I am scheduled for an interview for Freight Conductor. Anyone have any tips on what or what not to say?
Anything stupid.
On a more serious note, I have never interviewed with a railroad, however I can take about interviews in general. Take about the company will benefit from hiring you, never speak negatively about anyone in the interview, show you can be a team player. I am sure there are other things that I cannot remember right now. You might want to look into getting a book or two about interviewing.
Look up the company website and see what’s listed there
Norfolk and Southern. I do not see an “and” between the “Norfolk” and the “Southern” on its website. There is nothing quite like calling the company by the wrong name to reduce your chances of being hired.
Watch for trick questions that are intended to provoke an emotional and not a rational answer. So before answering “NO” or CAN’T or WON’T, quicly think how you can show that you are both friendly and cooperative and still give an answer that won’t get you into future trouble. Like
Well maybe that would work in some situations
I can’t see myself doing that now but in the future the situation should change
Go into that interview with a positive “can do” attitude. CSX really questioned whether I could handle working outside in all weather conditions and working all hours of the day/night. I responded with personal job experiences. Even if you don’t have any a positive attitude will go a long way. And like the others said, do a little research and try to understand what being a RR conductor is all about. You need to fully understand the personal implications of this job and how it will affect your life. By showing that you understand this will go a long way in the interview process.
From someone who actually knows about the NS. First, refer to the company as Norfolk Southern or NS, no “and”. Second arrive at least twenty (20) minutes early for the hiring session. NS is unforgiving about tardiness. They literally lock the doors just before 8:00am. If the doors are locked when you get there they will not let you in, period. So don’t be late.
Be prepared to take written tests. Be prepared to hear about how working on the railroad is a different lifestyle. Be prepared for a diffficult interview with multiple interviewers. Dress reasonably. No jeans. No suits. I would go with business casual. Nice pants and a button up shirt with a collar. Don’t ever let on that trains are your hobby.
LC
LC, you have hit the nail on the head! [#ditto] on everything you said.
Your suggestions and tips work for any job interview. You can be
comfortable in casual work type clothes, but still look very dignified,
competent, and well groomed. And keep a nice, pleasant SMILE on
your face. No frowning or scowling.
LC is right on with a few exceptions… after about a hour they will take a break this is to git rid of the drug user and anyone else who dont really want to work. it may start out at 120 people after 1 hr it will be down to 40 or 50 people and out of that bunch only 20 may be qualified. which pack of people are you in?
they are right about locking the doors. dont be late. and they want team players not know it alls. look like you are interested in what they want to tell you. if your a female they will give you situation for discriminating. its is designed to see if they can afford you. most of all when they ask you why you want a railroad job. what ever you can think of positive will help. not i think it will be a great job. ( if this is your answer you wont be called back) be alert and be a team player and let them know you want a career and you will do great
One thing to consider very carefully once you’ve listened to their presentation, is ,how will it change your lifestyle. I do not work for the railroad, but in reading what other railroaders have said…1. Are you prepared to be on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? You can’t plan anything…because that phone could ring anytime. Do you have, or plan to have a wife and family? You’ll be away alot, and won’t be able to commit to being home for Birthdays and the like…A couple of years ago, an article was written in Trains by someone who had hired on as a Conductor for NS… He resigned after several months because he decided that his time away from his family was too much for him, He also said that for him, Railroading is the best job, with the worst lifestyle. But again, everybody is different, but it is something to put some time and serious thought to. It will not be a 9-5 job at the beginning, the work times will be erratic and unpredictable. Career Railroaders may have their own ideas and opinions to add to this… Dave Williams http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nsaltoonajohnstown
It may (and probably won’t) ever be a 9 to 5 job, you might spend a lifetime answering the phone, taking calls at odd hours. It’s a lot to ask and when you find yourself on a train at midnight on New Year’s Eve or Christmas Eve or on your spouses’ birthday, you have to wonder if you made the right choice. It’s not for everyone, it has been written here many, many times. I believe that if you really want to work for the railroad, you have to know that upfront. I did and I’ve still found it difficult at times.
Still, if you want to get the job, all of the above advice is good, you don’t ever want to be a know-it-all and you want to look like a team player.
From all I read above, it looks like just about any job interview I’ve ever went to. Interviews are meant to be a little tough. Railroads would like to weed out slackers at entry level walking in pretending to be reliable, dedicated, hard working, and conscientious about safety when infact they lack some or all the credentials.
LC hit one important note though (probably others as well) when he said, “Don’t ever let on that trains are your hobby.” This is if you railfan, telling them you are one is not good. Keep it under your hat. Give them what they need to know, tell them what they want to hear, and just be yourself.
Good Luck to You. let us know how everything turns out.
Any experience you have had working outdoors or shiftwork is a good bonus be sure to mention it if they ask.
If you ever worked christmas or missed family holidays be sure to mention that if they ask as well, 24/7, trains don’t stop for Santa.
Thanks for the great advice. I hope my resume will speak for itself, having 20 years in the US Navy as a Loadmaster aboard jet transports. 20 years of being on call 24/7. I have also have had more safety training than most have in a life time. I’ll let you all know how it turned out!
Good. NS loves former military folks. Shows ability to work as a team and follow orders in demanding circumstances. Also, you will find that there is quite a group of NS officials who are VMI grads.
LC
Here is one tip not to forget. The railroads are about the most safety conscious industry in the world. When you are interviewed try to answer with “safety” in mind. Like stories of when you took safety first, or the safest way to complete a job, or found an unsafe condition and corrected it. When I interviewed with CP the first time I tried too hard to sound intellegent and able. I wasn’t hired and I asked why, they told me my answers were good, but not safety-ish enough. The next time I interview my answers were safety this and safety that and I was hired. They really like to hear safety stuff. Being safe is the most important thing!
Oh yah, what ever you say, DO NOT mention you are a railfan!!! Railfans and railroaders are two different things in the mind of a railroad manager. Most managers are old heads and are still very much against the hiring of railfans.
Keeping Railfanning under your hat at the beginning is a good idea. However, NS is fully aware that there are railfans among its ranks…The NS Calendar has pictures snapped by its own employees. Some pics posted on here and other forums are taken by active railroaders…but as far as getting hired, you don’t want to make it appear that a primary interest is Railfanning…Keep that part under your hat. Once you have proven yourself, perhaps some pics under the right circumstances would be appropriate…And of course, you can still railfan on your own time. I have met a number of active railroaders that are also avid railfans…I have met many of them at The Station Inn in Cresson. Many of them have been railfans prior to hiring on, but kept it very low key when interviewed. Dave Williams http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nsaltoonajohnstown
I can tell you first hand that they don’t always lock the doors. With the last NS hiring session I attended, I got there 40 minutes early and dressed nicely. I watched twelve or fifteen people walk in 10 minutes late. Only one or two were dressed for an interview. The others had pants falling off their butt and wore FUBU type clothing and backwards baseball caps. Half of these people were called back up 3 or 4 times because they couldn’t complete the application. Guess what? Most of these people were called to stay for interviews. This ticks me off . I get up at 3am to get there early, wear nice clothes trying to look professional, and they want to interview a bunch of clowns.
This is all pointless, I just felt like venting. Everyone is right about not saying anything about railroad hobbies, that’s a no no.
I was going to add “don’t gripe about your current/former job” but if you were there 20 years you must have liked it. interviewers sometimes ask why you left your previous job…and they want be be sure it wasn’t because you locked horns with team-mates or supervisors