Hundreds register for Chicago Auto Show Career Day at McCormick Place

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The inaugural Chicago Auto Show Career Day took off to a very impressive start Tuesday.

The Chicago Auto Show 2024 is the perfect venue to introduce students to all the possibilities in an automotive career. It's more than mechanics and sales.

"There's so much more, from automotive designers who are designing the car both interior and exterior," founder of Teen Innovation Summit Alissa Constable said. "There's business managers, marketing; there's social responsibility, corporate social responsibility, being in the community, working with the community members. There's the inside of the dealership, where young people can go get a job very quickly."

The day was a huge hit. Over 1,000 students registered for the event, and it was a packed house for the panel portion.

The message was simple, if you want to go this route, there's a career fit for everyone.

"I love cars. I love Toyota. I love race cars. I love everything about cars," high school student Jahkil Jackson said.

Jackson helped lead a discussion about the future of the automotive industry, a joint effort between the nonprofit Teen Innovation Summit and the Chicago Auto Show.

"We're going to be the future leaders of tomorrow; so, it's important that we start now," Jackson said.

Some students in attendance are already on the career path before graduating high school.

"Personally, I like hands-on things, like fixing and taking apart things," student Kaden Bullaro said.

Bullaro is a student in the Thornton Township Academy of Truck and Diesel Technology. For several periods a day, he and his classmates are getting real world experience.

"I've been thinking about doing this since middle school, but when I got to high school I didn't know that I could actually go to a certain program to pursue the kind of career I've wanted," Bullaro said.

While the need for technicians is great, the spectrum of careers within the industry is much broader.

"It almost takes a different skillset these days. It's more computer-based, more technical. Besides that, there's a variety of careers available. Whether it's engineer or design work for example, sales, marketing, it really runs the gamut," Chicago Auto Show General Manager Jennifer Morand said.

And the careers are accessible to anyone who has interest.

"A lot of these students can start at their local dealerships. The dealerships will train them and help them get to the next level. So, you know, it doesn't require an MBA or some high-level degree," Constable said.

The students who attended Tuesday came from all over: Waukegan, Dolton, Vernon Hills, downtown Chicago and Hyde Park.

If you plan to take family to the auto show this week, check out Ford's Bronco Mountain and arrive early. Over the weekend, there was a two-hour-long wait to ride it.

Hyundai has its own electric vehicle test track, where you can get a feel for several EVs, including the newly redesigned 2024 Kona.

"It's much larger in size than its predecessor, so it's larger in size in the length, as well as the wheel base," Hyundai product specialist Melissa Stallings said.

SEE ALSO | ABC7 takes deep dive into future of EVs, Chicago-area charging networks and autonomous driving

If you go to see cars and trucks, there are a lot of winners on display. Cars.com chose Ford's 2024 F-Series Super Duty as its 2024 Pickup Truck of the year for its combination of power, capability and technology.

"The Super Duty has available pro hitch assist, which lets you back up to a trailer automatically and pro back up assist which lets you control the trailer with just a knob to make that easy as well," Road Test Editor for Cars.com Brian Normile said.

The week continues with more themed days. Wednesday will be Military and First Responders Appreciation Day.

"That's to really give thanks to those on the front line, active duty, veterans. We appreciate them so much; they get in free," Morand said.

The auto show will host a food drive Wednesday through Friday.

On Friday, Friday Night Flights is back, and Monday, which is the last day, is Family Day.

READ MORE | Chicago Auto Show 2024 at McCormick Place, Feb. 10-19: Hours, ticket prices and more