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Hot Tip -- by Emma Geoghegan
In any city there is a hustle and bustle of people moving with purpose to school, work, yoga classes, etc. Essential to any busy city is, yes; you guessed it, public transportation, and its drivers. Here in Calgary we are seeing its expansion as thousands of people continue to move to this already growing city. This is a hot industry in Calgary right now.
There are a variety of positions you could attain with the city's transit system, ranging from operating and maintaining buses and trains, to behind the scenes positions in planning, administration and accounting. I looked at local opportunities in driving, so for those of you living outside of Calgary, contact your city's human resources department and ask about its recruitment practices.
Approximately half the people hired by Calgary Transit are drivers, aka "operators." I've focused my Hot Tip on this position because it is a great opportunity for young people, 18 years of age or older, as the City of Calgary offers the formal training required for the position.
Operators in Calgary Transit
You can start with the City of Calgary as either a part-time community shuttle operator (a smaller vehicle, approximately the size of a mini-bus) or a full-time transit operator, someone who drives a bus. Individuals who have received training as a transit operator can later obtain LRT certification allowing them to operate trains.
Where to look for work with Calgary Transit
There are two places the City of Calgary advertises. A human resources representative I spoke with stated that most people are recruited through advertisements in the classified section of a local paper. All Calgary Transit positions are posted on the City of Calgary Web site too. I would also encourage you to gain information about this occupation and opportunities that exist in this field is by interviewing someone who works as an operator for the City.
To obtain more detailed information about the application process see the Recruitment section of Calgary Transit's Web site.
What is Calgary Transit looking for in potential operators?
I spoke with Glen Fuchs, a human resources consultant with Calgary Transit (thanks for your help), in regards to what they look for in operators. His initial response was the same as someone we spoke to from a chartered bus company: they have to be able to work with the public! This is essential. Both noted that a large amount of the driver's work is actually focused on assisting customers.
Another important factor is that a potential operator has to be willing to work holidays and split shifts, late at night and/or early in the morning as city transit usually runs from 5:00 a.m. to 1:30 a.m., 365 days a year. In other words, it may mean this occupation will take away from time you would normally spend with family and friends.
Common skills/abilities required:
There are some core skills and abilities that you would need in order to be successful as an operator:
- Customer Service (these skills need to be excellent!)
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Flexibility
- Sound judgement
- High tolerance for stress
Education and training
The training for both entry-level positions is essentially the same, however, the training is separated into two streams, community shuttle operator or transit operator, which defines what vehicle you are allowed to operate.
Operators are required to pass the Class 2 provincial road test during their training and be proficient at operating a bus (having your Class 2 license prior to training would be an asset). Trainees also complete the Calgary Transit air brake course. In all there are 21 days of paid training, which if completed successfully, allows you to work either as a shuttle operator or a transit operator. Click here for detailed information on the training process.
For more information about the work of a transit operator, see Alberta Occupational Profiles. This industry has a growing number of excellent opportunities, check it out!
(Emma Geoghegan is a career counsellor at the Calgary Youth Employment Centre.)
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