.