When Jesus Llamas started as a part time bus operator, he saw it as a job that would the bills while he sought a college degree from 2017 to 2020.
“I originally wanted to work in law enforcement,” Llamas said. “But after working in the field, I missed being a bus operator.”
He returned to transit in 2022 because he says, “it’s one of the best places you can be for the benefits compared to any other place I’ve been, and the pay is great.” He even paid off all his debt by taking on overtime shifts.
And while he started at the bottom of seniority and needed to complete another six-month probation, he knows it’s worth it. He plans to make a career and retire from Metro Transit.
He’s already making a name for himself after earning the “Rookie of the Year”award at the 2022 Metro Transit Bus Roadeo, a skills, safety, and customer service competition.
“This is just the start. I plan to continue to improve my skills and someday move into different positions here,” he said.
Llamas is well on his way. At the end of July 2022, he completed his six-month probation and looks forward to decades of service and a career path he’s glad to be on.
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Fast track your way to a new full-time career. No experience in bus operations is required and training is paid. Bus operators receive outstanding benefits like health care, annual salary increases, a pension plan, and an unlimited-ride transit pass. And, as many Metro Transit managers start their careers as operators, there's also room for growth.