Gateline operator job

[Calfwilson]

Hi there everybody. I have an interview to be a gateline operative, just wondering if anybody has any tips on the interview, more spec on the job and what progression is like. Thanks in advance.

 

[king_walnut]

First you'll be asked about what you know about the company, and why you want to be a gateline operator. Look up the routes the TOC runs, rolling stock, number of staff employed, number of passengers annually, parent company etc.. it will score well if you show you did your homework on that. Only you know why you want to work on a gateline, though presumably you know that "I want free travel" is a bad answer and "I thrive in a challenging customer service environment, and see this as a way of furthering my abilities within that" is a better answer.

Then it'll go into competency questions, which may include stuff like "name a time you dealt with a difficult customer", "name a time you worked well within a team to achieve a goal", "name a time you were in an emergency situation", "name a time you went above and beyond the call of duty", "name a time you had to speak publicly", things like that. Whatever the questions end up being, they'll all be based around your previous experiences in handling a demanding and sometimes volatile customer service environment, so get your memory in check. Google the "STAR method" and structure your answers with that. Don't be afraid to take some time to think about what you're saying.

Also wear a suit, make sure your appearance is on point. Do up your tie properly. You're going for a 19-22k job. Act like it.

With regards to progression, the world is your oyster. I know a guy who went from gateline straight to driver, but there's also ticket office, conductor / on board supervisor, revenue officer, rail enforcement officer or management. You'll probably be asked where you see yourself in 5 years time - don't say "I wanna be a driver ASAP cos loads of money!!", you'd do well to say something like you want your lifelong career to be on the railway in whatever capacity that ends up being. Upward mobility is very possible within the railway, though you have to first work a year in your current position.

Last of all, good luck!

 

[donpoku]

First you'll be asked about what you know about the company, and why you want to be a gateline operator. Look up the routes the TOC runs, rolling stock, number of staff employed, number of passengers annually, parent company etc.. it will score well if you show you did your homework on that. Only you know why you want to work on a gateline, though presumably you know that "I want free travel" is a bad answer and "I thrive in a challenging customer service environment, and see this as a way of furthering my abilities within that" is a better answer.

Then it'll go into competency questions, which may include stuff like "name a time you dealt with a difficult customer", "name a time you worked well within a team to achieve a goal", "name a time you were in an emergency situation", "name a time you went above and beyond the call of duty", "name a time you had to speak publicly", things like that. Whatever the questions end up being, they'll all be based around your previous experiences in handling a demanding and sometimes volatile customer service environment, so get your memory in check. Google the "STAR method" and structure your answers with that. Don't be afraid to take some time to think about what you're saying.

Also wear a suit, make sure your appearance is on point. Do up your tie properly. You're going for a 19-22k job. Act like it.

With regards to progression, the world is your oyster. I know a guy who went from gateline straight to driver, but there's also ticket office, conductor / on board supervisor, revenue officer, rail enforcement officer or management. You'll probably be asked where you see yourself in 5 years time - don't say "I wanna be a driver ASAP cos loads of money!!", you'd do well to say something like you want your lifelong career to be on the railway in whatever capacity that ends up being. Upward mobility is very possible within the railway, though you have to first work a year in your current position.

Last of all, good luck!

Excellent post and advice, thank you.

 

[Calfwilson]

Amazing. Thank you for all of that.

 

[jindivik]

So far i've found the railway to be one of the best industries for expanding your career opportunities! A previous job i had for 7 years i literally got nowhere, after having started on the railway just under 2 years ago as a Rail replacement coordinator, i am now working as a dispatcher but passed my conductor interview a couple of weeks ago and am now just waiting on an invitation for a start date! All of this in under 2 years, as long as you work hard and do your job properly then there should be nothing holding you back from where you want to get to!

king walnut pretty much nailed it with the interview tips, the STAR technique is extremely useful, try emphasize on every answer you give, an example would be when you're asked to give a time when you have dealt with a difficult customer don't say something like "i work in a very busy environment and deal with difficult people on a daily basis" ...... while that shows you've got experience you need to give specific examples, one will do with how you dealt with a difficult person, the situation you were in and the actions you took to resolve the situation, always try to give a possible outcome at the end.

You don't have to give work based examples, you can use examples from anytime in your life, Whilst it is well over 10 years ago i used an example in one of my questions from my college days that i hadn't even considered until that point.

Turn up early for the interview, this always sets a good example....the railway runs to the second and first impressions are very important, i've seen people turned away at group stages for arriving just a minute late, punctuality is key!

Try not to worry, think of as many examples as you can before going into the interview and you'll be fine, you'll be interviewed probably by 2 or 3 people, one normally asks questions & the other will be taking the most notes down......as long as you see them writing something down then your interview is going well

good luck!

 

[donpoku]

So far i've found the railway to be one of the best industries for expanding your career opportunities! A previous job i had for 7 years i literally got nowhere, after having started on the railway just under 2 years ago as a Rail replacement coordinator, i am now working as a dispatcher but passed my conductor interview a couple of weeks ago and am now just waiting on an invitation for a start date! All of this in under 2 years, as long as you work hard and do your job properly then there should be nothing holding you back from where you want to get to!

king walnut pretty much nailed it with the interview tips, the STAR technique is extremely useful, try emphasize on every answer you give, an example would be when you're asked to give a time when you have dealt with a difficult customer don't say something like "i work in a very busy environment and deal with difficult people on a daily basis" ...... while that shows you've got experience you need to give specific examples, one will do with how you dealt with a difficult person, the situation you were in and the actions you took to resolve the situation, always try to give a possible outcome at the end.

You don't have to give work based examples, you can use examples from anytime in your life, Whilst it is well over 10 years ago i used an example in one of my questions from my college days that i hadn't even considered until that point.

Turn up early for the interview, this always sets a good example....the railway runs to the second and first impressions are very important, i've seen people turned away at group stages for arriving just a minute late, punctuality is key!

Try not to worry, think of as many examples as you can before going into the interview and you'll be fine, you'll be interviewed probably by 2 or 3 people, one normally asks questions & the other will be taking the most notes down......as long as you see them writing something down then your interview is going well

good luck!

Thanks jin, the treasure of advice and experience is a joy on this forum.