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Structured Interview Questions

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Rjhsteel

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Who here has had a Structured interview for the position of train driver?

Could you please list the questions asked as it would help me in preparing for the interview. Thanks.
 
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apestyler

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Before the interview you'll be asked to briefly answer the questions below on a form which the interviewer will then grill you over. I had my structured interview within the last couple of weeks so fortunately still quite fresh in my head.

1. Describe a time where you've had to follow rules & procedures
2. Describe a time where you've been involved in an emergency situation
3. Describe a time you've been on a training course for over 2 weeks or your greatest achievement
4. Describe a time where you've had to work for long periods of time alone
5. Describe a time you've had to solve a difficult problem

Best of luck and keep us posted with how you get on.
 

apestyler

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ScotRail, but they're likely to be pretty similar across the board if using OPC material. Maybe someone else can advise if question sets change.
 

Beveridges

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Yes, the questions listed above are 100%, Ive gone through it 3 times now, once with northern once privately and once with ATW and got the same old questions.
 

Rjhsteel

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Cheers. These the only questions asked?

I've wrote down answers for others just in case.
 

apestyler

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I did have a couple extra thrown in within the questions above. The only one I can remember is described a time where pressure has been applied to the use of rules & regs. I found this interview challenging but certainly not the hardest part of the assessment process.
 

Beveridges

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I found it by far the hardest part of the psychometric tests but not always the hardest part of the whole "process", sometimes the line manager interview can be harder.
 

GB

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There is another question, which is the one that got me..."Describe a time when you work to a set standard".
 

Beveridges

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I think that one is just a variation to the question that asks about working to rules and procedures
 

apestyler

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25 mins to fill out the form of 5 answers to the above questions. Remember to keep the written answers concise and to the point. I did my written part 1 month before my actual interview but I think that's just how ScotRail schedule it. Many assessment centres will get you to do the prep sheet right before the interview
 

Beveridges

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Best way for the assessors, definetely the worst way for the applicant! Unfortunately I had it that way all 3 times, but since the questions never change, it did not really matter after the first attempt.
 

Rjhsteel

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I thought you could only take the test twice Beveridges?

The same questions everytime? I will concentrate on these then and add a few that might appear.
 

Beveridges

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You can only fail twice but you can take it an unlimited amount of times if you keep passing
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
You can only fail twice but you can take it an unlimited amount of times if you keep passing!
Due to the fact that it expires after a short period of time (with some TOC's like Arriva just 1 or 2 years!) and that certain TOC's have been known to make you resit it anyway, a job searcher trying for a Drivers job could end up having to take the psychometrics many more times than 2 before getting the job.
 

Latecomer

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My advice would be that you must be prepared for them to home in on detail. Pick examples you can ellaborate on and that you know back to front. It would be a risk to be economical with the truth.

Stay calm and tell yourself to welcome every question as there will be lots of them! See each question as them being interested in your answer and a further opportunity for you to clarify how attuned you are to rules and procedures, resisting pressure to bypass rules, putting safety first and communicating effectively. Keep smiling and stay as composed as you can. Look for cues and signals from them about your answers and don't be afraid to clarify questions or indeed whether they wish for more detail.

Best of luck.
 

Rjhsteel

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How much detail should I go into?
Will I have enough time or should I leave the detail when they question my answers?
 

reapz

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How much detail should I go into?
Will I have enough time or should I leave the detail when they question my answers?

when i did and passed mine i used about 3-4 lines of text , just an outline of the event

Remeber what they are looking for when choosing or making up yr events:-P

Attention to detail , good communication skills , working alone , when u are asked would u do anythign different always say no i wouldnt as i did what i thought was logical at the time how ever i am open to suggestions and veiws as no one is perfect
 

387star

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Thanks too for this. I didn't realise the questions could be reduced to that although obviously many more questions would be spun off in the grilling..
 

Rjhsteel

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Well, its over.
How did I do? I'm not sure. Written part went well, and most of the interview went well.

Just worried I didn't answer some of the questions as well as I could.

If I were a betting man, I'd say I didn't make it going by the signals I got from the interviewer.

Find out in a few days.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Well i was wrong. I Passed! Got the letter this morning.

Now the managers interview. What should i expect on this?
 

Beveridges

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[quote="apestyler]Many assessment centres will get you to do the prep sheet right before the interview
Knowing full well you will not have time to prepare! Very difficult that way I imagine but probably the best way
[/quote]
Thats the way I had to do it on all 3 occasions. I would have done much better if I had been able to do the written part, go home and come back on another day for the verbal part. I doubt I would have failed it first time and I'd probably be Mainline Driving at Blackpool now as that was the only thing that stopped me from getting the job on that occasion.
 
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