Interview question “Tell me about a time when...”

[TheNewBoy]

I’m hoping someone on here can answer this in relation to specifically Scotrail, but I guess most TOCs will have similar questions...

So what sort of questions like this have you been asked in an interview? And how did you respond?

 

[Halfway Boy]

It’s a competency question in vague disguise.

Look up the STAR method.

Also look up the kind of competencies they want for that role - sometimes you will get very lucky and they will publish the competencies (such as they do with the police) or they will send them in advance (like London Underground do), otherwise research it.

Don’t come up with a wordy answer for each competency though, as it may not be worded the way you think (or have more than one competency in the question) which will through you off.

Remember some key points for each competency so that you wing your way through it.