Many people who work at Metro Transit take on new responsibilities and roles throughout their careers. Career Tracks highlights the paths employees have taken to their latest assignment and where they see themselves going next.
How did you begin your career at Metro Transit?
I started here over 21 years ago. I originally worked for Metro Transit for a year but left to go to school. I quickly realized Metro Transit offered me a good shot at providing a solid life for my family. Back then, I didn't have kids, but when I came back I had my first son and I wanted a decent life for him. My uncle Arthur Shelton worked at Metro Transit for over 40 years, so he showed me this path early on. Watching him pick us up on his routes, he made it look easy. I thought, I can provide for my family this way.
What were your career goals, and what steps did you take to achieve them?
Originally, I thought I might become a firefighter, but it wasn't quite the fit. After 19 years as a bus operator, I needed something new. I still wanted to stay with Metro Transit because of the different paths I could take here. I'd served as a bus trainer, but decided I wanted to take a different path. So I decided to go back to school to become a diesel mechanic. At Metro Transit, in the meantime, I earned a job as a helper in Bus Maintenance. I help mechanics by doing prep work on the buses, like changing fluids. This decision caused me to take an initial pay cut and lowered my union seniority, but I love my job and coming into work every day. That cut didn't last long, however, and now I'm starting to make more than I was as a bus operator with less hours. Today, I'm on track to finish my coursework in the coming year and to become a mechanic when a position opens up.
What advice do you have for others who want to take on more or different responsibilities?
Here at Metro Transit, you don't have to limit yourself. If you're an operator thinking of switching to Bus Maintenance, just know it's a different kind of job. It's physical and you're going to get dirty. There's less public interaction, which some people love, but maintenance work is hands-on, which I enjoy. I've touched everything from radiators to wheelchair lifts, and it feels good to work with my hands. I also tell my kids this: Don't settle. Keep your foot on the gas until you're ready to retire.
Our buses, trains, and railways need you!
Become a vehicle technician who works on buses, light rail, or commuter rail vehicles or a maintenance of way technician for our tracks and railway systems. Learn more and apply at metrotransit.org/mechanic-hiring