Interview advice & guidance

[donpoku]

Hello

I recently got knocked back after a dmi for a trainee driver role. I've received feedback and I'm working on them weak points.

My request is can any experienced and knowledgeable person with insight offer some advice in general to increase my chances of being successful next time.

Please feel free to pm me if you want.

Thanks and happy new year to all.

 

[Dave999]

Hi donpoku

I have recently passed a DMI and found it ok. I think the main reason for this was the amount of revision I did, I researched loads around role and what I thought I could bring to it.

This forum has masses of valuable advice, with my revision I wrote down all the questions I thought I would be asked and wrote answers which I went over and over and linked them in with the train driver role.

The most important one is why you want to be a train driver, make sure your answer is truthful and think about the actual role not just the driving.

Be confident, smile and take a pause before you answer each question. You are scored on presentation (wear a suit, shave and shine your shoes), communication skills, knowledge and skills you can bring. With the DMI I think it's really important that they like you, if they do they will want you to pass and give you bits of help through out.

Talk about customer focus also as it's extremely important to the company's vision.

 

[col68]

Hi donpoku

I have recently passed a DMI and found it ok. I think the main reason for this was the amount of revision I did, I researched loads around role and what I thought I could bring to it.

This forum has masses of valuable advice, with my revision I wrote down all the questions I thought I would be asked and wrote answers which I went over and over and linked them in with the train driver role.

The most important one is why you want to be a train driver, make sure your answer is truthful and think about the actual role not just the driving.

Be confident, smile and take a pause before you answer each question. You are scored on presentation (wear a suit, shave and shine your shoes), communication skills, knowledge and skills you can bring. With the DMI I think it's really important that they like you, if they do they will want you to pass and give you bits of help through out.

Talk about customer focus also as it's extremely important to the company's vision.

spot on. which toc was it if you dont mind me asking?

 

[Dave999]

spot on. which toc was it if you dont mind me asking?

Mine was for GTR.

 

[donpoku]

Thanks Dave999. Very helpful advice.

 

[bb21]

Remain safety focused, and make sure that you have examples to back up the attributes you claim. Competency-based interviews are all the rage these days so you are bound to be asked for examples to illustrate this and that.

I also agree that make sure you smile, give a firm handshake which is an indication of confidence, and make sure that you practise answers to the most common questions that get asked in an interview. You will be amazed how many people don't prepare themselves for the most basic questions. Don't need to memorise answers to all as it would make you seem like you are reciting rather than genuinely answering a question, but make sure you know roughly what you will say for each question. I don't know whether you were already doing all this as it is not clear which area you needed working on specifically.

Most importantly, believe in yourself. If you have belief in yourself, it will show. Even if you were rejected last time, you stand as good a chance as everyone else this time.

 

[TDK]

Hello

I recently got knocked back after a dmi for a trainee driver role. I've received feedback and I'm working on them weak points.

My request is can any experienced and knowledgeable person with insight offer some advice in general to increase my chances of being successful next time.

Please feel free to pm me if you want.

Thanks and happy new year to all.

Work on the reason why you failed the last one if they have given you feedback on the reasons why you failed.

 

[donpoku]

Remain safety focused, and make sure that you have examples to back up the attributes you claim. Competency-based interviews are all the rage these days so you are bound to be asked for examples to illustrate this and that.

I also agree that make sure you smile, give a firm handshake which is an indication of confidence, and make sure that you practise answers to the most common questions that get asked in an interview. You will be amazed how many people don't prepare themselves for the most basic questions. Don't need to memorise answers to all as it would make you seem like you are reciting rather than genuinely answering a question, but make sure you know roughly what you will say for each question. I don't know whether you were already doing all this as it is not clear which area you needed working on specifically.

Most importantly, believe in yourself. If you have belief in yourself, it will show. Even if you were rejected last time, you stand as good a chance as everyone else this time.

Cheers buddy, top post. Will take your advice on board.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Work on the reason why you failed the last one if they have given you feedback on the reasons why you failed.

Yes I will thanks.

 

[RedZed]

With the DMI I think it's really important that they like you, if they do they will want you to pass and give you bits of help through out.

This is very true and not to be underestimated. First impressions count, how you present yourself from the time you walk through the door to the time you leave are just as important as the answers you give during the interview. I got to chat with both interviewers prior to the interview itself. One in the lift on the way up to the interview and one on the way down afterwards. Make sure you engage with them. They will form an opinion of you as soon as they clap eyes on you.
During my DMI I went off at a tangent on a couple of questions and the interviewers steered me back to the answers they were looking for. (If they didn't 'like' me then I'm sure they would have just let me waffle, mark me accordingly and look forward to seeing the next candidate). They want you to pass, they have time and money invested in you getting you this far - but only you can do it.

Best of luck

 

[red2005]

Hi mate it's tricky to give you too much advice without knowing what they knocked you back on but the advice given above is spot on!

There are many big important things to get across in the managers interview but it's important not to forget the little things as well such as don't sit until you are invited to, a good handshake and always maintain eye contact. It's also worth remembering you are effectively being watched the moment you enter the building so it's best to treat the entire time you are there like they are sat alongside you.

In the interview itself make sure that you are positive with your replies, for example if the ask you a question avoid saying things like erm,possibly or maybe etc etc etc they want to know what you are telling them is fact not guesswork. When they ask you about a certain scenario make sure you tell them about what YOU did, so many go off on tangents about what happened as a group for example but that is not what they are asking.

Using the STAR format is always a good way to go if that has ever been put across to you?. Ensure you have done your research on the company that you are applying to, knowing things like the franchise details,routes they cover and the traction they work are the most important bits but you can never go wrong with knowing how many employees they have and what the company values are etc.

Be honest is probably the most important thing out of the entire interview, If you don't understand a question ASK, I f you don't have an example for a question they have asked just tell them! any decent manager will find another way to ask the question and it may help you use a scenario you didn't even think was initially relevant!. Do not try and wing a scenario, these guys are well trained and will spot a lie a mile off a, once there is a doubt about your integrity you may as well forget it. Remember there is no shame in not being involved in an emergency situation before, it's not something we have all done and you wouldn't of got that far if something like that was a truly defining factor in whether you get the job.

and remember the reason why you want to be a train driver for the company you are applying to. you'd be surprised how many people fail for messing up on that question alone and it's arguably the most important question out of the lot.

Good luck mate.

 

[donpoku]

Indeed Redzed, first impression & engagement is very important. Thanks buddy.

 

[CreamODcrop]

I would suggest reading up about About the TOCthey want to see what effort you have put in to find out about the company. Never mention money as reason for you wanting to drive trains. A good example would be "its a rewarding career getting 1000's passengers SAFELY to their destinations on a daily basis. "

What's routes does the TOC cover.

Think about About DEFENSIVE driving as in your car for example. Do you drive differently in snow/rain and rough terrain. Do you speed to traffic lights, would you act differently in poor conditions.

Think scenarios where you worked in a team to achieve a goal i.e We needed to finish the technology project quicker than originally planned. We decided woukd be best we each worked separate sections blah blah my role was to ..... Etc etc.

Think times you have had to work on your own or make it believable etc worked in a call centre monitoring calls and marking/ patrolling as police officer/ outfield engineer

I could go on forever but you should always be prepared for standard competency based questions.

Brucey bonus learn the phonetic alphabet.

 

[donpoku]

I would suggest reading up about About the TOCthey want to see what effort you have put in to find out about the company. Never mention money as reason for you wanting to drive trains. A good example would be "its a rewarding career getting 1000's passengers SAFELY to their destinations on a daily basis. "

What's routes does the TOC cover.

Think about About DEFENSIVE driving as in your car for example. Do you drive differently in snow/rain and rough terrain. Do you speed to traffic lights, would you act differently in poor conditions.

Think scenarios where you worked in a team to achieve a goal i.e We needed to finish the technology project quicker than originally planned. We decided woukd be best we each worked separate sections blah blah my role was to ..... Etc etc.

Think times you have had to work on your own or make it believable etc worked in a call centre monitoring calls and marking/ patrolling as police officer/ outfield engineer

I could go on forever but you should always be prepared for standard competency based questions.

Brucey bonus learn the phonetic alphabet.

Ah I see so CreamODcrop in essence what you are saying is show that you have invested in that particular TOC and the skills & knowledge they require for that job.

Thanks for the advice buddy.

 

[TDK]

Believe it or not most fail because they don't understand the question. Remember the questions are directly related to the role of a train driver and the answers they need have to persuade the interviewer that you have the attributes needed. Too many people harp on what they thing the interviewer wants to hear when in fact the answers given do not actually answer the question.

For example:- Why do you and to be a train driver with company A!

So, what is the question asking?

Not what do you want to be a train driver but why with company A!

Many will harp on about they always wanted the job, they are safety conscious, can work alone etc. but that isn't the answer to the question.

Think about it folks as I would say 90% of the failures at interview is because people don't answer the question asked.

 

[Robbarry]

I failed the interview stage with lorol after revising for months before hand. To say I was gutted was an understatement. I applied for Mtr crossrail about 8 months later, not learning as much as I did for lorol but enough to know what I was talking about. The interview lasted 30 minutes as apposed to lorols 1hour 15. The main difference was that I was more relaxed in this interview. I got the job and not getting a job with lorol was in retrospect the best thing to ever happen to me, it's the best job in the world. Good luck with your application and hoping you have a long career as a driver.