(04 Aug 2014, 6:19 pm)Dan wrote If you have Connexions in your school, they'll be forever getting onto you about how important your GCSE options are, because they map out your life in future. Trust me, the majority of people I know have now finished their GCSE course and are moving onto A-Levels or the college equivalent, and a lot of them still have no idea.
I've now chosen my A-Levels for Sixth Form (ICT, Media Studies, Business Studies and English - if you're interested), and still don't have a definitive idea.
To become a bus driver, I don't think your qualifications at school matter greatly. You will have to undergo a basic arithmetic test if you succeed in the interview too, but I think it is on the same level of difficulty as you'll find in GCSE exams. One of the guys I'm working with at the moment asked me if I want to brush up on my theory about road signs etc, and I can take the test at some point, as a bit of practice. Should be interesting!
Obviously, the higher up you want to get in the company, your qualifications most likely will matter. I was in the Recruitment Department today and several people had interviews. From what I've been told, as long as you meet the criteria (for Go North East as set here), you're at an immediate advantage - so be sure to read that! Other main factors which really influence the interviewer's decision on whether to put you through to the next stage in the recruitment process is how presentable you are in the interview (are you confident, how did you greet the interviewer, etc) and if you're on-time or not. Connexions (or whoever you've got at your school) will constantly bang on about this being so important - you'll get sick of it, and it sounds so obvious, but I'd imagine that nerves can get the better of you in an interview (especially if it's your first).
Glad you enjoyed your first day. Any experience is good experience in my book. I usually find I learn just as much from my bad experiences too.
We used to have the same pep talk when Connexions came in to my school, and they actually used to hold some mock interview sessions with real employers. On top of all that, I often find it's useful to learn about the company you're applying for, as well as some of the history. I can't think of an interview I've had where I haven't been asked.