Great Western Coffee Shop

Hii, I'm a newbie, both in terms of this forum and my job. In middle age, I have just passed all the assessments and medical for a job as a conductor.  I now await a start date for my training.  Having been born in Reading and glued to the Bristol end of Platform 5 every Saturday as a kid, I guess that you could say I have come home at last, (job wise).

I am very much looking forward to my new career and having made a thorough nuisance of myself to any conductor who could spare the time to chat, I have to say that I am confident of a warm welcome.


I shall want to read a few more posts before adding my two pennorth, but no one loves a lurker ;D, so I thought it best to say hi immediately.

Welcome to the forums!
Good luck with the job as well!

A warm welcome to the board G.uard, looking forward to hearing your experiences as a conductor! Who knows, I might bump into you someday if you work from Westbury up to Bristol in the evenings :)

Welcome =]

Welcome to the forum G.uard and all the best in your new job.

Thanks for the welcome guys. I am still pretty shell-shocked at getting in :o

For anyone else considering a career move in this direction, I will tell you what I can about the selection process.

Mine started with a 15 minute telephone interview, they were interested in customer facing roles I might have held in the past and also the application of rules and above all, the safety aspects of the job.

They will tell you at the end of this stage if you have passed on to stage 2

Next step is the arrival of an assessment practice pack and invite to an assessment centre.  The pack contains a travel warrant and a book of exercises similar to what you will be expected to complete at the centre.  Work through these as many times as you can, they are representative but IMO, slightly less difficult then the tests you will face on the day.  Typical tasks include basic maths, ticket checking, concentration tests and checks on comprehension of the rules.

Our assessment was held at an hotel in Bristol.  Everyone connected with FGW was welcoming and I think, totally fair and professional. Just be aware that the tests are conducted under strict exam conditions. 

They stress that it is rare for candidates to complete all the questions so don't you stress on that score. Just do what you can as accurately and completely as possible.

After the tests it is lunch time. However, no one eats very much because the results are given straight after the meal.   Those who have not met the required standard then drop out, whilst the remaining candidates go for a tough but fair interview.
(This must be what  the X Factor is like ;D )

My advice here is to be as candid and accurate as possible. Best not to 'invent' things you think will please or interest the interviewer.

A few days later comes another phone call.  They asked me if I still wanted the job!!!!!! (Subject to references and a medical).

Last step is a medical and drug/alcohol screening, done under very secure conditions by BUPA. (Mine was in Bristol). BUPA will tell you  on the day if you  have passed the medical, but the results of the screening take a few days. 

Assuming all is OK...

Next stop... training.

Are you an RMT Brother yet ?

How are you finding staff at your depot? It must be pretty daunting to be 'new boy' around so many people

I'll bet there's quite a few "new boy's/girls" at the moment? welcome aboard fellow employee!

I don't start training for a for a few more days yet, but I certainly do intend to join the RMT.  From the FGW staff I have met, I have to say that I am looking forward to joining and becoming part of the rail community. I have had nothing but kindness and and interest from rail pros who know my situation.

As a pretty keen rail fan in years gone by, I am on nodding terms with much of the terminology, along with a fair notion of how things work.  I also have the interest in the railway to sustain me through training. However, I don't think that a rail fan automatically makes a good rail person. It's going to be a tough challenge, but I am determined to succeed.

Well, G.Uard, from comments posted here, you do have a lot of support from existing staff - and indeed, I suspect, from many passengers, too - in becoming part of the rail community!

You are probably already aware of it - but just in case you're not, may I recommend an excellent blog, run by an existing member of FGW staff?  See http://www.iworkforfgw.com/blog/

Good luck!   :D