Got there at 0920 and the interview was at 0930. Signed in at the reception and waited and waited, finally got taken at 10:10. Two fellas in the Interview room, one was the gaffer and I’m not too sure what the other one’s title was but both very nice chaps.
Not down to them which questions to ask of course but you get the usual ■■■■■■■■ of; “Describe a time where you have helped a colleague develop their career further” wut? So about 10 ridiculous unrelated questions to the job position in question later they held me a Drivers Hours Questionnaire and he made it very clear to me that if I got ‘stuck’ at any of them to just ask and he was more than happy to give me the answer… (must like me then hopefully ) I had no problems with the Questionnaire though except two questions and the three of us agree’d that there was more than one answer to the question, and he said that he thinks it’s someone in the office who has made it up with no knowledge in the industry. (Typical!). One was something along the lines of, “As a LGV Driver, what is the maximum amount of hours you can work on a weekly basis” That’s fine, but it doesn’t mentioned whether it’s talking about driving hours or actual working time hours, so yeah like I said we agree’d that there could be two answers to the questions which was fine.
After I completed that the Shift Manager (I think) came in and took me on an assessment drive, said that obviously ‘we usually walk around the truck before we use it but because I’ve already had it on an assessment this morning I know it’s all okay.’
So I climbed into the cab and he asked me if I’d seen a Drivers Book before (ie defects, time signing on duty, odo and such like) of course I have so I filled it out and he said when you’re ready just make your way out the yard. (The truck was on a bay.) I asked if he was looking for push pull etc but he said no, i was just to drive the way I usually do and how I feel comfortable as long as it’s safe.
I drive out the yard, I get that feeling back of what it’s like when the truck starts moving, it’s hard to explain but almost like a floaty feeling, immediately made me smile - sad i know. He asked if I was from the area, which i’m not, so he said he would give me plenty time for the instructions and we made conversation along the quick 10 minute hop.
Got back to the yard and he asked me to put it back on the bay to where it was, not the biggest yard and there are now two trucks eitherside, so I pull along side the bays (on my left) and i swing out to the right and then kick it to the left just before stopping and reverse her back and get her on in one, no shunt… phew.
He said that I was the best driver he’d seen and that if it was up to him then on my driving alone i’d have the job but ultimately it’s up to the chap who interviewed me. I laughed and said yeah I know he’s just doing his job too but I prefer to let me driving do the talking, he laughed and agree’d.
I was told I’d be informed before the week is out whether I got it or not. I’ll be a little disappointed if I don’t to be fair, I know I never put a foot wrong on the assessment and drove really well so it would be a shame for them to judge me on the interview of my ability to drive the truck, like I said I like to let my driving do the talking.
Anyway I’ll stop going on, if you got this far thanks for reading.