Further to my previous posts Im on ESA (work related group) , I know I said that my empolyment advisor was trying to put me off HGV driving, she did mention a weekend delivery driver vacancy for Ocado, I know it was only to look at, but I went one better and applied, not expecting to hear anything back, and on Weds they phoned me for a short phone interview, and tomorrow I’ve got an interview with a manager. This at least allows me to test out the water for multi drop.
If successful then I’d eventually like to go f/t, as an initial goal, and I know Ocado have HGV drivers, so seeing as I’ve got a provisional C licence I’d like to drive a HGV should a vacancy arise. They do ideally ask for two years C+E that may be my only downfall. Just if I mention HGV driving as a goal, will they think I’ll be leaving, tho I would mention that Ocado has HGV drivers. Just I want to show some ambition, obviously I don’t want to be CEO, but is weekend-f/t 3.5t driver ambitious enough, or should I mention HGV is my goal. 40 hours pw doesn’t seem quite so long as some HGV driving vacancies https://www.ocado.com/careers/cloud/#/vacancies/093c4350-bcab-4fd0-8e41-9df9928ed06e
I’m on Class 2 multidrop and I average about 45 hours a week and thats enough for me. I would mention that you want to get to C+E as the end goal but you want to learn from the bottom. Say you’ve got your provisional but you want a solid grounding in multidrop.
You are following the same path as “ash 001”, as he started on Tesco’s, but didn’t progress through them. Instead he took his own tests when he left/quit. Not saying you will do the same, but don’t be surprised if they are happy to keep you as a delivery person.
PM the bellend/mate of mine, look here for his PM contact, but remember to change the msg title:
I don’t know with Ocado if they’ll pay for me to do my HGV or if that’s something I’d have to pay for myself. Yes 3.5t supermarket delivery I think is a way to build up multi drop. Yes that’s the way I think to say start at the bottom, I don’t mind as truck driving would be a whole new career path for me, with my ultimate goal being C+E (with Ocado of course), I don’t want them to think I’ll be off to Asda, Tescos, Stobart etc etc at a drop of a hat!!!
PottyPott:
I don’t know with Ocado if they’ll pay for me to do my HGV or if that’s something I’d have to pay for myself. Yes 3.5t supermarket delivery I think is a way to build up multi drop. Yes that’s the way I think to say start at the bottom, I don’t mind as truck driving would be a whole new career path for me, with my ultimate goal being C+E (with Ocado of course), I don’t want them to think I’ll be off to Asda, Tescos, Stobart etc etc at a drop of a hat!!!
You MAY find that Ocado, or whoever, pay for you to take your LGV tests, on the condition you work for them for a set number of years. Usually, if you leave before that time you have to pay some or all of the cost back.
Nothing wrong with asking and finding out what your options are.
No harm is asking, tho maybe I’d better wait to see what the outcome is today, unless the manager happens to mention it, if I say what my plan is initially this one 16 hours pw at weekends then f/t 3.5 t driver then HGV driver with Ocado as I don’ t want them to think I’ll be off at first opportunity!!!
PottyPott:
No harm is asking, tho maybe I’d better wait to see what the outcome is today, unless the manager happens to mention it, if I say what my plan is initially this one 16 hours pw at weekends then f/t 3.5 t driver then HGV driver with Ocado as I don’ t want them to think I’ll be off at first opportunity!!!
Good luck with your interview. Let us know how you got on.
Cavey.
Ive dropped you a pm potty mate thought it would be easier then making numerous posts, hope I can help you along your journey 
Thanks Ash, I’m sure HGV is something I’d like to do. I gather I either have to gain employment say as 3.5t driver and try and progress from there. I gather the downside if employer operate HGVS and are willing to train me then I have to stay with them so long, unless I fund LGV/HGV myself, disadvantage with that is I need a job to pay for it. The other thing is I don’t take up driving as a career, but get a job polishing railway locomotives in a museum (I love railway engines), or the other thing is do a boring old office job and hate it!!! Should know from Ocado within 7-10 days.
Hi PottyPott,
Here’s another option…
Have the interview (say nowt about your objective,) then take the job if you like the sound of it.
Once you’ve got your foot in the door, listen for anything that comes up in conversation that might interest you, whilst keeping your cards close to your chest. (Still say nowt about your objective.)
If the right thing is said by one of the bosses, you might then say that you might be interested.
You will then have the option of sticking with that job if you like it, whilst not having rung their alarm bells about you possibly only being there for a shortish period.
That way, you keep all your options open and your powder stays dry. 
Good luck at the interview!! 
dieseldave:
Hi PottyPott,Here’s another option…
Have the interview (say nowt about your objective,) then take the job if you like the sound of it.
Once you’ve got your foot in the door, listen for anything that comes up in conversation that might interest you, whilst keeping your cards close to your chest. (Still say nowt about your objective.)
If the right thing is said by one of the bosses, you might then say that you might be interested.
You will then have the option of sticking with that job if you like it, whilst not having rung their alarm bells about you possibly only being there for a shortish period.
That way, you keep all your options open and your powder stays dry.
Great advise Dave, basically don’t shoot yourself in the foot before you have even started 
Thankfully I wasn’t asked about any future careers move, so the HGV driving didn’t come into it!!!
ash 001:
dieseldave:
Hi PottyPott,Here’s another option…
Have the interview (say nowt about your objective,) then take the job if you like the sound of it.
Once you’ve got your foot in the door, listen for anything that comes up in conversation that might interest you, whilst keeping your cards close to your chest. (Still say nowt about your objective.)
If the right thing is said by one of the bosses, you might then say that you might be interested.
You will then have the option of sticking with that job if you like it, whilst not having rung their alarm bells about you possibly only being there for a shortish period.
That way, you keep all your options open and your powder stays dry.
Great advise Dave, basically don’t shoot yourself in the foot before you have even started
Yep, that’s about the size of it.
PottyPott:
Thankfully I wasn’t asked about any future careers move, so the HGV driving didn’t come into it!!!
…and if they had asked, you’d have acted all surprised and said that you hadn’t given it any thought.
Ocado job
I worked for them, I took the job as you get plenty of time off as you work Am or PM , AM is from 6AM till finish normally 1ish PM starts from 3PM till finish normally 10-11 PM but they pay you eight hours even if your done in four ( I did once) full time is 5 out of 7 including weekends, higher rate sat and sun.
15 - 20 drops on a pre set route in auto sprinters for Ocado or Morrisons van, jobs ■■■■ easy although some still mess it up, I mentioned time off as it allowed me to work and do my class 2 training but I paid for mine, I left them as landed a job on class 2, I now do Mon to Fri 40-45 hrs a week and still flash the Ocado vans in when the little ■■■■■ pass me on Mway.
Ocado easy job good intro to mutli drop plenty time off to train their HGV only run from BIG RDC’s to hubs so you’d need to be at one of them to have option of progressing to HGV with them if they do that.
Good luck with the job
Is worth knowing about Ocado. It would appear they operate HGVs as have seen them, and have a vacancy here,I don;t know if they operate HGVs from Milton Keynes, but a move to Warwickshire (where this vacancy is) at some stage would suit me fine, as most my friends seem to be in Coventry, Nuneaton, Birmingham or Wolverhampton areas. I#ll wait and see what happens re this vacancy, and maybe keep plugging away depending upon outcome . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lriWlHZAy8A
I also worked for Ocado for 9 months on the sprinters, they only currently trunk from either CFC 1 Hatfield or CFC 2 Dordon ( CFC = customer fullfillment centre, posh phrase for distribution warehouse ) to other depots known as “spokes”, if you do eventually progress to class 1 level just bare in mind your start times can be anytime around the clock over any of 5 of 7 days a week. They have 70 % turn over of drivers, very few stay for the long term , something to think about. Good luck with your journey.
OH well have to rethink my route as didn’t get the Ocado vacancy. GRRRRR I feel really unemployable right now!!!
Why not try some agencies? I got a lot of van work when I first started.
I’ve tried agencies for work before, tho not a dicky bird. I would prefer regular employment. oh well back to employment advisor.