What Skills should a good corporate Chauffeur Have?
Do you enjoy being behind the steering wheel and want to earn money doing it? Well, you could consider being a professional chauffeur. While the job sounds very straight forward, it carries with it many responsibilities towards your client. You will have to deal with people with different personalities and sometimes go beyond your official job description to fulfil clients’ requests.
The core skills I think required by a professional corporate chauffeur are:
Knowledgeable: Your employer will expect you to know all the streets, hotels, theatres, clubs, shopping centres and art galleries.
You will also need to know some background information and interests of your clients. Passengers treat a chauffeur as a concierge on wheels. They will expect you to answer a lot of questions about the location you are in or driving towards.
Personable: The biggest skill as a professional chauffeur is the ability to deal with people with different personalities.
Not all people will respect you or the job you are doing. You must be courteous or kind at all times.
You will meet people who are grumpy, picky and demanding. Some people will treat you with dignity and some as help.
The ability to stay focused in all situations is a demonstration of professionalism in your industry.
Discretion: A chauffeur sees and hears many things, some which could make headlines, break up marriages or put businesses at risks.
The most important factor in choosing a corporate chauffeur is their professional discretion.
Clients are the lifeblood of your business, t so any conversations, statistics, commercially sensitive information that may be discussed in the back of the vehicle, should always remain in the back of the vehicle.
This information is not for public consumption and certainly not for your competitors.
Professional: Being able to remain professional on all occasions is paramount as a chauffeur. This involves proficiently talking to clients, as well as being presentable and dressing to the standard required for the client’s occasion
In Control: Ensuring that clients maintain professional boundaries in the car makes your career more pleasant and saves you unnecessary trouble.
Also, things can happen that were not planned for. The road ahead may be blocked by an accident, the passenger may have left their laptop at the hotel, or they may want to go somewhere else on their way to the venue. Being able to maintain an even temperament and to be able to accept these deviations for the plan lends confidence to the client that they are in the hands of a professional Chauffeur
What is the role of a Professional Corporate Chauffeur?
A corporate chauffeur is a professional driver who is hired to transport people. They use vans, limousines and luxury cars; it is also part of their duties to stock the vehicles with amenities and keep them clean and tidy.
It is important for them to know how to perform basic vehicle maintenance and be able to report any concerns regarding its operation.
A professional corporate chauffeur can be self-employed or provide services for several different passengers or even work for a private company, person or the government. The most successful ones are usually on call so they can respond to all their clients’ needs.
What are the basic tasks of a Professional Corporate Chauffeur?
The duties of a chauffeur may vary depending on the nature of your job, yet, for most positions you will be required to perform the following tasks:
- Pick passengers from their location
- Assist passengers with entering or exiting the vehicle as well as loading/unloading their luggage
- Transport clients to their destination
- Choose the quickest or safest routes
- Check car conditions
- Maintain a clean vehicle
- Equip the vehicle with all necessary amenities
- Keep records of car expenses
When do you need a Chauffeured car?
You have to be at an important business meeting and you want to be certain that you will arrive exactly on time.
You want to make an impression.
You need to travel a long distance like an airport, seaport, railway station maybe a big sporting event then corporate cars with a professional Chauffeur makes the difference.
The Chauffeur is responsible for making sure the car is fully valeted before every journey. The chauffeur will be turned out in suit and tie, always be 15 minutes early and the journey will have already been planned precision. Chauffeur driven cars of this quality cost more but as the saying goes you only get what you pay for.