Calvin Reed became an apprentice technician at Boston Volvo in December 2019 thanks to BFIT’s “Work, Learn, and Earn” partnership with Village Automotive Group. Automotive students accepted into the program earn a part-time job at a Village Automotive dealership, one-on-one mentoring, and scholarship funds.
“They set up this job for me where I went in with no experience and they were willing to take me on and build me up almost from nothing,” Reed said. “Which is an amazing opportunity. It’s not just that I’m doing work for them and they’re paying for some of my education. Everyone at the dealership and in the shop, I feel, wants me to learn and grow. Everyone’s been really nice over there.”
The dealership offered him a full-time job after graduation, which Reed eagerly accepted. “It was a no-brainer,” he said. “Most people don’t get to start their first car job at a high-end dealership.”
At BFIT, Reed said he especially loved Shop Day, when automotive students spend a full day working on all makes and models of cars in the college’s live auto shop. He hopes for a long career as an auto technician and may someday start a side business converting classic cars to electric. “I just need a job where I can be around cars all the time,” he said. “It’s what I’ve loved since I was little.”
Published July 8, 2021
