Maurice Purtill

Between leaving school in 1991 and coming to Dell two years ago, I had 10 different jobs. I came in as an operator, making computer systems on the line. Initially I found putting a particular part into a computer over and over again monotonous. But as you progress and move up the line the work becomes more interesting and you get to do more complicated jobs.

Eventually I was testing computers in the inspection station. I've just been made an EMR technician. If a fault is discovered in a computer on the line, it's brought to the EMR section and we work on it.

When you start off in EMR you work with computers from your old line - because they're what you're familiar with. Eventually though, you move on to other products.

I like my new job. I've done everything on the line and it's good to make progress and, of course, the money's better. It's a good industry to work in. When you first come in you think you're going to be stuck in the one job but, if you put in the effort and do the job well, you can move on. My previous jobs were all dead-end. The fact that you can make progress is great.