Transit Jobs NOW!!! Coast Mountain Bus is HIRING!

They ask nothing but scenario questions. What would you do if? I unfortunately didn't keep it simple but yammered on and on. Looking back , I should of just answered the question simply. I believe less is more.

 

I tend to go on a bit more then i should when answering the questions as well..

Hopefully i will get a chance to try again..

 

I got in on my second time...completely bombed the interview the first time...got stumped on a
question and had to come back to it, big
mistake!

The only difference between the first and second interview: I researched behavioral interview questions and practiced giving answers and dressed nicer the 2nd time

 

Don't get too excited. I got excited on my first interview and thought it went good, until I got the bad news. The odds are not in your favour, as they test around 100 and interview around 60, for 6-12 jobs. It's like a 10% chance when video testing and 15-20% when at the interviewing stage. People always think they are not suitable when getting rejected or not what they are looking for. But, it's just they interview a lot for a small number of jobs...all depends on how good the other applicants in the group are and how many positions they are hiring for...if they only need 6 positions, chances are slim, but your odds go up if they need 12+..luck of the draw...good luck everyone!!

 

@john riley

Being cool, calm, and collected is how I'm going to approach the whole process. At first I was excited when I got the initial email but since then I calmed down and did some research on how to approach the panel interview.

Good luck to everyone else!

 

Hi, can i please get any advice on how long it takes to wait from medical test to getting a schedule for training? The HR emailed that I passed medical exam and should wait for training last january 2015 and it is almost end of february now but I haven't heard from them. Thanks.

 

Hello! Congrat!

I don't know exactly how long of a wait, but I would suggest a couple of months minimum unless they start pumping thru more Trainees...
Maybe one of the guys who's gone thru recently could shed a better light on that...

In the meantime, feel free to brush up on The Air Brakes system and Pre Trip Inspections... Wouldn't hurt to study the Fare structure, zones, who qualifies for discounts etc...

Extreme amount of homework, information, tests/quizzes, etc the first few weeks of Training...

Good Luck!

 

Hi joyride,

When I went through in 2013 (for shuttle),I had my medical around the end of October and started training at the end of December. When I applied for conventional, again I had my medical around the end of October (2014) and started training Feb 2, 2015. It can take a while.

Not to burst your bubble, but from what I'm hearing right now, some classes have been cancelled and only the March 16th one is going ahead for sure. I have a feeling that the upcoming vote is holding things up a bit and that when it's done, things will start moving again, slowly or quickly depending on the result. They will still be training but not as quickly as from what I understand, there were not as many retirements as they expected yet...

Having said all that, the fact that you ARE that far along in the process is good news. It means that you WILL be trained eventually!

 

Weekly update time! Week 4 has passed by faster than I realized! It's all a blur now and getting good!

This week was what's called Trolley Revenue Service. After another training route on Monday, we began running regular routes "In Service" with our instructors. We would slot into service between regular runs and started to pick up passengers. Having been in Community Shuttle before, I was used to people on the bus BUT it IS quite different on a Conventional trolley. By Friday I was starting to feel very comfortable with the trolley, switches, wires etc... It was like a light switch being flipped on. Suddenly it all made sense! I am ready for next week and the start of 9 days of LINE TRAINING. This is the part where we go out with a different driver on a different route everyday and drive their work for them for the day. Looking forward to it! My schedule is pretty good and we all get to do an OWL on Friday night! lol.

We had our final exam yesterday as well and I am very proud of my final percentage... I worked hard for it

On another note, unfortunately our class went from 8 to 7 guys this week as one decided on Thursday that the job wasn't for him and quit. I'm not sure why someone would go through the previous three-and-a-half weeks of torture to get so close and quit but there it is. It's not for everyone. He was my training partner and I could see his nervousness and hesitation with customers when he drove. It's too bad.

My advice: Make sure of what you want. If you don't like people (crazy cross-section of society) or you don't like driving, the job is NOT for you. You WILL struggle. It's a lot of stress to go through to confirm that you don't like something.

On the other hand, it is a great job and the feeling of accomplishment after maneuvering a 60 foot trolley bus around the busy streets of Vancouver is extremely gratifying!

Well that's all for now... as always, if there is anything I can detail or try and answer, let me know. I'll be happy to help!

 

Hi,

I previously applied for the earlier conventional transit operator opening and didn't end up hearing anything. Since I am still interested in the position, I would like to apply for the position again although I am not sure whether my previous application will transfer over and CMBC will consider me for the new opening or whether I need to re-submit an application.

I have spoken to a few current bus operators and from what they have said, I seem to match the requirements perfectly. I have a vast amount of experience dealing with customers, time constraints and working in relatively stressful conditions. Is it advisable to keep applying even though I didn't make the cut the first time around? Is age a factor in the decision process? I don't consider myself to be "old" but I am creeping up on 50 so maybe there is a preference towards younger candidates.

Thanks for all the info posted on these forums.

 

Thanks a lot Superchecker and Conventional man. Your answers are all helpful and detailed. Thanks for your online support to inquiries, it's great service to our community.

 

Hi Joyride, I too am waiting for training and I passed my medical back in August. Shapski another contributor here also passed his medical in August and is still waiting. Superchecker mentioned that he spoke to a instructor and was told that training would be ramping up in April.I don't know how long you'll be waiting but there are people ahead of you on the list. Just be patient for now.

 

I assume that many who apply for a job at CMBC, like myself, currently hold another job. Just wondering if it has ever happened that a training class has been cancelled mid class or just prior to starting?

You would obviously have to quit your current position in preparation for the training session. I suppose this could really be a gamble.

I know I am getting way ahead of myself , but always a question that was in the back of my mind, what if?

By the way, I am hearing not positive things , mostly in the media, in regards to the transit vote. From what I have heard there could be a resounding NO. Then what?

 

I would guess that once you have been confirmed with a training start date, it is firm. They have to allocate resources for everything from instructors and class space to uniforms and buses used everyday for driving. My views only as I am not privy to the inner workings of the training department, but I also haven't heard of any classes being cancelled once students have been confirmed and certainly not WHILE in training. Once the session starts, it's like a sprint...very difficult to stop and start in the middle. Again, my view from being in training currently.

*MY OPINION* As far as the vote goes, depending where you look/watch/read, it can be overwhelmingly either yes or no. It is difficult to read the outcome right now. The naysayers are definitely more vocal right now but the "YES" side also has many, many supporters. To answer the question "Then what?", the transit system still needs to operate, drivers need to be trained as older/more senior operators quit or retire, old buses need to be replaced...and this is just in CMBC. There is enough money to keep the status quo but not really any more to increase anything other than normal business as usual. Hiring will continue, NEEDS to continue, with a no vote but not as quickly as one expect if there was more money.

Remember, besides roads/bridges/rail, this vote will mean more money for buses. Simply put, more money means more buses. More buses means more operators. More operators means more training. *OPINION OFF*

My advice - If you are working full-time currently, you WILL need to at least take a leave when your training starts. Even if you worked night shifts, you wouldn't want to. It is simply too much work. But WAIT until you are confirmed and then at that time, make sure you WILL be entering the class by asking at that point. As I said above, I don't recall hearing anything being cancelled once you have been confirmed

Phew, sorry for the long windedness!

P.S. - I also went through Community Shuttle training in 2013 and at that time as well, I never heard of cancellations while class was confirmed or in session.

 

You're welcome.

 

I think if you tried to apply again, it might not let you, as your previous application would technically still be on file. You could always contact HR and just ask!

As far as a certain "type", I don't really see that. I see all ages, sexes and races/nationalities in training. Age-wise, I am also creeping up on 50 (well 45 and a couple guys were older than me) so that's not it

I think it's just a matter of patience right now as the upcoming vote will shake things out a bit I'm sure.

 

talked to a friend who is a driver, he told me that their is more operators then work available for his depot. So chances , people will have to get forced to other depots and what not. I think they might have hired too much people, anticipating a "yes" vote and perhaps underestimating the amount of people retiring. People just don't retire at 65 no more.

 

Did you apply when there were positions opening up in February 5th?

Cause I applied around that time also. And when I saw there were more openings in February 24th, I thought I wouldn't hear back from them. Until I got an email from HR in the same day indicating I'm invited to the video testing.

Your initial application should be still in the system.

But like @ConventionalMan mentioned, age shouldn't be a factor as well as ethnicity background as that would be discriminatory. I mean for myself I'm turning 28 years old this year.

To add on Victor's questions, at what point should I go out to get my Class 2 learners and Air Brake learners? Class 2 learners is about 35 questions and air brake learners is about 25 questions is that correct?

 

General Info: There are approx 3,000 Conventional Operators in the system....
Each year the need to hire at least 150 (5%) just to keep up with retirees, and those that move up, on, our out....

Right now some depots do have a few extra drivers... Burnaby recently needed 5 MORE and I believe 5 new Ops were forced out from Vancouver...

There are always highs and lows when it comes to the number of drivers... Sometimes the flu bug hits, sometimes a higher number retire than expected, sometimes a few more quit or move into different positions...

Generally speaking: The company runs short of buses/equipment every winter, and runs short of Operators every Summer...

There will always be a need for more drivers, it's just a question of how many and how soon...

If by some chance the funding referendum passes, they'll need HUNDREDS more drivers rather quickly!

There have been a variety of Internal Job vacancies lately including for Managers and Supervisors. If any current Ops switch over, then there will be more driver vacancies...

 

Pretty sure, HR would inform you when it is time to do so. I would wait till you get passed the hardest parts, video and interview. Why get a class 2 learners when you can't get passed the interview?