Why do you want to work for BNSF Railway?
Whether new to the industry or not, your interviewer wants to know why you want to specifically work for them over one of their competitors. Even though BNSF is the largest railroad in the U.S., Union Pacific comes in at a close second, followed by eight other primary competitors. Your interviewer is curious about what your goals and motivators are for pursuing this opportunity. How you answer could potentially provide insights into whether you are the right fit for this position and which of their recruitment efforts were the most successful.
The employee reviews on Glassdoor vary widely depending on the company department and position. Start by checking out the multitude of awards the company has recently won, from being rated as "2024 Best Places To Work," to its multitude of diversity, equality, and inclusion awards, among others. Comb through their websites and familiarize yourself with their other value propositions in their pursuit of attracting the right talent. "Embrace the journey. There are uncharted paths to be taken. Each of us has a role in our future. We are dedicated to hiring top talent and helping that talent grow to meet their career aspirations. We pride ourselves on promoting from within. We pride ourselves on the talent and diversity that our employees bring to BNSF. We hire the best, keep them engaged, empower them to do what's right and invest in their professional development and well-being. BNSF team members drive the railroad's success."
"My parents worked for the company back when it was Santa Fe Railways, and my siblings and I kind of grew up in it as well. But, when I got out of college, I wanted to travel abroad, so got a job in logistics with A.P. Moller - Maersk AS, based out of London. But, recently some events have unfolded which required me to relocate back to the States, and I decided to revisit the idea of continuing the legacy of rail workers in the family. This, of course, led me back to BNSF. Discovering that it was awarded the distinction of Best Places To Work and that the company invests in the professional development of its staff was also very encouraging, especially since in some small regard, I'd be restarting my career in a new industry, even though most of my skills are transferable to this position."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I love working with positive and reliable people. Having dedicated people on your team will help with work efficiency and safety. A happy workplace is a safe workplace. I am my brother and sister's keeper, this is why workplace synergy is key.
Marcie's Feedback
It's great that you enjoy working with people who are positive and reliable. Have you worked with people like this before in the past who you could talk about to further personalize your response? Are you yourself positive and reliable? If so, remind the interviewer of this, and discuss why you value these traits so much in others. Good job!
Anonymous Answer
Company culture and team harmony are essential topics for BNSF Railway Company. First, these factors directly impact employee retention. Second, happy environments are proven to be safer, overall.
Talk to the interviewer about the types of colleagues that you most appreciate working alongside. Keep your answer positive and avoid speaking poorly of someone from the past.
Traits you might like to see in your colleagues could include positive, encouraging, reliable, conversational, collaborative, or passionate.
"I enjoy working with individuals who work hard and love what they do. Being surrounded by those who value safety makes me feel great. Also, I appreciate those who are reliable and show up when and where expected."
Marcie's Feedback
The above advice is on point! If you've worked with a great team in the past, be sure to mention it and what you liked about the team members. Mention the qualities you like to see in your team members and why. Emphasize that you yourself possess these qualities too.
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