Local Ford Dealer Employs Melrose Park Graduates
Glancing into the future can be inspiring for students no matter how far along they are in their education. A promising vision validates all the hard work and dedication that students put in day after day, whether they are in their first week of class or one short week away from graduation. At all Lincoln Tech schools, the value of getting real-world experience and exposure is stressed through hands-on work and field trips to workplaces. But students at the Lincoln Tech at Melrose Park, Illinois, had a uniquely inspiring trip to a local Ford dealership in October.
As automotive and collision repair students arrived at Al Piemonte Ford, you could feel the excitement in the room grow. This wasn't merely an opportunity to see the professionals in action, it was an opportunity to network with professionals in the area so students could secure a solid job lead after graduation. Making connections with industry pros such as those at Al Piemonte can help students find a job once they graduate, especially when those professionals are fellow Lincoln Tech attendees.
As students toured the shop and asked questions about the field, they discovered that the foreman giving the tour was a Lincoln graduate, and so were four of the top technicians in the shop. Having a clear glimpse into what their future may hold was both uplifting and reassuring. Seeing so many fellow Lincoln attendees speaks to the quality of education each student receives. Building this type of network in auto body shops across the U.S. helps Lincoln Tech’s career services match students with the perfect workplace.
Aside from learning more about the importance of mastering the technology used in the field, the mandatory annual training required by each department, and all of the proper certifications, students were able to make real connections with people they could relate to.
Following graduation, four additional Melrose Park Lincoln students began working at Al Piemonte Ford. John Fakhoury now works as a foreman, and Lupe Rodriguez, Oscar Rodriguez and Al Cozzi all accepted positions as technicians. After building connections with the professionals and mastering their trade, graduates were able to start the career of their dreams.