BNSF Railway Company Mock Interview
Practice 30 BNSF Railway interview questions covering safety protocols, operational scenarios, and rail industry standards.
Question 18 of 30
How do you maintain your focus in the most stressful situations?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Experienced
What You Need to Know
Community Answers
Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
Your interviewer is curious about how effective you are at managing your stress, and how effectively you're able to stay clear-headed and think on your feet, even in the most stressful situations. For many positions in the rail transport industry, one's success might heavily rely upon one's stress management skills, where perspective, attitude, diligence, and situational observation are constantly at play. Demanding schedules, physically exerting labor, and a need for constant adaptation to changing needs are some of the primary contributors to stress in rail worker jobs. So, your interviewer needs to know whether you are a top performer who manages your stress, or whether you allow your stress to dictate your behavior, attitude, and decision-making.
Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
"I manage stress like a pro. I tend to over-perform in stressful situations. I channel stress on what I call 'urgency energy,' and just work faster and smarter. I prefer to focus on the end goal rather than the small hiccups along the way. I know myself, and my stress triggers pretty well, so I recognize the symptoms of stress right away and they never sneak up on me. Then, if things do peak, I'll set my timer for 2 minutes and take a power break to recalibrate and use breathing techniques to offer a little relief. Then I dive back in, knowing I'll come out better on the other side."
Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
Another benefit of BNSF's Employee Assistance Program is stress management. "We all have some type of stress in our lives. Sometimes the cause is minor and short-lived; other times, it's a long-term issue and quite severe. The stress may stem from a work-related issue or some other part of your life. During difficult times, the BNSF Employee Assistance Program can be a valuable benefit when you need confidential help handling the stresses of life. Keep in mind that for concerns or problems that are strictly job-related, the EAP may help you deal with stress or pressures of the job, but will not intervene in job situations. For example, if you believe a problem is your supervisor's fault, the EAP will not intervene with your supervisor. If you are unsure of the root cause of your problem, however, the EAP can help you look at how you are getting along with people in general, including your supervisor."
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Anonymous Answer
In my current role, I work in a high-stress fast-paced environment. I have adapted to the pressure and I am able to work through it because it drives me to know that I am trusted with a heavy responsibility and to keep my clients safe. I know keeping a level head will solve the problem safely and efficiently.
Marcie's Feedback
It's great that you thrive under pressure and that you have experience working in stressful environments. Can you explain more what makes your current role so stressful and fast-paced? And how exactly do you work through it? Consider talking about a few ways that you alleviate stress (for example, by taking a walk or socializing during your lunch break, working out or listening to music outside of work, etc.) Good job!
Anonymous Answer
"I realize that the rail transport industry is high-stakes, so it's critical that I manage that stress like a pro. Honestly, I tend to work best in stressful situations. For instance, the pressure of delivery deadlines drives me to work faster and smarter. I am resistant to stress because I choose to focus on the end goal rather than the small hiccups along the way."
Marcie's Feedback
Nice! It's great that you thrive in high-pressure environments. The interviewer will be happy to hear this. Do you deal with a lot of stress in your current position that you can talk about? Also, be sure to mention some of the ways you alleviate stress. Do you take a quick walk or socialize with colleagues at lunch to break up the day? Do you listen to music or work out after work? Do you strive to stay organized and use certain tools to keep your stress to a minimum? Talk more about what you do to relieve stress. Good job!
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