Network Rail Interview - Off Track Operative

RyanB83 · 28 Jun 2019

I know this topic may have been covered in previous posts but for certainty sake and for clarification I've started a new thread.

I have applied for an Off Track Operative position and have an interview next week, I know what the job entails which is fencing, drainage and level crossing surfaces but I need to know what I should include in my panel interview. I know to use the STAR method of answering questions but I am unsure as to what type of questions they will ask, more than likely something regarding the 7 non technical skills which I will give examples of from previous employment.

I am sitting down writing and preparing my answers to the questions today and over the next few days then doing my research into network rail projects to back up my company knowledge.

Does anyone know anything else I could include into my interview please? Any help would be much appreciated, thank you.

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BraddersOP94 · 28 Jun 2019

Honestly it's good your going prepared, but please don't worry yourself too much on company knowledge - I actually don't think I was asked anything to do with the company other than, 'do you know anything about the job itself'.

I wasn't asked anything specific on the 7 skills and I revised them thoroughly.

Questions where along the lines of 'tell me a time you've looked out for a colleague', 'tell me a time you've had to follow health and safety' etc etc.

Where are you applying for?

I'm off track myself.

BraddersOP94 · 28 Jun 2019

Try have a look at the lifesaving rules, that will get you very big brownie points!

RyanB83 · 28 Jun 2019

I've applied for Off Track Operative In Worcester. I'm assuming your with Network Rail now?

I'm concentrating on the lifesaving rules and getting good evidence based answers for their questions. It's now nice to know what type of questions to prepare for, as it's a panel interview I imagine they might throw a few curveball questions out that I want to be prepared for.

Am I assuming right by saying the role includes fencing, level crossing surfaces and drainage?

BraddersOP94 · 29 Jun 2019

Yes I do.

Correct as well as vegetation management.

There was nothing on my interview that was there to trip you up.

Seejwalker · 29 Jun 2019

RyanB83 said:
I know this topic may have been covered in previous posts but for certainty sake and for clarification I've started a new thread.

I have applied for an Off Track Operative position and have an interview next week, I know what the job entails which is fencing, drainage and level crossing surfaces but I need to know what I should include in my panel interview. I know to use the STAR method of answering questions but I am unsure as to what type of questions they will ask, more than likely something regarding the 7 non technical skills which I will give examples of from previous employment.

I am sitting down writing and preparing my answers to the questions today and over the next few days then doing my research into network rail projects to back up my company knowledge.

Does anyone know anything else I could include into my interview please? Any help would be much appreciated, thank you.

There are 8 NTS mate, learn these
Conscientiousness, communication, Controlled under pressure, multi tasking, relationships with others, planning and decision making, willingness and ability to learn, attention management
Im a signaller but would imagine most network rail interviews are competency based questions around the NTS (non technical skills)

Seejwalker · 29 Jun 2019

Other than that, learn the 4 core behaviours, the safety vision "everyone home safe every day"
And as mentioned above, if you can remember any of the 10 life saving rules that would be a bonus.

RyanB83 · 1 Jul 2019

Seejwalker said:
Other than that, learn the 4 core behaviours, the safety vision "everyone home safe every day"
And as mentioned above, if you can remember any of the 10 life saving rules that would be a bonus.

I have the safety vision as;

Everyone Home Safe Everyday
Safety Into Practice
Safety In Leadership
Measuring Performance

And the non technical skills as;

SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

1.1 Attention to detail

1.2 Overall awareness

1.3 Maintain concentration

1.4 Retain information

1.5 Anticipation of risk

CONSCIENTIOUSNESS

2.1 Systematic and thorough approach

2.2 Checking

2.3 Positive attitude towards rules and procedures

COMMUNICATION

3.1 Listening

3.2 Clarity

3.3 Assertiveness

3.4 Sharing information

DECISION MAKING AND ACTION

4.1 Effective decisions

4.2 Timely decisions

4.3 Diagnosing and solving problems

CO-OPERATION AND WORKING WITH OTHERS

5.1 Considering others’ needs

5.2 Supporting others

5.3 Treating others with respect

5.4 Dealing with conflict or aggressive behaviour

WORKLOAD MANAGEMENT

6.1 Multi-tasking and selective attention

6.2 Prioritising

6.3 Calm under pressure

SELF-MANAGEMENT

7.1 Motivation

7.2 Confidence and initiative

7.3 Maintain and develop skills and knowledge

7.4 Prepared and organised

I know some of them are the same but worded differently. I just don't want to learn the wrong set and get caught out at my interview.

Highlandspring · 1 Jul 2019

Unless something has changed very recently the non technical skills are only used as the basis of the signaller’s interview. Interviews for other Network Rail posts have a more traditional question format.

Rockhopper · 1 Jul 2019

There are eight:

Conscientiousness – the ability to work diligently, with a positive attitude and be willing to take responsibility for their own actions.

Relationships with People – the ability to work with others in the team in a positive, respectful and supportive manner; providing support and help when needed and managing conflict when required.

Communications – the ability to communicate both verbally and in written format clearly and concisely and to stand your ground as necessary.

Willingness and Ability to Learn – the ability and motivation to be trained, retain information, apply it in the work environment and learn and develop on the job.

Planning and Decision Making – the ability to anticipate, plan and prioritise activities.

Multi Task Capacity – the ability to successfully carry out more than one task at a time.

Controlled Under Pressure – the ability to cope in emergency or degraded situations.

Attention Management – the ability to remain alert and focussed, to manage distractions, and keep an awareness of the overall situation.

TW3M · 1 Jul 2019

Hello mate they will use competency based questions private message me your email and I can send some points over to you

RyanB83 · 28 Aug 2019

Just an update; I had my interview 5 weeks ago which went very well. I was interviewed by 3 people and it was very relaxed, asking about my experience and career expectations. The main guy said he would ring me 5 days later but never did, since that time I've rang Network Rail to find out updates. They said they normally set out a 4 week wait but as of yet nothing. Is it normal to have to wait longer than the 4 weeks to hear anything?

CJK64 · 28 Aug 2019

RyanB83 said:
Just an update; I had my interview 5 weeks ago which went very well. I was interviewed by 3 people and it was very relaxed, asking about my experience and career expectations. The main guy said he would ring me 5 days later but never did, since that time I've rang Network Rail to find out updates. They said they normally set out a 4 week wait but as of yet nothing. Is it normal to have to wait longer than the 4 weeks to hear anything?

Yes, it’s nothing new. Onboarding are slow to say the least and can take weeks to send out offers or updates on your application.

I’d contact them again and say you have been waiting over 5 weeks and would like to know the outcome.

winks · 28 Aug 2019

I doubt the network rail interviews are that competency based for non track roles. All they wanted from me was a CV not even a filled out application form

RyanB83 · 29 Aug 2019

CJK64 said:
Yes, it’s nothing new. Onboarding are slow to say the least and can take weeks to send out offers or updates on your application.

I’d contact them again and say you have been waiting over 5 weeks and would like to know the outcome.

I rang them last week and they emailed the hiring manager to see if their was any decisions made, since that time I've heard nothing. I may just try them again today to see if anything has been decided.

RyanB83 · 29 Aug 2019

winks said:
I doubt the network rail interviews are that competency based for non track roles. All they wanted from me was a CV not even a filled out application form

I did the application online and completed a whole application along with my CV. Non-track isn't competency, mainly if I had track experience and checking if I knew that safety was a massive part of working on the railway. All other questions went along the "tell me about a time" scenario style.

CJK64 · 31 Aug 2019

RyanB83 said:
I rang them last week and they emailed the hiring manager to see if their was any decisions made, since that time I've heard nothing. I may just try them again today to see if anything has been decided.

To me that’s just being plain inconsiderate. I always let the individuals know the day after my final interview as I know how long the process is and how it can impact on the applicants.
I really do believe NWR’s entire onboarding/resourcing process needs to be reviewed and improved.
I tend to bypass it as much as possible. I sift through the CV’s, pick the individuals I want to interview and opt for the ‘interview arranged locally’ option and contact each person myself.
That way it can all be done and dusted within a few days.

RyanB83 · 31 Aug 2019

CJK64 said:
To me that’s just being plain inconsiderate. I always let the individuals know the day after my final interview as I know how long the process is and how it can impact on the applicants.
I really do believe NWR’s entire onboarding/resourcing process needs to be reviewed and improved.
I tend to bypass it as much as possible. I sift through the CV’s, pick the individuals I want to interview and opt for the ‘interview arranged locally’ option and contact each person myself.
That way it can all be done and dusted within a few days.

It does seem quite long winded to be honest, although I have heard of people who have waited three months to hear something. I feel lucky I had the chance of an interview but this waiting is getting to me a bit, especially when I really hate the job I'm presently doing. It seems like your way would bypass this whole situation and maybe should be reviewed to make things easier for candidates and the hiring managers, they said they were under staffed and needed people so I could have been there now working. I see it as a waiting game, I think of it as "no news is good news" - the hiring manager is on annual leave so the lady I spoke to said she would email the person standing in for him to see if there was anything he could do - maybe the main guy left some notes about the interview or any final decisions he and the 2 other people had made.

Jaymol74 · 9 Jan 2020

RyanB83 said:
I have the safety vision as;

Everyone Home Safe Everyday
Safety Into Practice
Safety In Leadership
Measuring Performance

And the non technical skills as;

SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

1.1 Attention to detail

1.2 Overall awareness

1.3 Maintain concentration

1.4 Retain information

1.5 Anticipation of risk

CONSCIENTIOUSNESS

2.1 Systematic and thorough approach

2.2 Checking

2.3 Positive attitude towards rules and procedures

COMMUNICATION

3.1 Listening

3.2 Clarity

3.3 Assertiveness

3.4 Sharing information

DECISION MAKING AND ACTION

4.1 Effective decisions

4.2 Timely decisions

4.3 Diagnosing and solving problems

CO-OPERATION AND WORKING WITH OTHERS

5.1 Considering others’ needs

5.2 Supporting others

5.3 Treating others with respect

5.4 Dealing with conflict or aggressive behaviour

WORKLOAD MANAGEMENT

6.1 Multi-tasking and selective attention

6.2 Prioritising

6.3 Calm under pressure

SELF-MANAGEMENT

7.1 Motivation

7.2 Confidence and initiative

7.3 Maintain and develop skills and knowledge

7.4 Prepared and organised

I know some of them are the same but worded differently. I just don't want to learn the wrong set and get caught out at my interview.

This could be really helpful for the future. Thanks for posting.

BloominMan · 9 Jan 2020

I waited 10 weeks once, just to be told I didn't even get an interview! Thing was, I basically done the job I applied for anyway for years and was already trained.

Funny place sometimes, NWR.

Anyway, I digress, hope you hear back soon.

Network Rail Interview - Off Track Operative

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