It is a privilege to have the opportunity to branch out and gain experience for your choice of career while still in high school. Having this opportunity could help someone get into the school of their choice one day or get the job they’ve been working for. There are many CTE classes that offer a practicum which is how students can gain internships/experience through high school.
The auto tech program has partnered with Premier Truck Rental (PTR) as a way for the students to learn more about the working environment.
“A lot of times they’ll come out and talk to our kids about what kind of opportunities they have available for them,” auto tech teacher Cody Zdyb said, “and show them what they’re looking for out of an employee.”
PTR is a truck rental company where customers can rent vehicles for any time frame from 30 days to 3 years. Their trucks go out on lease to construction companies or any companies renting them out. They have a full body shop on site, along with everything to take care of their employees. Such as a wellness center and a kitchen.
“We take off the bed of a regular truck and add a flatbed or even a dump truck onto it,” PTR Human Resources director Delinda Krazer said, “or any kind of setup a construction company orders from us.”
After the rentals have returned they thoroughly check the trucks and fix anything mechanically wrong with it.
“Having someone like PTR is great because it gives us an extra edge,” Zybd said, “to make sure our kids have jobs during high school, and you know, after, too.”
In February, PTR had a scheduled visit with the auto tech classes to talk with the students about what it is like to be an employee and how to get jobs in the mechanic field.
“From Azle, we’ve hired one student to come in to be an intern and we’re hoping to get some other interns or seniors in our program,” Krazer said, “ and that’s kind of our plan in partnering with you guys.”
PTR coming in to talk with these students is their way of recruitment for internships or potential jobs. Krazer talks to the students about what she looks for in an employee and how they do work in their business.
“We’re going to look for all-stars,” Zybd said, “but we also want to talk to our practicum kids, and see if any of them are willing to pick that up.”
