Driving instructor

Joe Tate says to be a good driving instructor you need to have a sense of humour and be a good listener. Picture / Fotopress

My Job

* Driving instructor
Name: Joe Tate
Age: 64
Role: Driving instructor, self-employed, contracted to AA Driver Training
Working hours: 40-70 hours
Average pay: Between $36,000 to $70,000-plus depending on hours
Qualifications: Driving licence for class of vehicle taught, NZQA unit standards on driver training, knowledge of Land Transport Safety Authority (LTSA) learning systems manual and proven competency in in-car teaching.

 

Q: Describe how you got this job.

A: Since retiring from the Army after 20 years' service, I was a marketing services manager for a company and a social worker for the aged.

Because of uncertainty about my future employment, I thought it would be nice to work for myself, hence my decision to be a driving instructor. It was influenced by my enjoyment of being a medical instructor in the Army. Teaching is my passion - I really enjoy it.

Q: Describe what you do.

A: I teach driving to new drivers from the first time they have been behind the wheel up to licence stage. I provide assessments to those more experienced and fine-tune them, so to speak, so they are able to pass their licence.

The elderly are also given tuition for their driving tests. I do NZQA assessments and teach defensive driving. I also do periodic safe-for-age driving seminars for older people.

Q: What sort of training or experience do you need?

A: You have to obtain the driving licence that you want to teach and know the learning system for driving instructors set by the LTSA, do some module training and be competent at in-car teaching as they test that. You have to have a clean driving record and a police check and no convictions.

A few years' experience of driving would be useful but a young person could take it up providing they are competent at the requirements.

Q: What skills and qualities do you need?

A: You have to be enthusiastic. You need to have a good sense of humour and be a good listener, a good communicator and be patient and have a good rapport with students young and old.

You have to be a good time manager. I think being creative in your teaching methods is important, such as thinking of little jingles and rhymes to help students remember things. And years of safe driving and life experiences.

Those are my strengths. People also have to have the ability to run their own small business as driving instructors are self-employed and contract themselves out.

Q: How do you cope with timid or hesitant learner drivers or students in a manual car who may bunny hop all the time?

A: Patience is important and remaining calm and being caring as well. Some students get really uptight or upset as they can't do things or they get a fright. You have got to be a caring type of person.

Q: Best part of the job?

A: I enjoy teaching young people a life skill and I get satisfaction when they get their driving licence and feel good that I have been part of their learning process.

Q: Most challenging part?

A: The most challenging I find is trying to teach a driver the first time behind the wheel. They are apprehensive, frightened and don't know what to expect. Teaching older people is challenging as well, especially if they have failed their 80-plus test.

Q: How do you define success in this job?

A: When people pass their licence test and when they feel good about their lessons, that they have achieved something. You can tell when people are happy about it.

Q: What are your career hopes?

A: Being financially comfortable in retirement.

Q: If I wanted a job like yours how would I go about it, and what qualifications would I need?

A: The first thing is to contact the LTSA and find out what is required or to contact one of the driving academies that offer training for instructors.

Q: What advice would you have for someone contemplating a career like yours?

A: People need to be patient, a sound person, and good communicators and listeners. The personality things are crucial and being able to teach. You have to try it out, too.

If someone is interested, I am sure driving instructors would be happy to take them out and show them what's involved and what it is like.