Bristol, Bath and the West
Ali Ghazghazi's view on working for First
Father of four Ali Ghazghazi has been working for First for more than ten years and he is based at the Taunton depot…
Q: Ali, why do you like your job so much?
It’s a great job to be honest. It is rewarding and challenging, there is so much more to this job than people might think. It really is what you make it at the end of the day, if you have a positive attitude then people will usually return your kindness and there is a real feel-good factor to this job.
Q: How satisfied are you in your work?
Very, at the end of the day I am ultimately responsible for the safety of my passengers, some of whom I have never met before. They put their trust in me and I do my best to get them to their destination safely and as comfortably as possible.
Q: How do you cope with problems?
It wouldn’t be true to life to say that people are nice all the time but in the main customers say kind things. You meet so many different people that everyday and every person is different. If you are willing to listen, sympathise and try to help as much as you can, then most issues can be sorted out.
Q. Do you feel as if you have enough support?
Yes absolutely the managers and control room staff have always been very supportive to me - I have always felt that I can talk to them directly about just about anything.
Q.What are the other benefits of your job?
I work alongside a few Polish drivers so I can speak a bit of Polish now and I have made some really good friends here as well. It’s a welcoming place to work nobody is made to feel like an outsider in anyway and it’s up to you to get as involved as you want to.
Q: Do you think it’s a well-paid job?
Yes, that’s not to say I wouldn’t want more money but that applies to any job surely. This job is all about what you make - the financial aspect is important of course but I am happy in this job and I love being out on the road, I can’t imagine being stuck in an office.
