Driver Recruitment

schmocko · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 9:00 pm

Hey guys,

I just wanted to vent, i read again today about connex saying they are short of drivers, especially with the cragieburn extension opening soon..

.. I already work and drive in the public transport industry, and all i want to do for a career is work in the railways, suburban not country, from now until i retire in 30-40years time! I am desperate to become a driver.

I've applied before and passed all the tests, havent got to go to the assessment centre, but given i was 23 when i first applied, and 25 the second time, im presuming, or hoping it was cos i was not a 'mature age' applicant!?? I'm now 26 turning 27 soon and am more than capable of carrying out all duties of a train driver.

I already work 6 days a week most weeks, upto 12hrs a day, i love shift work and allllll that i want to do is drive trains professionally, but yet its a struggle to JUST get to have a face-to-face interview!?

So just wondering what others' experiences are? Have you got thru? how old are you? what helped your application? what didnt? And if there are any real, genuine train drivers that read these forums, not 15year old boys at home with trainsims, please get in touch with me via PM

Thanks guys.

Pete.

psr85 · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 9:10 pm

There's a recruitment process, and you'll have to use it. They can't just train 1000 drivers all at once, despite their wants.

People will complain about it, but it's obviously working for them. They wouldn't still be doing it that way if it wasn't working.

I bet some of the applicants that are getting through think the process is a great way to do it.

Bigwato · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 9:54 pm

I hear you schmocko. I am in a similar situation. Always wanted to drive do not give a stuff about the money, yet every time I apply (along with the 3000 others) I get knocked back. Just have to keep trying. Im about to be 37, so I think I am well over the leaving a job because I do not like it stage. I WANT TO DRIVE TRAINS! It is just hard now because you do not deal with face to face until you can pass stupid psychometric testing. The good old days of dressing in your finest and selling yourself are over my friend. It is all about your score on that test that counts. Bang Head

He who has the most model trains wins!
http://www.putfile.com/bigwato/albums http://profile.imageshack.us/user/bigwato/

mjja · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 10:05 pm

The problem, as psr85 implied, is class sizes. There are only so many people that can be trained at once.

I believe ever since Connex took control of the whole system in 2004 they have been training drivers as fast as they possibly can - as soon as one class is finished, the next lot come in.

The initial backlog from M>Train's lack of training has now been caught up, but every time there are enough drivers available Connex put on more services - hence the three different occasions the Dandenong line has had a service or two added.

So really, it's sort of like Parkinsons' Law - service levels will expand to fit the number of drivers available.

I guess that doesn't help you schmocko - all I can say is, keep trying, your turn will come.

Happy Gunzelling and remember, "Go by rail!"

Michael Angelico
President, Smart Passengers Inc
(My opinions are my own unless specifically stated.)

Bigwato · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 10:08 pm

Not to mention the amount of blokes shoving off to VLINE PAC NAT QR etc. Train them up and off they go.

He who has the most model trains wins!
http://www.putfile.com/bigwato/albums http://profile.imageshack.us/user/bigwato/

DalyWaters · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 10:41 pm

[/quote]Not to mention the amount of blokes shoving off to VLINE PAC NAT QR etc. Train them up and off they go.

psr85 · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 10:54 pm

Knowitall · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 11:05 pm

why do people always get abusive when they get rejected, did you ever think that the phsyc tests showed that you are not suitable for the job, that is what they are designed to do and they do it well, and given some of the responces posted now and in the past I can see that they have done well with their selections.

Its not just about wanting to drive trains, in fact that is the very last thing that should be on your mind, just because you want to ar you know a driver, it does not mean that you are suited to the job. If you answer those tests with the job on your mind then you are destined to fail them.

Do you think Connex should hire you because you put in for the job, prove to me any company that does this. Yes connex needs drivers but that does not mean that they should just take anyone, it costs about $300,000 to train a single driver, and in a $300,000 investment they are going to put their money on the best candidate possible, if you had that sort of money to invest would you give it to the first person who came along despite the fact they were not the right person or would you invest your money with the best person possible in the group

I love drinking, I know heaps about every kind of booze, does that mean i would make a good bartender, No, there is more than meets the eye in this job like all jobs, just because you really want to it doesnt mean you are suitable

so put your tissues away and get over it because I for one am sick an tired of hearing these complaints

Banned

Ned Ludd · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 11:27 pm

simey · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 5:32 am

schmocko · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 11:37 am

Thankyou to everyone that has replied, apart from Knowitall, there is always one person that tries to show off and bring other people down.

Were not abusive, and dont feel that we have been rejected, out of 3000 or so applicants you are lucky to get in the top group, if you did the online test every night of the week for 7 days, i guarantee the results would be different EVERY night!

I dont care if your sick and tired of hearing complaints knowitall, i didnt ask you to read OR reply to my thread.

But thankyou to everyone else, i do appreciate it, ill just have another go next time Razz

dog_spike_jnr · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 5:00 pm

i have heard the latest recruits are of all ages from 25 - 50 so age shouldnt be a problem

but i suppose a lot of us will just have to keep applying and maybe they might give us a go

good luck to any one that does put in and gets somewhere with it

Knowitall · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:58 pm

davern69 · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 10:33 pm

Hello, with all this Connex Train driving apps. And with the people who failed i was wondering if this could be a possibility to get in with out career focus, at the start of the application there was a email address saying people who have already knows to drive electric trains, there is a TAFE course from I to IV in Transport and Distribution in Rail distributon(Train Driver) people could do this and apply would it work...

Mark_SA · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 10:36 pm

Mate we have to play by their rules, its all about killing that first lot of exams. So my advice is to go to your local book store and buy some books on this type of testing so you can study. This is what I did before the last lot of exams. I'm very glad I did, although Im not through to the next stage yet (on a merit list) I gave myself a better chance to do well at the exams. The ball is in your court at the end of the day, its all about results. We can argue that this system sucks, or we can take the initiative and prepare for next time.