Your Amtrak interview is an opportunity to share your unique skills and accomplishments with our hiring teams. We encourage you to review the tips to best prepare for a behavioral interview with Amtrak.
Successful virtual interview tips
Your Amtrak interview is an opportunity to share your unique skills and accomplishments with our hiring teams. We encourage you to review the tips to best prepare for a behavioral interview with Amtrak.
What are behavioral based interviews?
The behavioral based interviewing style focuses on how you have dealt with specific workplace situations in the past, which correlate to major competencies that have been identified as critical for an employee to be a high-performer and most successful in the role which you are applying for. Some examples of competencies which could be evaluated are: Safety Focus; Business Results Orientation; Decision-Making; Customer Focus; Decision Making; Financial Acumen; Influence; Organizational Awareness; and more.
This short guide will help you prepare for what you can expect with these types of questions, and how to focus your answers for the most effective, concise response.
Amtrak uses the STAR interview technique
First: Listen carefully to the question and think of a specific example or event that you’d like to describe. Then remember the acronym STAR in formulating your response:
Situation – Describe the situation or event
Task – explain the task(s) that you had to complete
Action – describe the specific actions that you took to complete the task(s)
Result – Close the example with the overall result of your efforts
Behavioral based interviews can feel like a challenge. We recommend preparing yourself before your interview so that you are equipped to recall your best examples in the moment. Here are some helpful tips:
Study the job description. Be prepared for the competencies that will be addressed in the interview.
Review your resume. Think of your major professional accomplishments and major projects that you’ve worked on and write out a list for ease in recall.
Practice the STAR method and interview responses aloud.
Keep your answers under 3 minutes. Be concise with your response, including the most important points and staying on task.
