Automotive Technology students met with representatives from area vehicle service centers at the annual Automotive Technology job fair that connects students with prospective employers.
Nearly 20 companies set up tables on Tuesday in the Johnson Automotive Technology Center, the home of SMCC’s Automotive Technology program. There, they met and talked with a steady stream of students who handed out resumes and learned about the service centers.
The fair provides an opportunity for students to check out job and career opportunities, and for auto dealerships and other repair service centers to recruit employees.
Automotive Technology student Matthew Cargen said the fair provided a one-stop shop where he could learn about multiple companies in in a single setting in a short period to time.
“I’m here looking to find a job,” he said. “I’m handing out resumes, talking to people and checking out different work environments to figure out what might be a good fit.”
Glen Reed, who oversees parts and service for three Patriot Automotive Group dealerships, has worked in partnership with SMCC for years while serving on the Automotive Technology program’s advisory committee.
The job fair, he said, allows him to foster good relationships with students who are looking to enter the workforce. He said Patriot Automotive Group employs eight service technicians who either graduated from or are current students at SMCC.
“It’s hard to find skilled labor in today’s workforce,” he said. “The industry as a whole needs these automotive students.”