Trainee train drivers wanted...

[Chicken Chaser]

Anyone been for the assessment day with TPE lately?

[couzens]

Hi all,

Just before christmas I was asked to attend a assessment day with DB Cargo. Does anyone know what the assessment will entail?

I'm due to be given info a week before the assessment, but thought I'd try and do a bit of research just to prep myself a bit more.

Thanks.

[itcaptainslow]

The best tip I can give is to use the practise material provided. It will be based around the assessments you’ll be subject to.

You can overthink things with all the various stuff written on the internet, especially when it’s on forums full of enthusiasts where “A little knowledge is dangerous”…

[Vasco]

wobman said:

Len20 said:

I'm due to start a trainee role next year so feel free to send me a PM.

Also have a good read if the sticky threads in this forum https://www.railforums.co.uk/forums/railway-jobs-c...

Also this thread has some useful information. Which company are you applying to?

I use that forum and a word of warning about many of the posters, they hate traincrew. As long as you bear that in mind and ask the right questions it's a valuable source of information.

The toc I work for are in the midst of a big recruitment drive and its been a bit chaotic due to covid, so trainees have had large delays after finishing the school elements before getting DIs.
It's a case of being patient the the poor trainees effected but it's worth the wait.

I find the main problem with that site is the large number of rail staff who encourage their Unions to do anything they want. Common sense, or moving forward from the 1980s never seems to enter their minds. The answer is invariably NO.....

[wobman]

In what context is fighting for your rights a 1980s thing ???

The anti traincrew agenda on that particular railway forum is quite shocking to be honest and I find it comes from a minority of people that don't work in the industry or have any knowledge of how it works unfortunately.

[wobman]

couzens said:

Hi all,

Just before christmas I was asked to attend a assessment day with DB Cargo. Does anyone know what the assessment will entail?

I'm due to be given info a week before the assessment, but thought I'd try and do a bit of research just to prep myself a bit more.

Thanks.

If you go through your practice material and use the railforums for more information, people also take their own stationary and I used a watch with a timer ⌚️ to save me wasting time looking at the clock.

Dress smart and be professional are always plus points and listen very carefully to what the assessor says, if unsure ask the question otherwise you will regret no asking.

Good luck

[Vasco]

wobman said:

In what context is fighting for your rights a 1980s thing ???

The anti traincrew agenda on that particular railway forum is quite shocking to be honest and I find it comes from a minority of people that don't work in the industry or have any knowledge of how it works unfortunately.

It appears that it's little to do nowadays with 'fighting for your rights'. Far more to do with being as inflexible, outdated and awkward as is possible.
Other people contributing to groups such as that have worked in many other industries, have a better all round knowledge, and can see how blinkered many rail staff have become over the years.

[wobman]

Please explain what's outdated then?

[Vasco]

wobman said:

Please explain what's outdated then?

Perhaps have a look at that group to see the range of issues that is raised by various people - if you need further clarification.

[couzens]

wobman said:

If you go through your practice material and use the railforums for more information, people also take their own stationary and I used a watch with a timer ?? to save me wasting time looking at the clock.

Dress smart and be professional are always plus points and listen very carefully to what the assessor says, if unsure ask the question otherwise you will regret no asking.

Good luck

Thanks, will wait for the material to be sent over.

Thanks for the heads up about clothing, I was wondering wether I'd need to be wearing a suit or not.

Thanks!

[wobman]

Vasco said:

Perhaps have a look at that group to see the range of issues that is raised by various people - if you need further clarification.

I'm intrigued as to what YOU think is outdated that's all ?? What industry do work in then ???

You say things are outdated from the 80's but don't actually say what is........

Edited by wobman on Wednesday 29th December 18:13

[Stedman]

Vasco said:

wobman said:

Please explain what's outdated then?

Perhaps have a look at that group to see the range of issues that is raised by various people - if you need further clarification.

That's not how it works.

[Stedman]

couzens said:

Thanks, will wait for the material to be sent over.

Thanks for the heads up about clothing, I was wondering wether I'd need to be wearing a suit or not.

Thanks!

100% wear a suit. I must say - and this isn't a dig at you at all - i'm still surprised this isn't the standard if going for a job?

Re: prep. As mentioned above, use the practise material. Don't over complicate things on the assessment, RTFQ, ask questions if you're not sure and keep on asking until you are sure of what is required.

Best of luck! About to enter my ninth (!) year of driving and even at 32 the two 3am alarms i've had this week have been killers

[43034]

Stedman said:

Best of luck! About to enter my ninth (!) year of driving and even at 32 the two 3am alarms i've had this week have been killers

You aint fkin' 32.

[Stedman]

43034 said:

You aint fkin' 32.

[couzens]

Stedman said:

100% wear a suit. I must say - and this isn't a dig at you at all - i'm still surprised this isn't the standard if going for a job?

Re: prep. As mentioned above, use the practise material. Don't over complicate things on the assessment, RTFQ, ask questions if you're not sure and keep on asking until you are sure of what is required.

Best of luck! About to enter my ninth (!) year of driving and even at 32 the two 3am alarms i've had this week have been killers

Always wear a suit, but as it was titled assessment and not interview, I wasn't sure.

I've seen people turn up to interviews at my current job in tracksuit bottoms before now!

3am is a horrifying time, but not far off what time I currently get up for my warlike shifts.

Might be needing a parrot here but RTFQ?

[wobman]

Just woke up at 2am today, this week of earlies is a rough on. Its a 8.30hr job aswell......

Regarding assessments I would always wear smart clothes, the hr dept at tocs do watch the applicant's at all stages of the process.

[Stuart70]

couzens said:

Always wear a suit, but as it was titled assessment and not interview, I wasn't sure.

I've seen people turn up to interviews at my current job in tracksuit bottoms before now!

3am is a horrifying time, but not far off what time I currently get up for my warlike shifts.

Might be needing a parrot here but RTFQ?

Read the question!

[wobman]

Stedman said:

That's not how it works.

That's why I put a warning about that rail forum, the attitude towards train crew is shocking I've experienced on there.

[forrestgrump]

Re assessments, get plenty of Group Bourdon practice in the bank and the rest are fairly straight forward. That’s the main one really and no one is any good at it straight off the bat despite it seeming ‘easy’.

Don’t worry too much about shift work, you’d think it was the worse thing in the world reading this thread. A 2am alarm is also a 9am finish and a free day to do whatever you like

Railforums is also a very good resource despite some of its drawbacks.