Trainee drivers Freighliner HH

[sgw]

So with the second stages coming up can someone tell me what happens with the cbi. Do you get the usual icebreaker, tell me what you know about the company, tell me about yourself etc or is it straight into the questions?

 

[E&W Lucas]

So with the second stages coming up can someone tell me what happens with the cbi. Do you get the usual icebreaker, tell me what you know about the company, tell me about yourself etc or is it straight into the questions?

CBI is nothing to do with the company. It's searching for evidence of competencies required for the job.

Fill in a form, and then you are questioned about the examples you have given. Loads of info already posted on this site. I felt it was quite relaxed, but I had strong examples from my previous working life. It was literally just about talking about going to work. If you've skills gaps, I've no doubt it will be a bit more intense.

Research the questions on here, and think hard about what relevant experiences you have.

 

[Brinners81]

Postie has been for me and left me a lovely present..

"Congratulations on passing the first phase of tests"

Over the moon as I thought for sure I'd failed the MT4.1 as I only answered 27 questions.
Will be in Watford Friday 13th...

I'll see you Friday marky. I'm also taking my stage 2 on the 13th.

 

[Marky82]

I'll see you Friday marky. I'm also taking my stage 2 on the 13th.

Ah, welcome along Brinners. What a day huh, Friday the 13th!!!
Are you getting fed up with bop-it as well? Haha

 

[Brinners81]

Ah, welcome along Brinners. What a day huh, Friday the 13th!!!
Are you getting fed up with bop-it as well? Haha

Haha yes mate. It's got that bad the wife's made me put the headphones in because she's sick of hearing BOP IT! You all sorted for the interview?

 

[Marky82]

I think so, prepared as I could be anyway. Been thinking so much about this interview that i almost forget that if the reactions test isn't passed first then kiss the interview goodbye......

Good luck to the stage 2 people who are sitting today (Tuesday)

 

[choochoochoo]

just a few of questions who've been through this already:

how long was the practice session on the reactions test ?

if you pass the reactions test, how long do you get to write your answers to the CBI/structured interview questions ?

Anyone faced any differing questions to the 'standard five' ?

 

[SkinnyDave]

just a few of questions who've been through this already:

how long was the practice session on the reactions test ?

if you pass the reactions test, how long do you get to write your answers to the CBI/structured interview questions ?

Anyone faced any differing questions to the 'standard five' ?

The standard 5 is not what you worry about, it's when they delve deeper into your answers that they put you on the ropes with

 

[choochoochoo]

The standard 5 is not what you worry about, it's when they delve deeper into your answers that they put you on the ropes with

you mean the sub-questions ?

I'm trying to have at least 3 examples for each question, but am struggling to think of emergency situations I've been in.

Fortunately for me, I've not really been in anything life-threatening, but that does make having a few examples for that question quite hard. Anybody else in a similar situation ?

 

[Brinners81]

Does anyone know how many people we have to sit in front of during the cbi?

 

[bacooke1987]

It's just a one on one.

 

[Brinners81]

It's just a one on one.

Thanks bacooke

 

[bacooke1987]

How did people get on today?

 

[DunfordBridge]

As a Director, you have statutory responsibilities. If you don't ensure that they are complied with, you get prosecuted. Can I suggest that you think along those lines?
Pretty similar to what I used myself. Remember, it is your day jobn that has landed you this interview, not what you do on a weekend. If there's really no other example, use heritage, but try to stick to real world work if you can.

Hospitality, especially if it involves working alone/ at night with guests, can provide good examples of handling an emergency. Someone taken ill, fire evacuation (depending on the procedures that you had for false alarms), etc.

As for diesel haulage, the Moors has been the place to be this year A good deal of it worked off the Pickering end too.

Hi E&W Lucas,

Thanks once again for your thought-provoking posts. I thought I had forgotten about many of my previous work experiences, even from my most recent role.

Although I worked as a part of a team in my work as a cellar man, I did in fact oversee evacuations in my role as a security guard which in turn revived further memories of working to procedures.

It is quite a while since I enquired about working on the Moors. The Wensleydale Railway seem quite grateful for the assistance, particular with crossing keeping so I am happy to do my bit.
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you mean the sub-questions ?

I'm trying to have at least 3 examples for each question, but am struggling to think of emergency situations I've been in.

Fortunately for me, I've not really been in anything life-threatening, but that does make having a few examples for that question quite hard. Anybody else in a similar situation ?

Hi Choo,

I have had a bit of bother myself on this front including walking past a bomb five minutes before it exploded. I am not quite sure if you have to be on the receiving end but it may be the case that you become involved in an emergency situation involving another person. I would imagine that road incidents would be a prolific source of material in one form or another.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Heritage experience will work in or out of your favour depending on what context you mention it in the Interview.

If you say "I know the job already as I work on a preserved railway" that will go against you, but if you use your experience on the preserved line to demonstrate examples of following rules & procedures, solving a difficult problem, dealing with an emergency, working alone (& so on), then it can only work in your favour!

Compared to some of more experienced workers on the Wensleydale, I would not lay claim to even knowing everything possible about my own role on the heritage line, yet alone the main line.

One thing that does intrigue me about the CBI is how many examples do you quote for each of the five questions during the initial 25 minute write-up? Is it just one example for each question, and if necessary, are you prompted for other examples during the interview should your written example not be strong enough? Are you also allowed to bring in previously compiled notes to assist you with your written responses?

 

[Beveridges]

Yes 1 example per question

 

[Marky82]

Are you also allowed to bring in previously compiled notes to assist you with your written responses?

I may be wrong here but not sure if you can use notes or evidence to back up your claims as you're not suppose to be aware of the questions being asked before hand......?

Think it would be good if you could though, gives any answers a much stronger credential

 

[NinjaJihad]

After looking through a number of threads, it seems for the CBI 4 of the questions are set in stone but every now and then I notice one of the 5 varies between these two questions:

Name a time when you had to deal with a difficult situation.

Describe a time you've had to solve a difficult problem.

To me a difficult situation and a difficult problem could be interpreted very differently. I have a fantastic example of when I had to deal with a difficult situation but not sure If I will be able to use it, it wasn't quite an emergency situation and yet it wasn't a problem that needed solving.

Hmm, going to have to come up with a few examples for each.

 

[Beveridges]

Solvinv a difficult problem is the one I got and everyone else seems to get who I asked so thats the one to watch out for

 

[choochoochoo]

How's everyone's assessments been this week ? Hope they've gone well.

Doing my preparation for thge CBI and got the 'how to become' book and they've got a few others questions they say might be in the CBI

Has anyone who's been to the assessment had any of the following ?

-give an example where you’ve had to work under pressure
-give an example where you've had to communicate an important message
-give an example where you've had to work as part of a team (to achieve a task)
-give an example of a role that you've had that relates to the role of train driver
-give an example of when you provided high level of customer care and service
-give an example of dealing with difficult and aggressive people
-give an example of working with people from different backgrounds
-give an example of a project you had to complete and the obstacles you had to overcome
-give an example of a safety-related task that you have had to perform

 

[JAMBO]

Heard the internals have all been invited back for the interview, so there's a large chunk of the jobs gone,they should get to the depot there based too.

 

[Beveridges]

How's everyone's assessments been this week ? Hope they've gone well.

Doing my preparation for thge CBI and got the 'how to become' book and they've got a few others questions they say might be in the CBI

Has anyone who's been to the assessment had any of the following ?

-give an example where you’ve had to work under pressure
-give an example where you've had to communicate an important message
-give an example where you've had to work as part of a team (to achieve a task)
-give an example of a role that you've had that relates to the role of train driver
-give an example of when you provided high level of customer care and service
-give an example of dealing with difficult and aggressive people
-give an example of working with people from different backgrounds
-give an example of a project you had to complete and the obstacles you had to overcome
-give an example of a safety-related task that you have had to perform

No to all of them

 

[TDK]

How's everyone's assessments been this week ? Hope they've gone well.

Doing my preparation for thge CBI and got the 'how to become' book and they've got a few others questions they say might be in the CBI

Has anyone who's been to the assessment had any of the following ?

-give an example where you’ve had to work under pressure
-give an example where you've had to communicate an important message
-give an example where you've had to work as part of a team (to achieve a task)
-give an example of a role that you've had that relates to the role of train driver
-give an example of when you provided high level of customer care and service
-give an example of dealing with difficult and aggressive people
-give an example of working with people from different backgrounds
-give an example of a project you had to complete and the obstacles you had to overcome
-give an example of a safety-related task that you have had to perform

Only part of a small team.

 

[SouthernAccent]

Hi, I was wondering if anybody knows how to download the DTG (Reactions Test) from the website by Kris Mason? Require a Username and Password to access it.

Does anybody else have the practice software they have a link to?

Thanks.

SA

 

[choochoochoo]

thanks

was going to be a long weekend if i was going to have to write out 3 examples for all of those as well as the standard 5.

 

[Lincoln_biker]

thanks

was going to be a long weekend if i was going to have to write out 3 examples for all of those as well as the standard 5.

I used the "How 2 Become" book for some guidance and came up with a few scenarios for every question that you've mentioned. One of my answers in my CBI didn't fit quite right so I had an immediate alternative that the interviewer was more than happy to cross examine me on instead. A poorly prepared candidate will stand out a mile in my experience. I'll find out in due course if my preparation was sufficient though... The 6 P's n'all that!! LB

 

[at60]

I did my final prep in the hotel, the night before, & still had to change one of my examples ! I'm hoping my examples were strong enough, but it was a tough 90 minutes whatever.

 

[NI 271]

I used the "How 2 Become" book for some guidance and came up with a few scenarios for every question that you've mentioned. One of my answers in my CBI didn't fit quite right so I had an immediate alternative that the interviewer was more than happy to cross examine me on instead. A poorly prepared candidate will stand out a mile in my experience. I'll find out in due course if my preparation was sufficient though... The 6 P's n'all that!! LB

This.

I did my final prep in the hotel, the night before, & still had to change one of my examples ! I'm hoping my examples were strong enough, but it was a tough 90 minutes whatever.

And this. I was told to expect a phone call in 5-7 days. It's been 9 so far, probably not a good sign, although I was the first in for stage 2 and I am mindful of how slow railway recruitment works.

JAMBO's post does leave me concerned, however.

 

[NinjaJihad]

Yeah Jambo's post is a little disheartening. I have no problem with the internals getting a job ahead of externals, that's to be expected. The concern is the amount of internals that sat the assessment, I think there were 8 or 9 in my session alone.

Have to imagine a large chunk of the roles have gone.

Hope those who have had the CBI have some good news soon. Don't want anyone to 'lose a life' at this stage. I'm still trying to come up with extra examples to the 5 questions, concentrating a lot on CBI, have been neglecting the Bop-it recently!!

 

[at60]

Hello chaps, 4 weeks worth of stage 2, 3 people a day, so 60 of us are at stage 2. Anyone with me Tuesday? Does anyone know how many trainees flhh are after?

There were 12 at our stage 2 testing ……

 

[Lincoln_biker]

Yeah Jambo's post is a little disheartening. I have no problem with the internals getting a job ahead of externals, that's to be expected. The concern is the amount of internals that sat the assessment, I think there were 8 or 9 in my session alone.

Have to imagine a large chunk of the roles have gone.

Hope those who have had the CBI have some good news soon. Don't want anyone to 'lose a life' at this stage. I'm still trying to come up with extra examples to the 5 questions, concentrating a lot on CBI, have been neglecting the Bop-it recently!!

Don't count your chickens before they're hatched! Once through the CBI, there's the DM interview to contend with. Just because someone is from a railway background doesn't necessarily make them a better candidate. There's guys I've come into contact with that have been my field for years and they're very set in their ways. An outsider can be a blank canvas with no preconceptions that a company can mould into their own image.