Los Angeles High School Students to Explore Auto Careers

Governor Schwarzenegger Recognizes Automotive Career Month

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 19 -- This month Los Angeles high school students will learn about rapidly expanding career opportunities in auto dealerships. The Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealers Association (GLANCDA) joins the California Motor Car Dealers Association (CMCDA) and dealerships nationwide to celebrate Automotive Career Month this October, sponsored by the National Automobile Dealers Association.

"Automotive Career Month has been established to promote rewarding careers within car dealerships. I commend new-car dealerships across the state for hosting events to highlight opportunities in the technical and executive management fields," said Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in a proclamation to CMCDA. "Your combined efforts give students another worthy option in planning their futures."

During the week of October 23 from 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., high school students across the state will receive a "behind-the-scenes" tour of a dealership to see first-hand how the business operates in all areas, including sales, service and finance. Participating dealerships include: Acura of Glendale; Bob Smith BMW, Honda World Downey; Saab of Santa Monica; Sierra Auto Cars, Inc.; Sopp Chevrolet; Superior Nissan of Carson; Symes Cadillac and Symes Toyota of Pasadena.

There are more than 104,000 job openings in dealerships nationwide, according to a recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive for Automotive Retailing Today. In the Pacific Region (California, Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington) there are 15,472 job openings in dealerships.

"Many young people and their parents are surprised to learn that dealerships offer such a wide variety of outstanding career opportunities," said John Symes, GLANCDA president. "Los Angeles auto dealers are thrilled to have a chance to share our experiences with the students, and we hope that many will end up strongly considering careers in our industry."

Today's auto dealership careers are expanding and more cutting-edge than ever. With new vehicles holding more computing power than the Apollo moon launch and dealership businesses growing, dynamic positions with high-income potential can be found in such fields as:

  -- Sales
  -- Auto Repair and Service
  -- Finance
  -- Marketing
  -- Administration
  -- Design
  -- Technology and computers
  -- Communications

To help students pursuing studies related to the sale and service of new motor vehicles, GLANCDA contributed to the CMCDA Scholarship Foundation. The Foundation raised over $225, 000 at a Gala Scholarship Dinner in April 2006. The money benefits CMCDA's Scholarship Foundation to fund auto technician scholarships.

About GLANCDA

Originally founded in 1907, the Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealers Association provides valuable educational and philanthropic benefits to the Los Angeles Community.