Deutsche Bahn (DB) Psychometric Tests, Recruitment Process & Interviews Online Preparation – 2024
What Is Deutsche Bahn?
Berlin-based Deutsche Bahn is a German railway company that is the second-largest transport company in the world, after Deutsche Post (DHL). It provides passenger transportation services both locally as DB Regio, and long-distance as DB Fernvekehr, as well as freight services under the name DB Cargo. These services are offered under 3 different company names, with a fourth subsidiary company, DB Netz, that operates large portions of the railway infrastructure in Germany.
To encourage employees to remain with the company long-term and promote a healthy work-life balance, Deutsche Bahn offers its employees a number of competitive benefits.
These benefits include:
Health and dental coverage
Company pension plan
Family support centres
Travel discounts
Supplementary unpaid leave
What Is Deutsche Bahn’s Hiring Process?
If you are interested in a position with Deutsche Bahn start your search on their website. You can search for opportunities both in Germany and internationally. Deutsche Bahn offers job opportunities in Europe, the Middle East, South America, Canada, and Asia. Positions located in Germany will be listed in German. You can set your filters to include only graduate and student positions, or jobs for experienced hires.
To apply, you will need to create an applicant profile. Upload your CV and resume and fill out the application form. If there are no jobs that match your qualifications available, you can set up alerts so you can be notified if an opening becomes available.
Applicants who seem like they will be a good fit will be asked to take an online assessment test. In addition to the psychological tests that are required for train operators, Deutsche Bahn uses the Cut-e tests developed by Aon, the Eligo tests and the Korn Ferry tests (Talent Q). These tests are used to narrow the applicants down to those who show the best chance of success.
Job-seekers who score well on the test will be invited to interview. Interviews may be conducted either online or in person.
Deutsche Bahn’s Online Tests
Those who are applying for positions as train operators will be required to take a psychological test as well as a train driving aptitude test. Applicants for other positions will also be asked to take assessment tests. These tests will be tailored to measure the skills you will need for the position.
Train operating tests focus on situational judgment and decision-making. These tests have a strong psychological component since train operation can be mentally taxing.
Deutsche Bahn uses psychometric tests of few test providers. These tests are designed to test specific job-relevant skills, so the exact tests given will vary by position. Many applicants will be required to take the Mechanical reasoning test. Like almost all job tests, the mechanical reasoning test is multiple choice and timed. You will have around 12 minutes to complete the 24 tasks on the test. The questions will all take the form of graphics which you will need to have a basic mechanical understanding to solve.
How to Prepare for Deutsche Bahn’s Assessment?
Lack of preparation can result in undesirable test scores. To achieve a high score and outshine the competition you will need to prepare the assessment tests. The job descriptions will list necessary skills, which should give you an idea of the areas you will need to study. If you know your position is likely to require a mechanical reasoning exam, focus on physics and mechanical principles. Motion, circuits, force, pulleys, gears, and levers are all examples of topics that are typically found on a mechanical reasoning test. Websites that help explain physics, flashcards to review the principles, and carefully studying diagrams so you can understand the way things work, will all benefit you when studying for the pre-hire assessment.
Train operators have an extra tool when it comes to preparing. Due to poor performance in previous years, Deutsche Bahn has worked to develop a resource to help operator and dispatch applicants prepare. Working with Games for Business they have developed a training platform that functions as an online game to allow applicants to practice and help you understand the process.