Union Pacific Operation Manager interview questions

First thing to prepare yourself with that you do not see in any other hiring event or interview is how many times they try to get you to leave. Not joking. They have done this since the railroad started hiring people a hundred and fifty plus years ago. You will not forget the interview process with this organization. I have gone through and been to both the labor side and management side of hiring events. I will tell you that it is unlike any other organizations hiring process. First, we still use scare tactics… yes at the recruiting events when we should be attracting talent. We tell you that you will be overworked, stressed out, out in the elements (even if hired for an office job or leadership position). Hiring managers tell you about all the time away from home that you will have as both labor and management. A few times they have literally said “If your marriage is not strong do not join.” How this critical issue has never been addressed before by senior management as an area for improvement is beyond me, it is simply accepted as a norm here. After the scare tactics there is a brief oral intro about what the railroad does and how it operates. This is usually another talking point used transition back into a diatribe of how much this organization requires of all employees, labor and management. There are multiple times where they ask you to consider all the perils of this job while you take a break. They even ask you to call your significant other and tell them what you have been told, then ask them if they are ok with these terrible working conditions, long and odd hours, and time spent away from home.