Canadian National Railway (CN) Wonderlic Test, SJT, Online Assessments & Interview Process Preparation – 2024

What Is Canadian National Railway?

Created in 1918 and serving Canada, the Midwestern, and the Southern United States, Canadian National Railway, CN, is the largest rail network in Canada. Headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, they are Canada’s only transcontinental railway. They span 20,400 miles, from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast. They currently employ about 24,000 people in the United States and Canada. Canadian National Railway was recognized in 2019 as one of Canada’s best diversity employers. With positions available in a number of fields there are career opportunities for people from a wide range of backgrounds. There are new graduate programs, as well as internship opportunities. Canadian National Railway offers its employees benefits including:

• Health and vision care
• Pension and retirement plans
• Stock options
• Wellness programs

What Is the Canadian National Railway Hiring Process?

Application

The Canadian National Railway applications can be found online. To apply, create a profile and password, and select the position you would like to apply for and upload your resume. Canadian National Railway will only accept resumes submitted online. You may apply for as many positions you are qualified for as you would like. Your application status will be shown in your job profile. It may take some time for the status to be updated because of the high number of applications received.

CN Online Assessment Tests

If you are chosen to move on in the hiring process, you will be sent an email link to the online assessment tests. These tests are given to help determine how well job-seekers will fit into the company culture and to help determine their skill level and ability to perform their job duties. There may be some differences based on position, but the test that most applicants can expect to see are:

• The Wonderlic Test – Similar to an IQ test, the Wonderlic Test measures your ability to reason, and problem solve. There are various forms of questions, some math-based, some that require reading interpretation, and others that involve mentally manipulating shapes to solve a problem. This is a timed multiple-choice test.
• Verbal Reasoning Test – This test is given to determine how well you understand written information. It is a multiple-choice test that requires you to read several passages and answer questions based on the information you were given. Learn more about verbal tests.
• Situational Judgement Test (SJT) – To get a sense of how you respond in various scenarios, you will be given a situational judgment test. You will be presented with a situation and must pick the response that most closely reflects how you would act in reality.

• The Ramsey Mechanical Aptitude Test – This test is used to determine your knowledge of basic mechanical concepts. The test is multiple-choice and will consist of basic physics and mechanical questions relating to diagrams and pictures of common objects. These questions may involve concepts like velocity, thermodynamics, force, fluids, and electricity. This test is 36 questions, and you will have 20 minutes to complete as much as you can.

Phone Interview

If all goes well with the assessment tests you may be called for a phone interview. This interview will be with a member of HR and will last about half an hour. They will go over your qualifications, and further clarify the information on your resume. You may also be asked about your availability and desired salary. This is a good time to ask any questions you may have about the position you have applied for and what it entails.

Face To Face/ Panel Interview

If your skills and personality match what they are looking for you will be contacted for further interviews. These may be with a panel or face to face based on the position you applied for. During this interview, you will go more in-depth and focus on behavioral questions. The interviewer will be attempting to get a better picture of how well you will function on the team, and fit into the company culture. Questions like this are best answered using the STAR method (situation, task, action, response). This will help give the interviewer a full picture of how you will perform on the job. Questions you can expect are:

• What drew you to Canadian National Railway?
• What is a challenging situation you faced on the job? How did you resolve it?
• How will you help maintain our companies reputation for safety?

Preparing for the Canadian National Railway Assessments?

To be sure you make it all the way through the hiring process, it is essential that you score well on the online assessment tests. These may seem intimidating, but taking time to prepare yourself, will help you pass them with ease. Take the tests in an area where you will not be distracted, you will want all of your focus to be on the tests. Read the instructions carefully, misreading the directions can lead to mistakes that will drop your scores. Take the time to carefully research Canadian National Railway and their core values. This will help you understand what they’re looking for in an employee and the responses they may find most desirable. Reinforcing your skills in reading comprehension and mathematics will help you be more prepared for the skills-based tests. Taking your time to research and prepare will help you achieve the desired scores on your assessment tests and make it to the end of the hiring process.