SWR Metro Guard Interview

[RnAwyMneTrain]

hello all,

I have recently passed my assessments and have an interview arranged. I am curious to know what the interview is like? I found a lot of help on here for the assessment but not much for the interview.

They recommended that we speak to the guards on the train regarding their roles but between my assessment and interview I am not travelling on trains at all to ask. I have looked on line and researched the role as much as possible but I was wondering if there was anyone with some insider tips or knowledge to help out? Specifically about the Waterloo depot?

I would be love to hear from anyone who has any information.

Thank you

 

[7Sonofa7Son]

So in the interview, they'll base it around the S.T.A.R system (situation, task and result) which will ask you questions using it i.e 'tell us how you would deal with an angry customer'. Stuff like that. There are some helpful videos on YouTube about it.

They'll also have you look at a picture of an office and identify potential risks and hazards. Some are really obvious, but they'll also want to see if you can think of others as they teach us to anticipate risk as guards.
You'll likely have two managers conducting the interview. It's fairly laid back and friendly but the things they really want to know about you is whether you understand that safety is the top priority above all else, that you can work efficiently within a set of very specific rules and that you would take the job seriously.

As for Waterloo specifically, it's the depot with the most work with Woking a a close second. Guards there sign the most routes and traction (trains) and have their work cut out for them. It's a good depot with good people.

When is your interview? Feel free to PM if you have more questions.

 

[lxfe_mxtterz]

Firstly, congratulations on passing the assessments!

As @7Sonofa7Son has said, the interview is fairly laid back and was nowhere near as bad as I'd anticipated. They were very patient with my nervous wreck of a self on the day.

As for the interview itself, mine was split into three parts.

The first few questions were just the generic:
- Why do you want to work here?
- What do you know about the company?
- What do you know about the role of the guard?

The next part was the dreaded "STAR" questions (as touched on above), such as:
- Describe a time when you've shown excellent customer service / handled a conflict / etc.

The final part was some scenario-based questions - things like:
- You are working the last train out of London on a Saturday evening. There are a group of drunk football fans harassing other passengers. What do you do?

Take your time to think through each question, and have some examples prepared the night before.

Just remember the priorities, in order:
1. Safety
2. Punctuality
3. Customer service

Try to work "safety" into every answer you give - that's what helped me!

If you have any further questions about the interview or the role itself, feel free to PM me. I'm not based at Waterloo depot but my depot does largely similar work.

Wishing you all the best with the interview.

 

[RnAwyMneTrain]

Thank you everyone for the advice! I was lucky enough to pass the interview and I have a training start date of the 28th October. I have my medical coming up so hopefully should be able to pass that and then I will be on to the training. I can't wait to get started in Waterloo and meet everyone. Thank you

 

[7Sonofa7Son]

That's great to hear! Well done! I think you'll like Waterloo, it's a good depot.

 

[shifter888]

Hi guys, I got an assessment day coming up, any advice and what are the tests going to be please?

 

[7Sonofa7Son]

Hi guys, I got an assessment day coming up, any advice and what are the tests going to be please?

I've heard that it's changed when I sat mine in 2022 but when I did it, it consisted of: Ishihara test (colourblind), RAAT test (looking for symbols with a focus on sleed and accuracy), SCAAT test (concentration test) and a test with a voice recording where you simulate an emergency call.

 

[lxfe_mxtterz]

I've heard that it's changed when I sat mine in 2022 but when I did it, it consisted of: Ishihara test (colourblind), RAAT test (looking for symbols with a focus on sleed and accuracy), SCAAT test (concentration test) and a test with a voice recording where you simulate an emergency call.

Sounds like what I did when I sat mine - though, from what I remember, isn't the RAAT answering questions from a passage of text, whereas it's the SCAAT which is the symbol finding test?

 

[7Sonofa7Son]

Sounds like what I did when I sat mine - though, from what I remember, isn't the RAAT answering questions from a passage of text, whereas it's the SCAAT which is the symbol finding test?

Yes, you're absolutely right. I just went and checked. Thanks for correcting me.

 

[the_bear]

I've heard that it's changed when I sat mine in 2022 but when I did it, it consisted of: Ishihara test (colourblind), RAAT test (looking for symbols with a focus on sleed and accuracy), SCAAT test (concentration test) and a test with a voice recording where you simulate an emergency call.

The guard assessments are now just Ishihara, RAAT and SCAAT. They don’t do the voice recording test anymore..

 

[shifter888]

The guard assessments are now just Ishihara, RAAT and SCAAT. They don’t do the voice recording test anymore..

Do you know why they changed it?
Anyt tips going into the assessment please?

 

[lxfe_mxtterz]

Anyt tips going into the assessment please?

If you haven't already, it's a good idea to get some practice for the RAAT and SCAAT on the following website: www.theopc.co.uk/candidates/practice-tests/

You will have to purchase and download the practice papers (I think there is a sample paper also which is free), but personally I found it incredibly helpful and well worth the small price to pay.

 

[the_bear]

Do you know why they changed it?
Anyt tips going into the assessment please?

Not sure why they changed it, makes for a short day though. I personally found the practice stuff they send you enough to get you through but there is more you can buy if you feel you want to practice more

 

[shifter888]

If you haven't already, it's a good idea to get some practice for the RAAT and SCAAT on the following website: www.theopc.co.uk/candidates/practice-tests/

You will have to purchase and download the practice papers (I think there is a sample paper also which is free), but personally I found it incredibly helpful and well worth the small price to pay.

Thank you, any tips and advice on RAAT I think this is the one I need help on please?

 

[TrainBod]

The guard assessments are now just Ishihara, RAAT and SCAAT. They don’t do the voice recording test anymore..

If you have already done the OPC RAAT and SCAAT with another ToC does that count or do you have to do it again?

 

[MiNi]

Thank you, any tips and advice on RAAT I think this is the one I need help on please?

It was 2019 when I had my assessment day for commercial guard. So it's probably changed a lot. RAAT was quite self explained ,read the text & answer the questions. All the answers are in the text. Half an hour or so to complete,jobs a good un. Good luck with the day. Enjoy the experience.

 

[shifter888]

Not sure why they changed it, makes for a short day though. I personally found the practice stuff they send you enough to get you through but there is more you can buy if you feel you want to practice more

In the SCAAT is it just numbers and basic shapes? Is there any that you need to cross 2 shapes and numbers?
How was the Ishibara colour test?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Sep 2024 ==

It was 2019 when I had my assessment day for commercial guard. So it's probably changed a lot. RAAT was quite self explained ,read the text & answer the questions. All the answers are in the text. Half an hour or so to complete,jobs a good un. Good luck with the day. Enjoy the experience.

Was it easy RAAT, what advice can you give and is half an hour enough time to answer all the questions?

 

[MiNi]

When I did my assessment day in 2019 the 1st test was the vision test. In a room with the examiner you got shown individual cards with a number hid in amongst colours.(hard to explain,but simple when you do it). I wear glasses for driving but this test was fine,I got 11 right out of 12 so ok.RAAT test was straight forward and concentration is the key,I read the text twice and answered the questions ok. They do not expect a gold star everytime from everyone but I answered them all correctly in under the time allowed. Like I said ,enjoy the experience.

 

[shifter888]

When I did my assessment day in 2019 the 1st test was the vision test. In a room with the examiner you got shown individual cards with a number hid in amongst colours.(hard to explain,but simple when you do it). I wear glasses for driving but this test was fine,I got 11 right out of 12 so ok.RAAT test was straight forward and concentration is the key,I read the text twice and answered the questions ok. They do not expect a gold star everytime from everyone but I answered them all correctly in under the time allowed. Like I said ,enjoy the experience.

Thank you for your advice, the SCAAT will their be any shapes and numbers and if there is one where you have to find 2 in a paper? Any advice on this one please?

 

[MiNi]

Thank you for your advice, the SCAAT will their be any shapes and numbers and if there is one where you have to find 2 in a paper? Any advice on this one please?

Again from what I remember from 2019 the SCAAT test is both numbers,letters and shapes. Say the first 10 questions are numbers then the next 10 is letters the next 10 is shapes. Maybe 12 in a row,work from left to right to identify the required letter,number or shape. They are looking for accuracy,consistency but you are only human and will get some wrong. I know some people who maybe did half of the test and passed ok. I was probably 65-70% and passed ok. Again enjoy the experience.

 

[Sparkle13]

Thank you everyone for the advice! I was lucky enough to pass the interview and I have a training start date of the 28th October. I have my medical coming up so hopefully should be able to pass that and then I will be on to the training. I can't wait to get started in Waterloo and meet everyone. Thank you

My husband has an interview for this role on Tuesday can you share any tips or questions that might help him pass too?

 

[MiNi]

My husband has an interview for this role on Tuesday can you share any tips or questions that might help him pass too?

The interview will use the S.t.a.r method. Probably be 2 hiring managers,normally very laid back(hopefully). They will like you to show that safety first is paramount in the role. They will ask you things like in a situation where you have a drunk/abusive passenger how you would deal with it. Also the usual 'What have you done well on your own or in a team'

 

[Sparkle13]

G

Firstly, congratulations on passing the assessments!

As @7Sonofa7Son has said, the interview is fairly laid back and was nowhere near as bad as I'd anticipated. They were very patient with my nervous wreck of a self on the day.

As for the interview itself, mine was split into three parts.

The first few questions were just the generic:
- Why do you want to work here?
- What do you know about the company?
- What do you know about the role of the guard?

The next part was the dreaded "STAR" questions (as touched on above), such as:
- Describe a time when you've shown excellent customer service / handled a conflict / etc.

The final part was some scenario-based questions - things like:
- You are working the last train out of London on a Saturday evening. There are a group of drunk football fans harassing other passengers. What do you do?

Take your time to think through each question, and have some examples prepared the night before.

Just remember the priorities, in order:
1. Safety
2. Punctuality
3. Customer service

Try to work "safety" into every answer you give - that's what helped me!

If you have any further questions about the interview or the role itself, feel free to PM me. I'm not based at Waterloo depot but my depot does largely similar work.

Wishing you all the best with the interview.

my husband has an interview for this role next week do you have any questions you can share that you were asked which can help him prep?

 

[lxfe_mxtterz]

G

my husband has an interview for this role next week do you have any questions you can share that you were asked which can help him prep?

With all respect, I think I've covered almost everything in my original post which you quoted. I can't remember every question I was asked and I feel that I would just be repeating myself if I made another post. @MiNi has also provided some good advice above. I wish your husband the best of luck with the interview.

 

[Derekogb]

The interview will use the S.t.a.r method. Probably be 2 hiring managers,normally very laid back(hopefully). They will like you to show that safety first is paramount in the role. They will ask you things like in a situation where you have a drunk/abusive passenger how you would deal with it. Also the usual 'What have you done well on your own or in a team'

Hello! Please do you have any idea what questions will be asked for a Rail operator 2 assessment/interview next week? Is there a way I can get practice questions or what I should expect?

 

[MiNi]

I had R02 assessment day and interview for Weymouth last year.
Assessment day at Southampton was the normal eyesight test then multiple choice tests after listening to a old CD player with transcript on it. Our tutor said not to rush the answers and no one answers them all. Luckily I answered all questions correctly and passed the day. Had interview next day in Bournemouth.

 

[Stephen maina]

Hello everyone, I have an assessment in the next 3 days , kindly let me know what to expect, anyone who has gone through the process recently. Thanks in advance.

 

[the_bear]

Hello everyone, I have an assessment in the next 3 days , kindly let me know what to expect, anyone who has gone through the process recently. Thanks in advance.

Confirm this is for the assessments in Southampton? The Raat and Scaat?