Otto, D300 work together to give students a head start

Otto Engineering, the largest employer in Carpentersville, is teaming up with Community Unit Community Unit District 300 to give a couple of graduating seniors a head start as they enter the work force.

Under the program, which begins Tuesday, two Dundee-Crown High School seniors who plan to work full-time after graduation will earn school credit while learning job-related skills on things from workplace etiquette to reading blueprints.

“Although we don't have a problem finding people to hire, people we find aren't all that prepared,” said Tom Roeser, president of Otto Engineering. “Here, they will learn how to be good employees.”

Barb Bauer, the human relations director at Otto Engineering, said the program is designed to prepare students for the work environment, as well as grooming them for advancement.

“The idea is to have a well-rounded individual rather than an unknown,” Bauer said. “There's only so much you can learn about a person during an interview. We want to give them a better chance at success and also for future promotability.”

The first students to participate in the program are Jonathan Ramirez, 18, and Salman Khan, 17, both of Carpentersville. If the students successfully complete the six-month program, a job with Otto Engineering is guaranteed. In addition, Otto Engineering offers tuition reimbursement, which pushed Khan to apply.

“I want to earn some experience on the job,” said Khan, who wants to attend Elgin Community College to study automotive engineering. “It will help me move forward with my life.”

For Ramirez, seeing pictures of the products Otto Engineering manufactures piqued his interest.

“They make headsets, parts for helicopters and switches. Those are all important things,” Ramirez said. “I would like to be a part of making those things. I think it would be interesting.”

Bauer said the company plans to continue offering the program each semester.