Mediaroom

Scroll to next section

October 29, 2013 - Third Time’s a Charm: UTI-Rancho Cucamonga Graduate Excels in New Automotive Career

This year has been one of the best, most successful years for Long Beach resident and Universal Technical Institute – Rancho Cucamonga graduate Tam Nguyen. Seven months before graduating from UTI’s Automotive and Diesel Industrial Program in July of this year, the 31-year-old secured his dream job with full benefits at Ryder, one of North America’s leading providers of commercial transportation. What’s more, he received a promotion just one month after graduation.

Tam’s road to success, however, hasn’t always been so smooth or successful. Like thousands of other Americans, Tam was a victim of the recession shortly after the housing crash. He lost his job as a loan officer and decided to pursue a second career as a chef. Unfortunately, the restaurant industry took a downturn, too, and soon Tam found himself applying for minimum wage-paying jobs to make ends meet.

McDonald’s turned him down for being overqualified, he lost his only car, was nearly evicted from his apartment and had to resort to public assistance. But with five young daughters and a wife to care for at home, Tam had six good reasons not to give up on success.

“I asked myself, ‘How can I provide for my family?’” Tam said. “Living near the Long Beach Port, I recognized the many opportunities that are available in the automotive and diesel industry and decided to take control of my life by enrolling at Universal Technical Institute.”

Tam said that decision changed his life and set him on a path to learning that you get out of life what you put into it.

Determined to provide for his family, Tam commuted six hours a day via train from Long Beach to the UTI Rancho Cucamonga campus and worked part time at an automotive shop – all while earning a 3.96 GPA.

“As motivated as I am, if I didn’t have the right leadership and guidance at UTI, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” he said.

Tam credits his instructors and the support he received from UTI’s employment services department in helping him be the best of the best and prepare for the workforce. Now with a good-paying job and stable working hours, Tam enjoys being able to take his five girls out on the weekends and is proud to no longer need public assistance.

Search
Getting Started
Becoming a Student
About Us
Resources
Contact

1) UTI cannot guarantee employment or salary.

2) For important information about the educational debt, earnings and completion rates of students who attended this program, and to review the applicable Gainful Employment disclosure, visit our website at www.uti.edu/disclosures.

5) UTI programs prepare graduates for careers in industries using the provided training, primarily as automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians. Some UTI graduates get jobs within their field of study in positions other than as a technician, such as: parts associate, service writer, fabricator, paint and paint prep, and shop owner/operator. UTI cannot guarantee employment or salary.

14) Incentive programs and employee eligibility are at the discretion of the employer and available at select locations. Special conditions may apply. Talk to potential employers to learn more about the programs available in your area. UTI cannot guarantee employment or salary.

© 2018 Universal Technical Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.