Driving a bus always is an immense responsibility, let alone driving a bus where kids are onboard. You are always motivated whenever you’re surrounded by people – the students, their parents and teachers, the school administration, and your colleagues. You get to drive the kids to and from school every day, follow the same route, and enjoy the flexible schedule. Not to mention the fair compensation and comprehensive benefits package that can be at par with those of other professionals.
Most importantly, by driving a school bus every day, you become an important part of a community. Without you and your service, children living in certain areas wouldn’t have the chance to pursue their education.
Since this occupation involves children, driving a school bus entails a huge responsibility, which explains the detailed training a school bus driver goes through. The process of hiring a school bus driver typically begins with an interview, just like with other occupations. The question is, can you succeed in the interview if you don’t have previous experience?
The following lists some of the expected questions in a school bus driver interview:
“Why do you want to work as a school bus driver?”
Do you love to work with people, especially around children? Do you love driving? Are you looking for a part-time job or a full-time job? Or are you looking for extra income?
Before going to the interview, you should be clear on what you’re looking for and why you’re seeking this position. Even if you really want to make some extra income on the side or are looking for substantial work experience, try to express your intentions that show your interest in the job. On the one hand, you enjoy driving and being on the road. On the other hand, you love children and aspire to make a positive impact on a child’s life. Or you want to work in a school environment because you like working with people, and you believe that’s the type of working environment you thrive in.
You should also offer things you can bring on board as a school bus driver, such as being responsible and proactive, having knowledge of the local roads, and having the ability to communicate with the children. On top of that, you have a commercial driver’s license, have relevant experience, and meet the basic job requirements.
“Why are you the best candidate for this job?”
What makes you stand out from the other candidates? How do you go above and beyond at work?
Focus on the strengths that will set you apart from the other applicants. Driving a bus requires great focus, so tell the hiring managers that you are good at staying alert and paying attention. In addition, you like children and being around them. At the same time, though, you are firm with them when it comes to bus rules. You want to make sure the kids understand these rules and make them aware of the consequence of their actions if they do not adhere to the discipline.
Always keep in mind that it costs the employer money to hire you, so understandably, they want to take an applicant on in the role who will give them a good return on their investment.
“Can you tell us about your driving experience?”
Don’t have previous experience in driving a bus? You can share other experiences similar to it, such as driving children to school as part of your babysitting job, where you learn how to stay focused on the road and deal with busy kids in the backseat. You can also take pride in your clean driving record and knowledge of defensive driving techniques.
“What is your opinion regarding working split shifts?”
Most school bus drivers do the so-called “split shifts,” where they work from 6 to 10 AM and 2 to 5 PM. So, as you can imagine, the drivers have their downtime somewhere between 9 AM to 2 PM while the kids are in their classrooms (and in the cafeteria during break times). Such a schedule is somewhat unusual and may not fit everyone. Assure them that you have read the job description and are aware of the nuances of this job. During the long midday break, you can take a nap, read a book, and return to drive the kids back home at the end of the school day.
You can also mention that you can’t be available for work during the summer holiday. While some people see it as a disadvantage, you should see this as an advantage. Summer break means trying other things, such as working a summer job, traveling, spending time with family, taking a summer course, or simply enjoying the extended school break as if you were still a student.
“In case of an accident, what procedure would you follow?”
Not all schools may provide safety training. So, it’s a good idea to do some online research before the interview to make sure you acquire a basic understanding of the procedures to follow during an emergency. In addition, check out some instructional videos online or attend training that tackles some of the basics, such as school violence and emergency planning. Convince the hiring managers that the kids are your priority. Having a firm understanding of driving in snow and Winter safety is also helpful.
Do you have the best answers to these questions? The hiring managers may likely ask questions that are otherwise not listed here, so it’s always good to do your homework before going to a scheduled interview. If you feel driving a school bus is your next career move, you can look for available positions at https://schoolbushero.com/jobs while preparing for future job interviews.