Train managers interview for SB rail

[Steph2464]

Hi

I have got my train managers interview for SB Rail based in Guide Bridge, Manchester.
I have researched the company but still feel as though I'm not fully prepared for the interview.

I have looked at a lot of train managers interviews but a lot of the sample questions are passenger numbers, stations called at etc. As th job is tamper driver I'm unsure whether they'd ask such questions.

I was wondering if anyone had any experience of working at Swietelsky, and if they had any advice for the interview please.

Thanks very much

 

[185]

(For anyone who hasn't heard of them SB Rail is the new name for Babcock)

 

[Steph2464]

Yes sorry Swietelsky Babcock is the subsidiary of Swietelsky. SB Rail is based in the UK. Thanks 185

 

[357]

I think for this type of job you'll be asked questions very similar to a driver's interview.

Just remember to prioritise safety over any schedule or deadline. That's where many people I know fell down at interview stage.

 

[Steph2464]

I think for this type of job you'll be asked questions very similar to a driver's interview.

Just remember to prioritise safety over any schedule or deadline. That's where many people I know fell down at interview stage.

Thank you 357.

 

[Thedispatcher]

Train Manager is GBRf’s parlance for Driver, so I imagine SB Rail are the same. As mentioned above, it’ll be questions relating to driving the train. Probably best to check the Becoming a Train Driver thread. As a tamper driver, you’ll most likely work within engineering possessions, so that will be worth bearing in mind.

 

[Efini92]

Is this a trainee job?

 

[Steph2464]

Is this a trainee job?

It is yes

Train Manager is GBRf’s parlance for Driver, so I imagine SB Rail are the same. As mentioned above, it’ll be questions relating to driving the train. Probably best to check the Becoming a Train Driver thread. As a tamper driver, you’ll most likely work within engineering possessions, so that will be worth bearing in mind.

Thank you, I'll take a look at that thanks for your help

 

[Matt85]

It’s done through an apprenticeship scheme. 99% night work and periods away from home. They’ll ask you what you know about OTM, what you know about swietelsky etc. Go into it with your eyes open because this isn’t like working for a TOC or FOC. I interviewed for the same position last year, lost out to some guys from an engineering background. There was two managers and a HR rep in my interview. Just read up on the company and the machinery and you’ll be fine!

 

[Steph2464]

It’s done through an apprenticeship scheme. 99% night work and periods away from home. They’ll ask you what you know about OTM, what you know about swietelsky etc. Go into it with your eyes open because this isn’t like working for a TOC or FOC. I interviewed for the same position last year, lost out to some guys from an engineering background. There was two managers and a HR rep in my interview. Just read up on the company and the machinery and you’ll be fine!

Thanks for your reply, that's really helpful. I don't interview well and all the info that ive read the past few weeks just isn't going in.. How long were you in the interview for? Thanks again

 

[Matt85]

Just remembered actually! It was this year. Right as the COVID was kicking in! I was in there about 40 minutes I think. They were all decent people, it wasn’t a grilling or anything. They will ask you about working at night and how you’ll feel about lodging away from home.

 

[357]

I don't interview well... How long were you in the interview for?

I work for a passenger Train Operating Company, and have worked for a few over the years. Interviews tend to be more of "how well will you fit in here", especially if you have already passed the tests.

Think of it more like a conversation about a job rather than an interview.

 

[Steph2464]

Are you going to reapply or apply for another TOC?
All I've revised it that SB rail is a partnership between Swietelsky and Babcock international group. These parent companies are leading rail infrastructure specialists and together own the most advanced on track machines available in the UK. It was founded in 2004 and won National Rails award for operational excellence as well as winning a 7 year contract with National Rail for supplying and maintaining an extensive fleet of on track machines throughout the UK. Am I on the right track? lol

I work for a passenger Train Operating Company, and have worked for a few over the years. Interviews tend to be more of "how well will you fit in here", especially if you have already passed the tests.

Think of it more like a conversation about a job rather than an interview.

I've been practising answers to following questions such as why do you want to become a train driver, what would you bring to the role, what do you know about SB Rail etc, but I just keep stuttering forgetting what to say and getting generally frustrated with myself. I'm hoping they will make me feel at ease in the interview and i don't make a total fool of myself haha

 

[357]

I've been practising answers to following questions such as why do you want to become a train driver, what would you bring to the role, what do you know about SB Rail etc, but I just keep stuttering forgetting what to say and getting generally frustrated with myself. I'm hoping they will make me feel at ease in the interview and i don't make a total fool of myself haha

I think only you can make yourself feel at ease. Part of working in a safety critical position like this is the ability to keep calm in situations that cause stress.

I have a document that managers of some TOCs use in interviews that I tried to send you - but it seems the PM facility is not available until you have 10 posts

 

[Steph2464]

Thanks for your reply I think I only need 2 more messages to be able to direct message haha. I will DM you once I'm allowed to. Thank you for your help though

 

[DunfordBridge]

Not really kept up with this thread but how soon is the interview? Also, is the interview the first part or the last part of the recruitment with this company as I was wondering if you had already done the assessments and the MMI (Multimodal Interview)? Different companies may do the interviews in a different order.

I have a document that managers of some TOCs use in interviews that I tried to send you - but it seems the PM facility is not available until you have 10 posts

I think if you click on her avatar, a button should appear on the right saying 'Start Conversation'.

 

[Steph2464]

Not really kept up with this thread but how soon is the interview? Also, is the interview the first part or the last part of the recruitment with this company as I was wondering if you had already done the assessments and the MMI (Multimodal Interview)? Different companies may do the interviews in a different order.



I think if you click on her avatar, a button should appear on the right saying 'Start Conversation'.

Hiya my interview is tomorrow!! I've spent the last 2 weeks trying to prepare for it, maybe it's last minute nerves thinking I'm not prepared enough.. I had pysometric testing first, failed on the hand -eye coordination, then got a phone call 6 months later and asked to come and retake the test I failed on. I went to Watford OPC they paid for the hotel so I was well rested the night before. I re-took my final test and passed. Then got given a sheet of paper with questions such as name a time you had to work under pressure, name a time you resolved a conflict etc I filled out the answers and then waited about half an hour and was asked into the interview room for the MMI.. It took just over an hour but was relaxed enough as I already knew the answers to the questions she asked but was just pressed abit more on them. I got a phone call the following day to say I'd passed and then given an interview date for my DMI which changed 3 times, and now I'm going tomorrow morning for the DMI

 

[DunfordBridge]

Beginning to wish I had applied for this company myself. Did you fail completely on the first time on the co-ordination test or was it simply that they had an enhanced standard which you had to meet? Some companies set their own standard higher than the national standard for the tests. Good luck!

 

[Steph2464]

They didn't say to which standard I'd met just that I failed the Hand coord test.. Didn't expect to get a call back to be honest thought id have to reapply next year so jumped at the chance when she asked me to come and retest

 

[Matt85]

Just a rumour I’ve heard but I believe the tests are changing this year so anyone who has previously failed twice will be able to apply again some time in the future

 

[DunfordBridge]

Then got given a sheet of paper with questions such as name a time you had to work under pressure, name a time you resolved a conflict etc I filled out the answers and then waited about half an hour and was asked into the interview room for the MMI.. It took just over an hour but was relaxed enough as I already knew the answers to the questions she asked but was just pressed abit more on them. I got a phone call the following day to say I'd passed and then given an interview date for my DMI which changed 3 times, and now I'm going tomorrow morning for the DMI

If you have cracked the MMI, then hopefully the DMI should be plain sailing. If that is not the case tomorrow, do remember that you have got a pass on all the psychometric tests which you can still use with other companies and is valid for 3 to 5 years, depending on the TOC or FOC.

 

[Matt85]

If you have cracked the MMI, then hopefully the DMI should be plain sailing. If that is not the case tomorrow, do remember that you have got a pass on all the psychometric tests which you can still use with other companies and is valid for 3 to 5 years, depending on the TOC or FOC.

Yep, spot on. I didn’t get on with SB and I already had psychometrics to enhanced that I did with freightliner and I started with them last month.You’ve done the hard bit really!

 

[Steph2464]

Yep, spot on. I didn’t get on with SB and I already had psychometrics to enhanced that I did with freightliner and I started with them last month.You’ve done the hard bit really!

Aw well done glad you got on somewhere else!! I’ll let you all know how I get on thanks everyone for your help and advice really kind of you all

Got the phone call today... I passed I have my medical booked for the 9th November and start in January!! Ahhhhh x

 

[Matt85]

Aw well done glad you got on somewhere else!! I’ll let you all know how I get on thanks everyone for your help and advice really kind of you all

Got the phone call today... I passed I have my medical booked for the 9th November and start in January!! Ahhhhh x

Ahhh great stuff!!! Well done! Very had industry to get in so you can be very chuffed with yourself!

 

[Steph2464]

Ahhh great stuff!!! Well done! Very had industry to get in so you can be very chuffed with yourself!

Thanks Matt I really didn’t think I’d pass the psychometric testing so to get this far has absolutely floored me haha. Just the actual training to get through now haha. Have you started yet? If so how u finding it??

 

[Matt85]

Thanks Matt I really didn’t think I’d pass the psychometric testing so to get this far has absolutely floored me haha. Just the actual training to get through now haha. Have you started yet? If so how u finding it??

yeh I shocked myself everytime I got through the assessments and somehow ended up with enhanced standard! I started on 14th September, it’s good, lot of information gets chucked at you but it sinks in. We start our rules and regs next week so it’ll ramp up a bit then. Did they say wether you have to do the Maths, English and IT but?

 

[Steph2464]

yeh I shocked myself everytime I got through the assessments and somehow ended up with enhanced standard! I started on 14th September, it’s good, lot of information gets chucked at you but it sinks in. We start our rules and regs next week so it’ll ramp up a bit then. Did they say wether you have to do the Maths, English and IT but?

No didn’t mention maths and English. Said I have to do my PTS course in Essex then the first 6 weeks in Essex I’m assuming that’s for rules and regs? Have they put you up in accommodation for your course or do you live close by?

 

[Matt85]

The personal track safety only takes a day or two. I live in M28 and my base is in Crewe, all our trainings there so no lodging away. May have to do a week in Southampton at some point for wagon training I think. If they’re going down the apprenticeship route like they said to me you’ll need to do maths and English at lease if you didn’t get A-C at school possibly IT if they just like being annoying like freightliner. So if you got A-C grades, dig your certificates out because it means you don’t have to take the tests! No idea where mine are so I’ve been doing it all week!

 

[Elecman]

Aw well done glad you got on somewhere else!! I’ll let you all know how I get on thanks everyone for your help and advice really kind of you all

Got the phone call today... I passed I have my medical booked for the 9th November and start in January!! Ahhhhh x

Congratulations

 

[Martin93]

Aw well done glad you got on somewhere else!! I’ll let you all know how I get on thanks everyone for your help and advice really kind of you all

Got the phone call today... I passed I have my medical booked for the 9th November and start in January!! Ahhhhh x

Congratulations