"Nothing is guaranteed to go smoothly in the rail transport industry, and any transport job can be unpredictable and requires a great amount of adaptability. I always create 'what-ifs' because I know that plans change quickly, especially where there are multiple decision-makers and safety variables between myself and the delivery. Recently, we had a huge recall of a hazardous product that we were transporting. Our customer was trying to stop the shipment; however, we were unable to turn the shipment around as we had other clients who needed their delivery on time. We made plans with the client for a shipment return, which turned all our work schedules upside down. But if you've done your job right, Plan B is always ready to go. And more often than not, Plan B simply is doing your job fast, planning ahead, and adapting at a moment's notice."

As one of BNSF's HR managers puts it, "Once you come in the door, it's really about how you think and how you can talk about both past work and be presented with a problem that you're experiencing at that company." So, your answer will paint a clearer picture of the type of employee you'll be, how adaptable you are when things don't go according to plan, and how willing you are to go the extra mile when you are needed the most.