Now that you have all the background information, it is time for you to consider taking an ADI training course – but be very careful. Many people have lived to regret the day they signed the contract too quickly and before they had considered all the conditions.
Find out who delivers these driving courses in your area. Contact them by telephone to make an appointment to discuss matters. You will be well aware that, in any business, some are good and some not so good. The driving industry is no exception. There will be many honest people just trying to give good value for money – and there will be others. Beware! We know that our readers, apart from having a mutual interest in the driver training industry, will differ considerably from one another. Because they may have a background that involves business meetings, a few will relish the thought of meeting the driving school proprietor. Others may be less comfortable with such a situation. All we can suggest is that you remember what this is all about. It is about your career and your money. As they will want your money, you have the advantage. They want your custom. Do not commit yourself yet. Explore other training establishments first.
Remember that this is a business meeting rather than a cosy cup of tea with a friend. Do not try to be too friendly. Be alert. Do not be afraid to ask specific questions from your list (see below). Do not be diverted by a salesperson’s over-active imagination that is possibly painting unrealistic pictures of your future as an ADI. Do not get drawn into chitchat and banter but keep focused on the purpose of your meeting with them.
One of the main risks is paying for the full course in advance of starting. This is often a requirement laid out in the contract. As always, before you sign anything, be aware of the small print. It may state that if, for some reason, you are unable to start the course or are unsuccessful in completing any part of the course, the fee or the remainder is not refundable. This will mean you lose all your money. A better way to pay for your training is to pay for each part of the course individually and only pay for the next part when you have successfully completed the previous part of the course. Also in the small print there may be a non-refundable proportion of the fee for administration. Check out how big this fee is and whether you consider it to be a fair payment. There is always the risk of you not being successful in passing any of the three tests, and remember that the final instructional Part 3 test is by far the most difficult. You could get this far, having spent £2,000–£3,000, and still not pass. This is why you need to consider carefully whether this career is for you.
Before you sign anything, ask plenty of questions in order to find out whether your trainers are good at their job and whether you are going to receive good value for your money. Such questions might be as follows: How much does the course cost? Can I pay on a lesson-to-lesson basis or do I have to pay fees in advance? If so, how much? Do I have to pay for the whole course or can I pay for each part at a time, as I pass the exams? Can I get a refund if, for reasons beyond my control (e.g. contracting a serious illness or being unable to pass an exam), I cannot complete the course? Is there a non-refundable administration charge? If so, how much is it? Is all this written into the contract? May I take a copy of the contract away at the end of the meeting?
Before you go for your interview, print all these questions on to a sheet of paper. Have a heading entitled ‘Training establishment’ and fill in the establishment’s name by hand. This will let them know they are not the only establishment you are looking at. Tick the questions off as you get the replies. That way you should not be diverted – intentionally or otherwise – from your task. If after you return home you find some questions have not been answered, contact them again. Obtain their answers in writing. Do not commit yourself to a contract, yet. Once you have received all your answers, thank them, say goodbye and leave with a copy of the contract together with a copy of the training syllabus. Inform them that you need some cooling-off time to consider the offer and that you may contact them over the next few days to clarify any points or to accept a place on their course. Tell them that, before you make a final decision, you have appointments with other schools and you wish to hear what they are offering. Any businessperson should admire your strategy. It is probably exactly how they would deal with it. If they try to pressure you into signing anything, tell them you do not want this pressure. If they persist and it makes you unhappy, walk away. Whatever you do, do not sign anything until you have had time to consider everything, coolly and calmly. Do not be swayed by a cheerful and friendly manner.
These people may be driving instructors and projecting a friendly personality is part of what they do. They have had years of practice. If you know anyone whose advice you would respect, ask them what they think of the training establishment’s package. Look at the contract carefully. If you have any doubts or questions then contact them. If part of the contract states that you have to pay for the full course in advance, try to renegotiate paying for one part at a time. Now that you are out of their immediate grasp they may be more willing to give way on something like this. If they will not, read the warnings stated above and then think very carefully before you make your next move. If you have any doubts and feel that, due to pressure, you may end up signing a contract before the meeting ends, leave your credit cards and cheque book at home. Do you know that you may be entitled to a career loan?
Our website is not responsible for the information contained by this article. Articleinput.com is a free articles resource thus practically any visitor can submit an article. However if you notice any copyrighted material, please contact us and we will remove the article(s) in discussion right away.
Note: This article was sent to us by: Cliff Waugh at 01162010
1. How to pass the test of instructional ability
All articles are property of their respective authors. Please read our Privacy Policy!
© 2009 ArticleInput.com.