GWR - Onboard Customer Host - Recruitment Discussion

[T3AIN73]

I have recently applied for a Customer Host position. I passed the assessment and was invited for an interview yesterday. Unfortunately, I received an email earlier this evening to say my application was unsuccessful
The lady that was leading the interview mentioned that they would be looking for very specific words in my answers and the answers must have a start, middle and end.
I would really like to be more prepared for my next application. I only had 24 hours notice for this interview
I’ve not had an interview in so many years. I did struggle to think
Of my answers knowing they were looking for exact answers

 

[Twotwo]

Next time use the STAR method. So that's situation, task, action and result. So they are probably looking for buzzwords like teamwork, delivering excellent customer service, working under pressure, positive attitude etc. In the meantime if you can remember the questions maybe write it down and use the STAR method so next time your prepared. Good luck

 

[T3AIN73]

Thank you for your reply Twotwo
Was laying in bed last night thinking I will write down all the questions I can remember so that I can prepare my answers if I hopefully get to the interview stage again

 

[Will19]

Hi everyone, I recently applied to be a customer host with GWR and have got a date for the interview does anyone know the questions of what will be asked.

 

[transportphoto]

The interview will likely be competency based. Have some examples to hand of when you have (for example) exceeded a customer’s expectations.

 

[TravelAlly]

Hi, I passed the assessment day and have been given an interview for the role weekend customer host. What questions should I expect to answer at the interview?

The interview is at Bristol TMs, will there be free parking through ANPR system or should I catch the bus in? Many thanks

 

[tiptoptaff]

You won't get free parking at BTM for an interview.

 

[Leuvenn]

This will be mainly a competenacy based interview. Don't anticipate anything strictly too safety critical or operational. Remmember the Star system and any time you've delivered oustanding Customer Service or have dealth with a stressful situation

 

[TravelAlly]

Thank you all, I got the job

 

[tiptoptaff]

Thank you all, I got the job

Congratulations!

 

[TravelAlly]

Hi, I have been successful in my interview for the role. They offered me the job there and then at the interview. They said the job offer should come through soon but just wondering how long this could roughly take?

They said I will most probably start in November with potential to maybe start in October. It all depends on how long the process takes.

Next will be that I need to do a medical. How will this be done? I know it’s an alcohol and drugs test, will I go to the station to do this or will it be at a doctors?

Then it’ll be the 2 weeks training, anyone know if this is paid training?

Thanks

 

[tiptoptaff]

Your medical will be done at either Plymouth, Reading or Swindon. Usually Swindon for Bristol, depends on appointment availability.

Not sure what grade of medical hosts get. I don't think it's a full safety critical medical.

All training will be paid. You'll be working, why wouldn't it be paid

As for start dates, it really is as long as a piece of string. Your guess is as good as anyone's I'm afraid!

Feel free to PM with any questions about GW at Bristol. Didn't work with hosts on the West but I know a lot of them and I'll answer what I can!

 

[TravelAlly]

Your medical will be done at either Plymouth, Reading or Swindon. Usually Swindon for Bristol, depends on appointment availability.

Not sure what grade of medical hosts get. I don't think it's a full safety critical medical.

All training will be paid. You'll be working, why wouldn't it be paid

As for start dates, it really is as long as a piece of string. Your guess is as good as anyone's I'm afraid!

Feel free to PM with any questions about GW at Bristol. Didn't work with hosts on the West but I know a lot of them and I'll answer what I can!

I wasn’t sure if training would be paid as I know some companies such as airlines don’t offer pay for training. I had a feeling I would be paid it’s just something I thought to ask. What sort of routes would I be doing as customer host? I was assuming London Paddington - Swansea, Penzance? Them sort of routes? I was thinking of waiting until Monday to see if the job offer comes through and if not to give them a call or email. Does that sound okay?

 

[tiptoptaff]

It'll come through when HR get round to pressing the button. Monday seems reasonable before sending an email.

I believe Bristol hosts do Bristol to:
London
Swansea
Plymouth
Hereford
Worcester

As well as:
Hereford to London via Oxford
Plymouth to London via the Berks and Hants

Hosts don't sign routes, they can theoretically send you anywhere. But as a general rule, that's where Bristol hosts go. I'd imagine as a weekend host you'll do mainly Pads and Plymouths. The wider routes will be covered by the full-time rostered staff

 

[TravelAlly]

It'll come through when HR get round to pressing the button. Monday seems reasonable before sending an email.

I believe Bristol hosts do Bristol to:
London
Swansea
Plymouth
Hereford
Worcester

As well as:
Hereford to London via Oxford
Plymouth to London via the Berks and Hants

Hosts don't sign routes, they can theoretically send you anywhere. But as a general rule, that's where Bristol hosts go. I'd imagine as a weekend host you'll do mainly Pads and Plymouths. The wider routes will be covered by the full-time rostered staff

Thank you. What would happen if I was to end up at a base which isn’t my home base. Would they provide transport to get back to my base?

On top of this, how does the Pullman dining experience work? Is it a set timetable or could it be on any of the trains I am working on? Thanks

 

[tiptoptaff]

Thank you. What would happen if I was to end up at a base which isn’t my home base. Would they provide transport to get back to my base?

On top of this, how does the Pullman dining experience work? Is it a set timetable or could it be on any of the trains I am working on? Thanks

If you will always end at BTM. Whether that's pass back, taxi or whatever. You WILL finish at BTM.

You won't work the Pullman, they're dedicated staff based only at Plymouth and Swansea

 

[TravelAlly]

If you will always end at BTM. Whether that's pass back, taxi or whatever. You WILL finish at BTM.

You won't work the Pullman, they're dedicated staff based only at Plymouth and Swansea

Thank you, everything has almost been complete. I have me medical next week and will be ordering uniform from there.

I was just wondering what sort of benefits I will recieve working at GWR , I heard something called First Exclusives and was wondering what that was?

 

[tiptoptaff]

Thank you, everything has almost been complete. I have me medical next week and will be ordering uniform from there.

I was just wondering what sort of benefits I will recieve working at GWR , I heard something called First Exclusives and was wondering what that was?

Drop me a pm, I'll go through it all with you

 

[Jim]

Thank you, everything has almost been complete. I have me medical next week and will be ordering uniform from there.

I was just wondering what sort of benefits I will recieve working at GWR , I heard something called First Exclusives and was wondering what that was?

Ever used Top Cash Back? It's basically another variant of that, but often better. One of the great things on there (imo as someone who likes to save pennies where possible) is they do instantly loadable supermarket "gift cards" - but with a discount. For example currently to top up £100 on the Tesco one, costs £96. Yea it's only £4, but if you do that every month, that's enough for a generous portion of Turkey each xmas! In the 2 years I've used the site off and on, I've saved around £300 and that's without trying, not bad for just being employed eh!

 

[Alaska17]

Hi all,

I’ve got an interview on the 21st November with GWR as a service delivery assistant and I have no idea what to expect ahhhh!
I’ve only just turned 19 and I’m trying to get my foot in the rail industry so this is my first sort of interview for something like this.
Does anyone know the type of questions they will ask? what I should expect? Anything?!

Thank you!

 

[tiptoptaff]

SDA is a safety critical position. It's the GWR name for dispatcher. So expect the interview to be structured and competency based. They'll ask the standard HR type questions - what do you know about GWR. What are our values. How do you align with them etc

Then they'll ask for examples where you've dealt with difficult customers, had to concentrate, worked under pressure, worked in a team etc

They'll want you to answer using the STAR technique:

Situation
Task
Action
Result/Review (I've seen it as both but essentially it's the same thing)

They'll want to know what YOU did. They don't care about the teams success/outcome. They will want to know specifically what you did and how that contributed to it

Good luck

 

[Alaska17]

Thank you for the advice!

Do you know what the recruitment process is like for this role? Is this the only interview or will there be more?

 

[tiptoptaff]

At this stage of the process, its simply interview then medical

Can I ask where for? Which station

 

[Alaska17]

Yes it’s for Paddington

 

[Horizon22]

Yes it’s for Paddington

Make sure you do some background on the company too and get some knowledge on the main routes from Paddington too.

 

[cornishboy23]

Hi everyone.

I have an assessment day booked for Monday for the Customer Host role.
Can anyone advise what I can expect from the day?
Is this a group interview?
Any useful tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you

 

[LT0011]

I have applied for a role of Customer Host and have been successfully shortlisted for an assessment interview. I wondered if anyone can provide any information/ experiences/ tips as to what I can expect please?

 

[liamf656]

I have applied for a role of Customer Host and have been successfully shortlisted for an assessment interview. I wondered if anyone can provide any information/ experiences/ tips as to what I can expect please?

Which TOC is this for?

 

[LT0011]

GWR

Which TOC is this for?

GWR

 

[liamf656]

I can only speak for experience with my own TOC but during the interview I applied the STAR technique for my situational answers and broke them down.

S - Situation, what was the problem you faced?
T - Task, what was needed to overcome the situation?
A - Action, how did you approach the task? For example, how you delegated your work to others if needed, used your time efficiently or gave others a hand
R - Result, how did the customer/coworker/manager etc react to your positive reaction to the situation


If GWR has any group work activities (I'm not sure if they do), make sure you don't take over the work for yourself, but at the same time don't be too quiet and let others do it all. Find that balance

Research as much as you can about GWR, the locations they run to, the amount of stations and staff they run, and (importantly) the investments they've made

See if you can find GWR's core values online and memorise them, as you may need to apply them during the day or even recite them. They should be easy to search up

Be yourself, they're not looking for someone who's a know-it-all and overly confident, they just want to see who you are as a person and how you come across

Good luck