Cracking the automotive industry nut
Discussion
I know this is a frequently asked question on here and has probably been done to death but I'm in a major rut at the moment. I'm in a pretty monotonous job, that is far from a career. The hours are good, the money isn't bad but I just know it leads nowhere and if I'm honest I'm no remotely interested in it. I work hard and I'm punctual because I am grateful I have a job and having previously suffered a redundancy I know it isn't terribly easy to find decent work.
I would love a job in the automotive industry. I'm kicking myself for not trying for an apprenticeship when I was 17. I'd murder an opportunity to start from scratch and train as a technician/body repair/body spraying etc. but knocking on 23 I don't think theres any hope for apprenticeships now, and even if I could I don't think I could manage to live off £95 a week. The other end is sales which I'm not too keen on but would favor me better as having worked in hospitality at a management level every aspect was about communication, presentation and maximizing sales. I even had a stint at running a high street pub by myself. (Never again). I'm very professional and I adapt extremely well. A lot of skills that could transfer over I'm sure. But 95% of positions posted require actual experience as a car sales person. (Obviously, who wants an expensive brew maker? .. no really, anyone?)
My question is where to start? Everybody starts somewhere and with experience being king these days what are the options available? There is very little in the way of evening courses available where I am and I don't think tinkering around in my garage counts.
I am willing to start at the very bottom and salary isn't an issue (to an extent). I just want to know there's hope as I am loosing the drive at the moment as it's seemingly impossible. The longer I wait the less realistic I think it is.
Cheers PH.
I would love a job in the automotive industry. I'm kicking myself for not trying for an apprenticeship when I was 17. I'd murder an opportunity to start from scratch and train as a technician/body repair/body spraying etc. but knocking on 23 I don't think theres any hope for apprenticeships now, and even if I could I don't think I could manage to live off £95 a week. The other end is sales which I'm not too keen on but would favor me better as having worked in hospitality at a management level every aspect was about communication, presentation and maximizing sales. I even had a stint at running a high street pub by myself. (Never again). I'm very professional and I adapt extremely well. A lot of skills that could transfer over I'm sure. But 95% of positions posted require actual experience as a car sales person. (Obviously, who wants an expensive brew maker? .. no really, anyone?)
My question is where to start? Everybody starts somewhere and with experience being king these days what are the options available? There is very little in the way of evening courses available where I am and I don't think tinkering around in my garage counts.
I am willing to start at the very bottom and salary isn't an issue (to an extent). I just want to know there's hope as I am loosing the drive at the moment as it's seemingly impossible. The longer I wait the less realistic I think it is.
Cheers PH.
Hmm you're not in the best location for the 'real' automotive industry.
Any car factory is worth a look, there are quite a few in the UK surprisingly! And the big proving grounds are MIRA and Millbrook.
Don't really know about dealerships, sales etc. That's not the automotive industry to me!
All the big manufacturers have large bases in the uk too that might be worth a look.
Any car factory is worth a look, there are quite a few in the UK surprisingly! And the big proving grounds are MIRA and Millbrook.
Don't really know about dealerships, sales etc. That's not the automotive industry to me!
All the big manufacturers have large bases in the uk too that might be worth a look.
Sales: Quite easy to get into, hard to master. Most dealerships look to take on 'trainees' sometimes, you won't get paid as much, you'll get a crap company car and you'll have to work your ass off.
I've been selling cars for a few years (albeit with a break for 2 years running a shop) and it's hard work pretty much all of the time. You need to go in every day with your game face on, some days you won't sell a car, some months you'll miss target and get f
k all. Some days/months everyone else in the company will outsell you and you'll be livid about it but unable to do anything.
Your best bet is to get letters out to dealerships. Make sure you make a point that you are good with customers, thrive under pressure, enjoy working in a target based environment and are good at calling people, making appointments and selling a wide range of products/insurances.
As for tech jobs, harder to get in to. Again, apprentices are taken on, but normally at college/college leaving age. You could try getting in somewhere like Kwik Fit etc. They get slated a lot, but they will train you very quickly and you will get all the basic skills such as servicing/tyre fitting/air con etc etc.
Pay isn't great, but hey, it's a start. A mate of mine did this, got promoted to supervisor and then moved on to be service manager at Audi. Pretty decent job.
If you want an easy life, work for a parts department. Again, crap pay, but easy as pie IMO
I've been selling cars for a few years (albeit with a break for 2 years running a shop) and it's hard work pretty much all of the time. You need to go in every day with your game face on, some days you won't sell a car, some months you'll miss target and get f
k all. Some days/months everyone else in the company will outsell you and you'll be livid about it but unable to do anything.Your best bet is to get letters out to dealerships. Make sure you make a point that you are good with customers, thrive under pressure, enjoy working in a target based environment and are good at calling people, making appointments and selling a wide range of products/insurances.
As for tech jobs, harder to get in to. Again, apprentices are taken on, but normally at college/college leaving age. You could try getting in somewhere like Kwik Fit etc. They get slated a lot, but they will train you very quickly and you will get all the basic skills such as servicing/tyre fitting/air con etc etc.
Pay isn't great, but hey, it's a start. A mate of mine did this, got promoted to supervisor and then moved on to be service manager at Audi. Pretty decent job.
If you want an easy life, work for a parts department. Again, crap pay, but easy as pie IMO
There's a few Kwik Fit fitter apprenticeships about, but honestly I wouldn't survive on £95 a week. Not nowadays. And I think they are a lot less inclined to take on anyone above 18 due not to being able to get funding (I think?) Several parts advisors jobs available but most if not all want experience from the same or similar background.
I think I'd be even lucky to just get an interview with the experience I have (minimal/none). Nothing screams entry level to me, or obvious way in. Worth throwing my CV at though.
Edit: Sending a letter to local dealerships doesn't seem like a bad idea either. Have e-mailed a few with a covering letter and CV but to no avail yet.
I think I'd be even lucky to just get an interview with the experience I have (minimal/none). Nothing screams entry level to me, or obvious way in. Worth throwing my CV at though.
Edit: Sending a letter to local dealerships doesn't seem like a bad idea either. Have e-mailed a few with a covering letter and CV but to no avail yet.
Edited by Jimmy No Hands on Monday 10th October 21:06
My honest advice would be to try and get into a dealership you have some passion for.
I work for Renault, because although I've mostly driven Hondas, I love the Renaultsport range. I also respect and enjoy the rest of the range.
I couldn't see myself working for VW or Peugeot etc as there's nothing in their range/brand that inspires me in the slightest.
The dealership I work for has a fantastic team and it run by some brilliant managers/directors who work very closely with the sales team.
I love it so much, that this is actually the second time I've worked for this company (after they made me redundant in 2008 ) I get a lot of satisfaction from it.
I work for Renault, because although I've mostly driven Hondas, I love the Renaultsport range. I also respect and enjoy the rest of the range.
I couldn't see myself working for VW or Peugeot etc as there's nothing in their range/brand that inspires me in the slightest.
The dealership I work for has a fantastic team and it run by some brilliant managers/directors who work very closely with the sales team.
I love it so much, that this is actually the second time I've worked for this company (after they made me redundant in 2008
) I get a lot of satisfaction from it.I even applied for a show room assistants job at a local Aston dealers, which involved a bit of cleaning and detailing, but it also involved delivering vehicles or picking them up, a-lot of customer interaction. I scrub up well, I'm confident, I've got a list as long as my arm of courses I have completed all relating to first impressions, presenting yourself, communication etc. It helps that they are my favorite marque and I adore everything Aston. I felt like I could really do it justice, even if it was basic.
They sent me a reply via post a few months later saying although I had a lot of relevant skills there were far more experienced people for the role. It was nice to hear back, especially with a reason, which even included a few positives.
I'm not expecting to stroll into a job delivering £100k super cars but just granted an interview I know I'd impress.
They sent me a reply via post a few months later saying although I had a lot of relevant skills there were far more experienced people for the role. It was nice to hear back, especially with a reason, which even included a few positives.
I'm not expecting to stroll into a job delivering £100k super cars but just granted an interview I know I'd impress.
robmlufc said:
Bae are still running apprenticeships out of Robin Hood, they have had people of all ages go through the system. I think 25 is a common cut off age for apprenticeships but a lot of places will take you on regardless of age.
BAE? Sorry for my ignorance but who? Fake edit: Aircraft technician? Not really what I want to do..
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