Private bus company Westpoint Transit was recently in the news for its salary offer of up to $5,000 for bus drivers. The response to the recruitment drive was overwhelming, with over 1,400 applicants, and even 5 uni grads among the 30 drivers that were finally hired. Lionel Lee, director of Westpoint Transit, makes a stop at the YLB studio to tell us why they decided on this bold move, the challenges of navigating a family business, and why it’s crucial to encourage more Singaporeans to become bus drivers. Oh, we also nerd out on artisanal buses.
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00:00) Octa Trading App
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01:37) Intro
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06:38) Westpoint's Hiring Practices
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15:21) Is Transportation a Shrinking Industry?
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25:09) Why The Hiring Campaign Focused On Local Hires
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29:18) Even Bankers Are Looking To Be Bus Drivers
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38:26) How Many People Applied
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40:28) Business Owners' Responsibilities To Their Staff
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42:46) Why Do Bus Enthusiasts Love Buses So Much?
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48:25) Custom-built Buses Are A Thing
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01:07:03) Perceptions of Bus-driving As A Career (And How They Can Be Changed)
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01:16:32) One Shiok Thing
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