Become a driver for Föli
Look forward - come work for Föli as a driver. Föli needs you - by 2025, we will need more than 100 new drivers!
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5 reasons to become a driver
- Competitive pay
- Quick training for the job
- Independent customer service work
- Permanent employment relationship
- Important social work: the driver offers a responsible method of transportation and helps to promote a greener future.
What is required of a driver?
Are you calm and attentive in traffic and get along well with different people? If you answered "yes", you have the characteristics that make a good Föli driver.
The bus driver's work is customer service work at its best. Without Föli, many school rides, shopping trips and visits to health centres would not be possible. As a bus driver, you are often the first and last face that the passenger sees during the day.
The work is responsible and demanding: drivers transport people and not goods in their work, so the driver is required to have strong competence and a safe and reliable approach in their work.
Salary and working hours
Salary
The driver's pay range before the bonuses is EUR 2,664–2,924. The bonuses increase the pay considerably, as night and weekend shifts are subject to good compensation.
Working hours
According to the employment contract, drivers have a maximum of 11 hours of driving time.
The pay table and the working time conditions can be found in the collective agreement under the link below.
Bus driver's work combines love for driving and customer service
In the home country of Rezhyan, women cannot drive large cars like a bus. Her dream was to become a bus driver, and she got to fulfil that dream at Föli. "I wanted to set an example to other women in my country," she says with a smile.
"I thought that driving a bus would be too difficult. I watched buses navigate the downtown during peak hours among other cars and wondered if I could do that myself. But when I believe in myself, I can do it!"
Training, qualifications and application process
In order to be able to work as a driver for Föli, the most important factors are a good attitude, a category D driving licence and the professional competence of a bus driver, as well as the language skills required in the work.
In order to work as a professional driver, you need the professional qualification of a bus driver in addition to a driving licence.
How to get a qualification as a driver
Työtehoseura (TTS)
TTS Työtehoseura is one of the largest training providers in the vehicle and logistics sector in Finland. Every year, we train approximately 7,000 students in different fields, of which approximately 600 graduate in the heavy traffic sector, of whom approximately 200 are bus drivers. We always plan the training to suit the needs of the company or the individual, which means that there are many different forms of training and funding for becoming a bus driver.
TTS is a national education organisation that trains approximately 7,000 students every year to become professionals in different fields, including bus drivers.
Contact the educational institution directly to find out the required training and the training models that are suitable for you.
- Pirjo Hyppönen,
pirjo.hypponen@tts.fi (Opens in a new tab), +358 (0)503 494 616 - Ismo Parviainen,
ismo.parviainen@tts.fi (Opens in a new tab), +358 (0)469 237 847
Check the available trainings from the link.
Turku Vocational Institute
You can study to become a bus driver at Turku Vocational Institute. The Vocational Qualification in Logistics is organised as both day and evening classes.
Contact Turku Vocational Institute. (Opens in a new tab)
See the training provided by the Turku Vocational Institute from the link.
Available labour force training
The TE Office organises labour force training for the unemployed or jobseekers at risk of unemployment. You can be selected for labour force training if you are unemployed or a jobseeker at risk of unemployment and you have a need for training.
Click the link to see available labour force training organised by the TE Office. If you have any questions about the training, you can find the contact information in the training description.
Applying for the job
All Föli drivers work at Föli through transportation providers that are selected through competitive tendering, which means that Föli does not have its "own" drivers. If you have a D driving licence and a driver's professional qualification, you can ask about the possibility of working as a Föli driver directly from the operators whose contact details can be found through the link.
People are the highlight of Mika's workday – both customers and colleagues
Mika became a bus driver by chance. After decades working in the graphics field, he wanted a change of pace and already had a driving license for bus, as he had driven a tour bus for several bands alongside work.
"To the surprise of my former colleagues, I became a bus driver. I wanted a job that wouldn't follow me home. When I finish the day and go home, the work stays at the office. This job was just right for that, and as a career changer, I got to a comfortable job after a short training," Mika says.
Driving licence
You can take the D driving licence test required for driving a bus at a driving school, educational institution or as an apprenticeship.
If you have a normal car licence (B), it is a quick process to supplement the driving licence category.
Below are links to parties providing D driving licence training:
Työtehoseura, in Finnish (Opens in a new tab) (Opens in a new tab)
Language skills
The work of a Föli driver is customer service work. You may encounter situations when a small child or an elderly passenger needs help or advice. For this reason, the driver must have at least a satisfactory level of Finnish.
Other language skills are always a bonus: you can impress the traveller by speaking their mother tongue, be it Swedish or Farsi!
"I always feel good when I get to help customers"
As a bus driver, Ermal enjoys the independence and encounters with customers. "When you talk to customers, workdays go by fast."
Ermal has worked as a bus driver for less than a year now. He became interested in the job as the training was relatively short and he thought the pay was good.
"I find the work easy and comfortable. I was able to start the work placement quickly, and the shifts can be fitted around your day-to-day life. It's easy to balance work and personal life," Ermal praises.
Do you want to be a driver? We have listed possible different paths into the driver's qualifications and profession below.
Option 1: No driving licence, D licence or qualification
1. Pass the B category driving test
2. Pass the D category driving test
3. Get a qualification
4. Apply for work with the operator!
Option 2: B licence but no D licence or qualification
1. Supplement your driving licence into a category D licence
2. Get a qualification
3. Apply for work with the operator!
Option 3: D licence but no qualification
1. Get a qualification
2. Apply for work with the operator!
Option 4: You have a D licence and qualification but no job
- Apply for a job - contact transport operators directly
Driving a bus is above all customer service
Receiving thanks and helping customers make the day for Rezhyan, Ermal and Mika. The willingness of colleagues to help also lifts the spirits: driving a bus is enjoyable work.
When asked what the most important thing about a bus driver's work is, Rezhyan, Ermal and Mika all have the same answer: staying calm. Even if you are on a tight schedule, it is not worth stressing behind the wheel.
