Assessment for Northern Conductor

[Tracktraveler]

Hi, I've recently been offered first stage assessment day (competency interview and group Exercise) for Northern Conductor, if anyone has any pointers that could help me it would be much appreciated

 

[Treguard]

How did you find the online assessment? I'm in the same boat as you

Edit:- Just finished both and have only heard back about the numerical one which I passed (so I assume I didn't pass the verbal one). Could've done with a bit more time on the first test if honest, and those verbal ones certainly felt like trick questions

 

[Pabloid]

Hi, I've recently been offered first stage assessment day (competency interview and group Exercise) for Northern Conductor, if anyone has any pointers that could help me it would be much appreciated

Hi Tracktraveler. When is your assessment day & for which depot? I underwent this back in Aug & start my training Jan 8th. I can of course provide pointers based on my own experience.

 

[Pabloid]

How did you find the online assessment? I'm in the same boat as you

Edit:- Just finished both and have only heard back about the numerical one which I passed (so I assume I didn't pass the verbal one). Could've done with a bit more time on the first test if honest, and those verbal ones certainly felt like trick questions

Hi Treguard. Same for me in that even if you passed the 2nd (verbal) one you don’t get the quick confirmation mail. I received a mail about a week later inviting me for assessment day. This was mid 2017. Hope you get a result.

 

[AMD]

Hi Tracktraveler,

For the interview do your research on Northern - company stuff like knowing who David Brown is, number of services, number of stations operated, and other franchise stuff like new trains & northern connect; a little bit of knowledge about the depot you have applied for eg number of links, how many conductors, routes and traction signed; and stuff on the role itself - the main priorities being 1) safety 2) performance 3) revenue.
Also prep some examples of things that have happened/ you have done from previous roles - around things like "tell us a time of when you were under pressure" or had to deal with a difficult customer/ person. Remember STAR - situation, task, actions, response.
And don't forget the "why do you want this job" question - be positive eg personal development, career change etc

For the group session, the group will be given a discussion point eg "Come up with a way to improve customer service at Northern", and you get about 15 minutes to discuss as a group, before 1 (or more) people feed back the group decision to the assessors. For this section the assessors are looking for participation and people who will listen to other viewpoints.

Good luck!

 

[Pabloid]

My interview at Manchester for Man Picc conductor was a formal interview with 2x ex Conductors which was was extremely fair. Lasted about 1 hour. They hit you with “give us an example” of where you have *worked under pressure/dealt with a difficult customer etc...*” & were impressed with knowledge of the franchise (routes/depots/the MD name/revenue/passenger numbers etc). I battered Northerns website prior & succeeded. Next up, within 15 mins was the group excercise... key is listen, contribute but do not overwhelm. There was a strong & capable contingent of applicants, & I don’t know how they got on in the end.... Honestly though, those on - line challenges were actually the toughest element. As I left, I had no idea whether I would make the grade but I received a call 5 days later that subject to medical I had made the grade. Medical was all good. Now I start my career on 8 Jan 2018. A long track since I applied in June 2017. Hope all’s good if you are progressing your application. Best wishes.

 

[Donhamer]

I recently passed my interview for a Conductor position with another TOC and did all the same things that AMD mentioned and it was definitely a big help.

I also took a few train journeys out of the depot I applied for and spoke to the Conductor’s on board to get some extra info on the job and depot.

The people interviewing me seemed impressed with all of this.​