Didnt pass the Interviews.

[marvelle]

E&W Lucas thanks for the advice

 

[GB]

When I had my structured interview one of the questions was along the lines of..."Describe a time when you have been in an emergency situation".

I gave one example of when I worked in a supermarket I had to alert fellow staff to a major gas leak and then assisted with a full store evacuation and then check the upstairs locker rooms and canteen for anyone that was unware of the situation.

The second example I gave was when I was working on the line I saw some tresspassers that were upto no good. In accordance with rules and procedures I replaced my signals to danger and made an emergency call to the signaller to request the approaching train (which was still stopped in the station 2 miles away) to run at caution passed the area.

Neither of these examples she was particularly impressed with and it begs the question what exactly does she want from a 25 year old? Perhaps I need to save the world???

In all honesty I am waiting for the phone call telling me I didn't pass the interview.

 

[Clip]

Spot on, had my lorol structured interview recently and was unsuccessfull.

The funny thing is i had prepared 2-3 examples of work related incidents for a range of possible q's they would ask but none of them were good enough for the interviewer, she was constantly pressing for more info.

E.g.

Q1. Describe a time when you dealt with an emergency situation.

I started talking about an incident where there were 3 train fatalities, how it affected the services at my station and how i responded. The interviewer stopped me and wasnt happy with my answer.

She then asked me "can you tell me an incident YOU have been directly involved in"

Now i havent been in a train crash, car crash etc so its hard to think of a situation "YOU" have been directly involved in.

I ended up having to speak about a very touchy personal matter because it was the only thing that I could think of, however it wasnt work related at all!!

i think thats what they were getting at. i remember when they asked me this when i went for a job at some TOC and i was (un)lucky enough to have the dealings of the KX bombings to talk about and i was uncomfortable doing so but the 2 interviewers were very easy about it. Hope so as one was the chairman!

 

[jimrbrobinson]

I know that feeling. Just received email from First Transpennine that I've failed the interview stage. I'd really thought that the interview went well. Oh well, try again.

 

[talltim]

I have to say the 'training course lasting two weeks' one is pretty limiting, I would imagine not many people have.

 

[marvelle]

I have to say the 'training course lasting two weeks' one is pretty limiting, I would imagine not many people have.

I had to refer back to my uni studies.
I think its a bit unfair to judge people on that because not everyone has participated in long term training or uni etc.

Obviously they want to know that you are capable of studying in order to become a driver but im sure there are many people who are capable of becoming drivers that haven't participated in 2 week training since education!

 

[lazy]

keep trying mate.

 

[DG85]

Rather than just attempting the selection process again, can I suggest a different approach?

It may be that your present job isn't giving you the exposure/ responsibility to be able to answer these questions. Take a step back, look at what competencies they are trying to detect, and think about how you might be able to develop them in your current workplace. Until you've done so, you'll risk falling foul of the same questions.

I hadn't dealt with a train crash or a car accident either when I sat the interview. I gave the example of my being the duty manager in a large public building when the fire alarm went off; the procedure being to treat it is a real emergency, until the fire brigade told you it wasn't.

That's a really good response. I've been through the whole process and thought I failed at this stage, but the main thing is to give responses on your current role, even if it means bending the truth aslong as you know how to handle these situations when they arise it counts for something. What they are trying to do is match up your personailty questionnaire results with the answers you give in the written part. The THREE key areas they are looking at;

1) How you respond in an emergency situtation? - I gave an example of when i worked in a hospital and a patient collasped. How i reacted? (being calmly and quickly) and taking control of the situation.


2) How you follow rules and procedures? I talked about confidentiality in my current role. When they grilled me they even asked me if there was a time I questioned a rule or procedure given to me by a manager. Which I replied yes, as when I worked in retail I was asked to run after a thief who went out of the store. But during the training of that job i was told once you have left the store in this type of situation the company weren't responsible or liable for my safety.

3) And examples of where you have had to concerntrate for long periods of time?
- for this question I gave examples of my hobby/freelance work as a photographer, and talked about the editing/post processing stages and how it involved concerntrating for long periods of time.


If you just come prepared and elaborate you'll swift through it. I think they try to grill you to test whether you can concertrate under long periods of time, handle pressure and think on your feet.

 

[E&W Lucas]

What they are trying to do is match up your personailty questionnaire results with the answers you give in the written part.

Sorry, but no they are not. This is a competency/ aptitude based selection process. They are looking for evidence of certain skills. Some of these can be tested for, others are demonstrated by the answers you give in the interview.

These are absolutely not trick questions. If you've got the necessary workplace experience, you will find them very easy to answer, as you'll just be describing what you're doing every day in your present role. The interviewer is looking for a certain amount of evidence for each competence. Once you've provided it, then interview will stop you, even if you've not finished your answer.

What surprises me, is the number of people saying that they've fallen foul of this interview. I had some involvement with similar selection processes in my earlier career, and that taught me that you can make a pretty educated guess as to how a person will score on this, based on their previous work experience. (would also give you a pretty good idea if someone was telling porkies in the interview; you soon learn what other jobs entail!). I wonder if some pre - selection processes are working properly? Are they looking for the right things on CV's? Are some guaranteeing internal applicants a go at the process regardless of suitability?

 

[GB]

We had 7 guys from our place go for the drivers assessment and all but one (including me) failed on the interview. Apparantly I didn't give enough detail:roll:

 

[Polls]

Mate honestly I know how you feel. But you have proved you can pass the rest of the tests.

You know what questions they will ask you next time so look at it as a 6 month opportunity to fine tune it and get it 100% right next time. Get some good stories about yourself and rehearse them, from what I know the same 5 or 6 questions are used by most TOCs.

I know it hurts but 6 months is not far away and there WILL be another chance at this.

All the supporting info is available from this forum and most if not all of the guys and girls here including me will help you and answer any questions you need to know.

All the best!

ps I was told I got a job as a Shunter today! This is in addition to the job offer I already got a couple of weeks ago as Conductor.

I haven't made up my mind which one to go for. But I do know that I wouldn't have got past the paper sift for either of them if it wasn't for this forum!! Cheers all

From my experience so far it looks like a Shunter has more fun than a Conductor. Conductors have to deal with people but you get to go out on the running line. Shunters stay at the depot and have a lovely time with the drivers other shunters and fitters oh and the odd driver or two lol. Have you chosen yet?