Queensland Rail

Our Recruitment Process

Due to the ever-changing circumstances with Covid-19, recruitment processes are currently subject to change. The key stages and order of the selection process are outlined below. If invited, you must be able to attend each stage to be considered for the role.

Online Application
The first step is your online application. Your application should include a covering letter and resume that provides information about your professional and educational background demonstrating how you meet the requirements for the role. You should take the time to read and understand the position description and make sure you show that your experience and skills match the role requirements.

Cover Letters
This is your chance to show us why you are the best candidate for the role. You should explain and show how your prior work experience, knowledge, skills and strengths make you the best candidate.
A good cover letter should be no more than one page long; specific to the position; clear and concise in a professional and positive writing tone.

Resume / CV
This is your personal advertisement, your chance to stand out from the other candidates. It should provide a summary of your professional and educational background and skills. Tailor your resume to demonstrate how your skills, knowledge, strengths and work experience match the role you’re applying for. Remove irrelevant detail and demonstrate how your skills match the position.

Your resume should contain the following information:

Contact details: Name, email and postal addresses and contact telephone numbers.
Career Summary: A few sentences describing your work history. For example: I am an enthusiastic and loyal customer service representative with over five years of experience in the rail industry.
Education: Details and dates of your education, training and/or study achievements.
Skills: A few points highlighting your major skills. For example: High level customer service skills including the ability to sensitively
communicate with people from diverse backgrounds.
Employment History: Starting from your most recent position: Job title, company and dates you were employed
For example: Customer Service Attendant; Queensland Rail; Dec 2017 – Sep 2019.
Duties: A few points describing the duties you performed in the role. For example: Greeted and assisted customers at Manly
Station and provided advice on XXX.
References: Two (2) work references.  These referees should be supervisors or individuals who have delegated work to you.

Phone Screen
For some vacancies, you may be required to participate in a phone screen. The phone screen is a short 20-30 minute discussion with one of our Recruitment Advisers, who will also provide you with the details of the recruitment process and anticipated timeframes.

Video Screen
For some vacancies, you may be required to complete an online Video Screen. This is a selection tool we use to help us get to know you better. Shortlisted candidates will receive an email invitation to record a short video answering questions that appear on the screen. If required, the Recruitment Adviser will email you the details of the Video Screen and the deadlines to complete by. Our Video Screen is conducted through an online application called Vieple where you are given a certain amount of time to answer some basic questions.

Psychometric Testing
You may be required to perform a psychometric assessment as part of the recruitment process for a role. If you do, the tests are role specific, but you should expect to be tested in the following areas:

• Cognitive – testing things like your ability to interpret and understand information.
• Psychomotor – testing things like your situational awareness, attention & concentration and your visual coordination.
• Personality – this is an optional tool used to test things like your team focus, initiative and your ability to follow rules.

Assessment Centres   

For some roles (e.g. apprentices, graduates, trainees, porters), you may be invited to attend an Assessment Centre as part of the recruitment process. This is another selection tool that we use to see how candidates behave when performing tasks and when interacting with other people.

Here are some tips to being prepared for an Assessment Centre:

• Be on time and at the right place. Know where to go in advance and arrive with plenty of time to spare.
• Remember you are being assessed. You will be assessed from the moment you arrive in the building until the time you leave.
• Ensure you are groomed and dressed appropriately for the role.
• Be friendly and courteous by introducing yourself to the Queensland Rail team and the other candidates.
• Use good communication skills. Be situationally aware. Don’t cut people off while they are speaking and speak with confidence.
• Use positive body language.  Ensure you represent yourself as being engaged, professional, personable and confident.

Behavioural Interviews                                                                                                                               

It is important we match the right person to the right job.  To help us do this, we use the S.T.A.R interview technique. Behavioural interviewing helps us determine how a candidate will perform their duties based on their prior behavior in the workplace.

To prepare for a behavioural interview you should:

• Ensure you are dressed and groomed for the occasion and act professionally.
• Ensure you arrive on time and have prepared any documentation required.
• Research the business and the role. Take the time to understand the working environment of the business and the role.
• Prepare for questions you are likely to be asked about the role. Questions are usually aligned to the core expectations of a role.
• Structure your responses to a question by describing the situation, what action/s you took and the outcome of the situation.

Pre-employment Health Assessment and Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Screen
A pre-employment health assessment may be required if you have applied for a position that requires you to be meet a certain health standard, such as a Rail Safety Worker role. Queensland Rail pays for this assessment to be conducted by our chosen occupational health provider. This assessment also includes an alcohol and other drugs screening test. A Recruitment Adviser will discuss this process with you prior to being invited to the health assessment.

Unsuccessful Candidates
As an employer of choice, Queensland Rail receives a large volume of applications for each career opportunity and as such, unsuccessful candidates will be notified via email of the outcome. While we appreciate that candidates would like feedback as to why they weren’t shortlisted, unfortunately our team isn’t able to provide individual application feedback for candidates that weren’t successful in obtaining an interview. This is due to the high volume of requests and applications we receive.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for a job with Queensland Rail?
To apply for a position with Queensland Rail, you must apply online at queenslandrail.com.au/careers. Please make sure you complete and submit your application before the closing date.

I currently work at Queensland Rail. How do I apply for a job?

Queensland Rail employees must apply for vacancies via the People Connect solution and not via this career site or Seek using one of the following options: 

1. While at home or on the go at anytime, anywhere using the People Connect Solution on a personal device not connected to the Queensland Rail IT network or LAN. Please note you will need to set up Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) on your account profile. There are two options to do this: 

a) Install the Microsoft Authenticator app on your smartphone. 

b) If your phone does not support the app, or you do not wish to use an app, you can authenticate by either an automated phone call or a 6-digit verification code received via a text message. 

2. While at work signed via the People Connect solution (Single Sign On) using a Queensland Rail corporate device connected to the Queensland Rail IT network or LAN. 

Can I fax, email or post my application to you directly?
Queensland Rail only accepts applications via our website queenslandrail.com.au/careers.

How often are new career opportunities listed on this website?
Queensland Rail regularly posts career opportunities.  For convenience, we recommend you subscribe to receive a free Job Alerts, which will notify you of any future jobs that match you employment preferences. Please visit the Job Alerts section via the Careers menu located at the top of this page for further information.

How long are career opportunities advertised?
Positions are generally advertised either one or two weeks in duration depending on the individual circumstances of the career opportunity. Applications close 11:59pm on the specified date (unless stated otherwise).

Can I apply after the application closing date has expired?
Every effort is given to assess the individual circumstances of each request. Requests to submit a late application should be submitted to qrcareers@qr.com.au for consideration.

Can I apply for more than one career opportunity?
Absolutely. You can apply for any positions that match both your skills and experience.

The system says my email account has already been found. What should I do?
If you get this message it means that the email address is already present within our database. If you have created a previous account but can't remember your password, you can select ‘Forgot your password?’ to help you to log in again.

Please note the below regarding email correspondence:

All email correspondence from us regarding your application will be sent to the email address you entered when you initially submitted your application.

If you change your email address in your profile, you will need to check the original email address you provided when you applied for any correspondence. Your updated email address will automatically be used for any future applications you submit only.

If you entered an incorrect/ incomplete email address in your profile and therefore cannot check the account for emails, you will need to create a new profile with the correct email address and submit a new application for this role by the deadline stated on the job advert.

How do I reset my password as I have forgotten my password?
Click on the link ‘'Forgot your password?'. Your password will be reset and emailed to your nominated email address for you to reset.

Can I amend my application or change my attached documents once submitted?
You are only able to change or amend your application (including document attachments) while your application is in the New Application status. If your application has progressed to any other status you will not be able to change or amend the application.

I have recently completed psychometric and/or psychomotor assessments for a role at Queensland Rail and not met the minimum safety benchmark to proceed. Does this mean I cannot apply for other opportunities with Queensland Rail?
All positions have been individually assessed to determine if, and which, assessments are appropriate. Therefore, the testing you have completed may not apply to a different opportunity. We encourage you to continue to apply for opportunities with Queensland Rail and a member of the recruitment team will be in contact to advise if your previous assessment results will exclude you from a role you applied for. If you wish to apply for a role that requires psychometric testing, you are able to re-sit the testing once you have passed the 6-month waiting period.

I haven’t heard from the Recruitment Adviser. Have they received my application? What step of the recruitment process has recruitment of the position progressed to?
When your application has been successfully completed you will receive an acknowledgement email. You will be contacted by email or phone by a Recruitment Adviser once the position has closed and the recruitment process has commenced.

How do I become a Trainee Driver or Trainee Guard?
In order to be considered for either of these positions, you will need to submit an application when a role is advertised. We do not have regular intakes scheduled for these positions and they can be advertised at any time. Unfortunately, we do not know when the next intake will be. We recommend signing up for Queensland Rail job alerts that way you will receive notifications relating to Queensland Rail’s career opportunities that interest you. Please go to Job Alerts for information on how to set alerts.

Are there any courses / qualifications that can help my application to be a Trainee Driver or Trainee Guard?
As these are Trainee roles, Queensland Rail has a specific training pathway which identifies the range of modules Drivers & Guards need to be competent including theoretical training and practical and competency-based training. This training is tailored and specific to Queensland Rail and in conducted in-house upon the successful appointment into a Trainee Driver or Trainee Guard role.