Star method (MMI)

SecretSquirrel · 21 Jan 2020

Morning all,
Been keeping and eye on this forum for a long time now and finally set up a profile. I know it's been done to death on here already, so my apologies, trying to do something a bit different here. Thank you to those who have had similar posts as they have helped massively throughout the process.

Basically, I have my last attempt at MMI coming up (failed 1 question a couple of years back) and I'm looking to smash it this time. I'm seeing if anyone is willing to bounce ideas off each other to ensure I'm nailing this star response. I just don't want to be barking up the wrong tree. My saving grace is I know what to expect now, which helps a great deal.

Thank you guys already.

RailUK Forums

Twotwo · 21 Jan 2020

What q did you fail on? If you could summarise your answer we could possibly have a look? If you don't feel comfortable writing the full answer here you can always send a PM.

SecretSquirrel · 21 Jan 2020

Thank you very much TwoTwo, I aim to use the same answer again but leave put a couple of phrases and add in a much better answer to the "how did it make you feel" probing question. I'll happily send over shortly. It was the tell me about a time that you have done in the past that is similar to the role of a train driver.

Thinking a key word they would like to hear (lonely), turns out I shouldn't have said that word as couldn't back track from it. Not that I ever felt lonely, I was trying to come across how I dealt with it, didn't convey that in my answer

Twotwo · 21 Jan 2020

It's a bit of a stupid q. I think I mentioned I didn't feel anything, when I'm driving I'm too busy concentrating looking at the road ahead to wonder off in my thoughts. I think I also mentioned it's a time where I can forget things for a while because I'm focused on the road. Sounds a bit silly but I only passed my driving test in 2018 so when I sat my MMI I was still a cautious driver lol.

SecretSquirrel · 21 Jan 2020

I used a similar example of a long commute, with a long shift wedged in between another long commute home. In regards to star though, with the six question. The rules and procedures question. Ill condense this down to save boredom, happy to PM an elongated version.

The situation would be I work in a role that requires me to follow strict rules and procedures to ensure safety of everyone.

The task would be to understand my rule book thoroughly and other bulletins to help me follow these rules and procedures.

My actions are to read through the rule book, understand these in my working conditions, undertake regular rules examinations, use this training to be able to help customers and colleagues even during degraded working.

The result being everyone is safe and sound.

Along those lines?

CreamNCookies · 21 Jan 2020

Hey all,

just jumping on the ol thread here.

So, am I right in assuming using terms like "lonely" would be a negative during the MMI, but if I were to say I felt "content" would that be looked at as a negative?

I have my MMI as part of my stage 2 assessment next month, and i'm just going through potential questions that may be asked, and im aware they will ask me how it made me feel to my responses.

SecretSquirrel · 21 Jan 2020

For me it was, as I couldn't back track. Gathering from others, if your answer has all the relevant information they're looking for you'll get the odd probing question. I remember 3 of mine didn't get a probing question but the other 3 did.

From someone that has passed, they advised me to use phrases such as motivated, focused, pride etc

CreamNCookies · 21 Jan 2020

Thanks!

I've been going through potential question to myself in a mirror. my notebook has words jotted in bold like determined, motivated, responsible. So i'm certainly going to add pride to my vocabulary.

This MMI is the most stressful thing to prepare for IMO, everything else is relatively easy going for me.

SecretSquirrel · 21 Jan 2020

I know how you feel, the assessment day itself I ft was better than I expected. The MMI the first time round I wasnt well rested nor prepared. Basically that last question I know I didn't perform well.

This time round I'm doing my best to prepare each answer (although can't remember the questions I was asked) ensuring I get my head around the STAR aaporch (hence calling upon the lovely people here).
Basically getting my **** together to nail it this time.

CreamNCookies · 21 Jan 2020

The main thing for me is getting a good nights rest, ill be travelling up the night before to leeds, crashing in a hotel and getting a full 8hrs uninterrupted sleep. Which in itself is a dream, no kids to keep me awake all night. :lol:

CreamNCookies · 21 Jan 2020

And the STAR technique is the best way to answer any question. Helped me with my conductor interview last year.

SecretSquirrel · 21 Jan 2020

That's what I'm struggling with, I'm not sure why I'm worried so much this time around. Maybe knowing it's now or never I guessing. Looking to get my answers fully in the STAR way to get as close to a pass as possible. I think I'm there but still, always a large amount of doubt for this type of thing.

CreamNCookies · 21 Jan 2020

I have to get an enhanced pass on the ol tests. not a clue what the pass grade would be for that, but we will soon find out.

whistler2018 · 21 Jan 2020

The best advice I can give, having failed on that question once and passed it the second time, is to think about how each answer you give on the MMI relates to the role of driver.

Words like ‘lonely’ or ‘bored’ would likely be viewed as negatives if you put them in the context of a drivers responsibilities/characteristics. The only other thing I’d say is be yourself. The first time around I tried to answer how I thought they wanted me to answer and it didn’t work out very well... the second time I went in with examples but prepared to answer honestly and as naturally as possible and I was resolved that I would either pass and be judged as right for the role or fail and move on to other roles within the industry knowing I’d given it my best shot. It worked for me and I hope that works for you too. Best of luck!

CreamNCookies · 21 Jan 2020

That's great, thankfully I have a couple things I can use as examples. I'm sure being a ride operator in my younger years will help, well im hoping haha.

As much as i am terrifed, i am excited too! Whistler2018, thanks for these little nuggets you've passed over.

SecretSquirrel · 21 Jan 2020

Thanks Whistler2018, much appreciated. That was kind of my downfall, using the term lonely was said because I thought they'd like to hear it. However, I didn't really give much of a positive response. Coming from a safety critical role on the railway already, I have some answers but if they're not relevant than no good and bye bye from me.

If someone is happy to, if they have the patience and/or time to, would I be able to PM my responses to the questions and see if I'm giving the correct response? I appreciate that I asking a great deal here.

TW3M · 21 Jan 2020

SecretSquirrel said:
Thanks Whistler2018, much appreciated. That was kind of my downfall, using the term lonely was said because I thought they'd like to hear it. However, I didn't really give much of a positive response. Coming from a safety critical role on the railway already, I have some answers but if they're not relevant than no good and bye bye from me.

If someone is happy to, if they have the patience and/or time to, would I be able to PM my responses to the questions and see if I'm giving the correct response? I appreciate that I asking a great deal here.

hello mate I passed my MMI last week, and work for Network rail in a safety critical role which I used for all my examples, id be happy to help you. Shoot me a PM

SecretSquirrel · 21 Jan 2020

DanielAg said:
hello mate I passed my MMI last week, and work for Network rail in a safety critical role which I used for all my examples, id be happy to help you. Shoot me a PM

Thank you so much! If all goes well, I'll have to sort you out something! I'm still at work at the moment so wont be until mid afternoon. Would that still be okay?

TW3M · 21 Jan 2020

SecretSquirrel said:
Thank you so much! If all goes well, I'll have to sort you out something! I'm still at work at the moment so wont be until mid afternoon. Would that still be okay?

Hello mate no need to worry about that lol, happy to help and hopefully you pass! Yes that’s cool Im back from work about half 5 so anytime after that’s fine

baz962 · 21 Jan 2020

CreamNCookies said:
I have to get an enhanced pass on the ol tests. not a clue what the pass grade would be for that, but we will soon find out.

Enhanced pass only applies to the paper and pen test's , group bourdon etc. The pc test's and mmi are not enhanced.

CreamNCookies · 21 Jan 2020

baz962 said:
Enhanced pass only applies to the paper and pen test's , group bourdon etc. The pc test's and mmi are not enhanced.

The more you know. a little bit of pressure removed.

whistler2018 · 22 Jan 2020

SecretSquirrel said:
Thanks Whistler2018, much appreciated. That was kind of my downfall, using the term lonely was said because I thought they'd like to hear it. However, I didn't really give much of a positive response. Coming from a safety critical role on the railway already, I have some answers but if they're not relevant than no good and bye bye from me.

If someone is happy to, if they have the patience and/or time to, would I be able to PM my responses to the questions and see if I'm giving the correct response? I appreciate that I asking a great deal here.

Also bear in mind your responses don’t have to come from work or even be safety critical. If you’ve been around these forums you’ll know that there tend to be a standard pool of MMI questions (which were the same for me both times 5 years apart).

I’ve worked in the rail industry for 10 years and I used 3 examples from my personal life for the MMI. Same advice stands, as long as the example is relevant to the responsibilities/behaviours of a driver then it’s perfectly fine. In fact, in some ways I’d say they ‘could’ be better as the assessors must have heard the same railway examples trotted out again and again. Maybe think about all your work and life experience/examples and draw up a shortlist of maybe 10 that you feel are strongest?

The main thing is to be honest. Don’t lie, don’t create a scenario, don’t embellish a scenario just because you think they’ll like it better. They can tell if you do and they’ll push you for more info letting you dig a hole for yourself, looking for inconsistencies. Your examples don’t have to be superhuman feats, they need to be relevant and truthful as to how you behaved. I’m sure you’ve got loads of answers that you could use that are relevant, also, with the STAR technique, try and end on a positive outcome. If you really can’t then make it clear you used it as a good learning experience and, voila, you’ve turned a negative into a positive.

SecretSquirrel · 22 Jan 2020

whistler2018 said:
Also bear in mind your responses don’t have to come from work or even be safety critical. If you’ve been around these forums you’ll know that there tend to be a standard pool of MMI questions (which were the same for me both times 5 years apart).

I’ve worked in the rail industry for 10 years and I used 3 examples from my personal life for the MMI. Same advice stands, as long as the example is relevant to the responsibilities/behaviours of a driver then it’s perfectly fine. In fact, in some ways I’d say they ‘could’ be better as the assessors must have heard the same railway examples trotted out again and again. Maybe think about all your work and life experience/examples and draw up a shortlist of maybe 10 that you feel are strongest?

The main thing is to be honest. Don’t lie, don’t create a scenario, don’t embellish a scenario just because you think they’ll like it better. They can tell if you do and they’ll push you for more info letting you dig a hole for yourself, looking for inconsistencies. Your examples don’t have to be superhuman feats, they need to be relevant and truthful as to how you behaved. I’m sure you’ve got loads of answers that you could use that are relevant, also, with the STAR technique, try and end on a positive outcome. If you really can’t then make it clear you used it as a good learning experience and, voila, you’ve turned a negative into a positive.

That's very, very good advice there! All of mine are work related, some railway and some are from a previous job. All examples have relevance to the role but naturally doubt creeps in. With home examples, I have tried to include them but am unable to put them in the STSR format. Because I'm struggling with that, I feel I'm unable to use them.

Thank you again, to everyone that has made a post in the past and commented with solid advice. Thank you to everyone on here that has responded. Hopefully the good news will come this time.

Aftv49 · 23 Jan 2020

Hi All,

I know this question has been asked multiple times but I’d like more information about the MMI.

I am an office worker who has little to none operation experience. I am about to sit my stage two assessments which includes the MMI.

I have been reading a lot of the posts on the forums, and a lot of the example answers for the MMI questions are based on operational related jobs.

Does anyone have any advice as to how I can prepare? What examples I can use as an office worker?

In addition, I have completed various CPD courses but nothing over the span of two weeks. Therefore, for the question - ‘describe a time you’ve been on a training course for two weeks?’ Can I just state I am a graduate with top honours and I did it over 3 years and expand on that?

Thanks!

Star method (MMI)

Member

RailUK Forums

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Established Member

Member

Member

Member

Member