Why Becoming A Driving Instructor Has More Benefits Than Being A Taxi Driver
For a long time, becoming a taxi driver seemed like the obvious choice of career for someone who was interested in being on the roads for a living, with the job offering flexible hours and the chance to meet people from all walks of life attracting many.
Unfortunately, the taxi industry has changed in recent years.
Growing competition from apps and private hire companies, coupled with the constant pressure to reduce fares, means that more and more taxi drivers are finding themselves at a crossroads; unsure whether to take on a second job or simply find something else altogether.
Whether you are a taxi driver trying to work out your next move or someone simply torn between which road to go down, the benefits of becoming a driving instructor are worth considering. Read on to find out how becoming a driving instructor carries more benefits than working as a cabbie.
Why should I consider teaching people to drive?
If you are stuck between these two career paths, it’s likely that you enjoy driving and already have many hours of experience behind the wheel.
Qualifying as an approved driving instructor (ADI) means that you can get behind the wheel and enjoy the same flexibility and social diversity, but you don’t have to deal with the challenges that can come with working as a taxi driver.
People being sick in your car after a big night out, pick-ups trying to do a runner and dodge a fare, or feeling obliged to work late hours or even overnight because there’s a higher rate of pay aren’t issues you’ll have to face as a driving instructor.
Pay is actually a huge benefit if you choose to become a driving instructor. As mentioned before, many taxi drivers work late nights and early mornings to take advantage of the higher fare the can charge during that window.
Unfortunately, these are unsocial hours which can affect your sleeping pattern and leisure time. If you choose to train as a driving instructor, it is extremely unlikely you will ever be required to work into the evening, unless agreed between you and your learner. There is an initial cost involved in getting your ADI qualification, but once you pass the test, your hourly rates will skyrocket.
Another thing to consider is your reputation and how that will benefit you.
If you’re working as a driver for a taxi firm, or perhaps for yourself, you have very little time with your clients to build a relationship. Many firms have a reputation established by word of mouth, but it is rare that this will have any major benefit for individual drivers.
If, however, you choose to become a driving instructor, your reputation builds itself with every lesson you do. If you establish a positive reputation for yourself, you will find your schedule booked up months in advance, giving you far more financial security than if you were a taxi driver working on a day to day rota.
Teaching people to drive in London
The final thing to consider, particularly if you’re London based, is the difference in competition you will face if you choose to become an instructor. It seems like a new taxi or car sharing app is popping up every day, and if you’re working in London, this competition is only magnified.
Essentially, if you’re a taxi driver working in the Greater London area, you will face particularly stiff competition. Of course driving instructors face working competition too, but not to the same degree – especially, if as mentioned before, you work to build up a stellar reputation for yourself.
Of course there are pros and cons to any career, but with the changing face of the taxi industry, it may be worth your while to instead consider qualifying as a driving instructor!
