Cross Country - Bournemouth

[reapz]

Hi there my misses has a assessment for the buffet with Xcountry and I was wondering if anyone had sat this recently and would be able to offer some insight, many thanks.

A Numerical Test
A Station & Ticket Verbal Test
A Group Exercise
An Interview

Also is the interview the full job interview or a structured interview like you get with guards and drivers??

 

[HSTfan!!!]

I went for this job a good few years back, I didn't get the job however advice I can offer is with the group exercise they like you to be vocal and encourage other candidates to engage in the conversation/task.
The interview itself is a normal job interview and was carried out by the relevant manager and what seemed to be a random member of XC staff taking notes.

 

[guy_in_wales]

I'd like to say Good Luck and hope it goes better than my interview did with XC trains for the RSM role based at a station in the SW.

The day started with just 4 candidates, as there were 2 no shows. As we arrived we were signed in and sat in the mess room. Offered a drink. We were sat in with other XC staff. They were friendly enough, but at interview stage its slightly uncomfortable. We were shown into a training room within the building where we sat and had a very brief chat about the job by the XC customer service manager. The recruitment woman then added a little, which included "No one leaves Bristol, and we don't have any positions for RSM, but the management have decided that we can have one more based at Bristol." This chat lasted in total about 3 minutes. We were allowed to ask questions, but to be honest the job isn't rocket science. Then we sat 2 tests. They are similar to the practice test papers your wife has/will be sent. Basic Maths, plus timings, then English comprehension exercises.
We were then given the group interview. This was an excise where you have 10 minutes to decide what equipment you would take in a plane crash. You do this on your own. After 10 minutes, they come back into the room, with a few other XC peeps, and you then discuss what items you would take with you.
Then you are sent on a break. Now, because the ice had been broken, we chatted among ourselves. After 20 minutes we were called back to the training room. Now if you are successful at this point, you then do an individual interview. Unfortunately, we were all dismissed as unsuitable, with added fluffy terms such as XC high standards. In hindsight, I wish I had asked a few questions at this point, regarding this rather shambolic interview.
Either the position was filled internally, or from another recruitment day already, or HR was just going though the motions to please the management.

I'm certainly not a bad looser and understand that I may not be suitable for some jobs. However, I worked for BR in the 80's as restaurant car staff on Intercity trains from Euston and St Pancras/Nottingham and have spent the last 27 years as airline crew, and been with the UK major airline for over 14 years. I'd have taken the maybe unsuitable line, but the fluffy and flannel with high standards blah takes the biscuit. She did start going vague and loosing track here LOL
You can ask for feedback, which 2 weeks later has not managed to be sent.
My tip to your wife is get her to chat to the other candidates before starting the interview so to break the ice,(say who you are, what you do work wise .. as cabin crew the group discussion would have flowed beautifully if the other candidates had know what I did ) as XC interviews you don't introduce yourself to the other people once the interview has started. It would make the group discussion flow much better. Also get her to explain that to others being interviewed, so they don't just stare in amazement at her LOL
Good Luck and wish your wife all the best

 

[Jonfun]

Hi there my misses has a assessment for the buffet with Xcountry and I was wondering if anyone had sat this recently and would be able to offer some insight, many thanks.

A Numerical Test
A Station & Ticket Verbal Test
A Group Exercise
An Interview

Also is the interview the full job interview or a structured interview like you get with guards and drivers??

Basically, the general gist of it is that you're sat down in a room with the rest of the candidates, and get the chance to have a cup of tea and a natter, then once everyone's arrived, you'll get a chance to introduce yourself to the group and the job will be explained, giving you the chance to ask any questions. You'll then sit the tests, which are effectively the same as the conductor ones, just with a more retail rather than ticketing slant.

The numerical test is a relatively simple test on dealing with numbers, so being able to add, subtract, etc in a fairly prompt manner with few or no mistakes will help here. You do get scrap paper to make notes on, if writing it down helps. It's also worth getting used to reading train timetables, if you aren't already - and be sure to make good use of the practice materials.

The Station and Ticket verbal test requires you to read a passage of information and answer questions on it, within a time limit. Again, the best practice is to make use of the materials you'll be sent.

The group exercise is a test of how well you can get on with people. You'll be sat with the rest of the candidates, and given a scenario to discuss. After a period of time, you'll be expected to have reached a consensus and, as a group, present it to the assessors. Top tips here are to be confident and assertive, but remember you're in an assessment - don't get personal or carried away with an opinion if everyone else thinks it's wrong, and equally don't just sit there and expect everyone else to do the work. They want someone who can work as part of a team, not someone who has to be right, or talks over everyone else.

You'll then have a little break to drink more tea and be all nervous with the rest of the folks.

From then, those who are unsuccessful will be allowed to leave, and if you've 'met the standard', as recruitment teams like to say , you'll have an interview with a member of HR and either your manager, or someone senior such as a coach. Expect to be quizzed on things like previous customer service experience, and 'name an example when' sort of questions. After that, you'll be allowed to leave, and hopefully receive a phone call soon after.

 

[guy_in_wales]

ah see we didn't get to introduce ourselves :roll:

The group discussion was re plane crash in the jungle, what equipment would you take with you. Now there is no right answers for the discussion, however they were looking for reasons why you wanted to take that piece of equipment with you. The list I believe is 14 items long and you can only take 7.

The correct answers here in a crash landing: Protection, location, water, food.
1st - its PROTECTION ( so polythene sheeting and blankets- the interviewer questioned me on blankets, however they can be used to protect from the sun, make padding and if they get wet, you can suck the liquid out of them, poly sheeting collects water too.)
Cable ties handy too to hold up the sheets and blankets

Mirror.. to signal to passing aircraft. Plus flares. (but you need to know how to use one, or you could blow your face off)

Matches to light fire, smoky as possible day time, flames at night.

First Aid kit: although I doubt passenger would know where to even find them, and they look like luggage (brief case) or a green box. Not only 1st aid medication but may have water purifying tablets in them. (You really have a survival pack)

Mobile phone with GPS.. could be handy as in use as a light

2 litres of bottled water.. handy but aint going to last long.

As for compass maps etc.. forget it as you really don't want to be wondering off into the jungle
No alcohol btw

Hope this helps.

All aircraft have something called ELT's fitted.(Emergency Locator Transmitter) Either portable or located in the tail.