THE VIP LIMOUSINE CHAUFFEUR

A key position
Our guests’ expectations are very high and our job is to exceed them! To do so we must know exactly what our job entails. It is crucial for us to view our conduct in a self-critical light. Nice cars alone, do not ensure customer satisfaction for they will perform well, regardless of the person sitting behind the steering wheel. We must be fully aware of the fact that THE PASSENGERS WILL NOT TURN A BLIND EYE TO ANY MISTAKES!

Our guests must feel very safe and comfortable, in a word: they must feel at home. That sums up the expectations of our guests and the contracting parties to whom we render our services. These are the expectations that we must meet and strive to exceed, day in and day out.

The fascination by the ancient Egyptian civilization is a daily inspiration in my duties as consultant, trainer and coach. The exactness and dependability of the symbols, the enchantment, the magic and mysticism at the Pharaoh’s court, and, especially, the training of his chariot drivers, serve as a guiding vision in our own professional activities.

Building upon my professional background and life experience, as well as my respect for the ancient Egypt, I have conceived and elaborated the CHAUFFEUR-LIMOUSINE-ACADEMY (CLA) concept together with my business acquaintances and partners, all of whom are highly qualified specialists and speakers with a respectable track record and practical experience.

The CLA Team covers all aspects of the profession – from a practical point, to the sharing of knowledge of all contemporary customs and practices in dealing with the VIP guests.

Even intensive training courses should not be considered as final and complete. Our courses are not presented as “all there is to know”. Not every question can be answered, but these CLA courses will broaden your understanding and allow course participants to put past experience to a better use. In addition, new inputs and information have the aim to simplify to the participants the approach to their daily work and to deepen their understanding of the broader picture, so that their duties can be pursued with joy and pleasure!

Chauffeur-Limousine-Academy.com
Competence Team / PV

VIP CHAUFFEUR – JOB PROFILE

Hard Criteria

• Age, preferably 25 and older
• D1 Professional chauffeur licence with a certificate of professional competence for commercial road passenger transport (driving vehicles with up to 16 passenger seats)
• Fluent in German & English (other foreign languages an advantage)
• Very good geopolitical knowledge
• Mentally and physically strong and stability
• Professional experience as a chauffeur
• Chauffeur training and development programs
  willing to work a 6 month internship
• Extract from police records (current extract from judicial records)

Soft Criteria

• Stylish, professional etiquette
• Ideally with experience in the service sector or hotel industry
• Very good general education
• Positive, life-affirming attitudes
• Service-oriented and helpful
• Loyal and flexible
• Punctual and reliable
• Discreet and close-mouthed
• Neat and orderly
• Confident and natural body language, professional appearance and attire
• Eager to learn
• Awareness of responsibility
• Solutions-oriented
• Team player
• Professional attitude about work
• Mature personality / self-assured
• Patience and composure
• Networked approach in thought and actions
• Receptive, good concentration

The hard criteria can be measured particularly during the application process and after recruitment.
From a guest’s perspective, a limousine chauffeur will primarily be perceived and judged by the soft criteria. They are decisive for the professional path of a chauffeur. Chauffeurs can often be outstanding with regard to the hard criteria but perform inadequately when it comes to the soft criteria. These persons will have only limited success in this profession. In the day-to-day business the soft criteria are more important than the hard criteria. Training and development courses and coaching programs are oriented to these specific criteria.

TRAINING MODULES AT CLA

Training modules for limousine chauffeurs.

more information and pricing >>>

INTERNSHIPS – OBJECTIVE & PURPOSE

CLA defines the purpose and objective of an advanced internship as follows:

• Putting the knowledge gained during the training modules into practice.
• Enhancing independence and professional skills when working with supervisors, guests, co-workers and on a team. Learning and understanding operational procedures.
• Furthering an awareness of one’s professional and social strengths and weaknesses, as well as personal work preferences.

DURATION AND SCHEDULING OF INTERNSHIP

A 6-month internship is recommended for holders of a D1 licence and a certificate of professional competence for commercial road passenger transport, following completion of training modules 3 & 5.

SELECTION OF COMPANY FOR INTERNSHIP

Trainees are free to decide where they would like to do their internship for the following reasons:

• so their practical experience can be tailored to their personal career planning.
• so they can gather experience in negotiating and concluding contracts.

CLA will offer trainees advice and support in selecting a company for their internship.

SELECTION OF INTERNSHIP COMPANY

There isn’t a “best” company when seeking an internship but we do believe that there is the right internship for every trainee, taking into consideration his or her personal goals, preferences and career plan.
Trainees should ask themselves the following questions when seeking an internship:

Would I rather work for…

• a limousine services company
• a luxury hotel (5 star hotel)
• a company with its own fleet (financial or industrial sector)
• a company in D / A or Switzerland, etc.

What are my long-term goals and what is the best way of quickly reaching those goals?

Does the company offer a training program with a trainer and coach who is responsible for the interns?

Is the company aware of the level of training achieved by CLA trainees?

Can trainees expect performance appraisals on a regular basis and coaching sessions?

Anyone who is not certain exactly what their goals are should try to do their traineeship at more than one company.

THE LEARNING JOURNAL

Reflection – developing an awareness of our own thinking and actions – is an essential part of acquiring experience.

Reflection is a key element of the personal learning processes of on-the-job trainees.

Maintaining a handwritten learning journal is an integral tool for trainees when operating vehicles and interacting with passengers and administration personnel.

Trainees are asked to reflect upon the following central questions at least every two weeks:

What have I learned since my last journal entry with regard to my technical, methodical and personal skills?

What was my personal contribution to this learning achievement?

What was the contribution of the internship provider?

Note: Reference must be made to specific situations.

Did I achieve the goals that had been set for the past two weeks?

If not, why?

What was the most difficult situation during the past two weeks?

What goals am I setting for the next two weeks?

Are these goals consistent with the goals of the internship and the trainee program?

Upon completion of the internship:

• Evaluate your notes and draw your conclusions.
• What findings and discoveries did you make during this internship from a professional, methodical and personal perspective that will help you to choose your next place of work?
• Take your learning journal with the above-mentioned findings with you at the beginning of the next CLA training module. They will be discussed with your coach.

THE INTERVIEW

The CLA trainees are expected to observe the CLA dress code at the subsequent interview.

THE TESTIMONIAl

Upon completion of the internship a copy of the testimonial and the internship report must be submitted to CLA.

INTERN SALARY

Recommendation: Interns should earn at least 50% of the usual market or country-specific salary of a limousine chauffeur. CLA advises interns not to conclude any contracts based on a salary lower than this level.