GWR Conductor assessment day...

[LukeH4y]

Hi all!

I’ve recently applied for the role of Customer Host in Plymouth; I got through the online assessment, was invited to an assessment day and was one of 5 people that they decided to interview (out of 279 people that applied... yikes!!) and, unfortunately, I wasn’t successful beyond that stage. Gutted.

At the same time as applying for this role I also applied for a role as a Conductor at Exeter St. David’s (I live an equal distance between plymouth & Exeter) and, again, I’ve got through both of the online assessments and have been invited to an assessment day, yay!

However, I’m only 18 and have experienced very few interviews in my time so far and my previously GWR interview was the first major interview I’ve ever been in — I was unbelievably nervous and they could tell that. I struggled to think of answers for any of the questions they asked and repeated myself a lot... obviously I don’t want that to happen again now, do I?

I would absolutely love any advice that anyone is willing to offer about interviews (specific to GWR/Conductors would be amazing!), how to answer questions or if there’s a specific structure/technique I should use!

I’ve only worked in retail and your typical teenage jobs so I’m struggling to prepare examples for the questions I believe they’re going to ask (for example, safety, customer service, problem solving, etc)...

Please help! I don’t want to mess up again!

Thank you,
Luke.

 

[LukeH4y]

Just to add, yes, it’s very unlikely I’m going to get to the interview stage again — but I’m trying to prepare, just in case

 

[Bucephalus]

I'm sorry you didn't get through the first interview, good luck with this one.

I'm not exactly the bastien of interviews but I suggest to make lots of notes.

I would hammer Google for train conductor / guard interview questions, or maybe questions like "what makes a great train conductor?"

And if they don't allow notes at least they'll be memorised

 

[F285]

I used a couple books to make me think of example question. Granted I'm not the same age as you but it did help greatly. It took me about a year and half to successfully apply again but in that time, it was all good prep work.

Try the book by Susan Hodges 'Brilliant answers to tough interview questions'. It helped with updating my CV too.

 

[HalfNitro]

Does anyone have any info on Conductor shifts for Reading,hrs/routes

 

[godfreycomplex]

Does anyone have any info on Conductor shifts for Reading,hrs/routes

Reading - Basingstoke
Reading - Gatwick Airport
Maidenhead - Marlow
165/166 and presumably 769 in the future
Earliest start around 04:00; latest finish around 02:00 I believe.

 

[Emmsie]

if its any consolation I got to the same point as you and also failed the interview so my advice is not the best but try the STAR method so there is atleast some structure to your answers, situation, task, action result. How many questions did they ask you, I must have had about 12-15 thrown at me. Also did you ask for any feedback from the first interview

 

[HalfNitro]

I have applied for an board customer host based at Swindon, does anyone know what the shift patterns are, hrs routes etc, also is there overtime available? and any free parking nearby

 

[tiptoptaff]

I have applied for an board customer host based at Swindon, does anyone know what the shift patterns are, hrs routes etc, also is there overtime available? and any free parking nearby

Not yet as the depot isn't open, what hours will be worked is a bit on an unknown. Routes don't matter to a Host as you don't sign them. But it'll likely be portions of Pad-Bristol, Swansea, Exeter, Cheltenham, Worcester, Oxford.
There is a decent sized carpark at Swindon station I would assume you'll get a permit for - I have one as I work in control across the road.