Western Railroad Discussion > An example of BNSF's rigorious applicant screening process

A few weeks back amid the crew shortage news I put in a BNSF application just to see what the process was like. I haven't heard back, which isn't a surprise given what I submitted. What was shocking is how comically awful the process was. It seems like the subcontracted the skills test graphics out to 10-year-old. Tell me what other megacorporation with billions to spend would ever have this question and graphic as a part of their applicant screening.

I may not be their ideal applicant, but I am a graphic designer, so it is easy to see how astonishingly lazy this entire training module is. The second image is the closing "completion" graphic. In one minute, I found that cheezy mountain graphic as a stock photo. If I was whoever BNSF paid $10 to make this garbage, I would have just had to crudely paste the BNSF logo (still with a white background!) onto it, and then slap some text around it.

It goes without saying that the screening questions were just as dumb. If there were 100 questions, every 4th question was an iteration of "Following safety rules is: A. BNSF's resposibility. B. An employee's responsibility. C. No one's responsibility." Each time, they were trying to "get you" on thinking that the company could be at fault for an injury.

Enjoy!


 

---

---

---

I don't  get the relevance of the first graphic.  Why even have a gun(starter pistol or not) pointed at woman.

Maybe what will woman hear first, a train horn or a shout?

Bob

That is graphics are definitely cheap and cheesy, but you'd be surprised how many people would get that question wrong.  Having dealt with basic skills / aptitude tests before, the main goal is to weed out the absolute "oxygen waster" before they get too far down the pipeline.

Let us know how the selection process goes.

There's is always discussion about how announcing the truth at job fairs (regular drug testing, always weekend work, furloughs) empties out the room.

Posted from Android

SpecsGTP Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That is graphics are definitely cheap and cheesy,
> but you'd be surprised how many people would get
> that question wrong.  Having dealt with basic
> skills / aptitude tests before, the main goal is
> to weed out the absolute "oxygen waster" before
> they get too far down the pipeline.


I do understand that is their purpose, but that first graphic is so atrocious that it can't be taken seriously. It looks like it was done in Microsoft paint, or like a 4th grader drew it to pass to a friend. What cutrate outfit did BNSF pay pennies to to create something THAT bad? What other company of their size would ever present something like that?

Why is the person committing the crime of shooting a gun at the woman caucasian?   That is racist.   Why are all participants in the "race" caucasian?  That is also racist.   Why is the designer promoting workplace violence?  I'm naturally being sarcastic, so no need for commentary. 



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 06/24/22 07:50 by BurtNorton.

inCHI Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ... Tell me what other megacorporation with billions to spend ...
>
>  

Billions to spend, HAH! This was low-ball, sub-contracted out to the lowest possible bidder in the complete effort to not spend a dime. That's how the RR works.

~ Mr. MRL

Kind of like the IPads we have to do rulebooks, and train paperwork on….WORTHLESS!!!!

Santa Fe

Posted from iPhone

Ha. I still want to know the correct answer to the first slide. I know that sound travels at the same speed regardless but I would think the answer depends on decibels. Too many variables for an accurate answer in my opinion. Am I wrong? I guess I would fail.

Posted from Android

mttrainman1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ha. I still want to know the correct answer to
> the first slide. I know that sound travels at the
> same speed regardless but I would think the
> answer depends on decibels. Too many variables
> for an accurate answer in my opinion. Am I wrong?
> I guess I would fail.

The accurate answer should be "C", according to the instruction provided.

robj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I don't  get the relevance of the first
> graphic.  Why even have a gun(starter pistol or
> not) pointed at woman.
>
> Maybe what will woman hear first, a train horn or
> a shout?
>
> Bob

Agreed.  With all the shootings and violence now, it seems like a very bad choice on BNSF's part to have such a slide.  There are an infinite number of other things that could have been used for this question.

The fact is (and the RR forgot) that the poor woman is deaf.

Did they also ask, which weighs more, a pound of lead or a pound of feathers?

CPR_4000 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Did they also ask, which weighs more, a pound of
> lead or a pound of feathers?
and did they ask why the answer is the pound of feathers?

MrMRL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> inCHI Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > ... Tell me what other megacorporation with
> billions to spend ...
> >
> >  
>
> Billions to spend, HAH! This was low-ball,
> sub-contracted out to the lowest possible bidder
> in the complete effort to not spend a dime. That's
> how the RR works.
>
> ~ Mr. MRL

Pretty much how capitalism works in this country for all companies. I'm surprised BNSF didn't out source it to China.

Posted from Android

CPR_4000 Wrote: > ... which weighs more, a pound of lead or a pound of feathers?

That's easy. It's a pound of bullshit....

needles_sub Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> MrMRL Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > inCHI Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > ... Tell me what other megacorporation with
> > billions to spend ...
> > >
> > >  
> >
> > Billions to spend, HAH! This was low-ball,
> > sub-contracted out to the lowest possible
> bidder
> > in the complete effort to not spend a dime.
> That's
> > how the RR works.
> >
> > ~ Mr. MRL
>
> Pretty much how capitalism works in this country
> for all companies. I'm surprised BNSF didn't out
> source it to China.

How do you know they didn't? Computer Based Training can come from anywhere.

Wouldn't it depend on wind speed and direction, since sound is pressure waves in fluid (air)? 
Secondly, the right hand guy has to holler 200 yards. Unless he's that guy hollering from the upper deck he cant make enough volume (decibels?) to cover a 200 yd distance.
Clarence

I was an engineer. Retired in 2010. I think I'll apply & see what happens. Maybe they'll age discriminate me.

Posted from Android

I can guarantee you the personnel department (AKA Human Resources) minions who are in charge of this probably all have a masters in either “logistics” or an MBA from some PCU west of the Mississippi.

All the rage for these Class One’s don’t you know…

Regards.

Posted from iPhone