Each Monday, our Money team speaks to someone from a different profession to discover what it’s really like. This week, we sit down with RED driver training instructor Anisa Fatima…
I usually work… between 28 and 34 hours in a week. On the days that I work, I normally start at 9am and finish at either 1.30pm or 4pm, depending on what I have planned later on in my personal life.
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Does the job allow you to save? Pretty much, yes. It’s given me great financial independence and it’s handy being able to save while doing a job that offers flexibility and one that I genuinely enjoy.
The starting salary for someone in my industry is… very dependent on hours put in, locality and the rates charged. Across the whole of the UK, driving instructors can earn from £31,000 to £53,000. The more hours, the more money.
I don’t see myself retiring for a while… I am 33, and this career allows me to earn a good income to support myself and my family. You never know – I could end up working even after retirement with fewer hours, and that’s just one of the benefits that the flexibility of the job brings.
To become a driving instructor… there are three types of tests that have to be passed in order to achieve a full Approved Driving Instructor badge. A theory test, an ability to drive test and ability to instruct test. I took these about eight to nine years ago and qualified within the year. It takes a lot of hard work but it is so rewarding that it’s worth it.
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The most important skill is… communication. Being able to communicate with your students, and finding ways that adapt to their learning curves. Learning to drive can be an intimidating experience for some, so it’s important that you’re there to support your student while they build confidence and develop their skills at their own pace.
My favourite part of the job is… actually getting to meet new people from different types of backgrounds. So not only do I teach people to drive, I also get to learn about individuals and I absolutely love this. I also find that taking the time to get to know the student can reduce any of their anxieties while driving. Knowledge is key.
Have you ever been scared? Honestly speaking, no. If safety is a concern, we are trained to help students pull away from the situation to de-escalate.
I don’t think anyone is difficult to teach as long as… they are listening to the information given by us instructors. We all have different learning curves, and as an instructor, it’s our duty to adapt to those.
I believe driving lessons are… worth paying for as they are a lifetime investment. Once you finish your lessons and pass your test, you earn more freedom and flexibility by being able to drive. It is a skill that stays with you for life, so I think paying for lessons is a fair investment. And for many, driving helps open them up to more opportunities, whether that be for work, to study, or to see family and friends.
As a woman in a male-dominated industry… I have not experienced anything that has held me back. And I really hope I don’t in the future.
One of my best moments was… being awarded by RED Driver Training as the PR Ambassador of the Year 2024. It has motivated me to achieve more and really push myself further. The sky is the limit.
The biggest mistake I’ve ever made is… letting people take me as too laid back and easygoing, and then not recognising the seriousness of the situations you can be in. It’s important to be friendly and nice, but you need to be able to act strict in some situations as a driving instructor. It’s all about balance, and once you’ve mastered that, it becomes a lot easier.
One thing I would change about the industry is... getting the driving test wait times reduced. It has impacted us a lot, in both bad ways and good ways as we are busier than ever. I’ve seen how delays have hindered people’s progress, and we’ve seen recently that many have sadly been scammed trying to book lessons and get on to the road.
The manoeuvre people tend to be scared of is… parallel parking. However, my students grow to love them in the end, as the tips and tricks I’ve given over the years have made it easy. My top tip for parallel parking is… a method known as the triangle method, which works nicely in most cars and my learners have adapted to it easily. This involves using the space between your car, the kerb and your wing mirror to form a triangular shape that shrinks as you reverse. After mastering this, I have had some say that they enjoy the parallel parking more over other manoeuvres.
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What it’s really like to be a… bouncer
My top tip for passing your driving test is… practice, practice and more practice! They do say practice makes perfect, and I well and truly believe that. A good instructor will also help you understand any weaknesses you have leading up to your test. As well as practising on the road, there are lots of support aids to help students.
I have lost my patience with a driver but… that’s because of immature behaviour. Let’s just say, coming to a lesson and not being in the mood to learn in a safe way. I have a rule, if you are not going to take lessons seriously and think it’s fun and games, you need to exit the car. This is because safety is a number one priority when you’re learning. I love those who come with great enthusiasm to learn, not those who think that driving is a game!
Do you ever give free lessons? A straightforward answer – nope. I have mouths to feed at home. And those mouths are too young at the moment to be offering free lessons.
My oldest client was… 74! She has a special place in my heart, and I always use her as an example that there is never an age limit when learning. She passed in the 60s, but never drove as she never felt the need to. Fast-forward to today, her husband was diagnosed with glaucoma, leading her to wanting to get back into driving. After six months of lessons, she is once again out on the roads! She actually comes to my local gym and it’s lovely to hear whenever I see her that she is still driving and taking her husband to his appointments.
When a pupil is driving, I’m usually thinking… remember to stay calm! I usually assess my student’s ability to drive, so my mind is always on the side of, how can I make them better? If I’m not keeping my cool, then how can I expect them to?
To pass your test, it takes around… 45 hours is required to be ready but in all honesty, this is very dependent on the individual. I have taught people in more hours and then some in less and they’ve still passed the test. The amount of lessons required is all dependent on the individual, as we all have our own learning curves.
