[rorybreaker]

Hi Guys

Have an interview with Northern next week for trainee train driver @ Liverpool. Any advise? I think it is only going to be a quick interview to filter out a few more people. Any help will be appreciated.

[Sunday_mornin]

Ah so you finally heard back from them?

[156441]

It's a full interview mate I was there on my break last week got 32 mins and the bloke that was in for interview was in before me and still not out as I left!!

[rorybreaker]

Yes finally heard back!!! It was strange. I emailed and asked when will i hear. I heard back on the Monday morning and by the afternoon i had another saying i have an interview.

It Says it is an example based interview which i am quite happy about as i presume it will be a 'give an example of a time when' etc. Just hope they don't spring any surprise questions!!!!!!

[Sunday_mornin]

So what day is your interview on Rory?

Same happened to me pretty much, I emailed them on the Friday (6week deadline) asking for further information regards the Blackpool jobs, they responded saying that sifting was taking longer than expected and sorry for the delay, then less than one hour later I got another email saying I'd passed the sift but the Blackpool jobs where being withdrawn.

Best of luck for your interview.

[Daniel84]

Would any of the people who recently attended these interviews have any advice, I've searched the forum and have a general idea of what to expect, but just wondered if anyone has any specific advice from their experiences? Thanks.

[Silv1983]

I would advise you do all to do 3 things:

1) Research facts and statistics about Northern. Their website and wikipedia are pretty good. Also look at your local station and see if they are managed by Northern and which major transport hubs/routes it is part of.

2) Think, think and think again about what sort of qualities make both a good train driver and a general employee. I can't recall 100% exactly what competencies I was questioned on, but if you think about the following you should have enough evidence to get the necessary boxes ticked:

- dealing with an emergency;
- delivered a message that was difficult to communicate;
- fault finding;
- solved a difficult problem;
- helped a colleague with a problem;
- gone out of your way to help a member of the public;
- keeping calm under pressure;
- shown high levels of concentration and decision making;
- prioritising;
- working alone and motiviating myself to get a task done;
- working as part of a team and explaining my role.
- dealing with verbal and physical abuse.

I honestly cannot remember every question I was asked, and there certainly werent as many as twelve like the points above: nearer 7 or 8. But they overlap and are interchangeable.

3) Try to relax. You are there by choice to better your life: no-one is forcing you to be there. Take a deep breath and give yourself 10-15 seconds if necessary to sort your answer out in your head. Be firm and confident in your delivery, because even if you feel your example isn't particularly "glamourous" - you will tick the right boxes if you understand what they are asking of you.

And wear a suit!

Best of luck.

Silv

[Daniel84]

Great advice, thanks.

[Neil73]

Originally Posted by Silv1983

I would advise you do all to do 3 things:

1) Research facts and statistics about Northern. Their website and wikipedia are pretty good. Also look at your local station and see if they are managed by Northern and which major transport hubs/routes it is part of.

2) Think, think and think again about what sort of qualities make both a good train driver and a general employee. I can't recall 100% exactly what competencies I was questioned on, but if you think about the following you should have enough evidence to get the necessary boxes ticked:

- dealing with an emergency;
- delivered a message that was difficult to communicate;
- fault finding;
- solved a difficult problem;
- helped a colleague with a problem;
- gone out of your way to help a member of the public;
- keeping calm under pressure;
- shown high levels of concentration and decision making;
- prioritising;
- working alone and motiviating myself to get a task done;
- working as part of a team and explaining my role.
- dealing with verbal and physical abuse.

I honestly cannot remember every question I was asked, and there certainly werent as many as twelve like the points above: nearer 7 or 8. But they overlap and are interchangeable.

3) Try to relax. You are there by choice to better your life: no-one is forcing you to be there. Take a deep breath and give yourself 10-15 seconds if necessary to sort your answer out in your head. Be firm and confident in your delivery, because even if you feel your example isn't particularly "glamourous" - you will tick the right boxes if you understand what they are asking of you.

And wear a suit!

Best of luck.

Silv

Great post and some fab advice there.

From someone who has first hand experience of the interviews, what would you recommend as being the best way to tackle the answers:

* Think of your most strongest answer to an event (but may have occurred many moons ago) OR

* A recent occurrance but may not be quite as strong as you would hope?

I've got my Structured Interview next Monday and whilst I may have examples to fit all the points you list, I'm just a little perplexed as to how to tackle the event. Or am I over complicating things?

Cheers for any advice
Neil

[Geargrinder]

Originally Posted by Neil73

Great post and some fab advice there.

From someone who has first hand experience of the interviews, what would you recommend as being the best way to tackle the answers:

* Think of your most strongest answer to an event (but may have occurred many moons ago) OR

* A recent occurrance but may not be quite as strong as you would hope?

I've got my Structured Interview next Monday and whilst I may have examples to fit all the points you list, I'm just a little perplexed as to how to tackle the event. Or am I over complicating things?

Cheers for any advice
Neil

My own two pence worth on this, after my managers interview is : Go for your strongest example even if it's years ago. Having said that when I was actually sat there I could only seem to think about 1 week back !! Afterwards, on the journey home, I couldn't believe I hadn't mentioned some better stuff I'd done which for some reason completely left my head during the interview...

[Sunday_mornin]

Originally Posted by Neil73

Great post and some fab advice there.

From someone who has first hand experience of the interviews, what would you recommend as being the best way to tackle the answers:

* Think of your most strongest answer to an event (but may have occurred many moons ago) OR

* A recent occurrance but may not be quite as strong as you would hope?

I've got my Structured Interview next Monday and whilst I may have examples to fit all the points you list, I'm just a little perplexed as to how to tackle the event. Or am I over complicating things?

Cheers for any advice
Neil

It's a scored interview Neil, so go with your strongest example. Also, sounds obvious but relax and come across as personable, the interviewers explained to me that in the past they had put some applicants ahead of others because of their personality even though their scores may have been lower. So maybe crack a few Knock Knock jokes as you enter

Which depot are you being interviewed for Neil?

[Neil73]

Originally Posted by Geargrinder

My own two pence worth on this, after my managers interview is : Go for your strongest example even if it's years ago. Having said that when I was actually sat there I could only seem to think about 1 week back !! Afterwards, on the journey home, I couldn't believe I hadn't mentioned some better stuff I'd done which for some reason completely left my head during the interview...

Cheers Geargrinder, thats what I was thinking of all along really as I suppose it will show to the interviewer a history of competencies that are suited to the role of train driver. So have you heard back any results yet from your interview? Was it a Northern Rail interview?

Hi Ian, hows things with you? Have you made any more plans with DBS?

Thanks for the heads up regarding being personable in the interview. I think that is a very important point to make as I do want to come across as being the professional person I am but also someone who has a personality and who appears to be approachable.

Incidentally my interview is at Wigan Wallgate Railway Station on Monday. Do you know it?

[Sunday_mornin]

Originally Posted by Neil73

Cheers Geargrinder, thats what I was thinking of all along really as I suppose it will show to the interviewer a history of competencies that are suited to the role of train driver. So have you heard back any results yet from your interview? Was it a Northern Rail interview?

Hi Ian, hows things with you? Have you made any more plans with DBS?

Thanks for the heads up regarding being personable in the interview. I think that is a very important point to make as I do want to come across as being the professional person I am but also someone who has a personality and who appears to be approachable.

Incidentally my interview is at Wigan Wallgate Railway Station on Monday. Do you know it?

I'm twiddling my thumbs until New Year when I can book my assessments for March. I'll pass of course and upon receiving my Pass Certificate, Northern will advertise Trainee posts at Wigan Wallgate the very next day. Perfect huh!?

Oh yes I know Wigan Wallgate well, good friend of mine drives out of there. Very good depot to work at by all accounts. Hope you get on there Neil (then I'll come working with ya later next year )

[Neil73]

Originally Posted by Sunday_mornin

I'm twiddling my thumbs until New Year when I can book my assessments for March. I'll pass of course and upon receiving my Pass Certificate, Northern will advertise Trainee posts at Wigan Wallgate the very next day. Perfect huh!?

Oh yes I know Wigan Wallgate well, good friend of mine drives out of there. Very good depot to work at by all accounts. Hope you get on there Neil (then I'll come working with ya later next year )

That sounds like a great plan mate.

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