Amtrak's hiring process runs from an online application, through any qualification assessments the position needs and a behavioural panel interview, to a conditional offer, a background check and a drug test. Amtrak says you'll only hear from it if you're selected to move forward.
The details below come from Amtrak's applicant information page and its careers site, linked as we go. Where Amtrak doesn't say something, we say so.
The Amtrak hiring process at a glance
| Step | What happens | What Amtrak says about timing |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Application | Create a profile and apply online at careers.amtrak.com. You get an email confirmation for each job. | Not published |
| 2. Review | Amtrak's employment staff review applications and contact the people selected to move forward. | You only hear back if you're selected |
| 3. Assessments | Some positions require pre-hire qualification assessments. | Not published |
| 4. Panel interview | For most positions, a behavioural interview with a panel. Virtual when applicable. | Not published |
| 5. Offer and checks | A background check and drug test follow a conditional offer. If Amtrak emails you an offer, click its link to complete hiring. | Not published |
| 6. First day | You bring proof of identity and work authorisation. Some positions add post-hire assessments. | Not published |
What is the Amtrak hiring process?
You apply online, Amtrak reviews your application, and if you're selected you may take qualification assessments and a panel interview. Amtrak doesn't publish whether assessments come before or after the interview. A conditional offer comes next, followed by a background check and a drug test, and Amtrak sends the job offer by email.
Applying
- Apply only on careers.amtrak.com. Amtrak says resumes that are mailed, emailed or hand-delivered to Amtrak or an Amtrak employee won't be considered, and resume uploads alone aren't accepted. You complete the online application.
- Check for the confirmation email. Amtrak sends one for every job you apply for. If you don't get it, Amtrak hasn't received your application.
- Track your status by logging in to your candidate profile and selecting Job Management.
- If a recruiter invites you to apply, you still create a profile and apply through the posted job.
- Amtrak never charges. It says its recruiters will never ask for an application fee or money in any form.
Amtrak groups jobs into railroad operations, digital technology, skilled trades, customer service, corporate positions, engineering and mechanical, internships and co-ops, and the Office of Inspector General. It also runs a management trainee programme.
Hearing back
Amtrak says you'll only hear from an Amtrak representative if you're selected to move forward, and recruiters will use the contact details in your profile. If you don't hear back, Amtrak suggests you keep checking its site for new openings.
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Does Amtrak have an assessment?
Some positions do. Amtrak says applicants must pass pre-hire and post-hire qualification assessments that may be required for the position they apply for. It doesn't publish what those assessments contain, how long they take or how they're scored.
Treat question counts and test formats you read elsewhere as unconfirmed, and follow the instructions Amtrak sends you. If an assessment shows you workplace scenarios and asks what you'd do, our guide to situational judgement tests explains how that format works in general.
What is the Amtrak interview like?
For most positions, Amtrak says it uses behavioural interviewing in a panel format, so expect several interviewers and questions about how you handled real situations in past jobs. Amtrak says interviews may be virtual when applicable.
Behavioural questions usually start with "tell me about a time". The STAR method (situation, task, action, result) is a reliable way to structure your answers. Amtrak doesn't publish how long its interviews last or how many panel members you'll meet. It's reasonable to ask the person who schedules your interview.
What happens after the Amtrak interview?
If you're selected, Amtrak makes a conditional offer. You must then complete a background check and a drug test. Amtrak emails the job offer, and you must click the link in it to complete the hiring process.
- Background check. Amtrak says it evaluates criminal history based on the totality of the circumstances. If a conviction is a concern, you can explain the circumstances, provide mitigating evidence or challenge the accuracy of the report.
- Drug testing. Amtrak says you must submit to legally permissible drug testing on a conditional offer and during employment, as appropriate.
- Your first day. Bring acceptable documents proving your identity and your authorisation to work in the US.
- Post-hire assessments may be required for some positions.
Extra requirements for conductors
Conductors in the US must be certified under Federal Railroad Administration rules. Before certifying a conductor, a railroad must confirm they meet the vision and hearing standards in 49 CFR 242.117, which include a test of your ability to recognise railroad signal colours. Amtrak's careers pages don't describe its conductor training.
Common Amtrak interview questions and how to answer them
Amtrak publishes three core values:
- Do the Right Thing: act safely, spend wisely, show integrity, protect the environment and respect others.
- Put Customers First: actively engage, exceed expectations, serve communities, be courteous and helpful, and keep stations and trains clean.
- Excel Together: innovate, create solutions, learn from each other, continuously improve, act with speed and simplicity, and communicate and collaborate.
The questions below are ones to prepare for. Amtrak hasn't published a question list, but each one maps to a value it names.
1. Tell me about yourself.
Keep it to a minute: what you do now, the experience that fits this job, and why you want to work at Amtrak. End on the role.
2. Why do you want to work at Amtrak?
Be specific about the job area: operations, skilled trades, customer service or a corporate team. Tie your answer to one of Amtrak's values, such as serving communities or keeping passengers safe.
3. Tell me about a time you put safety first, even when it slowed you down.
Amtrak lists act safely first under Do the Right Thing. Pick a real example where you followed a procedure or stopped work to fix a hazard, and explain why it mattered.
4. Tell me about a time you dealt with an upset customer.
This tests Put Customers First. Use STAR: what the customer needed, how you stayed courteous, what you did and how it ended.
5. Tell me about a time you went beyond what a customer expected.
Amtrak's principle is to exceed expectations. A small, specific example works better than a vague one: an extra step you took and the difference it made.
6. Tell me about a time you saw a co-worker do something unsafe or against the rules.
This tests integrity and respect for others. Show that you raised it directly or with the right person, and that you stayed respectful while doing it.
7. Tell me about a time you worked with a team to solve a problem.
Excel Together names communicating and collaborating. Explain your part, how you shared information and what the team achieved.
8. Tell me about a time you improved how something was done.
Amtrak asks its people to continuously improve and create solutions. Describe the problem, your idea, how you got others on board and the result.
9. Tell me about a time you had to follow a procedure exactly.
Safety rules matter in railroad and skilled trades work. Give an example where accuracy mattered and explain how you made sure you got it right.
10. Describe a time you had to stay calm under pressure.
Pick a real moment, explain how you prioritised and kept people informed, and give the outcome.
11. How do you feel about working nights, weekends or holidays?
Check the shifts in the job posting first. Be honest about your availability and make sure it matches what you put in your application.
12. Tell me about a time you learned something new quickly.
Learn from each other is an Amtrak principle. Show how you picked up a skill or system and put it to use.
13. Do you have any questions for us?
Ask about training for the role, what the first few months look like and how the team works together.
Our list of behavioural interview questions and our situational interview questions give you more to practise on.
How to prepare for Amtrak's hiring process
- Apply on careers.amtrak.com and check for the confirmation email. No email means the application didn't go through.
- Read the job posting closely, including any assessments it mentions.
- Learn Amtrak's three core values and the principles under each.
- Prepare six to eight STAR stories covering safety, customers, integrity, teamwork, improvement and pressure. A panel may ask several in a row.
- Practise with more than one person listening, ideally in a mock interview, so a panel feels familiar.
- Test your camera and connection in case your interview is virtual.
- Have your identity and work authorisation documents ready for your first day.
- Ignore anyone asking for money. Amtrak says its recruiters never ask for an application fee.
Practising realistic work tasks
Amtrak's panel interviews ask how you handled real situations at work. Cohesyve, which publishes this guide, runs practice job simulations for your role, with a scored report on where you lost marks. It isn't affiliated with Amtrak and doesn't use Amtrak's assessments or questions.
FAQs
How long does the Amtrak hiring process take?
Amtrak doesn't publish a timeline. It says you'll only hear from a representative if you're selected to move forward.
Does Amtrak accept resumes by email?
No. Amtrak says resumes that are mailed, emailed or hand-delivered won't be considered. You must complete the online application.
What kind of interview does Amtrak do?
For most positions, a behavioural interview in a panel format. Amtrak says interviews may be virtual when applicable.
Does Amtrak drug test?
Yes. Amtrak says applicants must submit to legally permissible drug testing on a conditional offer of employment, and during employment as appropriate.
Can I work at Amtrak with a criminal record?
Possibly. Amtrak says it evaluates criminal history based on the totality of the circumstances, and you can explain the circumstances, provide mitigating evidence or challenge the report.
How do I request an accommodation for the Amtrak hiring process?
Amtrak provides an ADA request form for accommodations during the application process.
Sources
Checked 27 October 2026:
- careers.amtrak.com: Applicant information
- careers.amtrak.com: Careers home
- careers.amtrak.com: Values and culture
- Legal Information Institute: 49 CFR 242.117, vision and hearing acuity