My story is obviously familiar to most, yet may be an experience for any new hires. Although, currently, I'm still in the hiring process I do have a few questions at the end.
I applied on-line about mid-March for a conductor position for CN in Kamloops British Columbia. I had to create an on-line profile where i had to download my resume, as well keep track of all the positions I applied for with that company.
About a month later, I received an invitation for a 'screening seminar' scheduled this past Thursday last week.
While attending I noticed the room reserved at a hotel room were filled with about 50+ potential applicants. Mostly men, with a handful of women. Some were young; straight out of high-school to early-30s. Others were middle-aged, wearing their hard labour experience on their sleeve (or a chip on their shoulder). While half presented them with a good degree of professionalism, the other half wore dirty ratty clothes, stained with oils and paints. For the record, I wore a suit and tie, and brought a business satchel to hold my resume with.
The session started out with information about their perks and benefits, then moved to a questionaire about my "willingness" to handle the work environment (that I am able to do all).
Then moved on to the aptitude test. "How many connections/disconnection/forward movements..etc, to make a train with cars A B C and caboose in order?"....I passed, and watch 10 of the 50 people get escorted out of the room because they failed.
After a brief explanation as to why passing that test is important, they started to create schedules throughout the rest of the day for one-on-one personal interviews. Unfortunately they couldn't give 1-on-1's to all that was there, because they only had the one day to do all the interviews and get back to the road. They said they would give those who didn't get any face time a phone interview the next day....Luckly, I scored the 1-on-1 interview.
The personal interview went well; I believed I presented myself well, and used common sense and wisdom well enough to answer some of the scenarios that were asked of me to solve.
After the interview she went into her files and pulled out the sign up sheet for 3 medical exam at three different clinics that were pre-scheduled for the following Monday. Urine test for drugs (clean), eye and body exam (besides a minor surgery 3 years ago, I'm healthy and fit), and a hear test (all good there). Each doctor agreed I'm fit for duty, and those comments were confirmed when "CN's Health officer" called me today to go over the results. They said I am "employable" for CN's standards. However she was very vague as to the what the next step is, or when I'd be informed as to if I get the job or not.
So as I wait (im)patiently for the final word from CN.
-What should I be expecting at this point of the process? What's the next step?
-Does it sound like I might get the job?
-Does not having a friend or family within CN hinder my chances of landing a job?
-Does not having any work experience in this field at all, hinder my chances?
-If the Conductor training program in Edmonton starts on May 15th, how fast and soon should the final decision come?...if at all?
-Is CN (or any other railway company) known for getting a person far into the hiring process, passing each step with gold stars, only to NOT be hired in the end?
also, where in Edmonton do they perform the 7-8 week training program? Do they set you up with room and board? Hotel or Bunk-house? where is that? on their tab or mine? I have friends and family in Edmonton, can they visit and hang out with me?
anyways, thanks for reading this wall o' text. I am very very very excited that I got this far in the process. and any in-site on my questions above would be greatly appreciated.
I applied on-line about mid-March for a conductor position for CN in Kamloops British Columbia. I had to create an on-line profile where i had to download my resume, as well keep track of all the positions I applied for with that company.
About a month later, I received an invitation for a 'screening seminar' scheduled this past Thursday last week.
While attending I noticed the room reserved at a hotel room were filled with about 50+ potential applicants. Mostly men, with a handful of women. Some were young; straight out of high-school to early-30s. Others were middle-aged, wearing their hard labour experience on their sleeve (or a chip on their shoulder). While half presented them with a good degree of professionalism, the other half wore dirty ratty clothes, stained with oils and paints. For the record, I wore a suit and tie, and brought a business satchel to hold my resume with.
The session started out with information about their perks and benefits, then moved to a questionaire about my "willingness" to handle the work environment (that I am able to do all).
Then moved on to the aptitude test. "How many connections/disconnection/forward movements..etc, to make a train with cars A B C and caboose in order?"....I passed, and watch 10 of the 50 people get escorted out of the room because they failed.
After a brief explanation as to why passing that test is important, they started to create schedules throughout the rest of the day for one-on-one personal interviews. Unfortunately they couldn't give 1-on-1's to all that was there, because they only had the one day to do all the interviews and get back to the road. They said they would give those who didn't get any face time a phone interview the next day....Luckly, I scored the 1-on-1 interview.
The personal interview went well; I believed I presented myself well, and used common sense and wisdom well enough to answer some of the scenarios that were asked of me to solve.
After the interview she went into her files and pulled out the sign up sheet for 3 medical exam at three different clinics that were pre-scheduled for the following Monday. Urine test for drugs (clean), eye and body exam (besides a minor surgery 3 years ago, I'm healthy and fit), and a hear test (all good there). Each doctor agreed I'm fit for duty, and those comments were confirmed when "CN's Health officer" called me today to go over the results. They said I am "employable" for CN's standards. However she was very vague as to the what the next step is, or when I'd be informed as to if I get the job or not.
So as I wait (im)patiently for the final word from CN.
-What should I be expecting at this point of the process? What's the next step?
-Does it sound like I might get the job?
-Does not having a friend or family within CN hinder my chances of landing a job?
-Does not having any work experience in this field at all, hinder my chances?
-If the Conductor training program in Edmonton starts on May 15th, how fast and soon should the final decision come?...if at all?
-Is CN (or any other railway company) known for getting a person far into the hiring process, passing each step with gold stars, only to NOT be hired in the end?
also, where in Edmonton do they perform the 7-8 week training program? Do they set you up with room and board? Hotel or Bunk-house? where is that? on their tab or mine? I have friends and family in Edmonton, can they visit and hang out with me?
anyways, thanks for reading this wall o' text. I am very very very excited that I got this far in the process. and any in-site on my questions above would be greatly appreciated.
I GOT HIRED