A record number of graduates will join FirstGroup this autumn but they represent a tiny fraction of those who applied for work at the Aberdeen-based transport giant.
FirstGroup said 23 people would start its two-year graduate scheme in September, up from 14 last year.
They were successful in securing a position from among 1,023 who applied.
Many of the new recruits will be hoping to follow the example of Duncan Cameron, managing director of Granite City bus operation First Aberdeen, who joined the programme in 2002.
Others may have their eyes on a job higher up the group’s management ladder, perhaps even as a future chief executive of the £6.9billion-a-year business.
Human resources director John Evans said: “Our graduate programme has been an overwhelming success.
“Extending the scheme by around two-thirds reflects the huge contribution that our graduates make to the business, both whilst on the programme and as they go on to develop their careers.
“Colleagues who have graduated occupy many senior positions across our bus and rail divisions.
“In extending the scheme, we hope to build on that success and encourage even more people to develop their careers at First.”
He added: “I’m pleased too that our programme continues to attract record volumes of applicants.
“I’m thrilled with the response rate and in particular with the quality of candidate that is approaching First.
“We are attracting students with tremendous pedigree and potential.”
Mr Cameron said the knowledge he gained on the scheme was invaluable, adding: “I experienced almost every aspect of running a bus company.
“It has undoubtedly helped me and many of my graduate colleagues secure senior positions within First.”
Shalando Williams, 23, is nine months into his graduate training and has just finished a three-month placement at train operator ScotRail.
He is now providing support to bus subsidiaries First Aberdeen and First Glasgow, having worked at both before to his placement.
“The scheme has been fantastic,” Mr Williams said, adding: I’ve experienced First’s operations, including ScotRail, across Scotland and worked with almost every function within the bus division.
“I’m looking forward to developing my career with FirstGroup and the graduate development programme has given me a great platform to build on.”
FirstGroup employs about 120,000 people and transports more than 2.5billion passengers a year on operations throughout the UK and North America.