Northern Trainee Conductor - General Discussion

[AMD]

Someone gave me good advice to answering the questions thinking of STAR - Situation Task Action Result

Also STARR - Situation Task Action Result Reflection
You will normally get asked about a time when you've had to deal with a difficult or challenging situation or issue, and it's good to also talk about what you thought afterwards, eg if there would be something you would do differently next time.

 

[Newrails]

Hello all. I'm due to start my conductor apprenticeship with Northern in October. Just found out that I have to complete a Level 1 functional skills maths assessment. My maths is not the best. What would happen if I did not manage to pass this or a resit? Would it be possible that I would be dismissed, even though I had successfully completed all other aspects of the course?

Any input would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[SuperS16v]

I’ve heard technically the apprenticeships are separate to the course you are one. In other words if you fail the apprenticiship it will not affect your job.

Again from what I’ve heard you get alot of support on the functional skills week to the point you won’t fail anyway.

 

[REO Nate]

It’s just an assessment of where you are at, so they then know what support (if any) you need. You will do functional skills as part of your apprenticeship and that includes maths and English tuition; without that assessment they wouldn’t know where to start. It won’t be used in any kind of dismissal and is purely a support mechanism. In your induction training you’ll probably have a talk with the apprenticeship team who will explain this in more depth.

 

[transportphoto]

Jonners00,

Is there a way to Private message you?

Welcome to the forum - new members can’t access the private messaging function straight away. We encourage conversation on the open forum as far as is possible. Have you any general questions we may be able to assist with?

Mod Note - I’ve just tweaked this thread slightly to become a more general Northern Trainee Conductor discussion with the view to merge another thread into this to keep everything together

 

[jayc_ncl]

HI

I have a telephone interview for Northern Rail coming up, for Trainee Conductor?

Does anyone have any hints or tips kf what questions to expect?

Sorry to bump
Its 15 minute and its 1st step in process

 

[DriftingAway]

HI

I have a telephone interview for Northern Rail coming up, for Trainee Conductor?

Does anyone have any hints or tips kf what questions to expect?

Sorry to bump
Its 15 minute and its 1st step in process

Hi there,

I had mine last week. It's pretty informal but make sure you research. Questions like 'why do you want to work here?' 'What do you know about Northern?' 'Explain a time you went above and beyond for a customer.' 'How do you deal with angry customers.'

I had all of my answers written down and laid out to questions I thought would get asked and just read them off the page.

Make sure you research the company.

 

[nolypops83]

Hi there,

I had mine last week. It's pretty informal but make sure you research. Questions like 'why do you want to work here?' 'What do you know about Northern?' 'Explain a time you went above and beyond for a customer.' 'How do you deal with angry customers.'

I had all of my answers written down and laid out to questions I thought would get asked and just read them off the page.

Make sure you research the company.

Sounds like they are doing part of the f2f interview but over the phone. I guess it's to filter out people who don't have good answers for the more straightforward questions and then they can go into more detailed questions at the interview.

 

[Mark8par]

Good afternoon, I have been looking to change my career at the age of 52 and have been looking into working as a conductor for Northern. I would really appreciate if someone could give me some advice on the application as it's been quite a few years since I have applied for a job and I am not familiar with the types of questions. I dont want to sound a bit thick but the questions ask you to use the star method and I have familiarised myself with how this works but they are asking for 500 to 1000 words on each question which seems quite a lot for what they are asking, it might just be me and I am not as bright as I though I was lol.

The questions are as follows,
1. Tell me about a time when you had to resolve a misunderstanding with a colleague, classmate, or customer. How did you communicate to clarify the situation and reach a resolution?

2. Tell me about a situation where you had to stay calm and think clearly in an emergency or stressful situation. How did you ensure the safety of yourself and others?

3. Tell me about a time when you had to balance multiple responsibilities or deal with unexpected changes. How did you manage your time and stay resilient under pressure?

I also read the you should be no more that 45 minutes away from the station and I have checked this on goggle maps and to leave my house at 8am and it states it will take 45 minute - 1 hour 20 depending on traffic, so I am not sure if this would rule me out, there is a closer station but I have not seen any positions become available.

Thanks in advance
Mark

 

[LCC106]

So tell them about the situation. The task, the action you took and the result. Maybe also include if you might do things differently in the same situation in future. You need to demonstrate transferable skills and a culture of safety and customer service / helping someone, staying calm under pressure etc. Hope this helps a little.

 

[Ducatist4]

I believe they check the travel time at various times during the day.

 

[transportphoto]

Sit down with each of the questions. Can you think of scenarios you’ve come across in life which might fit the bill? They could be fairly trivial, they don’t need to be too complicated.

Break each of those scenarios down into the small details. Build those details into the STAR structure.

Once you’ve got the application in, keep thinking. Your interview will be competency based asking questions along these lines.

Do you know someone who could coach you with something like this?

Good luck!

 

[REO Nate]

Good afternoon, I have been looking to change my career at the age of 52 and have been looking into working as a conductor for Northern. I would really appreciate if someone could give me some advice on the application as it's been quite a few years since I have applied for a job and I am not familiar with the types of questions. I dont want to sound a bit thick but the questions ask you to use the star method and I have familiarised myself with how this works but they are asking for 500 to 1000 words on each question which seems quite a lot for what they are asking, it might just be me and I am not as bright as I though I was lol.

The questions are as follows,
1. Tell me about a time when you had to resolve a misunderstanding with a colleague, classmate, or customer. How did you communicate to clarify the situation and reach a resolution?

2. Tell me about a situation where you had to stay calm and think clearly in an emergency or stressful situation. How did you ensure the safety of yourself and others?

3. Tell me about a time when you had to balance multiple responsibilities or deal with unexpected changes. How did you manage your time and stay resilient under pressure?

I also read the you should be no more that 45 minutes away from the station and I have checked this on goggle maps and to leave my house at 8am and it states it will take 45 minute - 1 hour 20 depending on traffic, so I am not sure if this would rule me out, there is a closer station but I have not seen any positions become available.

Thanks in advance
Mark

Have a look at Youtube, for interview prep, someone like CareerVidz. They show you how you break down questions and then answer using the STAR or CARL methods. Whilst they are interview prep tools, they equally apply to writing an initial competency based application. If I was being asked to provided between 500-1000 words, then I would be typing as much detail as possible and filling those boxes on the application.

 

[12LDA28C]

I believe they check the travel time at various times during the day.

Travel time should be checked at the busiest times of day, i.e. morning / evening peak. It's no good claiming you can get to work in 45 minutes for an 0400 start if it will take you double that at 0900.

 

[LowLevel]

Make sure you focus on you and what you did too - except for the obvious whereby team working etc may come into it, they want to know about you, not other people.

 

[callumreecepl]

Hello,

On the Northern Careers site, it says that their face to face interview for a Trainee Train Conductor will consist of the following:

- A group assessment

- A role playing exercise

- STAR questions

I am already preparing STAR answers in word documents to look over before I go, but with regards to everything else, has anyone recently done an interview? Anyone who has, let me know!

Kind regards, Callum.

 

[Alfpp]

How did you both get on?

 

[nwsouth]

Just had my telephone interview and passed onto the next stage which seems to be a group interview .anyone else in a similar position?

 

[Alfpp]

Just had my telephone interview and passed onto the next stage which seems to be a group interview .anyone else in a similar position?

How was it? Was there loads of questions & what sort of questions?

 

[nwsouth]

How was it? Was there loads of questions & what sort of questions?

It was good ,basic questions about availability to work shifts with early starts late finishes and how you would get there .

Questions about what you know about northern and what you can bring to the role.

All in all it was a kind of informal interview but with fact finding to see if you've just randomly applied or if you've been looking to join for a while .

I'm guessing you have one coming up ?

 

[Alfpp]

It was good ,basic questions about availability to work shifts with early starts late finishes and how you would get there .

Questions about what you know about northern and what you can bring to the role.

All in all it was a kind of informal interview but with fact finding to see if you've just randomly applied or if you've been looking to join for a while .

I'm guessing you have one coming up ?

That’s not bad then, well I’m hoping so I’ve applied so it’s just waiting to hear back now, hopefully with good news.

 

[nwsouth]

That’s not bad then, well I’m hoping so I’ve applied so it’s just waiting to hear back now, hopefully with good news.

What area did you apply for?

 

[Alfpp]

What area did you apply for?

Leeds, how about yourself?

 

[nwsouth]

Leeds, how about yourself?

Liverpool pal,maybe they are doing it by area so fingers crossed for you.

 

[Alfpp]

Liverpool pal,maybe they are doing it by area so fingers crossed for you.

Cheers pal appreciate it. Let me know how it goes at your group interview.

 

[France]

Hi. I've got a telephone interview soon. Any tips or advice on what might be asked? Thanks

 

[transportphoto]

Hi. I've got a telephone interview soon. Any tips or advice on what might be asked? Thanks

Hi @France,

Welcome to the forum - I’ve assumed that your telephone interview is with Northern based on your location. As such, I’ve pulled your post over to this existing thread

TP

 

[nwsouth]

Hi, how did the interview go I know it's probably been and gone but I was interviewed for Northern last year and got the job as conductor if you have any questions.

How are you finding your role as a conductor?

 

[Dan16]

Hey,

For the interview assessment day.. does Anyone know what’s involved in the Group task stage part please?

Cheers in advance

 

[Kieran1990]

Hey,

For the interview assessment day.. does Anyone know what’s involved in the Group task stage part please?

Cheers in advance

Hi,

I attended mine 2 weeks ago, I passed with the medical Friday coning, start date 19th May.

It’s a really nice day start to finish
2 group activities one is on marketing and the other is a set of issues which needed to be prioritied
Then a break (those who haven’t passed first stage get sent home)
Then 1:1 interview with a role play element as well