Hello Everyone.. I apologise if I annoy anybody by asking this question but I have read numerous threads and am still slightly confused.. I applied for a TD position with Northern on Friday and have an Interview next week with an Ops Manager. Can anybody please confirm if this will be a generic interview or more specific and in-depth. Many thanks for your help..
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Interview with Northern
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From what I’ve read they are usually a mix of competency based questions (eg describe a time you’ve followed regulations) combined with standard interview questions like “why is?”
I haven’t specifically sat a Northern one though so I could be wrong. Which area is the interview for?
I haven’t specifically sat a Northern one though so I could be wrong. Which area is the interview for?
Hi, thanks for the reply, it's for Barrow.
Typo in my first message. Meant to say “why us”
EE Andy b1
Established Member
I've been a driver now for nearly 34 years (or on the footplate anyway) and my last interview on changing from a FOC (Freight) to a TOC was 15 years ago.
I know it would be a slightly different interview, depending on if your already railway or from outside the industry.
I can't see the interview at this stage being too in-depth but they do like to here that you've at least done some homework and found out what you can about the company and there aspirations, it at least shows an interest and not just about the pay packet.
They will ask you why them!
So do your homework, be confident and just answer truthfully to the best of your knowledge.
There only human (I think) and not there to trick you.
Good luck with the interview.
I know it would be a slightly different interview, depending on if your already railway or from outside the industry.
I can't see the interview at this stage being too in-depth but they do like to here that you've at least done some homework and found out what you can about the company and there aspirations, it at least shows an interest and not just about the pay packet.
They will ask you why them!
So do your homework, be confident and just answer truthfully to the best of your knowledge.
There only human (I think) and not there to trick you.
Good luck with the interview.
Thanks very much Andy...
Had my interview with northern on Tuesday in Leeds, they make you feel really relaxed and create a good environment for an interview. Content wise brush up on your knowledge of northern and yes there's plenty of competency questions such as 'a time when you had to follow rules and procedures' and 'when have you dealt with a difficult person'. Be confident and chatty. They want to see the real you, not someone who feels they are being scored or judged. good luck
Assuming things haven't changed in the past 2 years since I did my interview, there will be 6 competency based questions which are graded out of 6. A 'perfect' answer gets 6 points and there is a benchmark score to pass the interview and move on to the next stage - this may also get used later in the process if you're in a holding pool or if they need to choose between successful candidates. Detailed notes are taken as well so it isn't a 'blind' score when it comes to reviewing.
In addition you will get a few ice-breakers and knowledge questions which aren't graded as such but will probably be used by the interviewers to assess you as a person. I found it a pretty relaxed interview, and a lot of the questions flowed more like a conversation than bullet points.
In addition you will get a few ice-breakers and knowledge questions which aren't graded as such but will probably be used by the interviewers to assess you as a person. I found it a pretty relaxed interview, and a lot of the questions flowed more like a conversation than bullet points.
Thanks Gray2287. It's the competency questions that's bothering me. I think I'm looking too much into it with all the info on here and other sites. There seems to be so many differing opinions on what the questions will be. Did you prepare answers for specific questions or were they just general answers / situations that you could use to reply to the questions. How many questions were there please ?
Thanks again
Thanks Shrimper, very much appreciated
I got 6 competency questions, they were just general experience answers but before the interview I jotted down incidents i could use for different types of competencies like a time I've followed rules and regs, a time I've dealt with a difficult colleague, a time I've dealt with a difficult customer and so on. I repeated the question out loud to myself just to give me that few more seconds to get my brain thinking after id been asked it. Use the STAR format and youll nail it, Situation Task Action Result. Talk about what YOU did. no problems at all Woody
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I replied to To this on Friday but it appears you haven't seen it so I'll repost
I got 6 competency questions, they were just general experience answers but before the interview I jotted down incidents i could use for different types of competencies like a time I've followed rules and regs, a time I've dealt with a difficult colleague, a time I've dealt with a difficult customer and so on. I repeated the question out loud to myself just to give me that few more seconds to get my brain thinking after id been asked it. Use the STAR format and youll nail it, Situation Task Action Result. Talk about what YOU did. no problems at all Woody
Sorry mate, thanks for the reply..
stjimmy87
Member
Small grotty building at db schenker in doncaster (easy to get to). I personally only did the computer tests and mmi there so when I was there i filled out the answers to 6 mmi questions then it was onto the "sje" followed by grey square test half an hour, flashing pictures and finally 2 hand coordination. This was all done without a break. After those it was lunch and then the mmi which lasts for over an hour or around that. I was told on day i had passed but that's not always the case. Hope that gives you an idea, good luck.
Thanks very much for that, yes it does give me a good idea. I'm going to try and not over think it I did that with my interview.. Is the MMI really difficult ?
Cheers Woody
stjimmy87
Member
The MMI is essentially like a driver manager interview but just in way more depth. Keep using the STAR technique but be prepared to say how you feel about things and what you would do differently if given the same situation again and above all why? Its just about justifying your actions and seeing if you will be suitable in a job that require excellent decision making and safety critical.
When I say it lasts for around an hour you do loose track of time but you do feel like you have been well and truly questioned after it. Just don't make things up and stick to your example, they are pros at smelling fibs lol
That's great, thanks very much for the insight into what to expect. Cheers
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