Job vacancies - trainee drivers.

[whole diary]

[grahame]

It used to be a dream of many children .... "I want to be a train driver when I grow up".  Looking back several generations, school leavers went into the most menial of railway jobs such as cleaning, move up through lighting up and fireman to "passed fireman" which allowed the person to drive the least important trains if there was a driver shortage - then up to full driver.

All change these days - there are occasional adverts such as this one

Vacancy for Trainee Train Driver
Job Reference:   GTR/1326
Job Title:   Trainee Train Driver
Training Salary:   24,292
Salary:   £45,734 Once Qualified
Location:   Metro- All London Depots
Hours of Work:   4 days per week, 35 hours
Job Expires:   17 Jan 2017 at 11:45PM

About Govia Thameslink Railway
The railway has always offered solid career prospects to hard working people, but you might be surprised by how diverse our team really is. Men and women from all walks of life drive our trains and influence how the business continues to grow.

At Southern, we’ve moved with the times…

The ladies and gents who drive our trains are motivated, career focussed professionals. They’re vital members of their communities, and determined to provide consistently safe service to their passengers. Solely responsible for the safe arrival of thousands of passengers every hour, they're conscientious and reliable.

I wasn’t really into trains as a child…

That’s OK! We’re looking for people enthusiasts, not just train enthusiasts. Our drivers make sure our passengers are not only safe, but also well informed. We believe that delivering a high level of customer service is far more important than whether you can name every steam train that we ever operated.

So, what’s the job actually like? What’s in it for me?!?

Our drivers work a 35 hour week over 4 days. Rosters are on a rolling basis, so you’ll always know when your days off will be, meaning you can plan in advance how work fits in with your family and other commitments.
Our train drivers are experts on their routes. Our initial training period runs for approximately 12-15 months. During this time, you’ll learn everything you need to know about your routes, and the trains you’ll be driving on them.
Southern are an Investors in People employer, meaning we’re not just interested in looking after our staff today, but also for the future. We offer a great starting salary (increasing at key stages in your first year), and an excellent pension scheme for your future. We’re passionate about ensuring that all of our staff have the opportunity to progress their careers and grow their skills with us.
Sounds perfect, what’s next?

If this sounds like the career opportunity you’ve been looking for, if you’re professional, motivated, and determined to succeed, click below to apply. Our recruitment process consists of several stages, starting with a series of assessments.

This vacancy is for all Southern Metro depots.

Successful applicants could be allocated to Selhurst, Norwood, London Bridge, London Victoria, Caterham, Epsom or any future Southern Metro depots.

GTR are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age*

*Due to safety regulations, you must be aged 21 or over when you begin your training.

[jdw.wor]

I'm hoping they mean "Vacancy expires 17 Jan 2017" and not "Job expires 17 Jan 2107". Mind you, in the current environment...............

[grahame]

I'm hoping they mean "Vacancy expires 17 Jan 2017" and not "Job expires 17 Jan 2107". Mind you, in the current environment...............

I chuckled at that too as I quoted it.

[bobm]

Apparently when I was little I wanted to be a dustman because they only worked one day a week. 

[John R]

GTR are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age*

*Due to safety regulations, you must be aged 21 or over when you begin your training.


So they've caveated age, but not disability.  Wonder how many blind applicants they will get (or even colour blind applicants)?

[Western Pathfinder]

I'd Allways wanted to be a lollipop man
That way I wouldn't have to of started work until I was Sixty Five !.

[chrisr_75]

GTR are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age*

*Due to safety regulations, you must be aged 21 or over when you begin your training.


So they've caveated age, but not disability.  Wonder how many blind applicants they will get (or even colour blind applicants)?

Oh, come on, you surely know perfectly well that there are plenty of disabilities that wouldn't affect ones ability to drive a train.

The minimum age is a legal thing based on responsibility and possibly some employment regulation stuff like maximum permitted weekly work hours and will be set by the rail regulators, not the company.

[grahame]

I'd Allways wanted to be a lollipop man
That way I wouldn't have to of started work until I was Sixty Five !.

How things have changed ... my first voluntary job was "lollipop" man.  Our senior school provided morning crossing patrols for three of the local junior schools.  Something on which there would be a different age limit these days, and I'm sure I would not have been permitted to do, and a story for another thread.

I've just realised - I started off helping people get from "A" [home] to "B" [somewhere else] and I'm still at it!

[chuffed]

First we had  'Ernie the fastest milkman', now we've got 'grahame the youngest lollipop man!'. I think there's a spoof video out there complete with Yakety sax type music !

[John R]

GTR are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age*

*Due to safety regulations, you must be aged 21 or over when you begin your training.


So they've caveated age, but not disability.  Wonder how many blind applicants they will get (or even colour blind applicants)?

Oh, come on, you surely know perfectly well that there are plenty of disabilities that wouldn't affect ones ability to drive a train.

The minimum age is a legal thing based on responsibility and possibly some employment regulation stuff like maximum permitted weekly work hours and will be set by the rail regulators, not the company.

No, but it says "regardless" of their disability. Which is a very clear statement that they will not have regard to any disability. Which of course has to be an incorrect statement, unlike for race, sex, religion or sexual orientation where it is absolutely right that it should play no part in assessing the suitability of a person for the role.

[TaplowGreen]

£46,000 for a 4 day 35 hour week? I'm not surprised they get flooded with applications!!!

[IndustryInsider]

Yes indeed - it's a very well paid job.

[ellendune]

£46,000 for a 4 day 35 hour week? I'm not surprised they get flooded with applications!!!

Yes indeed - it's a very well paid job.

It is indeed, but there are some downsides as well. 

It is not 35 hours in a comfortable office in office hours, it means some pretty unsociable hours with different shift patterns that would make it very difficult to share childcare with a working partner. This will add considerably to any childcare costs - a major item is a family budget.

For those who don't live in the London commuter area - and even those who do but bought their house many years ago and so have a relatively low mortgage compared to the value of their house - it also needs to be set in the context of the eye-wateringly high costs of housing in the South East, particularly in Greater London. 

It is hardly a stress free job - it demands undivided attention for long periods of time working on your own. 

[chrisr_75]

GTR are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age*

*Due to safety regulations, you must be aged 21 or over when you begin your training.


So they've caveated age, but not disability.  Wonder how many blind applicants they will get (or even colour blind applicants)?

Oh, come on, you surely know perfectly well that there are plenty of disabilities that wouldn't affect ones ability to drive a train.

The minimum age is a legal thing based on responsibility and possibly some employment regulation stuff like maximum permitted weekly work hours and will be set by the rail regulators, not the company.

No, but it says "regardless" of their disability. Which is a very clear statement that they will not have regard to any disability. Which of course has to be an incorrect statement, unlike for race, sex, religion or sexual orientation where it is absolutely right that it should play no part in assessing the suitability of a person for the role.

I think what it really means is any specific disability is disregarded but the applicant must still meet the health and physical conditions that all applicants are assessed upon - eyesight, certain chronic health conditions, ability to climb into/out of a driving cab from/to ground level, hand-eye coordination and so on.

[chrisr_75]

£46,000 for a 4 day 35 hour week? I'm not surprised they get flooded with applications!!!

I just knew it would be you who picked up on this! 

I agree, it is quite an appealing headline rate, but as others have touched upon, not necessarily the most attractive of conditions in terms of shift patterns and you also usually need to live within 30 mins drive of your booking on place, which can be rather costly for accommodation in the SE, especially during your training year at reduced salary.

It is not 35 hours in a comfortable office in office hours,

Personally I'd be quite happy to forfeit my 'comfortable office' to spend my working day almost completely alone, rather than listening to mr foghorn-voice in the desk opposite...the joys of open plan offices