SMRT Interview Questions
& Process

I was contacted in April 2024 for a July 2024 intake. I had a really good call to see if I was a fit, and then we scheduled an interview. However, days later, they cancelled the interview because of a last-minute internal transfer, which is fair enough as internal people should get priority. I followed up weeks later, and it took a couple of days for a response. The HRBP finally told me recruitment was over and an internal person got the job. They became dismissive after that, asking me to stop asking irrelevant questions and telling me the role was filled. I was put off continuing contact. Now, in July 2024, I saw on LinkedIn that an external candidate, fresh from university, got the exact role I applied for in April. I was shocked because I thought I was passed over for an internal candidate, but it turns out it was an external one after all? I'm very disappointed with how I was treated, especially given my past intern experience with the company.

They got back to me pretty fast after I applied and asked if I could interview the next day. The interview itself was pretty chill, with two people interviewing me. They wanted to know what I knew about SMRT’s mascots and also about my skills and experience with the software I’d be using for the internship.

Got shortlisted in about a week. The interview was in person at Kim Chuan Depot for the Train Service Controller role, involving both HR and an interviewer. It was quite relaxed, with the interviewer keen on understanding my personality and passion, plus explaining the job. They asked general stuff like if I could handle shiftwork or the location. It felt more like a job overview than a formal interview. The process was quick and smooth, and I got the offer the next day.

The interviewers from SMRT were late by 10 minutes and I was kept waiting in the waiting room without any notice. There were two senior staff and a HR representative present. They did not turn on their camera and did not introduce themselves. There were audio issues and those in the meeting room didn't seem to hear me, so I had to repeat myself several times. If it started on time and there were proper audio checks done, it might have went better. I could feel that the interviewers were disengaged and the atmosphere was bad even when they did see the merits in me.