Trainee train drivers wanted...
Discussion
bit of a long shot here - but I see Scotrail are hiring for skilled engineering team members for haymarket depot...
Something that interests me, but not sure if it would be right.
Does anyone work for Scotrail in this position and would be willing to chat about it?
If so , PM me , would like to talk through the pro's/cons of the job and understnad if it would be something that I could transfer across too.
I currently work in Engineering (oil & gas)
Something that interests me, but not sure if it would be right.
Does anyone work for Scotrail in this position and would be willing to chat about it?
If so , PM me , would like to talk through the pro's/cons of the job and understnad if it would be something that I could transfer across too.
I currently work in Engineering (oil & gas)
I saw this article on BBC news which made me think of this thread...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz747krrw9lo
If all you lot were so keen, how come there's a shortage?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz747krrw9lo
If all you lot were so keen, how come there's a shortage?
QuickQuack said:
I saw this article on BBC news which made me think of this thread...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz747krrw9lo
If all you lot were so keen, how come there's a shortage?
Theres 0000s of applicants per vacancy. The trouble is further a long the line, a bottle neck with lack of trainers (both staff and actual locations) and then a lack of mentor drivers (to teach you after you have learnt in the class room)https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz747krrw9lo
If all you lot were so keen, how come there's a shortage?
Plus, i'd argue that the perceived shortage is because TOCs are set up to run the service on Rest Day Work, rather than filling the links with the correct number of drivers. Hence when there is an O/T ban, it is f
king chaos. Pebbles167 said:
They need to bin off the psychometric test, or review it at the very least. It's not really fit for purpose (assuming that purpose is finding suitable applicants and not just thinning down the numbers) and only being allowed to take it twice is stupid.
Not sure that dumbing down the tests (if that’s the correct term) is the issue. There are more than enough applicants that you’ll get the number of suitable trainees required soon enough.The main issue is that the whole recruitment process takes far, far too long and that’s only to get onto a talent pool where you can then wait even longer! From application to a job offer can easily take a year and it seems that no train company is immune and even those not under RDG control like the various TfL operators can take a stupidly long amount of time.
I get that there are thousands of applicants per campaign but there’s got to be a way of streamlining the process where once your successful with your initial application then it’s should only be a few months to job acceptance and a training date offered.
valiant said:
Not sure that dumbing down the tests (if that’s the correct term) is the issue. There are more than enough applicants that you’ll get the number of suitable trainees required soon enough.
The main issue is that the whole recruitment process takes far, far too long and that’s only to get onto a talent pool where you can then wait even longer! From application to a job offer can easily take a year and it seems that no train company is immune and even those not under RDG control like the various TfL operators can take a stupidly long amount of time.
I get that there are thousands of applicants per campaign but there’s got to be a way of streamlining the process where once your successful with your initial application then it’s should only be a few months to job acceptance and a training date offered.
A fair point, well made. The main issue is that the whole recruitment process takes far, far too long and that’s only to get onto a talent pool where you can then wait even longer! From application to a job offer can easily take a year and it seems that no train company is immune and even those not under RDG control like the various TfL operators can take a stupidly long amount of time.
I get that there are thousands of applicants per campaign but there’s got to be a way of streamlining the process where once your successful with your initial application then it’s should only be a few months to job acceptance and a training date offered.
It was 6 months from application to employment for me. I don't think that's unreasonable. I also think the process avoids the issue of nepotism as all applicants have to go through selection process. It's only after that where there could be any suggestions of it with the final interview.
BigGingerBob said:
It's been a full year for me since applying and I am waiting for an invite to complete my assessments at the assessment centre.
It's a very long process! A bit frustrating but I'm sticking it out because it would be a dream job for me.
And therin lies the upside of long periods between application and success. Those who stick with it, are likely to be that bit more serious about wanting the job.It's a very long process! A bit frustrating but I'm sticking it out because it would be a dream job for me.
Pebbles167 said:
They need to bin off the psychometric test, or review it at the very least. It's not really fit for purpose (assuming that purpose is finding suitable applicants and not just thinning down the numbers) and only being allowed to take it twice is stupid.
The psychometric tests are as much about are you able to handle the intensity of the training as they are for can you drive a train, especially when each training place costs roughly £200k per trainee. The two strikes rule is really good IMO, if you don't pass it the first time (I did), you are under pressure to pass it the next time. It's a good way to find out those candidates that can handle pressure. Again another vital skill needed for the role.The reality of the job (and the ignorance of many when commenting on what the role entails) is that driving a train safely should only take a small amount of your mental capacity. You should have plenty of spare capacity to deal with whatever outside situation situation arises. You definitely do not want the driver of your train to be close to their capacity just driving the train
Simply based on how I observe car driving, at least 50% (probably closer to 2/3rds) of the population are not suitable or skilled enough to drive a train safely. And I'm happy that the recruitment process is significantly difficult to weed a good percentage of these out.
QuickQuack said:
I saw this article on BBC news which made me think of this thread...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz747krrw9lo
If all you lot were so keen, how come there's a shortage?
TOCs want to hire the minimum number possible, ideally not even enough to run a service without a bit of overtime. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz747krrw9lo
If all you lot were so keen, how come there's a shortage?
Also £54000 while not to be sniffed at isn't the same Salary it was 6 years ago.
Edited by ChocolateFrog on Monday 27th May 17:49
Pebbles167 said:
valiant said:
Not sure that dumbing down the tests (if that’s the correct term) is the issue. There are more than enough applicants that you’ll get the number of suitable trainees required soon enough.
The main issue is that the whole recruitment process takes far, far too long and that’s only to get onto a talent pool where you can then wait even longer! From application to a job offer can easily take a year and it seems that no train company is immune and even those not under RDG control like the various TfL operators can take a stupidly long amount of time.
I get that there are thousands of applicants per campaign but there’s got to be a way of streamlining the process where once your successful with your initial application then it’s should only be a few months to job acceptance and a training date offered.
A fair point, well made. The main issue is that the whole recruitment process takes far, far too long and that’s only to get onto a talent pool where you can then wait even longer! From application to a job offer can easily take a year and it seems that no train company is immune and even those not under RDG control like the various TfL operators can take a stupidly long amount of time.
I get that there are thousands of applicants per campaign but there’s got to be a way of streamlining the process where once your successful with your initial application then it’s should only be a few months to job acceptance and a training date offered.
Edited by ChocolateFrog on Monday 27th May 17:50
ChocolateFrog said:
Northern advertising again.
Anyone have any experiences either way with Volker Rail?
They've advertised a job I'd be interested in, Driver Maintainer.
A mate used to work for Volker. Said it was fine. In that industry, lack of any bad stories is a better endorsement than anything else. Anyone have any experiences either way with Volker Rail?
They've advertised a job I'd be interested in, Driver Maintainer.
A driver maintainer job will be working 'On Track Machines' likely a Tamper. You'll be working nights for the driving and days for the maintaining. It's a decent job, your own van and £50k plus after being qualified.
Pebbles167 said:
ChocolateFrog said:
Northern advertising again.
Anyone have any experiences either way with Volker Rail?
They've advertised a job I'd be interested in, Driver Maintainer.
A mate used to work for Volker. Said it was fine. In that industry, lack of any bad stories is a better endorsement than anything else. Anyone have any experiences either way with Volker Rail?
They've advertised a job I'd be interested in, Driver Maintainer.
A driver maintainer job will be working 'On Track Machines' likely a Tamper. You'll be working nights for the driving and days for the maintaining. It's a decent job, your own van and £50k plus after being qualified.
It's actually £77k which seems fairly decent although it's more hours, less holidays and more anti-social hours than I've got now.
For anyone else who thought about applying to be a train driver. I did look into it and it’s not all what it seems…
I found out that there is literally 1000’s of people applying for just 10 vacancies. Some have already gone through the selection process several times previously unsuccessfully and keep on trying. I saw in one rail forum that Northern Rail once advertised for train drivers based in Manchester and they had so many online applicants they pulled down the webpage within 9 hours.
Those who submit an application form are not guaranteed to even get an interview as the number of applicants are culled.
Those lucky enough to get through the first sift have to go to a selection centre. I think there’s an office at Doncaster who are contracted to test for all the different train operating companies?
At the selection centre the aptitude tests are brutal. Something you’d expect for an astronaut or military pilot. Such as hand eye coordination, memory tests and attention span tests. All against the clock. This is an example of one of the tests… https://metodorf.com/tests/bourdon_test.php
I reckon I would have failed the hearing test in the medical, having spent years in the military stood next to loud noise.
Those who get through the aptitude tests then have a verbal reasoning interview (Give an example of when you had to work to strict safety protocols? Give an example of when you had to pay attention at work?) and then a generic interview with a team leader / instructor, I assume to assess your character (will the applicant get on well with the team).
What surprised me the most, is the small percentage who passed all of these stages don’t even get offered a job straight away. There’s many rail forums where successful applicants complained about being placed into a holding pool. Some were holding for years. Some complained they’ll be in the holding pool waiting for a start date and then the same train operating company will advertise another round of job vacancies, the biggest question is who goes to the top of the holding pool list? You who has been waiting 2 years or the guy who just passed last week with a better score? Do internal applicants already within the company (ticket inspectors and conductors) get priority over external applicants straight off the street?
All of this made me a bit disillusioned. And I’m starting to question how can train operating companies struggle with staff going on strike when there’s no shortage of applicants? If W doesn’t want to do the job for £57,000 then X,Y and Z will.
And from all my research, I’m surprised how automated rail signals are despite the aptitude tests.
I found out that there is literally 1000’s of people applying for just 10 vacancies. Some have already gone through the selection process several times previously unsuccessfully and keep on trying. I saw in one rail forum that Northern Rail once advertised for train drivers based in Manchester and they had so many online applicants they pulled down the webpage within 9 hours.
Those who submit an application form are not guaranteed to even get an interview as the number of applicants are culled.
Those lucky enough to get through the first sift have to go to a selection centre. I think there’s an office at Doncaster who are contracted to test for all the different train operating companies?
At the selection centre the aptitude tests are brutal. Something you’d expect for an astronaut or military pilot. Such as hand eye coordination, memory tests and attention span tests. All against the clock. This is an example of one of the tests… https://metodorf.com/tests/bourdon_test.php
I reckon I would have failed the hearing test in the medical, having spent years in the military stood next to loud noise.
Those who get through the aptitude tests then have a verbal reasoning interview (Give an example of when you had to work to strict safety protocols? Give an example of when you had to pay attention at work?) and then a generic interview with a team leader / instructor, I assume to assess your character (will the applicant get on well with the team).
What surprised me the most, is the small percentage who passed all of these stages don’t even get offered a job straight away. There’s many rail forums where successful applicants complained about being placed into a holding pool. Some were holding for years. Some complained they’ll be in the holding pool waiting for a start date and then the same train operating company will advertise another round of job vacancies, the biggest question is who goes to the top of the holding pool list? You who has been waiting 2 years or the guy who just passed last week with a better score? Do internal applicants already within the company (ticket inspectors and conductors) get priority over external applicants straight off the street?
All of this made me a bit disillusioned. And I’m starting to question how can train operating companies struggle with staff going on strike when there’s no shortage of applicants? If W doesn’t want to do the job for £57,000 then X,Y and Z will.
And from all my research, I’m surprised how automated rail signals are despite the aptitude tests.
Edited by Mr Miata on Sunday 7th July 19:28
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