Canadian National Railway Mock Interview

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

Question 10 of 35

Describe your overall experience working around and operating heavy equipment.

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.

When you answer this question, make your answer more conversational in tone by discussing any training you received, troubleshooting you've performed, and any areas of expertise you've earned.

If you have little to no experience working around or operating heavy equipment, that is okay! Canadian National Railway Company is willing to train the right person. Be sure to express your eagerness to learn. You could offer to take some coursework or training before your hire date, which will strengthen your knowledge before you start your new job.

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 have a great deal of experience with equipment for railway work. Some of the heavy equipment I have operated or repaired include (list the equipment you have experience in). For the past three years, I have been the go-to crew member for troubleshooting many of our heavy equipment failures. I am comfortable with anything that has an engine, and if I don't know what to do, I will research until I have the 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.

"Heavy equipment is new to me; however, I am tech savvy, and confident in my ability to learn to troubleshoot the most common pieces of equipment used at Canadian National Railway Company."

Write Your Answer

0 - Character Count

Anonymous Answer

I have extensive experience working around heavy machinery. My family business has been around since the mid-'70s. I learned how to drive a front end loader before a car. Most recently, at IWG, I was responsible for 15 pieces of heavy equipment and trucks.

Rachelle's Feedback

Your experience with a front end loader before a car is memorable - this is an excellent addition! I recommend adding in more detail on the type of heavy equipment you are used to.

Anonymous Answer

Heavy equipment will be a new skill to learn for me. I have worked with many different types of machinery to complete jobs but having the opportunity to learn and broaden my experience in heavy machinery was my main interest in applying for this position. I would eventually like to operate the crane and any other equipment you are willing to teach me.

Rachelle's Feedback

Terrific answer! You sound excited, engaged, and ready to learn new skills. The details you provide further support the idea that you've given this opportunity a lot of thought.

Anonymous Answer

I am very experienced working with and around heavy equipment on the railway I have operated speed swing, spiker, despiker, snow fighter, excavator, loader, tie crane. I am a very good and safe operator.

Amanda's Feedback

It sounds like you have significant experience that can work in your favor. You can give this answer more impact by sharing how many years of experience you have operating heavy equipment. If accurate, you can also emphasize that you've never caused an accident or injury while operating heavy equipment. If you hold any special licensing or certifications for operating machinery you can also provide that information, indicating that you have both the training and experience to operate heavy equipment with confidence.

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

Describe your overall experience working around and operating heavy equipment.

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?