Canadian National Railway Company Interview Questions
Go Back1. 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?
2. 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?
3. Do you have experience working on an on-call basis? Are you willing and able to comply with an on-call schedule?
4. Talk to me about your most recent performance evaluation. Name one area where you exceeded expectations and one growth opportunity.
5. Stress is an every-day presence in the rail transport industry. How do you manage in the most stressful situations?
6. Do you have any concerns about this role, or working for Canadian National Railway Company?
7. Which aspect of working within the rail transport industry is most exciting for you?
8. How honest are you, on a scale of 1-10?
9. Canadian National Railway Company values team synergy. Tell me about the type of people you enjoy working with.
10. 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?
11. Canadian National Railway Company employees are always busy with critical tasks. Talk to me about what hard work looks like to you.
12. Name for me some specific characteristics that make you a functional problem solver.
13. 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?
14. How do you balance life and work?
15. How do you like to spend your spare time?
16. If I were to have a conversation about you with your previous employer, what would they say?
17. This role with the Canadian National Railway Company requires union membership. How do you feel about being part of a unionized environment?
18. Why should we hire you?
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. Have you ever been terminated from a position?
21. 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.
22. 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.
23. 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?
24. Explain to me the responsibilities of a train dispatcher. What is the most critical component of a dispatch position?
25. 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?
26. Do you have experience collaborating with dispatchers, yardmasters, engineers and other train crew?
27. Describe your overall experience working around and operating heavy equipment.
28. How do you track multiple scheduled trains, destinations, times of arrivals, and departures?
29. Do you have experience working with trains containing hazardous material or restricted shipments?
30. Canadian National Railway Company values problem-solving and troubleshooting skills. Tell me about a time you solved a significant issue in the workplace.
31. In the rail transport industry, reaction time is everything. How often do you create alternative scenarios to help you adjust to potential change?
32. How familiar are you with the FRA (Federal Railroad Administration) and the part they play with Canadian National Railway Company daily operations?
33. Describe when you tried an untested approach to handling a problem.
34. Walk me through your experience supervising crews and facilitating schedules or loading and unloading duties.
35. At the Canadian National Railway Company, we do everything as a team. Have you ever had difficulty working in a team environment?