BNSF Railway Company Mock Interview

Practice 30 BNSF Railway interview questions covering safety protocols, operational scenarios, and rail industry standards.

Question 24 of 30

What does hard work look like to you?

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Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
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Community Answers

Kevin Downey

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 would say that hard work cannot be achieved unless you are motivated to commit to it. You have to be passionate about the work you do, and if it is just about earning a paycheck, then you're gonna burn out fast. For example, at my current job, there just isn't the career advancement opportunity I need. So, I am looking for a job elsewhere. But, I still work hard because I care about the people I work with. Even though that's not enough to keep me there, I care about my work friends, and I'm not gonna do a mediocre job just because I am no longer invested in the company. I also work hard because I have integrity, and believe in doing the right thing. So, hard work means putting your greatest effort in because it's the right thing to do."

Kevin Downey

Your interviewer is trying to assess what your work ethic looks like. Their aim here is to use your answer as a performance indicator, which will help them determine what going above and beyond looks like to you. Additionally, how you answer could provide insights into your leadership potential, and how experienced you truly are.

Kevin Downey

Many of BNSF's job positions state: "At BNSF, we take pride in moving the nation's freight, but that wouldn't be possible without our dedicated team." They also further state there may be future career opportunities with the company for those who follow through with "hard work, the desire to learn, and the ability to develop productive working relationships."

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Anonymous Answer

"My mom would always say, 'the early bird gets the worm,' which I agree with, but I think hard work goes beyond that. Being a hard worker means that you are invested in the goals and targets of your company. You don't leave your job until it's done 100% right. You also don't just leave your job the moment you walk off the site. It's always with you; thinking of ways that you can improve your performance the following day."

Marcie's Feedback

Great! The interviewer will undoubtedly be impressed with your explanation of hard work. Is there a time when you worked hard that you could talk about? You might discuss how it made you feel, accomplishing your goal, and how it benefited the company or your team. An example would personalize your response and make it even more meaningful. Good job!

Anonymous Answer

Hard work to me is coming in before your shift to prepare for your day. Understanding what problems arose before I arrived and how can I assist my team with working through those issues safely and efficiently. Doing everything in my power to prevent accidents and keep my cohorts safe. Oftentimes, I worked overtime to assist with my company's queue to make sure a positive light was shined on my department.

Marcie's Feedback

Awesome! This is a strong answer that shows how dedicated you are to working hard and maintaining a great work ethic. Beyond coming in early and staying late, how do you work hard yet efficiently during the day? You might mention that while you always work hard, you also strive to work smart so you're not just occupying your time with busy work. Excellent job!

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30BNSF Railway Company Interview Questions & Answers

Competency

1.How will you contribute to our reputation for excellence in safety?

Compatibility

2.How do you feel about being part of a unionized environment?

Leadership

3.What leadership experience do you have?

Operational

4.Do you have experience collaborating with the teams of other departments?

Teamwork

5.Have you ever had difficulty working in a team environment?

Adaptability

6.What does your availability look like? Are you open to relocating?

Experience

7.Describe your overall experience working around and operating heavy equipment.

Competency

8.Are you able to lift 50-85 pounds, work in confined or enclosed spaces, and spend much of your day bending, kneeling, and climbing?

Direct

9.Are you willing to undergo a pre-employment medical review and a pre-employment background review?

Organizational

10.How would you approach tracking multiple train schedules; including destinations, times of arrivals, and departures?

Experience

11.Do you have experience working with trains containing hazardous materials?

Compatibility

12.Which aspect of working for the railways excites you most?

Problem Solving

13.Tell me about a time when your problem-solving and troubleshooting skills helped you solve a significant issue in the workplace.

Problem Solving

14.How do you anticipate and plan for last minutes changes or disruptions when they occur?

Performance Based

15.Have you ever been terminated from a position?

Communication

16.What is your approach to ensuring strong communication among your teams and between departments?

Compatibility

17.Tell me the skills and characteristics you feel uniquely qualify you for this position.

Stress

18.How do you maintain your focus in the most stressful situations?

Tough

19.How many days were you unexpectedly absent from work last year?

Ask The Interviewer

20.Do you have any questions or concerns about this role, what it entails, or about working for BNSF Railway?

Compatibility

21.What does honesty and integrity mean to you?

Career Goals

22.Why do you want to work for BNSF Railway?

23.Tell me about the strengths and weaknesses outlined in your most recent performance evaluation.

Diligence

24.What does hard work look like to you?

Problem Solving

25.What would you do if you had to adjust your priorities which would cause you to miss the deadline of what you were working on.

Salary

26.Besides pay, what do you value most when considering a job offer?

Teamwork

27.How do you help your peers manage their stress in high-pressured situations?

Competency

28.Are you familiar with BNSF's vision, values, and four stake holder groups?

29.How do you find balance between your work life and your personal life?

Competency

BNSF Railway Company Mock Interview

What does hard work look like to you?

30BNSF Railway Company Interview Questions & Answers

1.How will you contribute to our reputation for excellence in safety?

2.How do you feel about being part of a unionized environment?

3.What leadership experience do you have?

4.Do you have experience collaborating with the teams of other departments?

5.Have you ever had difficulty working in a team environment?

6.What does your availability look like? Are you open to relocating?

7.Describe your overall experience working around and operating heavy equipment.

8.Are you able to lift 50-85 pounds, work in confined or enclosed spaces, and spend much of your day bending, kneeling, and climbing?

9.Are you willing to undergo a pre-employment medical review and a pre-employment background review?

10.How would you approach tracking multiple train schedules; including destinations, times of arrivals, and departures?

11.Do you have experience working with trains containing hazardous materials?

12.Which aspect of working for the railways excites you most?

13.Tell me about a time when your problem-solving and troubleshooting skills helped you solve a significant issue in the workplace.

14.How do you anticipate and plan for last minutes changes or disruptions when they occur?

15.Have you ever been terminated from a position?

16.What is your approach to ensuring strong communication among your teams and between departments?

17.Tell me the skills and characteristics you feel uniquely qualify you for this position.

18.How do you maintain your focus in the most stressful situations?

19.How many days were you unexpectedly absent from work last year?

20.Do you have any questions or concerns about this role, what it entails, or about working for BNSF Railway?

21.What does honesty and integrity mean to you?

22.Why do you want to work for BNSF Railway?

23.Tell me about the strengths and weaknesses outlined in your most recent performance evaluation.

24.What does hard work look like to you?

25.What would you do if you had to adjust your priorities which would cause you to miss the deadline of what you were working on.

26.Besides pay, what do you value most when considering a job offer?

27.How do you help your peers manage their stress in high-pressured situations?

28.Are you familiar with BNSF's vision, values, and four stake holder groups?

29.How do you find balance between your work life and your personal life?

30.How up to date do you tend to be with what's going on in the industry?