"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 also noticed that many drivers were needed here in the Turku region, so the job opportunities looked really good," Ermal says. 

Driving a bus is Ermal's first job in Finland. He did not know in advance what the Finnish working culture is like and how things are done. 

"My colleagues advised and helped me with everything. I asked a lot of questions at first as I wanted to learn everything well. Everyone was ready to help, and the bosses also always had time to talk, which was really nice," Ermal says.

Great work-life balance

For Ermal, the work stays interesting as the shifts vary from day to day. While driving, Ermal listens to the radio because he wants to learn more Finnish. 

"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.

Sometimes the workdays are longer, sometimes shorter, ranging from five to six hours. He enjoys the shorter days especially in summer, as they allow him to go swimming with his family after work. 

In summer, Turku is filled with tourists, and Ermal feels that he can help them. He advices tourists when buying a ticket with contactless payment, for example, and many are impressed with the feature.

"It feels good to be able to help people throughout the day, like give an address to a tourist or help an elderly person get on the bus. And when passengers shout their thanks when leaving, it's a big deal for me. If feels great," Ermal says.

Safe journey is key

According to Ermal, the most important thing as a bus driver is to drive safely so that everyone can get to where they are going in good spirits. 

"Even when I have a lot of passengers and a tight schedule, I stay calm. My job is to pick up every passenger."

If the shift is stressful and there are plenty of customers, Ermal likes to think that the end of the line marks a new shift.

"If there's time, I walk a little and stretch. When I start driving again, it's a new opportunity to succeed," he says.