Getting in - finding a career in passenger transport

Passenger transport offers a wide variety of occupations and there is something for everyone. The sector offers plenty of choice for workers; there are early starts and late finishes, and there can be weekend, day and night shifts, as well as part-time working. Many people can choose the hours of work that suit them.

Many of the industries within passenger transport also rely on people working together in teams, or occupational groups. This means that there can be a sociable environment at work, with teammates helping each other out with their work, or swapping shifts. Some roles require high levels of technical skills, whereas others need 'softer' skills, such as customer service. Everyone working in each industry relies on each other to make transport services happen - there is a long chain of actions and people and everyone has an equally important role to play.

Find out about the areas of work in passenger transport.

To find out about individual jobs, including entry routes and job responsibilities, take a look at our career pathways section. You can also find out what people working in the sector think about their work by viewing our case studies.


Getting In - Qualifications
The sector has many entry points, and there are opportunities for people with few qualifications and opportunities for graduates and post-graduates. The individual job profiles in 'Career Pathways' detail where particular qualifications are required for a role.

For young people interested in working in the sector, Diplomas are one option to help develop the required skills and knowledge. There are three Diplomas related to work in passenger transport:-
- The Diploma in Engineering
- The Diploma in Travel and Tourism
- The Diploma in Languages and International Communication


Getting In - Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships are another way to get into work in the passenger transport sector. There are several apprenticeships on offer within the sector at present :-
- Aviation Operations on the Ground - download a fact sheet
- Rail Transport Engineering - download a fact sheet
- Rail Transport Operations - download a fact sheet
- Transport Engineering and Maintenance - download a fact sheet


Getting In – Getting the Job
Employers from the passenger transport sector often say that candidates for jobs do not demonstrate that they have the right skills, and that they do not come across as motivated enough in interviews.

Employers from the GoSkills Management and Leadership in Passenger Transport project group have put together some useful information about applying for jobs in passenger transport. See what our sector employers have to say about getting a job in passenger transport.