Based in Aberdeen, Scotland, FirstGroup is a multi-national transportation company that operates in the UK, Ireland, Canada, and The United States. They operate buses, railways, and trams, and own numerous subsidiary companies. Railway and transportation companies that fall under the umbrella of FirstGroup include:
Greyhound Lines
Great Western Railway
Avanti West Coast
First Transit
South Western Railway
Hull Trains
First Northwestern
East Coast Trains Limited
Transpennine Express
FirstGroup employs over 110,000 people through its various companies. Jobs at FirstGroup include IT, marketing, mechanics, engineers, electricians, train operators, and human resources. FirstGroup offers generous employee benefits, the specifics of the benefits will vary based on the laws and requirements of the country the job is located in.
FirstGroup Employees in the UK are eligible for benefits that include:
Pension Scheme
Free Travel
Health Cash Plan
Employee assistance program
What Is FirstGroup’s Hiring Process?
No matter which FirstGroup company you are hoping to work for, you can find their openings listed on the main FirstGroup website. To apply or sign up to receive alerts when the position you are hoping for is open, you will need to create a profile. You can create an account through your LinkedIn profile, or use your email address. Before applying, check to be sure the expiration date on the job listing has not passed. FirstGroup also conducts hiring events that are posted on their website.
Some jobs will require you to pass a series of online assessments before you are contacted for an interview.
If your qualifications are a good match for the job, and your test scores are suitable you will be invited to attend an interview/ assessment centre. There may be skills-based exercises you will need to complete in addition to a competency-based interview. Train operator applicants will need to complete tests like the Group-Bourdon, which is a paper-based test used to measure a candidate’s concentration.
If you are able to make it through the assessments and the interview you will be given a conditional offer. This offer is contingent upon you passing a health check, a possible DBS check, and submitting your references.
FirstGroup’s Psychometric Tests
If your desired position requires the completion of an online test, you will be notified by email. The test you will need to take will be based on your position, and there may be several versions of similar tests based on the level of the job that is being tested for. A few skills that are routinely tested for by FirstGroup include:
Numerical Reasoning Test – Proficiency with basic math is listed as a requirement in many job postings. This test will look at skills like addition and subtraction, multiplication, and word problems.
Verbal Reasoning Test – The ability to understand written directions and communicate clearly is important, especially in positions that may require split-second decisions. applicants for train or bus operating positions will be tested on their reading comprehension and given some driving-related questions.
Train Driver Assessment Suite – This is a group of tests that focuses on the psychomotor skills that are important when operating a train. These may be given with the rest of the online tests or during an assessment centre. Vigilance, situational judgment, and traffic perception are the skills that will be examined. You will need to demonstrate knowledge of safety procedures, as well as the rules and regulations that govern the industry.
How to Prepare for FirstGroup’s Assessments?
Skills assessments are an incredibly important part of the transportation industry hiring process. Wow, the hiring managers before you even reach the interviews by guaranteeing you get the highest scores possible. Be sure you are fully aware of all the key skills that are included in the job listing. These are likely the skills you will be assessed on. If you know you will need to show skill with basic math, run math drills until you are comfortable quickly working with numbers.
Any reading you do will help with your reading comprehension. If you are a driver or an engineer, you can practice reading comprehension while you read up on the rules and regulations you will be tested on. There are online apps that help you increase your concentration and reaction time. Make use of these so you know these skills are on point.
Become very familiar with the day-to-day occurrences of your desired position, This will help you be prepared for the situational judgment test. Knowing how to handle everyday situations, will help you decide how to proceed when something out of the ordinary occurs.
