Interviews

[steken1]

never really been in this situation where applying but cant get anywhere tbh, been unemployed before but as soon as I was 'serious' about looking for a job I got one.
Whole new experience of demoralisation for me this, cld probs get a job back in engineering but not going back to that as the whole thing is demoralising on a daily basis as you get treated like utter sh1t.

What was that when they were on about immigration last week, saying only those in skilled jobs and said over £26k wages would be the benchmark for 'skilled,' well despite having 5 years training I'd be looking at having to work continental shifts to get 26k as a fitter or cnc machinist, on days a lot less. So if my skills aren't deemed to be worth anything any more then I'm withdrawing them from circulation. before anyone has anything to say about that btw, unless you've worked in that industry then you have no idea of the way you get treated in the workplace. Industrial Dinosaurs that should've long since ceased to exist but can now pick & choose due to engineering industry being run down treating you like a schoolkid each day whilst paying you cack wages.
NO THANKS.

I'm sure it's not ideal but a bit of agency, or even voluntary, might help you get a foot in a few doors. I might be wrong but it feels like there's a lot less decent jobs out there these days.

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

Not getting anywhere with all of these Job Applications, struggling to get past the initial Application Forms tbh. which take an age to fill in as well btw.

Just had "sorry to inform you" emails from 2 Trainee Conductor Vacancies with Arriva Wales, had 1 a couple of weeks ago from Northern as well.

Currently have applications in for Trainee Conductor, Customer Service (Both Northern) & Trainee Driver with a Freight Company. With wages ranging from 18k-49k.

Getting well brassed off tbh but really dont want to go back to engineering as that will be around the same as that Customer Service wage.

 

[Sapie88]

Not getting anywhere with all of these Job Applications, struggling to get past the initial Application Forms tbh. which take an age to fill in as well btw.

Just had "sorry to inform you" emails from 2 Trainee Conductor Vacancies with Arriva Wales, had 1 a couple of weeks ago from Northern as well.

Currently have applications in for Trainee Conductor, Customer Service (Both Northern) & Trainee Driver with a Freight Company. With wages ranging from 18k-49k.

Getting well brassed off tbh but really dont want to go back to engineering as that will be around the same as that Customer Service wage.

I thought about applying for the trains as they were always featured in the forces magazines. The fact I have no experience with them has put me off.

 

[andym78]

Not getting anywhere with all of these Job Applications, struggling to get past the initial Application Forms tbh. which take an age to fill in as well btw.

Just had "sorry to inform you" emails from 2 Trainee Conductor Vacancies with Arriva Wales, had 1 a couple of weeks ago from Northern as well.

Currently have applications in for Trainee Conductor, Customer Service (Both Northern) & Trainee Driver with a Freight Company. With wages ranging from 18k-49k.

Getting well brassed off tbh but really dont want to go back to engineering as that will be around the same as that Customer Service wage.

Have you had any feedback from your "Sorry to inform you" emails? Is there a bit on the applications that you are particularly struggling with?

I've looked at railway stuff too in the last couple of years, mainly conductor or enforcement officer but I always seem to notice them when I've become pissed off with those sort of applications. It's a different company down here but I'm guessing the application is something along the lines of "Give us your whole life story, including full details of that summer job you had when you were 17, and then give an example of when you ... ". It just seems to take up so much time just on the off-chance they invite you to take the next step.

But unfortunately you've just got to practice at it. It's taken me 3 years to get a new job. I've done quite a few online applications, online tests(in stages), one on one interviews, group interviews, even a role play with an actress they got in just to role play with the candidates. Each time I failed at a different stage so I worked on that bit so I'd be better next time.

I've just sent off my driving licence to get the D category provisionally added so I can start training to be a bus driver. I had 2 interviews with the same company, in different locations. Both times I had to do a driving assessment, sit a short test, then have an interview. The first time the driving assessor said he'd had 5 assessments booked for that day but 3 didn't turn up so I thought, "Am I going to get this by default?" but didn't get it. I was so pissed off I didn't even get phone for feedback but when it came up again, in a different location, I made sure I knew the highway code inside out and practised the interview questions. The interviewer just glanced over my test and said, "That's all right" then spent 20 minutes telling me about the company and the learning process and offered me the job on the spot!

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

Have you had any feedback from your "Sorry to inform you" emails? Is there a bit on the applications that you are particularly struggling with?

I've looked at railway stuff too in the last couple of years, mainly conductor or enforcement officer but I always seem to notice them when I've become pissed off with those sort of applications. It's a different company down here but I'm guessing the application is something along the lines of "Give us your whole life story, including full details of that summer job you had when you were 17, and then give an example of when you ... ". It just seems to take up so much time just on the off-chance they invite you to take the next step.

But unfortunately you've just got to practice at it. It's taken me 3 years to get a new job. I've done quite a few online applications, online tests(in stages), one on one interviews, group interviews, even a role play with an actress they got in just to role play with the candidates. Each time I failed at a different stage so I worked on that bit so I'd be better next time.

I've just sent off my driving licence to get the D category provisionally added so I can start training to be a bus driver. I had 2 interviews with the same company, in different locations. Both times I had to do a driving assessment, sit a short test, then have an interview. The first time the driving assessor said he'd had 5 assessments booked for that day but 3 didn't turn up so I thought, "Am I going to get this by default?" but didn't get it. I was so pissed off I didn't even get phone for feedback but when it came up again, in a different location, I made sure I knew the highway code inside out and practised the interview questions. The interviewer just glanced over my test and said, "That's all right" then spent 20 minutes telling me about the company and the learning process and offered me the job on the spot!

The actual Filling in of Qualifications & Previous Jobs takes ages & tbh your guessing at dates.

Starting to think that the 'Reasons for Applying for this Position & why you are suitable' may be where I'm coming a cropper, but tbh when they are Trainee Positions you cant say much more than you are wanting a career change into a stable working environment & try to cover some of the things from the job description with previous experience.

Wouldn't be surprised if sometimes the 'Unimportant' Data Protection page comes into it where they are wanting to hit targets regarding employees i.e. Race, Nationality, Gender, Religion etc.

 

[andym78]

The actual Filling in of Qualifications & Previous Jobs takes ages & tbh your guessing at dates.

Starting to think that the 'Reasons for Applying for this Position & why you are suitable' may be where I'm coming a cropper, but tbh when they are Trainee Positions you cant say much more than you are wanting a career change into a stable working environment & try to cover some of the things from the job description with previous experience.

Wouldn't be surprised if sometimes the 'Unimportant' Data Protection page comes into it where they are wanting to hit targets regarding employees i.e. Race, Nationality, Gender, Religion etc.

Sounds like you're saying the right things in the "Reasons for applying ..." bit. Have you got someone who knows what they're talking about who can have a look through before you fire your applications off?

As laborious and time consuming as it is for us to fill them in someone's then got to look at them all and decide who goes through to the next stage so I often wonder if they just skim through and look for specific words or phrases so it might be that you're saying the right things but in the wrong way. Of course, they might just be throwing large wads of applications straight in the bin because they can't be arsed to read them.

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

Sounds like you're saying the right things in the "Reasons for applying ..." bit. Have you got someone who knows what they're talking about who can have a look through before you fire your applications off?

As laborious and time consuming as it is for us to fill them in someone's then got to look at them all and decide who goes through to the next stage so I often wonder if they just skim through and look for specific words or phrases so it might be that you're saying the right things but in the wrong way. Of course, they might just be throwing large wads of applications straight in the bin because they can't be arsed to read them.

The applications are all done online, so it's a case of having to submit straight after you fill them in because they more often than not state that they will withdraw the vacancy once a set number has been reached.

They could of course have things like 'Distance from Depot' or anything like that to instantly rule folk out as well, apparently they get an enormous number of applicants for each position advertised (someone reckoned 2,500) so taking 100 nearest to begin with would instantly get rid of a load. Still waiting to hear on 1 based in Wigan & apparently if they are envisaging further intakes then they keep you 'in the pot' so as not having to keep re advertising and being inundated again, No News not necessarily being Good or Bad really apart from the fact you haven't been completely ruled out, although the waiting & not knowing is also frustrating.

 

[Caso01]

Role play is the devil.
I went for an interview a few years back, once role play got mentioned I just got off.

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

Currently now have applications in for 7 jobs at Northern Rail.

1 x Trainee Conductor
5 x Customer Service
1 x Despatch

Had 2 rejections from them previously, 1x trainee conductor & 1 in the mantenance shop at Newton Heath.

Also got an application in with a Freight Company for Trainee Driver.


Maybe I should just get a train set & pretend.

 

[Deleted member 28206]

What about the biscuit place @Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian

 

[Tramps_mate]

Role play is the devil.
I went for an interview a few years back, once role play got mentioned I just got off.

I had an interview a few years back for a amusement arcade manager job. The company was despicable, talked about getting us to keep punters betting, offering incentives to stay and spend. Even about those who were skint by giving drinks and food.. It felt terrible. I told the training guy that and said I can't work for them, got up and left...

 

[Titus Bramble]

When I was applying for jobs it was generally a CV and/or online application. After not getting anywhere for months I went to see an advisor and it was 100% worth it. My CV was completely transformed to get all my key facts and buzzwords near the beginning where they would be noticed.

When it came to online applications, I started writing my answers in word documents and saved them before copying and pasting them into the form. A lot of questions are the same/similar in all applications so it made things quicker to have the basic framework to an answer which just needed rewording for each application depending on what they were after.

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

What about the biscuit place @Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian

wotyonabowt bryz ?

I'm after some kind of career mate, I aint drivin to L'pool for a labourin' job there's dem closer to home.

or did you mean the crisp job that I didnt get ?

 

[AdamEFC]

Got through the phone interview that I had a few weeks ago, had to go down to Dartford last week for an assessment centre. Thought it went well, never been to one before so wasn't sure what to expect. Hopefully I should hear back sometime this week, get proper nervous every time I get an email thinking it is to do with the job.

 

[Lowste]

Interviews are about being you

You can be trained to learn new skills, but your personality and your attitude is not something you can retrain

Most good interviewers will concentrate on you, as to get to the interview you must have passed the skills criteria.

They will quiz you about skills and knowledge, but they want to see how you react and how you handle pressure situations

In the main though a complete lottery