On May 3 a group of senior-year automotive shop class students from High School District 228 visited three dealerships for the purpose of potentially gaining employment. These students have demonstrated mechanical aptitude and are great candidates to enter a career path in the automotive industry.  Many of them are interested in becoming an automotive technician and some also opted to interview with a second dealership the following day.

The CATA’s grassroots high-school education program is an effort to find eligible students who can help fill vacancies at CATA dealerships. The CATA partnered with district career counselors to put this unique event together.

"It was very interesting to see these young people get a look at the career opportunities that exist at new-car dealerships," said Chris Konecki, CATA executive vice president. "I don’t think that most students realize the lucrative career opportunities that exist at dealerships and seeing them really opens their minds to potentially starting a career there. Most of the students have never been in a dealership let alone being able to see the service department, service bays, back office and show rooms."

This CATA initiative will roll out to other districts around Chicagoland in the coming months.

"What we need is to connect with dynamic career counselors like the ones we have partnered with in District 228," said Konecki. "Once we do that, we can reach out to our dealer members in those school districts to set up similar events."

With almost all dealers needing technicians as well as other staff, this is a way to try to connect potential candidates with employers.  For more information on this program contact Chris Konecki at the CATA.