Sinclair Community College will host an automotive career fair in Building 20 at 11:30 a.m. on April 22.
Sinclair Automotive Department Chairperson Justin Morgan told the Clarion that Sinclair will welcome Sinclair students and about a dozen companies to the career fair. Students will be able to meet and talk to representatives from local companies in the automotive industry.
Morgan, who holds a bachelor’s degree in automotive technology, has been teaching in Sinclair’s automotive department since 2005. He said that there is a serious need for qualified, trained technicians in the automotive industry, both locally and nationally. He said that part of the reason for the career fair is to help meet the need for qualified technicians in the local community, but it’s also a great opportunity for students.
“We really want to help students get jobs coming out of [Sinclair’s automotive] program,” Morgan said. “We’re trying to let students know what good jobs are available out there.”
Morgan said the automotive industry is “starving” for good technicians.
The need for qualified technicians is so great, in fact, that Sinclair is starting a new paid internship program this year. Automotive students who are enrolled in the internship program will attend class at Sinclair in the morning and then work at a shop in the afternoon, Morgan said.
Morgan said that while there will always be plenty of brake and tire work for mechanics, the days of the “grease monkey” are long gone, and today’s automotive technician will need serious skills to succeed in the industry.
Today’s automobiles are loaded with electronics, computer modules and wireless technology, and these days, automotive technicians need to know how to use laptops and wireless scan tools to aid in their diagnosis and troubleshooting.
Sinclair automotive students are in good hands, however, because Sinclair’s state-of-the-art automotive program is one of the best in the nation. Sinclair’s automotive department received Tomorrow’s Technician’s “Automotive School of the Year” award in 2013. The department has also been runner-up for that award in the past.
Sinclair’s automotive department is located in Building 20, and contains about 18 vehicle lifts, several classrooms and spacious lab facilities. In addition to the typical equipment found in most automotive labs, Sinclair’s automotive department also has its own machine shop and dyno-testing area. Morgan said that not many automotive schools have that kind of equipment, and that is one of the advantages for students in the program.
The automotive facility also has a showroom featuring high-performance vehicles like the Acura TSX A-spec and Chevrolet Camaro. The showroom also holds an antique firetruck, and high-performance engines and transmissions are on display as well.
Sinclair’s automotive department has partnered with well-known industry names like Chrysler and Honda, which means that students are trained specifically to work on those types of vehicles, preparing them for employment as technicians at automotive dealerships.
Sinclair’s automotive program is one of the oldest in the nation, and has been around since the early 1900s. According to Morgan, approximately 750 students have graduated from Sinclair’s automotive program in the last five years or so.
The need for qualified technicians is not going away anytime soon, and neither is the electronic and computerized technology in today’s automobiles. With the growing popularity of devices like Droid, iPhone and Bluetooth, technology will continue to be integrated into new vehicles. That means that automotive technicians will need to have the skills and knowledge to approach complex diagnostic issues, and Sinclair’s automotive program is a great place to acquire those skills.
But there is more to Sinclair’s automotive department than just fast cars and fancy equipment. Morgan said that it’s the people that make the department what it is.
“I think the reason we get those accolades is [because of] the dedication of the faculty,” Morgan said. “I think the students and the faculty are outstanding.”
Sinclair’s automotive career fair will take place April 22 in building 20. For more information, call the office of Career Resources at (937) 512-2772.
Jason Sedy
Copy Editor