Career opportunities and skills needed
Career opportunities
Careers in the bus industry fall into four main areas:
• Passenger services
• Driving
• Operations and service delivery
• Engineering
Passenger services staff are employed to provide information to passengers at depots and bus stations. Usual entry positions include customer services agent or passenger support assistant. Progression from these roles can be into supervisor positions, and further to operational support, such as planning, performance management or marketing and sales. Drivers can be taken on as trainees, where they are given the required training to obtain their passenger carrying vehicle licence and their certificate of professional competence, both of which are required to drive a bus commercially. Operations and service delivery staff ensure the smooth running of bus services, making sure that they are providing enough services and at suitable times. They also have to make sure that enough staff are available and that buses are maintained to provide safe and efficient journeys. Engineering tends to sit as a more separate area of work in the bus industry, although there are opportunities for engineering staff to move quite easily into operations and service delivery roles.
Skills needed
Most employers will look for someone who works well with customers as many of the roles are front facing. A good level of communication, numeracy and literacy are required with a foreign language becoming an increasingly helpful skill. A flexible approach to working is desirable as there may be last minute changes or you may have to cover someone else’s shift.
An awareness of health and safety is useful, however companies will train you in their own health and safety procedures.