| During the recession era the media has been full of | | | | more diverse than yours could become driving |
| doom and gloom concerning the UK jobs market. A | | | | instructors? |
| recent survey showed that for every graduate | | | | "Certainly, anyone with a background in any sort of |
| position advertised there are usually around seventy | | | | teaching would be well prepared for it. To a certain |
| applicants. The public sector cuts have meant that | | | | extent anyone with kids should be able to do it as |
| many individuals with transferable skills are now | | | | they spend a lot of time teaching their children!" |
| looking for new careers. Of course people choose to | | | | Would you recommend that soldiers, who are |
| change career all the time but at the moment there | | | | thinking of leaving the army, should become driving |
| is a huge increase in individuals changing careers with | | | | instructors? |
| management, training or people based skills behind | | | | "I would, particularly if they have an instructor |
| them. Training to be a driving instructor is now a | | | | background like me. The results in this job are |
| popular option for many of these professionals as | | | | sometimes a lot more rewarding than meeting your |
| the ability to teach people a new skill as well as good | | | | goals in the army. I know it's a cliché, but when |
| interpersonal skills are essential to the role. | | | | you teach someone to drive you really are passing |
| Flexible working hours, good earning potential and | | | | on a life skill. In the Army things are changing all the |
| daily job satisfaction are all key benefits of the job. | | | | time so something you teach someone today might |
| But what's it really like? We spoke to Leigh | | | | not be any use in a few years time." |
| Honeyman of RED Driving School based in Wallington | | | | What was your training like when you were leaning |
| near Croydon, about what's involved in switching | | | | to be an instructor? |
| careers and becoming a driving instructor. | | | | "Training with RED was great; they provide a lot of |
| So Leigh, what did you do before you became a | | | | support if you struggle with anything. I found certain |
| driving instructor? | | | | aspects of the course difficult but they provided |
| "Before joining RED I was in the Army for 13 years. I | | | | extra sessions and teaching, which obviously paid off |
| joined an Army Cadets Unit when I was in school and | | | | as I made it! I think its one of those things where |
| then when I was 17 I joined the British Army where | | | | you get out what you put in. If you work hard and |
| I worked as a Heavy Weapons Instructor." | | | | put in a lot of effort you will be successful. If you |
| Becoming a driving instructor after being a Heavy | | | | don't work hard you're probably going to struggle." |
| Weapons Instructor must have been quite a change! | | | | A lot of people think they will struggle with the |
| What did you find were the main differences in | | | | training as they find it hard to learn new skills, |
| teaching people to drive compared to teaching | | | | particularly learning to teach, do you think the training |
| people to use anti-tank missiles? | | | | you received would prepare most people? |
| "The difference in attitude; soldiers in the army learn | | | | "To a certain extent, you can't just turn up and |
| because they have to learn, in some cases their lives | | | | expect to be a driving instructor by the end of it. |
| depend on it. When you teach people to drive they | | | | The more you put into it the more you will get out |
| want to learn but sometimes they aren't as focused | | | | of it; you've got to work hard to do well. I grabbed |
| as soldiers so you have to be a bit more patient." | | | | the bull by the horns and gave it my all, it certainly |
| As your career change was a bit unusual, do you | | | | paid off. Essentially if you want it then the support |
| believe that people with backgrounds that are even | | | | you need is there as long as you apply yourself. |