I don't want to put you off, but here are some truths about my experience during the recruitment process.
The whole process is long, too much paperwork, too much emails, for what it is. So don't be over preoccupied with thinking this is the only job in the world for you, if you're in a job already, don't leave a job until you're accepted by TFL.
The recruitment staff I found to be patronising, spending too much time, talking down, and treating the public like primary school children, too much chatter on theory and to be honest just at keeping you nervous, and to be feeling like an idiot, but 1 thing out of 10 is useful, if you can figure out the 1 thing. It's not that complicated, but it may seem to be, for people who have no experience in recruitment process and how jobs work. So just be yourself, revise, prepare and stay calm, if you get the job good, if not move on. TFL or any other job should never be a life goal.
The Process,
Applied online,
Month one:
1. Online application form and CV (passed)
3. They then emailed me an online test questionnaire, (competency/skills type) (passed)
Month two:
4. They then sent me an email to schedule a interview for English and Travel Ticket/table reading (passed, notified by email in week). This test is about reading different tickets dates, zones, saying if it's correct or not. The English test is about spelling, full-stops, etc. simple. but practice before you start, (level 1 English sentence structure). The practice material they send, is okay to start with, but the Fare table that they send which you have to calculate maths problems is not in the test. (passed)
Month Three
5. Called to do role-play (easy, someone vaping and had the wrong ticket), (didn't pass, unknown reasons, no feedback given) (but I had to leave feedback for them before I left, and so do other candidates,
6. if you are sent to the feedback room, that means your leaving, so give the right scores, according to your experience, don't just give them full top marks.
7. Last stage is the 3 or 4 questions on (teamwork, how you handle difficult situations, how do provide excellent customer service, etc) didn't do this part, a friend of mine did.
I was told to reapply in 6 months time. but how do you improve if your not giving any type of feedback so a reapply will be a waste of time, unless they are looking for numbers, and then you are taken on.
The staff
The reception guy is rude, and patronising, He's a timekeeper and thinks he's an immigration officer. his customer service skills are poor and his friendliness is fake.
The English and Maths, test man, he's friendly but pretentious.
The role play briefing guy (same as tester), friendly but fake.
The actor in the role play, interview, bald white guy, fake, see's you as a number.
The actor 2, in the role play, she is friendly but fake.
All in all the staff are run by no diverse backgrounds, ironic as 90% of candidates are diverse.
The recruitment staff, do show friendliness, but it's fake. everything is done to cover their backsides legally only, and they are doing a well paid job. But the overall recruitment process is okay. but don't go in trusting them.
This is my experience, If your okay or good at customer service go for it, but even if you're excellent at customer service there no guarantee. It seems they take by numbers, and (subtle preferences, which you won't pick up), but I personally belief discrimination is still there, they need diverse staff, who reflect London, not Essex and suburbs of Richmond. So depending on their need of numbers, you might be lucky and be picked like a random apple from a tree. (even if you're poor at customer service and people skills). I guess this is the same for any company, there are only bums who are running and in charge of places, who in reality are not fit to be in charge.
The interview is easy, but they make it seem complicated and long, something farfetched.
Sorry for the low down, but I have to be honest and tell you guys the truth.