I failed my structured interview...please help??

[steveIL]

Hi all,
Back in November I was invited for an interview at a depot for the role of trainee train driver. I passed the first stage with the depot manager and was then invited to do the psychometric tests. I passed the mechanical, concentration, bourdon, reaction and dials test this left me with the structured interview, pass this and I have a contract waiting for me. I knew what type of questions where coming because of peoples past experiences on here. Unfortunately in December I received my letter confirming I had failed. These are my results:
Communication B
Rules A
Emergencies A
Conscientious C
Proactive C
Alone C
I was told that to pass I needed at least 4 B's to pass. So yes I failed by 1 grade. Can anybody help with what I failed on?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[londonwall]

If you don't mind me asking, what were your question?

Why do you think you failed...were any of your answer weak?

Without knowing the answers you gave its hard to know where you failed other than on conscientious, proactive and alone.

Do you think you have strong experience in those points...for example would you say your answers for emergencies were better than your answers for proactive?

 

[Beveridges]

There are questions where your answers must have needed more work:

Describe a time you had to complete a training course lasting longer than 2 weeks? Criteria: Conscientiously works to exceed course demands

Describe a time you had to solve a difficult problem? Criteria: Is proactive and tenacious

Describe a time you had to work alone for long periods? Criteria: Able to work alone

 

[bob hope]

Sorry to hear your bad news mate - particularly as you got so close. You'll crack it next time!

Out of interest how many grades are there?

Is it just:
A - Strong
B - Medium
C - Weak

 

[Beveridges]

A - Good pass (Well above the standard)
B - Pass
C - Borderline Pass. Not necessarily weak, but the answers only just hit the minimum required standard.
F - Weak- You only need one of these and your out.

I was never aware that three C's in the Structured Interview would result in a fail though. Very harsh. I've said it before, the Structured Interview is the hardest part of the psychometrics, and with all the aids available for the computer tests, the SI is now by far the hardest part.

 

[bob hope]

Cheers for that Beveridges - much appreciated.

Seems the TOC's / FOC's are also aware of how much info is out there for anyone taking the assessments too - hence why the bar is getting raised higher and higher.
Got some assessments at DBS soon so I'll (hopefully) find out just how hard the SI is - if I'm honest is the only part I'm dreading

 

[dglondon]

Hi all,
Back in November I was invited for an interview at a depot for the role of trainee train driver. I passed the first stage with the depot manager and was then invited to do the psychometric tests. I passed the mechanical, concentration, bourdon, reaction and dials test this left me with the structured interview, pass this and I have a contract waiting for me. I knew what type of questions where coming because of peoples past experiences on here. Unfortunately in December I received my letter confirming I had failed. These are my results:
Communication B
Rules A
Emergencies A
Conscientious C
Proactive C
Alone C
I was told that to pass I needed at least 4 B's to pass. So yes I failed by 1 grade. Can anybody help with what I failed on?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hi, if you private message me I may have some information to help you with this. (I'm unable to PM you, as I don't think you have made enough posts yet as you don't seen to have the PM feature enabled).

 

[oi oi]

hi, i was wondering what your answer was to; Describe a time you had to complete a training course lasting longer than 2 weeks?
Other than passing my driving test years ago I am struggling to find a more suitable example. Am i looking at a C grade too?

 

[PeteH]

hi, i was wondering what your answer was to; Describe a time you had to complete a training course lasting longer than 2 weeks?
Other than passing my driving test years ago I am struggling to find a more suitable example. Am i looking at a C grade too?

GCSE? A-Levels?

 

[Dave1987]

GCSE? A-Levels?

Sorry but GCSE or A-levels wouldn't count otherwise the question would be pointless as everyone has had to do GCSEs when they were younger.

An appropriate example would be an apprenticeship for plumbing or any course that is two or more weeks long. Like you can do courses in power boating or sailing that are two weeks long. I would not recommend using GCSE's as an example.

 

[TDK]

hi, i was wondering what your answer was to; Describe a time you had to complete a training course lasting longer than 2 weeks?
Other than passing my driving test years ago I am struggling to find a more suitable example. Am i looking at a C grade too?

I used my diriving lessons and passed but that was 13 years ago, these days unfortunately with all the practice material around there is going to be someone being interviewed who has taken courses over 2 weeks long that is more recent than when you did your driving test!

 

[oi oi]

I used my diriving lessons and passed but that was 13 years ago, these days unfortunately with all the practice material around there is going to be someone being interviewed who has taken courses over 2 weeks long that is more recent than when you did your driving test!

Thanks for the reply TDK I have read a lot of discussions on this forum and always look for your answers! Its the only relevant course I could come up with. Would you fail someone with this? I think I have strong answers in other areas such as "working alone","working in a safety critical role","thinking on my feet" etc etc. I dont want to waste my time or HR time

 

[TDK]

Thanks for the reply TDK I have read a lot of discussions on this forum and always look for your answers! Its the only relevant course I could come up with. Would you fail someone with this? I think I have strong answers in other areas such as "working alone","working in a safety critical role","thinking on my feet" etc etc. I dont want to waste my time or HR time

Hi I answered this worngly before so here is take 2!

Put yourself against say a guard, a pilot, police officer, member of the forces and then they will have most likely taken courses of more than 2 weeks. What this question is referring to is the rules and traction course usually classroom based and the traction hands on.

 

[DRFT101]

Hi all,
Back in November I was invited for an interview at a depot for the role of trainee train driver. I passed the first stage with the depot manager and was then invited to do the psychometric tests. I passed the mechanical, concentration, bourdon, reaction and dials test this left me with the structured interview, pass this and I have a contract waiting for me. I knew what type of questions where coming because of peoples past experiences on here. Unfortunately in December I received my letter confirming I had failed. These are my results:
Communication B
Rules A
Emergencies A
Conscientious C
Proactive C
Alone C
I was told that to pass I needed at least 4 B's to pass. So yes I failed by 1 grade. Can anybody help with what I failed on?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I also recently failed my CBI with FGW - I believe I passed all the other assessments, but not had any official feedback yet. So I'm also reading the replies with interest and seeing what I can do better next time when the 6 months is up.

 

[oi oi]

Hi I answered this worngly before so here is take 2!

Put yourself against say a guard, a pilot, police officer, member of the forces and then they will have most likely taken courses of more than 2 weeks. What this question is referring to is the rules and traction course usually classroom based and the traction hands on.

over the last few months my work has had a lot of health and safety and fire risk assessments. As part of this myself and 3 other colleagues have been made responsible for enforcing regulations.This training is ongoing.Would this be an acceptable example to give, given that there will be no accreditation

 

[TDK]

over the last few months my work has had a lot of health and safety and fire risk assessments. As part of this myself and 3 other colleagues have been made responsible for enforcing regulations.This training is ongoing.Would this be an acceptable example to give, given that there will be no accreditation

As long as some or most of it was classroom based, if so this would be a good subject. They are not asking for creditation just if you have sat a course.

 

[SPADTrap]

hi, i was wondering what your answer was to; Describe a time you had to complete a training course lasting longer than 2 weeks?
Other than passing my driving test years ago I am struggling to find a more suitable example. Am i looking at a C grade too?

I've seen that thrown around as being a valid example by definition but with the reality of the calibre of canditates applying for theses jobs I'd hazard a guess that is it far from the mark, but that is just my opinion. My solution to not having the best answer possible was to find a way to gain the required experience, best advice I can give! Good luck!

 

[Beveridges]

Don't forget even if you do get a C-Grade for that answer, as long as most of your other answers are A/B's you will pass. It's an F you really want to avoid.
I'd use the health and safety/fire risk assessments course (as long as you can say it was over two weeks) instead of learning how to drive a car or GCSEs.
For the job you are doing now, did you not do training at the beginning that lasted longer than 2 weeks? You could use this

 

[oi oi]

Don't forget even if you do get a C-Grade for that answer, as long as most of your other answers are A/B's you will pass. It's an F you really want to avoid.
I'd use the health and safety/fire risk assessments course (as long as you can say it was over two weeks) instead of learning how to drive a car or GCSEs.
For the job you are doing now, did you not do training at the beginning that lasted longer than 2 weeks? You could use this

There was no classroom based training at the beginning of my job.I will defo use the fire risk assessments as my example. The course was over a six week period(although not 9 to 5 mon to fri). What type of questioning can i expect? As it was fairly recent I would to be able answer questions on the content. I'm not sure this is what an interviewer is after tho.

 

[Bert and Ernie]

Well I got 2 A and 2 B. and one C and failed so just a and b accepted as passes

 

[CGS]

Well I got 2 A and 2 B. and one C and failed so just a and b accepted as passes

I'm fairly certain I will have failed then - had a nightmare with the rules question!

 

[Bert and Ernie]

Well I got 2 A and 2 B. and one C and failed so just a and b accepted as passes

Does this sound a fail? Seems harsh to me one C and I failed or have I just a borderline pass.

 

[CGS]

Does this sound a fail? Seems harsh to me one C and I failed or have I just a borderline pass.

Sure they said they take higher passes so possibly a pass with another TOC? Doesn't seem like bad grades to me!

 

[Donhamer]

I have an interview coming up soon and the only question I'm uncomfortable with is about the training course of over 2 weeks as I've NEVER been on one.

The best example I can think of is when I started my current job, I had to learn 6 delivery routes (pretty much 6 nights per week working on my own) as well as 2 other roles indoors (one night shift. One day shift). This was one route learned per week then a week of days and a week of nights. I was then on 'my own' filling in for each role as required.

Any ideas if this will suffice?

Thanks for any replies.

 

[FlamTap]

I have an interview coming up soon and the only question I'm uncomfortable with is about the training course of over 2 weeks as I've NEVER been on one.

The best example I can think of is when I started my current job, I had to learn 6 delivery routes (pretty much 6 nights per week working on my own) as well as 2 other roles indoors (one night shift. One day shift). This was one route learned per week then a week of days and a week of nights. I was then on 'my own' filling in for each role as required.

Any ideas if this will suffice?

Thanks for any replies.

It might be worth pointing out that that particular question also gives you the option of using a "personal achievement" as an example. Obviously the highest scores would be given to candidates who have completed a training course of >= two weeks. However, your example above may be sufficient to use as an example of a personal achievement. However, if you have a stronger example then it would be wise to use that. The stronger your answers the better, as in the current climate the CBI is one of the trickiest parts of the assessment process.

And remember, they will probe you thoroughly and very deeply on all of your answers - so make sure you can discuss to great depths whatever examples you use.

 

[TDK]

I have an interview coming up soon and the only question I'm uncomfortable with is about the training course of over 2 weeks as I've NEVER been on one.

The best example I can think of is when I started my current job, I had to learn 6 delivery routes (pretty much 6 nights per week working on my own) as well as 2 other roles indoors (one night shift. One day shift). This was one route learned per week then a week of days and a week of nights. I was then on 'my own' filling in for each role as required.

Any ideas if this will suffice?

Thanks for any replies.

The reason they are asking this is because they want to ascertain whether you can sit in a classroom for 6 weeks doing a rules course, if you haven't done a course you will need to deliver an answer that confirms that you can sit in a classroom for 6 weeks (or 2 weeks if this is the question). Always decipher the question asked and work out what they are looking for and the reason for them asking the question. I was asked this question and I had not been on any courses and had not been in a classroom since I was a school and I had my interview when I was 38 years old and I passed the interview - I will leave it there for you to work out what you need to do!

 

[Donhamer]

The reason they are asking this is because they want to ascertain whether you can sit in a classroom for 6 weeks doing a rules course, if you haven't done a course you will need to deliver an answer that confirms that you can sit in a classroom for 6 weeks (or 2 weeks if this is the question). Always decipher the question asked and work out what they are looking for and the reason for them asking the question. I was asked this question and I had not been on any courses and had not been in a classroom since I was a school and I had my interview when I was 38 years old and I passed the interview - I will leave it there for you to work out what you need to do!

Cheers.

 

[Beveridges]

Does this sound a fail? Seems harsh to me one C and I failed or have I just a borderline pass.

I got two C's the rest A's & B's and passed back in 2008.
So as your SI results were better than mine it does not take a genius to work out that you have not failed.
What might happen though, is SOME TOC's not accepting anyone with C's in the SI. They change the standards to suit themselves all the time. The TOC's standards are getting higher & higher all the time. Unneccessary, but you can blame the number of applicants for this. You can blame the good salary and the lack of requirement of a Degree for the amount of applicants. They have to get the numbers down one way or another.

If it gets any worse they'll be asking for a full set of A's next!

Does not mean you have failed. You still have the two attempts. Your pass may be valid with another TOC.

 

[Bert and Ernie]

I got two C's the rest A's & B's and passed back in 2008.
So as your SI results were better than mine it does not take a genius to work out that you have not failed.
What might happen though, is SOME TOC's not accepting anyone with C's in the SI. They change the standards to suit themselves all the time. The TOC's standards are getting higher & higher all the time. Unneccessary, but you can blame the number of applicants for this. You can blame the good salary and the lack of requirement of a Degree for the amount of applicants. They have to get the numbers down one way or another.

If it gets any worse they'll be asking for a full set of A's next!

Does not mean you have failed. You still have the two attempts. Your pass may be valid with another TOC.

Cheers bud appreciate that I'm still gutted tbh. Can't believe they failed me honestly it wasn't that hard I just must have royally f****d up

 

[TDK]

Cheers bud appreciate that I'm still gutted tbh. Can't believe they failed me honestly it wasn't that hard I just must have royally f****d up

Not necessarily, if you got a C for one part of the interview it doesn't mean you f****d up, it just means that the answer you gave was not to the standard of B or A but a pss all the same although it was a bordeline pass. If you can remember what question in the interview that you thought may have been weak work on this one as the others were acceptable.