Interview help - Customer Service Assistant for Network Rail

[Dan16]

Hey

I have an interview very soon for the position of a Customer Service Assistant for Network Rail. It says on the email that its a competency based interview. Please can anyone give me some advice to help me prepare or even better still have any questions that maybe asked on the day and what I should expect?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[olddriver]

“Competency based” questions usually start with “Tell me about a time when…” so I would have a think about the sort of tasks you will be expected to do in the role and some examples of when you have done these sorts of things previously.

For example, tell me about a time when you’ve given excellent customer service. Tell me about a time when you’ve had to deal with an unhappy customer. Tell me about a time when you’ve had to solve a problem on your own. Tell me about a time when you’ve worked well in a team. And so on…

Good luck!

 

[Ashley Hill]

As above. You need to sell yourself, it's all about what YOU have done. Be natural but don't over egg it. Research the job and have some questions prepared (but not just how much you'll earn). Write notes to help you remember and don't be afraid to refer to it during the interview,it shows you'be prepared for it. If you get nervous,pause take a breath and start again. During the interview listen with interest and if you don't understand then ask. Speak with confidence and don't gaze around the room. Good luck

 

[Dan16]

“Competency based” questions usually start with “Tell me about a time when…” so I would have a think about the sort of tasks you will be expected to do in the role and some examples of when you have done these sorts of things previously.

For example, tell me about a time when you’ve given excellent customer service. Tell me about a time when you’ve had to deal with an unhappy customer. Tell me about a time when you’ve had to solve a problem on your own. Tell me about a time when you’ve worked well in a team. And so on…

Good luck!

Thank you, that’s great advice

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Aug 2021 ==

As above. You need to sell yourself, it's all about what YOU have done. Be natural but don't over egg it. Research the job and have some questions prepared (but not just how much you'll earn). Write notes to help you remember and don't be afraid to refer to it during the interview,it shows you'be prepared for it. If you get nervous,pause take a breath and start again. During the interview listen with interest and if you don't understand then ask. Speak with confidence and don't gaze around the room. Good luck

Thanks mate

 

[zwk500]

In particular, make sure you have some good safety examples prepared. The only other thing I'd say is don't be afraid to ask the interviewer(s) for clarification if you need it.

Good luck!

 

[Dan16]

In particular, make sure you have some good safety examples prepared. The only other thing I'd say is don't be afraid to ask the interviewer(s) for clarification if you need it.

Good luck!

Thank you.

 

[Kaz]

Hey

I have an interview very soon for the position of a Customer Service Assistant for Network Rail. It says on the email that its a competency based interview. Please can anyone give me some advice to help me prepare or even better still have any questions that maybe asked on the day and what I should expect?

Many thanks in advance.

Competency based interviews use S.T.A.R.
What Stituation
What was the Task
What Action you took
And what was the Result

 

[ChooChoo31]

I know you most likely wont but whatever you do don't make up a situation when you have a competency based interview. People do it all the time and never get away with it, most of the time the answers don't even have to be job based they can be situations you have dealt with at home.

 

[Dan16]

Competency based interviews use S.T.A.R.
What Stituation
What was the Task
What Action you took
And what was the Result

Perfect thanks

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Aug 2021 ==

I know you most likely wont but whatever you do don't make up a situation when you have a competency based interview. People do it all the time and never get away with it, most of the time the answers don't even have to be job based they can be situations you have dealt with at home.

Haha I won’t.. nice one.. noted

 

[Gs1]

As above. You need to sell yourself, it's all about what YOU have done. Be natural but don't over egg it. Research the job and have some questions prepared (but not just how much you'll earn). Write notes to help you remember and don't be afraid to refer to it during the interview,it shows you'be prepared for it. If you get nervous,pause take a breath and start again. During the interview listen with interest and if you don't understand then ask. Speak with confidence and don't gaze around the room. Good luck

I think I may have misunderstood. Do you mean take your notes into the interview and have them infront of you so you can refer to them? Is that allowed?

 

[zwk500]

I think I may have misunderstood. Do you mean take your notes into the interview and have them infront of you so you can refer to them? Is that allowed?

Yes, most companies will allow you to take a short set of notes into the interview and refer to them if it's just a normal Q&A rather than a formal assessment or active task. It can vary between companies (and even between departments/interviewers), so always worth asking ahead of time.

 

[Ashley Hill]

I think I may have misunderstood. Do you mean take your notes into the interview and have them infront of you so you can refer to them? Is that allowed?

As zwk500 said it may vary,but the last round of interviews I was involved with the candidates were encouraged to bring notes. For example a list of 3 or 4 incidents you were involved in,you can then without hesitation select a relevant one when answering questions. Using the STAR system kaz mentioned above will help you compile your notes so you reply to questions in the right sequence of events. Also note any questions you may have so you dont to forget them.

 

[Alex Flume]

Hey

I have an interview very soon for the position of a Customer Service Assistant for Network Rail. It says on the email that its a competency based interview. Please can anyone give me some advice to help me prepare or even better still have any questions that maybe asked on the day and what I should expect?

Many thanks in advance.

Hey Dan. Just wondering how you got on? What was the interview like and do you have any tips/advice for other people in your situation? Curious to know if it was a one-on-one interview from the get-go or if you ended up doing a group task with other people in for interviews too? Any help would be much appreciated.