DO YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR SEATTLE AND THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST?
ARE YOU FRIENDLY AND OUTGOING?
DO YOU LOVE SHARING THE PUGET SOUND REGION WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY?
DO YOU ENJOY MEETING PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD?
ARE YOU ADDICTED TO COFFEE AND RAIN?
THEN WE WANT YOU ON OUR TEAM!
Please read our driver/guide criteria below and then, if you meet the criteria and/or if you have any questions, submit your contact information in the form at the bottom.
Thanks, we look forward to speaking with you!
Tours Northwest Driver/Guide Criteria
Tours Northwest, Seattle’s Premier Tour Company, is looking for safe, professional and conscientious tour guides/drivers!
Tours NW conducts Seattle, Mt Rainier National Park and Snoqualmie Falls tours in 20-passenger mini-buses.
We are based in South Seattle (South Park neighborhood). Guides report for work at the South Park office.
Our tour guides are also drivers – driving and narrating at the same time – therefore, we are seeking individuals with the following credentials:
1. Safe, competent driver with a clean driving record
2. Have had a driver’s license and been driving for at least 5 years (minimum 8 years for Mt Rainier guides)
3. Between the ages of 25 and 70
4. Fluent English speaker with excellent public speaking skills
5. Good physical condition (able to frequently, quickly and easily get in and out of the driver’s seat, able to walk quickly and lift 35 lbs… occasionally)
6. Have lived in the Puget Sound region for at least two years within the past five years
7. Thorough knowledge of Seattle and the region, particularly driving in downtown Seattle and around the city
8. Available to work a minimum of 3 days/week during May – September (our busiest period)
9. Available to work most Saturdays and Sundays
10. Energetic, passionate, curious, intelligent and creative
11. Easy-going and patient; not easily agitated
12. Reliable and responsible; able to work unsupervised and make wise decisions
13. Dependable and punctual; showing up on time when scheduled
14. Great interpersonal skills; quick to smile and put others at ease
15. Flexible and adaptable; able to respond positively to unexpected situations (curveballs are part of this game!)
16. Have a Class ‘C’ CDL with Passenger Endorsement, or, a willingness to spend 10-30 hours of own time studying and preparing for the CDL Test. **
17. Able to pass a pre-employment drug test and ongoing random drug tests while employed. (Tours NW is under Federal Dept of Transportation [DOT] regulations and therefore must adhere to current DOT drug testing laws, which includes testing for marijuana.)
18. Able to pass a Criminal Background Check
19. Able to pass a basic DOT Physical Exam which includes, but is not limited to, checking for diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and heart disease
20. Love coffee, rain and seafood…or at least two of the three!
** Tours NW reimburses for costs incurred obtaining Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP), taking CDL Skills Test and getting new CDL license. Also, an additional 5 hours of test-prep is paid.
Separate from CDL training, tour training is paid and averages about 30-40 hours total. Base hourly rate is between $21.50 and $25, which does not include tips. With tips included, guides typically average around $30-$40/hr.
If this all sounds good and/or if you have questions about anything, please provide your name and contact information in the fields below and we will contact you shortly.
Thank you for your interest in joining the Tours NW team!