What Transport for London looks for in candidates

TfL runs London's Underground, buses, and wider transport network, and its hiring spans genuinely different roles, from customer-facing station staff to engineering, planning, and corporate functions. Across all of these, interviewers look for a strong sense of public service and safety awareness, given how directly TfL's work affects the daily lives of millions of Londoners and visitors.

Common questions and how to answer them

"Why do you want to work for TfL?" Reference the genuine public-service scale of the role and, ideally, something specific to the part of TfL you are applying to (Underground, buses, planning, or engineering). "How would you handle a safety incident or emergency situation calmly?" This applies heavily to customer-facing and operational roles, so show a structured, calm, procedure-following approach. "Tell me about a time you provided good service to a member of the public under pressure." Any genuine example of composed public-facing service under time or crowd pressure works well.

How to prepare

Research the specific part of TfL you are applying to, since customer service, engineering, and planning roles involve quite different day-to-day realities. Prepare examples showing safety awareness and calm public-facing service, and be ready to speak genuinely about the public-service dimension of transport work in London specifically.

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Frequently asked questions

Does TfL use a values-based or competency-based interview process?
TfL typically uses a competency-based interview structure similar to much of the wider UK public sector, assessing specific behaviours (safety, customer focus, and collaboration are common themes) through STAR-format questions asking for real examples.
What kinds of roles does TfL hire for beyond station staff?
TfL hires extensively for engineering, transport planning, data and technology, customer service, and corporate functions supporting the wider network, not just visible frontline roles. Research the specific directorate relevant to your application.