Best of luck to you shag…Essex girls…
. I was born 20 miles from there in Colchester. I know how to handle them girls
Brilliant news Dar
Fingers crossed for Sat hope all goes well
Jen x
I know that putting all my eggs into one basket is not the way to go. Hence why I applied for so many jobs or opportunities.
Just ten minutes ago I got a text and an email inviting me for assessment and interview at FirstBus Bristol.
It’s for 8th February. Which gives me a couple of weeks to think about it.
What is the best way to go?
I do want the D cat on my licence.
I know I’ll be locked into a contract with them to either work with them or pay back the training.
Just can’t believe it’s all landing in my lap
Dar,
“Just can’t believe it’s all landing in my lap” -
Its not JUST landing in your lap of its own accord, you have FORCED it into you lap by your hard work and perserverence.
Its nothing more than you deserve.
If I were you, I would go to the Bus interview just to have it as a second alternative if the C+E job doesn’t turn out as you fully expect. If you do get the C+E job, then you can always take the cat D in a good few months under your own steam. That way you are not locked in to anything and you have the category on your licence.
Good luck on saturday
LandyLad
dar1976:
Yes I will be leaving family behind during the week. But I need to work as not working is making me irritable and grouchy. I know what others have said about the pitfalls of family and working away not gelling. But I have thought it through and it is the best for everyone concerned.Oh and they do international work too so who knows? Maybe I’ll be over the water with a couple of years under my belt
Thanks for all the support from everyone. It’s much appreciated
Wel done on the interview & good luck
Know what you mean about not working & getting grouchy as I spent nearly 5 years on the sick while they tried to find out what was wrong with me & no they still havent got all the answers
Well it’s a mixture of good and bad news. The class 1 vacancy is non existent. The class 2 vacancy is up for grabs.
Met with the TM and the boss for a 20 minute chat and a chance for them to voice their concerns.
Subject to passing a CRB check they will possibly put me on a 2 month trial. Neither seemed that sure :-S
The lorries are no more than 2 years old. All looked in good shape.
Just gotta wait till after the weekend for an answer though not holding out much hope if I’m honest.
Hoping to be proved wrong.
Dean
Let’s hope, on this occasion, you are proved wrong! Don’t really understand the negative vibes. 2 month trial following a good CRB, what’s wrong with that? If nothing else, it’s another 2 months experience. What happened to the class 1 job? Did they say?
Keep us posted. Pete 
To be honest Pete I agree with the hesitant vibes! I know I’ll possibly flamed for saying this in the current job market situation on here now! But hey what the hell i’m on a forum, so I may as well give my two penneth.
What company has you come up under a pretence that a certain job is available with them and then when you arrive, it’s non-existant… 
Especially as they knew the distance dar1976 had to travel to come to see them, this stuff is normally sifted out a CV stage if you’re not sure of a candidate it’s not rocket science and it can’t be any different in haulage in reality to other industries.
I’ve worked for a couple of shysters like this in the construction industry and been hoodwinked twice on matters like this. Seems like this contagion may have spread to other industries then in recent times 
I know this I’d be following my gut instincts on this one, myself (not saying dar1976 should at all as it is his choice) and my past experience is not being told the facts as a prospective employee etc, does not show the company in a good light and usually leads to you thinking my gut instinct was right about them, especially if it turns out to be the truth a year on for example!
As many candidates forget, an employer has to equally impress an employee as much vice versa. As when the economic climate changes for the better and it will (it’s all cyclical as we all know), you’ll notice people suddenly vote with their feet and go elsewhere. Thus leaving the employer in the lurch and struggling for a while, no good experienced employees etc, which does affect their business, as much as bosses try not to believe that fact!
Most companies still need to rely on good employees for their prosperity, so doing things like this at the beginning doesn’t win people over.
Sometimes the reasons for leaving a company can be for what seem like very small things like this all based on initial impressions at the beginning of which you may have had doubts about, which then turned out to be how they operate all along.
I know for me it was this fact with my last employer and I wish I hadn’t actually waited the 2 hours they were late to start the interview. Turned out that’s how they continually operated in their line of business, needless to say they don’t get great press any more from clients or peers alike!
G
Will reply in more detail when I get home.
Something just doesn’t feel right.
No Class 1 vacancy as originally advertised.
They don’t know what a DQC card is. How many transport companies don’t know what one is and how it is obtained.
And finally I just didn’t feel comfortable today. Having driven 200+ miles at 5am to be given a half arsed or more like couldn’t be arsed attitude from the boss. I am left speechless.
She said that I am an unknown quantity. Normally hiring is done from word of mouth from current employees.
She had concerns about the distance. I explained my parents live in Colchester and I would have a 20 mile commute each way. Travelling home at weekends.
I agree with you Gosling,it would make me a little wary too.
It’s ok you saying you don’t see a problem Peter but with all due respect Dean has gone over there for a job which isn’t there but we might…might,give you a trial doing something else.There are too many firms who will take people on and take the ■■■■ because they know that person is desperate…and yes I’ve worked for a firm like that.
Now they may be worried about his lack of experience,but they had his cv before he turned up so all of this they know.It would be different if it was around the corner but it’s a bit of an upheaval for Dean.
I think I would take it for what it is and use it for your own good…as Peter said,if they offer you the job then take it and use it but I think I would be looking in the meantime.
It may work out well and I hope it does.
As an afterthought…I know it’s not a good idea sometimes asking about a firm using your own name but if you want,PM it to me and I shall post asking abouting them.Your choice.
Just seen your post Dean…Get yourself home chap and we will all thrash it out if you like.
As you say it dont feel quite right but hey it may be ok in the end we sometimes do get thing wrong 
Go home sleep on it talk to your partner about it all & see how she feels about all this
My gut feeling is they are not sure about you travelling from where you live every week which I can understand ( no disrespect to you Dean ) but it may take its toll in the end but as has been said if offered take it use it for your benefit & see what else you can pick up along the way as you never know
As you said in your post they normally take on drivers by word of mouth
Good luck whatever you decide hope it is the right choice for you & your family
I honestly don’t know what the answer to this is.
FirstBus is looking a good option right now.
I think there has been a lot of mis-communication from start to finish.
To be honest, I don’t think I will be taking it even if the job is offered. The more I think about it, my gut feeling says that a 10ft barge pole just isn’t long enough.
Thanks for all your support.
Dean
P.S Thanks LGVTrainer for posting the vacancy 
Dean,
Sorry to hear things didn’t turn out too good this weekend.
I think if I was you at this moment in time I would take the offer of employment up with First, if it’s offered. Ok, so you will be locked in for two years, but at the end of that you are free to either stay with it if you enjoy it or then look for C+E work, and hopefully things will have improved more by then. At least you know you will be employed for next two years.
Another plus point will be the fact that after the two years pass you will have had the C+E Cat on your licence for over two years by then, and can stretch the truth a bit with any prospective employer by saying that you have had C+E work over the last two years with a few agencies here and there but nothing permanent.
Just a thought maate! 
My thoughts exactly.
They want CE on my licence for 2 years. That’s what they’re gonna get.
Having read on another forum, it looks like they put lots through assessment and then leave them on a long list before training. So it looks like there are no guarantees anywhere.
Still I will keep my chin up and see what comes of the next month or so.
Cheers.
Dean
You may want to read this before you sign up for firstbus,granted you may have better behaved citizens in somerset,but this HSE report is for the leeds area.
roadrunner:
You may want to read this before you sign up for firstbus,granted you may have better behaved citizens in somerset,but this HSE report is for the leeds area.
I used to have a drop to Baboo meats at around 2ish in the morn around the corner from Peckham bus station and used to pity the drivers who had to do the night shift.
In the hse report linked above,the First bus answer among other ■■■■■ is a full days H&S course.
Give ex squaddies a tazer and let them sort the scum out I say.
Thanks for posting the info roadrunner. It makes for interesting reading. I spent a little time living in Leeds and IMHO I would say Somerset is a much more civilised area.
Having said that I am also 6ft4 and built like a tank. I am the true definition of the Big Friendly Giant. I dont go in all guns blazing, but can hold my own. I sometimes wonder if I should get my SIA badge and do security work .
I have a weeks work at DHL / NHS Supply Chain on Class2 so that’ll keep me out of mischief .
Let’s see what the next couple of weeks brings.
Cheers.
Dean
dar1976:
Thanks for posting the info roadrunner. It makes for interesting reading. I spent a little time living in Leeds and IMHO I would say Somerset is a much more civilised area.Having said that I am also 6ft4 and built like a tank. I am the true definition of the Big Friendly Giant. I dont go in all guns blazing, but can hold my own. I sometimes wonder if I should get my SIA badge and do security work
I have a weeks work at DHL / NHS Supply Chain on Class2 so that’ll keep me out of mischief
Let’s see what the next couple of weeks brings.
Cheers.
Dean
I have done various deliveries around somerset in the past, taunton, chard and agusta westland helicopter factory in yeovil and can honestly say it is one of my favourite counties.
I used to be a nightclub doorman for 10 years registering with the local police station in bradford town centre used to cost £25 per year in the early nineties, then they brought out the SIA license and the cost jumped to between £300 - £500 so i quit on principle, just like some of the old hands will do when the DCPC kicks in fully.
Good luck with the NHS job, i think you are due a lucky break.
all the best .
Ian