An Australian bus company is to take on a raft of Irish bus drivers after admitting it was ‘astounded’ by the high standard of drivers sourced by a Donegal driving company.
Ventura Bus Lines of Melbourne have spent the past three weeks in Ireland interviewing candidates for $63,000 positions Down Under.
The company says it received “hundreds” of applications for the jobs which come with a range of perks.
Damian Kerin, of well-known Donegal company The Swilly Group, who were employed to compile a list of suitable candidates, said there has been huge interest in the jobs.
Many applicants travelled from the UK while one man cut short his family holiday to attend the interviews.
“We have worked solidly for almost three weeks, including through the bank holiday weekend, to interview and assess all of the shortlisted candidates,” he told donegaldaily.com.
The Australian bus company specifically targeted Irish bus drivers because of their “outgoing personalities and charm” according to Mr Kerins.
Jimmy Hughes, Senior Driver Trainer & Assessor with Ventura, was struck by the standard of driving among Irish bus drivers.
“The level of professionalism and standard of training among Irish Drivers is astounding”, Jimmy said, adding, “It is a credit to Ireland that standards are so high and that drivers take such pride in their work, Ventura would be proud to employ the successful candidates.”
The results of interviews and driving assessments will be compiled over coming weeks with formal offers of employment being made to successful candidates.
Ventura Bus Lines have negotiated a specific 4-year working visa with federal immigration authorities in Australia and will manage the visa application process for the candidates.
As well as the significant salary package Ventura are offering help with relocation and have put plans in place to ease the integration of migrating drivers into both the Ventura team and Australian society.
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