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GWR Train Driver talent pool

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crwl

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From whatvthw driver learning managers said to us during traction it definitely sounds like there's plans for quite a few trainee groups to start by years end. Obviously there's a lot of things that can affect this though.
Yeah of course, things change very quickly and there would obviously be a lot of adapting to do over the last year, and again as we seem to gradually lift various forms of restrictions. I don’t envy those who are responsible for planning this at all!

The point was though that even pre-Covid, classes are only so big. If there’s 12 internals (random number) in the talent pool, the highest scoring external would obviously be waiting for the 13th vacancy.
 
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Nonuts

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Yeah of course, things change very quickly and there would obviously be a lot of adapting to do over the last year, and again as we seem to gradually lift various forms of restrictions. I don’t envy those who are responsible for planning this at all!

The point was though that even pre-Covid, classes are only so big. If there’s 12 internals (random number) in the talent pool, the highest scoring external would obviously be waiting for the 13th vacancy.
I asked at my DMI if a lower scoring internal would have priority over a higher scoring external as I'd heard that. The response I got was "if you score higher than someone, internal or external, it makes no sense for us to take the lower scoring ahead of you, if you have a higher score, you are higher up the list". Whether this is depot specific or not I couldn't say, however both myself and a mate were external and spent 3 days in the talent pool before a course date was offered.

That's my experience at least. I'm sure it has been the policy to look after their own first at some point in time but then years ago you needed a family member on the railway or had to work up right from the bottom so the times have definitely changed where you can join the drivers grade from the street!

I asked at my DMI if a lower scoring internal would have priority over a higher scoring external as I'd heard that. The response I got was "if you score higher than someone, internal or external, it makes no sense for us to take the lower scoring ahead of you, if you have a higher score, you are higher up the list". Whether this is depot specific or not I couldn't say, however both myself and a mate were external and spent 3 days in the talent pool before a course date was offered.

That's my experience at least. I'm sure it has been the policy to look after their own first at some point in time but then years ago you needed a family member on the railway or had to work up right from the bottom so the times have definitely changed where you can join the drivers grade from the street!
And I was a group of 12 when I started rules. Atm it's max 4 trainees in a classroom still
 

TheGoldfish

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Yeah of course, things change very quickly and there would obviously be a lot of adapting to do over the last year, and again as we seem to gradually lift various forms of restrictions. I don’t envy those who are responsible for planning this at all!

The point was though that even pre-Covid, classes are only so big. If there’s 12 internals (random number) in the talent pool, the highest scoring external would obviously be waiting for the 13th vacancy.
I’m not sure it makes a whole lot of sense to just blindly take your internals over much higher scoring externals .. if you take 3 gate line assistants and make them trainee drivers you’re then faced with filling 3 vacancies and training etc for your gate line staff .. all whilst you have a list of suitable driver candidates who you’ve just put through a costly recruitment process now just sitting there not being used ... plus I bet the managers of these staff have their own priorities and would not be happy to just release a number of their staff all at once to make the start of the drivers course ... so I’d say there’s probably a need for a somesort of merit on the pool positions whether internal or not ... otherwise the different parts of the business would be quite contentious with each other ?
 

bcfc171081

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When was the last time GWR advertised for trainee drivers. Do people think they will again this year or is it just a case of getting through the back log from last year.
 

Stigy

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When was the last time GWR advertised for trainee drivers. Do people think they will again this year or is it just a case of getting through the back log from last year.
There’s been confirmation of new vacancies being advertised for trainee talent pools over the coming months. I say it’s confirmed; I mean it’s been said by management so I guess it’s open to interpretation.
 
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bcfc171081

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There’s been confirmation of new vacancies being advertised for trainee talent pools over the coming months. I say it’s confirmed; I mean it’s been said be management so I guess it’s open to interpretation.

great news, I shall continue to check daily :)
 

crwl

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I’m not sure it makes a whole lot of sense to just blindly take your internals over much higher scoring externals .. if you take 3 gate line assistants and make them trainee drivers you’re then faced with filling 3 vacancies and training etc for your gate line staff .. all whilst you have a list of suitable driver candidates who you’ve just put through a costly recruitment process now just sitting there not being used ... plus I bet the managers of these staff have their own priorities and would not be happy to just release a number of their staff all at once to make the start of the drivers course ... so I’d say there’s probably a need for a somesort of merit on the pool positions whether internal or not ... otherwise the different parts of the business would be quite contentious with each other ?
I can't really comment on why internals over externals, or if it's a good idea or not... just from reading recent pages of this thread, it seems that it's the policy!

I can see both sides of the coin to be honest, it will largely depend which side your bias lies. If I was internal, I'd be wanting to be prioritised too, it does show loyalty within the company. The three gate line assistants may score lower than an external candidate but there is still a minimum benchmark! If they pass then they're judged to have the required skills, the same as anyone else is regardless of previous roles.

I imagine it does cause a lot of movement internally, but again I guess that could also be seen as a good thing. People might be more inclined to take other roles and get relevant railway experience as a "route" in to driving, which could be more beneficial than coming straight in from the outside. There's pros and cons to both approaches, just have to take it how it is really.
 

387star

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I can't really comment on why internals over externals, or if it's a good idea or not... just from reading recent pages of this thread, it seems that it's the policy!

I can see both sides of the coin to be honest, it will largely depend which side your bias lies. If I was internal, I'd be wanting to be prioritised too, it does show loyalty within the company. The three gate line assistants may score lower than an external candidate but there is still a minimum benchmark! If they pass then they're judged to have the required skills, the same as anyone else is regardless of previous roles.

I imagine it does cause a lot of movement internally, but again I guess that could also be seen as a good thing. People might be more inclined to take other roles and get relevant railway experience as a "route" in to driving, which could be more beneficial than coming straight in from the outside. There's pros and cons to both approaches, just have to take it how it is really.
I left to take a pay cut and get my key elsewhere despite being in a pool Internally.
Being internal doesn't always help you
 

Stigy

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I can't really comment on why internals over externals, or if it's a good idea or not... just from reading recent pages of this thread, it seems that it's the policy!

I can see both sides of the coin to be honest, it will largely depend which side your bias lies. If I was internal, I'd be wanting to be prioritised too, it does show loyalty within the company. The three gate line assistants may score lower than an external candidate but there is still a minimum benchmark! If they pass then they're judged to have the required skills, the same as anyone else is regardless of previous roles.

I imagine it does cause a lot of movement internally, but again I guess that could also be seen as a good thing. People might be more inclined to take other roles and get relevant railway experience as a "route" in to driving, which could be more beneficial than coming straight in from the outside. There's pros and cons to both approaches, just have to take it how it is really.
I can only talk from the perspective of my previous TOC, after having interviewed candidates for a non-driving role, but usually, the local managers are charged with the interviewing and selection process from start to finish, with HR there to guide and advise on anything. If there’s a policy to prioritise internals over externals, I’d imagine ultimately the manager gets to chose who he or she wants in their team.
 

crwl

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I can only talk from the perspective of my previous TOC, after having interviewed candidates for a non-driving role, but usually, the local managers are charged with the interviewing and selection process from start to finish, with HR there to guide and advise on anything. If there’s a policy to prioritise internals over externals, I’d imagine ultimately the manager gets to chose who he or she wants in their team.
Well fair enough, that's promising so thank you! When it was mentioned I guessed that meant it would be set in stone. I do think it makes more sense to allow the managers to make the final call, after all they are the one's that take the DMIs and learn a lot more about candidates than what is just written on paper.

As an external candidate I'll just assume I'm in for a lengthy wait and it is internals first, then anything else will be a huge bonus!
 

Stigy

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Well fair enough, that's promising so thank you! When it was mentioned I guessed that meant it would be set in stone. I do think it makes more sense to allow the managers to make the final call, after all they are the one's that take the DMIs and learn a lot more about candidates than what is just written on paper.

As an external candidate I'll just assume I'm in for a lengthy wait and it is internals first, then anything else will be a huge bonus!
I was external and only had a couple of months to wait after my DMI to be offered a course date. It’s a small depot too, and several internal candidates started on courses after mine (although I can’t confirm when they applied, it must have been for the same talent pool).
 

crwl

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I was external and only had a couple of months to wait after my DMI to be offered a course date. It’s a small depot too, and several internal candidates started on courses after mine (although I can’t confirm when they applied, it must have been for the same talent pool).
You're a real-life example of highest scores being prioritised then! That's at least slightly more hope than having to wait for however many internal applicants to fill vacancies before it's my turn then, thanks
 

jacey

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I was told recently within the last 2 months very little recruitment planned in the "west" through out 2021 & 2022 for mainline trainee drivers. Make of that what you will obviously its a little vague but that's how it was said. They did however mention planned courses for depot drivers through out 2021 and 2022 so some reason to be hopeful.

Also if the economy opens up and the pandemic is behind us then things will inevitably pick up gradually.
 

387star

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I was told recently within the last 2 months very little recruitment planned in the "west" through out 2021 & 2022 for mainline trainee drivers. Make of that what you will obviously its a little vague but that's how it was said. They did however mention planned courses for depot drivers through out 2021 and 2022 so some reason to be hopeful.

Also if the economy opens up and the pandemic is behind us then things will inevitably pick up gradually.
What do you mean by "west"? As in all the old wessex depots?
 

Horizon22

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What do you mean by "west"? As in all the old wessex depots?

I would presume he is refering to the "West" region that GWR use to split up their network - similar to how there is a "Central" and "East".
 

TheGoldfish

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I was told recently within the last 2 months very little recruitment planned in the "west" through out 2021 & 2022 for mainline trainee drivers. Make of that what you will obviously its a little vague but that's how it was said. They did however mention planned courses for depot drivers through out 2021 and 2022 so some reason to be hopeful.

Also if the economy opens up and the pandemic is behind us then things will inevitably pick up gradually.
Looking at other posts its likely they’re already moved away from directly recruiting mainline drivers and r now only taking on new drivers as maneuverers / depot drivers then using them to progress to mainline jobs as they become available
 

crwl

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Looking at other posts its likely they’re already moved away from directly recruiting mainline drivers and r now only taking on new drivers as maneuverers / depot drivers then using them to progress to mainline jobs as they become available
I wonder what that means with regards to current mainline pools though? It seems some have been given the opportunity to also carry their application over to a depot driver pool too. I wasn't able to do that as it was an internal-only vacancy for my depot of choice.

I wonder if they focus on a more depot focussed recruitment in the future as a stepping stone? I'll be in a mainline only pool for up to 3 and a half more years anyway, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some direct mainline recruitment during that period.
 

JunnyT

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From whatvthw driver learning managers said to us during traction it definitely sounds like there's plans for quite a few trainee groups to start by years end. Obviously there's a lot of things that can affect this though.
That is great and reassuring to hear.

Are you for Mainline or Depot Driver?
 

dabollicks

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Having originally applied for Par and recently being asked if I wanted to move my application to Plymouth due to recruitment changes it was a no brainer. Depot or mainline, I’m not sure, but still gonna give it my best at DMI, whenever that may be
 

Stigy

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Looking at other posts its likely they’re already moved away from directly recruiting mainline drivers and r now only taking on new drivers as maneuverers / depot drivers then using them to progress to mainline jobs as they become available
That would only apply to a few depots though, and there will still be a requirement to maintain a set establishment at locations where depot drivers etc aren’t based.
 

irish_rail

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I was told recently within the last 2 months very little recruitment planned in the "west" through out 2021 & 2022 for mainline trainee drivers. Make of that what you will obviously its a little vague but that's how it was said. They did however mention planned courses for depot drivers through out 2021 and 2022 so some reason to be hopeful.

Also if the economy opens up and the pandemic is behind us then things will inevitably pick up gradually.
If anyone is in for Plymouth then you can consider yourself a depot driver , therefore there is still a fair chance you maybe employed within next two years.
 

James71

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I had a pre-interview recently that I passed. Do you think I'll get a DMI soon and then enter talent pool if I pass or will they interview me only when there is a post available?
 

FGW_DID

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I had a pre-interview recently that I passed. Do you think I'll get a DMI soon and then enter talent pool if I pass or will they interview me only when there is a post available?

Have you done (and passed) the Psychometrics yet? Process seems to be:

Sift > Pre-Interview (Zoom) > Psychometrics > DMI > Talent Pool > (Course start date if progressed) > Medical > Start!
 

G30RG3

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Reading through some of the above I was wondering what the process looks for GWR talent pool prospectives...

Is it generally medical then start date allocation; or vice versa.. ie you are given a start date then your medical is booked in before you begin training?

Any knowledge from experience would be good to hear!
 

FGW_DID

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Reading through some of the above I was wondering what the process looks for GWR talent pool prospectives...

Is it generally medical then start date allocation; or vice versa.. ie you are given a start date then your medical is booked in before you begin training?

Any knowledge from experience would be good to hear!

start date > medical > (sign contract :D ) > actual start.
 

crwl

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Reading through some of the above I was wondering what the process looks for GWR talent pool prospectives...

Is it generally medical then start date allocation; or vice versa.. ie you are given a start date then your medical is booked in before you begin training?

Any knowledge from experience would be good to hear!
I can’t speak for railway jobs specifically so I may be corrected, but I’m currently in a different line of employment which uses a talent pool and medical system.

For me it was a conditional offer with a provisional start date pending medical & references (it was stressed to NOT hand in your notice at your current job just yet). Then assuming everything is ok, you get a formal offer and a contract etc, that’s when it becomes set in stone.

From reading on the forum, the process does seem pretty much the same in that regard!
 

jacey

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Out of interest has anyone west of Reading in the talent pools for Trainee mainline or depot driver been offered a job since March 2020 ?
 

RailwaysRus

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I had a pre-interview recently that I passed. Do you think I'll get a DMI soon and then enter talent pool if I pass or will they interview me only when there is a post available?
Congratulations on passing. Pre interviews are new I believe? How was it, what did they ask and how did you pass :o ?

Yes, it was a zoom interview. It prob lasted about 50mins. Tbh, the questions were fairly similar to the MMI. One that i wasnt expecting was, what tactics would u use to keep yourself motivated and alert whilst driving when you are tired? Whilst it is a logical question, it wasnt asked in that simple way. It took 3 attempts for them explain what they wanted from me. Lol. Im an ex tube driver so once i understood the question i was able to answer quite easily. The interview itself was much more informal and relaxed than the MMI. There was a thread on here that i referred to that covered the majority of the questions. Will see if i can find it. Good luck and hope you get through.
Hey there, I was wondering on this such question - how did you manage to answer it? What is it they are looking for. I got a similar question " How did you stop yourself from getting bored during this?"

THanks in advance

Yes, it was a zoom interview. It prob lasted about 50mins. Tbh, the questions were fairly similar to the MMI. One that i wasnt expecting was, what tactics would u use to keep yourself motivated and alert whilst driving when you are tired? Whilst it is a logical question, it wasnt asked in that simple way. It took 3 attempts for them explain what they wanted from me. Lol. Im an ex tube driver so once i understood the question i was able to answer quite easily. The interview itself was much more informal and relaxed than the MMI. There was a thread on here that i referred to that covered the majority of the questions. Will see if i can find it. Good luck and hope you get through.
Hey there, I was wondering on this such question - how did you manage to answer it? What is it they are looking for. I got a similar question " How did you stop yourself from getting bored during this?"

THanks in advance
Yes, it was a zoom interview. It prob lasted about 50mins. Tbh, the questions were fairly similar to the MMI. One that i wasnt expecting was, what tactics would u use to keep yourself motivated and alert whilst driving when you are tired? Whilst it is a logical question, it wasnt asked in that simple way. It took 3 attempts for them explain what they wanted from me. Lol. Im an ex tube driver so once i understood the question i was able to answer quite easily. The interview itself was much more informal and relaxed than the MMI. There was a thread on here that i referred to that covered the majority of the questions. Will see if i can find it. Good luck and hope you get through.
 
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