NJ CAR Introduces Technician Advancement Program (TAP) BY JOHANNA STUBENHOFER, COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE, NJ CAR In an effort to address the severe shortage of skilled automotive technicians, NJ CAR is in the midst of its first Technician Advancement Program (TAP) training boot camp. This 18-week program is tailored to the needs of the dealership and outshines other traditional training options in several ways. Community college or technical schools are expensive, require large time commitments, and typically contain little opportunity for students to get worthwhile hands-on experience. NJ CAR TAP intends to address all these shortcomings by creating a sustainable program to train individuals who are interested in pursuing a rewarding career as an auto technician. The program is hosted at a local dealership (the first was held at Dayton Toyota), allowing participants to learn and apply their skills through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on application in the dealership’s service department. BOOT CAMP’S DEVELOPMENT & BOTTOM LINE TAP was developed by NJ CAR in partnership with dealership fixed operation personnel. It is taught by dealership master technicians to promote efficiency, inspiring confidence in the participants’ ability to effectively perform basic repairs on vehicles in the service lane. Upon completion, graduating participants will know how to perform entrylevel tasks including oil changes, mounting and dismounting tires, correcting alignments, and replacing brakes. TAP is also providing tool assistance (at a discounted price for students) to help create as many job-ready candidates as possible for dealers by the end of each program cycle. NJ CAR TAP’S TRANSFORMATIVE APPROACH TO AUTOMOTIVE TRAINING In this accelerated learning program, students will be able to quickly and efficiently learn the skills they need to become an entry-level technician and enter the workforce. Taking TAP training in a real dealership setting gives students a more practical and realistic experience in understanding what it’s like to work on vehicles at the dealership. By hosting one of the NJ CAR TAP boot camps, your dealership will be able to identify and develop talented candidates that will ultimately help grow your dealership’s success. Dealerships that invest in these students are also investing in the community’s future by providing them with the opportunity to gain valuable skills and secure rewarding careers in automotive retail. BECOMING A DEALERSHIP HOST FOR TAP Help the NJ CAR TAP program grow and expand by becoming a dealership host for a future TAP boot camp. As a host, you will join a group of dealers focused on empowering talented jobseekers in your community, strengthening your workforce, and continuing to grow your dealership’s success. For more information on NJ CAR TAP, please reach out to Brandon Jurakhan, Manager of Workforce Development, at (609) 883-5056, ext. 318 or bjurakhan@njcar.org. 16 NEW JERSEY auto retailer
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