Canadian National Railway Mock Interview

Practice 35 CN Railway interview questions covering safety protocols, operational scenarios, and rail industry expertise.

Question 16 of 35

Canadian National Railway Company values problem-solving and troubleshooting skills. Tell me about a time you solved a significant issue in the workplace.

What You Need to Know
Example Answer
Example Answer 2
Community Answers

Rachelle Enns

Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.

The interviewer wants assurances that you're capable of problem-solving, and emotional maturity, while working in a high-pressure or high-stakes environment. Problem-solving and troubleshooting are fundamental requirements in the rail transport industry. Volunteer when you solved a high-stakes issue at work, and the steps you took to follow it through to a positive outcome.

Rachelle Enns

Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.

"Recently, it was clear that our operational and field staff felt taken for granted and disregarded by the corporate office. Not only did they feel devalued due to budget cuts and layoffs, but morale was also low from some issues surrounding our union's collective agreements and recent changes. Rather than just let these feelings fester, I decided to listen to the ops staff and then bridge the gap with corporate and the union. By sitting down and having a conversation, and laying out a more effective way of delegating work, promoting those who worked hard, and helping our operational and field staff to feel more job security; everyone walked out feeling better about the job, situation, and their coworkers."

Rachelle Enns

Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.

"I problem solve quite often at work, primarily with customer resolution. Just yesterday, I worked with a transport customer who was unhappy with a significant delay in their shipment. Through patient communication, I was able to resolve the complaint and create another returning customer."

Write Your Answer

0 - Character Count

Anonymous Answer

I've been on a project where many trades were working in the same area, with minimal communication between them all. We had seven trucks scheduled to haul material to a site, a couple of hours into the haul we were notified that a paving crew needed to shut down the road. I was able to talk with the site superintendent, my customer, and my employees to come up with a safe alternative route on-site and still maintain my customer's needs for material for that day.

Rachelle's Feedback

A very good example of problem solving and troubleshooting! You seem highly confident in your ability to offer recommendations in the workplace.

Previous Question Next Question

35Canadian National Railway Company Interview Questions & Answers

Experience

1.In this role with the Canadian National Railway Company, you will be responsible for the safe and efficient operation of trains and the movement of customer freight from one destination to another. How will you contribute to our reputation for safety.

Behavioral

2.This role with the Canadian National Railway Company requires union membership. How do you feel about being part of a unionized environment?

Experience

3.Explain to me the role of a freight conductor. What do you feel are the top 3 skills a freight conductor at the Canadian National Railway Company should possess?

Experience

4.Explain to me the responsibilities of a train dispatcher. What is the most critical component of a dispatch position?

Leadership

5.Walk me through your experience supervising crews and facilitating schedules or loading and unloading duties.

Knowledge

6.How familiar are you with the FRA (Federal Railroad Administration) and the part they play with Canadian National Railway Company daily operations?

Experience

7.Do you have experience collaborating with dispatchers, yardmasters, engineers and other train crew?

Teamwork

8.At the Canadian National Railway Company, we do everything as a team. Have you ever had difficulty working in a team environment?

Availability

9.Do you have experience working on an on-call basis? Are you willing and able to comply with an on-call schedule?

Experience

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

Ability

11.Working for the Canadian National Railway Company can be physically demanding. Are you able to lift 50-85 pounds, work in confined or enclosed spaces, and spend much of your day bending, kneeling, and climbing?

Behavioral

12.Federal regulations require the Canadian National Railway Company to conduct a series of background checks as well as random testing for drugs and alcohol. Are you able to meet these requirements?

Experience

13.How do you track multiple scheduled trains, destinations, times of arrivals, and departures?

Experience

14.Do you have experience working with trains containing hazardous material or restricted shipments?

Behavioral

15.Which aspect of working within the rail transport industry is most exciting for you?

Experience

16.Canadian National Railway Company values problem-solving and troubleshooting skills. Tell me about a time you solved a significant issue in the workplace.

Experience

17.In the rail transport industry, reaction time is everything. How often do you create alternative scenarios to help you adjust to potential change?

Discovery

18.Have you ever been terminated from a position?

Communication

19.Successful communication between departments is key to success at the Canadian National Railway Company. How do you encourage healthy communication in the workplace?

Experience

20.Your background is not in rail transport. Tell me what skills and characteristics qualify you for this position, regardless of your lack of industry experience.

Behavioral

21.Stress is an every-day presence in the rail transport industry. How do you manage in the most stressful situations?

Availability

22.The Canadian National Railway Company needs reliable team members who can adhere to our schedules. How many days were you unexpectedly absent from work last year?

Behavioral

23.Do you have any concerns about this role, or working for Canadian National Railway Company?

Behavioral

24.How honest are you, on a scale of 1-10?

Behavioral

25.Canadian National Railway Company values team synergy. Tell me about the type of people you enjoy working with.

Behavioral

26.Talk to me about your most recent performance evaluation. Name one area where you exceeded expectations and one growth opportunity.

Behavioral

27.Canadian National Railway Company employees are always busy with critical tasks. Talk to me about what hard work looks like to you.

Behavioral

28.Name for me some specific characteristics that make you a functional problem solver.

Behavioral

29.Canadian National Railway Company aims to offer competitive wages and desirable employee perks. Besides pay, what’s the most critical factor when considering a job offer?

Experience

30.Working in rail transport can be stressful due to high-stakes safety issues and a lot of moving parts. What advice would you give to a colleague who seems to be cracking under pressure?

Leadership

31.Describe when you tried an untested approach to handling a problem.

Behavioral

32.How do you balance life and work?

Behavioral

33.How do you like to spend your spare time?

Behavioral

34.If I were to have a conversation about you with your previous employer, what would they say?

Communication

Canadian National Railway Mock Interview

Canadian National Railway Company values problem-solving and troubleshooting skills. Tell me about a time you solved a significant issue in the workplace.

35Canadian National Railway Company Interview Questions & Answers

1.In this role with the Canadian National Railway Company, you will be responsible for the safe and efficient operation of trains and the movement of customer freight from one destination to another. How will you contribute to our reputation for safety.

2.This role with the Canadian National Railway Company requires union membership. How do you feel about being part of a unionized environment?

3.Explain to me the role of a freight conductor. What do you feel are the top 3 skills a freight conductor at the Canadian National Railway Company should possess?

4.Explain to me the responsibilities of a train dispatcher. What is the most critical component of a dispatch position?

5.Walk me through your experience supervising crews and facilitating schedules or loading and unloading duties.

6.How familiar are you with the FRA (Federal Railroad Administration) and the part they play with Canadian National Railway Company daily operations?

7.Do you have experience collaborating with dispatchers, yardmasters, engineers and other train crew?

8.At the Canadian National Railway Company, we do everything as a team. Have you ever had difficulty working in a team environment?

9.Do you have experience working on an on-call basis? Are you willing and able to comply with an on-call schedule?

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

11.Working for the Canadian National Railway Company can be physically demanding. Are you able to lift 50-85 pounds, work in confined or enclosed spaces, and spend much of your day bending, kneeling, and climbing?

12.Federal regulations require the Canadian National Railway Company to conduct a series of background checks as well as random testing for drugs and alcohol. Are you able to meet these requirements?

13.How do you track multiple scheduled trains, destinations, times of arrivals, and departures?

14.Do you have experience working with trains containing hazardous material or restricted shipments?

15.Which aspect of working within the rail transport industry is most exciting for you?

16.Canadian National Railway Company values problem-solving and troubleshooting skills. Tell me about a time you solved a significant issue in the workplace.

17.In the rail transport industry, reaction time is everything. How often do you create alternative scenarios to help you adjust to potential change?

18.Have you ever been terminated from a position?

19.Successful communication between departments is key to success at the Canadian National Railway Company. How do you encourage healthy communication in the workplace?

20.Your background is not in rail transport. Tell me what skills and characteristics qualify you for this position, regardless of your lack of industry experience.

21.Stress is an every-day presence in the rail transport industry. How do you manage in the most stressful situations?

22.The Canadian National Railway Company needs reliable team members who can adhere to our schedules. How many days were you unexpectedly absent from work last year?

23.Do you have any concerns about this role, or working for Canadian National Railway Company?

24.How honest are you, on a scale of 1-10?

25.Canadian National Railway Company values team synergy. Tell me about the type of people you enjoy working with.

26.Talk to me about your most recent performance evaluation. Name one area where you exceeded expectations and one growth opportunity.

27.Canadian National Railway Company employees are always busy with critical tasks. Talk to me about what hard work looks like to you.

28.Name for me some specific characteristics that make you a functional problem solver.

29.Canadian National Railway Company aims to offer competitive wages and desirable employee perks. Besides pay, what’s the most critical factor when considering a job offer?

30.Working in rail transport can be stressful due to high-stakes safety issues and a lot of moving parts. What advice would you give to a colleague who seems to be cracking under pressure?

31.Describe when you tried an untested approach to handling a problem.

32.How do you balance life and work?

33.How do you like to spend your spare time?

34.If I were to have a conversation about you with your previous employer, what would they say?

35.Why should we hire you?