hey CSX guys!

[Anonymous]

Just recently I took off work to go for a pre-testing session to qualify to go on to train for CSX. I took the reading test and passed. Then got to go take the color blind test, and also passed. I even got to sit down and talk with a train master from that area. Everything seemed to go really well. The problem came days later, when I got back the results from the personality test that I took that day. I failed it. Basically I was told that failing this test meant that I didn't fit the profile of a conductor even though I have been a conductor for a small railroad for the past year. But that's besides the point. What I'm curious about is how they can judge me based on the results a computer gives them. The worst part about all this is I have to wait 6 months before I can retake the test. Six months of senoirity adds up, as does the money I could be making there instead of the extremely low wages I make now. Has anyone else ever failed this test? It is beyond me how you can fail a test like this, but I'm sorta stuck until that 6 months is up. What are your views on this?

[Anonymous]

When I tried out fot the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) they make you take a personality test too.

It was all based on a scale of 1 to 5, and you would go and rate yourself on a bunch of statements.

I enjoy working outdoors
I enjoy working with people
People make me mad when they don't understand
Working with people is important
I am a good communicator

Those kinds of things.. I think it was 150 questions or so.
I don't know about the tests themselves, it seems like they would be easy to manipulate, you just think about being a police office and what is important then fill in the question the way you think it's best......not what your supposed to do, but most people probably do do it that way, therefore the results can't be that acurate??

That's why I think those personality tests can only be as acurate as the person is honest when they fill them out.

[Anonymous]

The one I took was 206 questions. They would ask the same ones several times, just worded a little different. I would always answer them the same. They were all true-false, and went a little something like this:

I often thought about running away from home

Other people's opinions of me are important

I am always the last to leave a party

I would like to skydive

ect. ect.ect.

I was honest with my answers, although they probably don't believe a 23 year old doesn't drink and party. It's a bum deal, but hey, what'ca gonna do?

[pmsteamman]

Blaze,, I work for csx and when i hired out i remember them asking ( like you stated in different ways) have i ever thought about killing someone..now mind you i had JUST finished my 4 years in the military. Im not sure why you may have failed but I can tell you there are some people on this railroad that make me wonder how they ever got this job. I hope the best for you maybe next time tell them a little white lie.

[Anonymous]

Blaze,

I had the opportunity to take that personality test in December. I believe it's called the Hogan Personality Test. I was told by a source to answer the questions the way your mother would want you to answer. The test of course does no justice to the real "you." Basically the test reports if you take risks. Basically you have to go through the test and make yourself sound like Dudley Doo Right. Don't say you like to skydive, party ,etc. i think the main point of this test is just to narrow down the number of applicants more than anything else.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE:
i think the main point of this test is just to narrow down the number of applicants more than anything else.

EXACTLY.

That's really all it is, they get all these application and need some way to narrow it down.

[Anonymous]

Basically I did just that. No drinking, parting, skydiving, or any other risk taking.
Maybe they thought I just answered that way to please them. Either way it's totally bogus and unfair for the ones like myself who are serious about this career and are gonna be there when needed. I did find out that The Hogan Personality Test could be a thing of the past. I was told there has been a lot of talk of doing away with it. Small chance it won't even be there in 6 months.

[Anonymous]

I don't know what the problem is. My job gets a steady diet of new trainees; only a few seemed especially bright; most were about average, while one or two were dumb as boards...future management prospects, no doubt. I don't remember any personality tests at my interview. They were particular that my back was healthy, and I was tested to see if I had anything at all between my ears [it was the era of "tune in, turn on, drop out" after all...]. I didn't realize CSX is so fussy about personality for its transportation employees;; I thought they were delighted to hire anyone who can pass the written test AND the drug test...

[Anonymous]

yeah skeets I agree with you, CSX in Chicago is so desperate that they're taking anyone, and I mean anyone. Supposedly, the city of Chicago just paid for a bunch of welfare people to go to railroad school and work in Barr Yard. These people will probably care less about their job and lay off all the time, and then you have guys like Blaze who are really wanting to work and would make good employees. i guess it's just the way the world works these days....

[Anonymous]

It doesn't make any sense. CSX started requiring new hires to attend a "college course" on railroading before they'd get any consideration for employment. It was thought that if you paid $4000 [actually, more like $6000 after adding in housing, etc.] for school, you'd be less likely to walk out on the railroad later. The problem is, 70% or more of new hires here came from the welfare crowd...they didn't pay anything for the course. The taxpayers paid for it. As a result, they don't have anything invested in this project, so can walk out on the railroad. Uh, we're back where we started.