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Joel Ricketts - Apprentice Interview

Hi, my name is Joel and I am currently working as an Apprentice with ADT Fire and Security.  I want to tell you a little bit about why I decided to join ADT’s Apprentice programme.

When I left school I joined a manufacturing company working as a mechanical engineer.  What a mistake that was!  All I did was stand behind a machine doing the same thing over and over again.  It was not long before I realised that this was not the job for me!

I remembered seeing ADT Engineers driving around in their cars and thought that that might be a good job for me…. How could I get a job with ADT? 

I went onto the company website www.adt.co.uk and read about ADT’s Apprentice programme.  I called the number and applied to be part of the programme.  Before I knew it, I got a call from the Installation Manager inviting me to an interview.  This was scary, I really wanted to be part of the programme but felt nervous about the interview.  Luckily the Installation Manager was really friendly and the interview was great.  I soon found out that I was accepted onto the programme. Then the fun really began…………

On my first day I learned all about ADT and just how big the company is.  There are so many opportunities for different careers with ADT.  I was on the Fire Installation team which means I was learning all about what fire systems a customer would need; how to install the different systems and how to keep them working.

In my first year I attended college once a week to learn the theory of the job and then the other four days is practical training.  You work with a lead engineer who teaches you how to do the job and, best of all, you get paid for it!  Then you get specialist apprentice training at ADT’s training academy. The academy is great – you learn so much and get to meet the other Apprentices from around the UK.

I completed my college course in two years, so now I am studying for another qualification at college.  I have learned so much!

ADT are a great company to work for.  If you work hard and perform well you will get a pay increase every six months which is great.  Also you can earn extra money by working overtime meaning you can earn good money while you are still training.  You are working with a great team of people and best of all; you get to go to different places every day.  One day I could be working in an office, the next day it could be Alton Towers. 

I will be qualifying in July 2006 and will receive my certificate at an awards ceremony.  After that I will be a qualified engineer and will finally get one of those cars that I wanted.

It’s hard to choose what to do when you leave school, but take my advice… choose well.  Think about what you want to do and then find a company that will pay you to learn on the job!  ADT can offer you so much, so do what I did and join the best!