Cadman Herbert's passion for cars led him to earn a certificate in automotive engineering technology along with his high school diploma. So it seemed like fate when the Penn State Abington student connected with The Faulkner Organization, which owns 19 auto dealerships, at the campus career expo.
Cadman impressed Faulkner's recruiter, who wasn't about to let him park his skills elsewhere. She promptly offered him an internship at the firm's Nissan sales center.
His knowledge of cars and ability to connect with people were evident while he shadowed the sales staff and learned the intricacies of sales, leasing, financing and trade appraisals.
When the internship ended, Faulkner didn't let the talented Abington student drive away. They retained Cadman with a part-time position as Internet sales coordinator while finishing his degree in psychological and social sciences at Abington.
The Brooklyn native works 32 hours each week responding to online sales inquiries, qualifying customers and setting appointments for sales consultants. He even earned a license to sell cars.
"I try to get potential customers in the door so they can work with a sales consultant," he said. "My job is to push them off the fence."
He said juggling coursework and his job isn't difficult because he loves the challenge.
"I'm networking, making money, dealing with a lot of different personalities, and adapting and learning to do things on the fly," he said. "It's a lot of fun."