Entering The Industry
Discussion
Hi everyone,
So I am currently studying my A-Levels in the UK, i'm not taking any sort of engineering or car mechanics courses. Yet i'm really passionate about getting into the automotive industry. I like the idea of sales but i'm not entirely sure just yet. I understand that i'm likely going to have to start at the very bottom of the industry and work my way up through gaining experience. I was just wondering what my options are, if there are any apprenticeships/internships or anything along those lines.
Thanks a bunch!
So I am currently studying my A-Levels in the UK, i'm not taking any sort of engineering or car mechanics courses. Yet i'm really passionate about getting into the automotive industry. I like the idea of sales but i'm not entirely sure just yet. I understand that i'm likely going to have to start at the very bottom of the industry and work my way up through gaining experience. I was just wondering what my options are, if there are any apprenticeships/internships or anything along those lines.
Thanks a bunch!
Forgive me here, and I mean no disrespect to dealer sales teams, but since you are studying for A-levels at the moment and you want to work in the industry, then why are you not planning to go to university and getting an engineering degree? There is a shortage of talent and the salaries are typically higher than you could expect in sales.
Ultimately it depends on what you want to do with your life, but it sounds like you're imposing limits on your potential that may not be necessary yet. What A-levels are you studying?
Ultimately it depends on what you want to do with your life, but it sounds like you're imposing limits on your potential that may not be necessary yet. What A-levels are you studying?
I have considered it, i'm just a little on the edge about going to university, not sure if it will be for me. At the moment, the only sort of related thing I am studying is physics. Thanks for your reply though, really helped i'll definitely consider looking into it because I know it will open a lot of doors.
Thanks again
Thanks again
The car industry is subject to huge change as fossil fuels disappear and I'm sure that won't be the only change. I can see sales will become a totally different animal. If however you are determined why not see if you can get a weekend job at a main dealers so you can get a taste of it and then tailor your future accordingly.
Sales skills are transferable, and there are a lot of industries where salespeople make A LOT of money. Way way in excess of an engineer, accountant or GP. Although not many get rich punting hatchbacks.
Personally, unless I was looking at a top line degree e.g. law or medicine, and I liked the idea of sales I'd be staying well away from university. Earn while you learn.
Good salespeople are always in demand.
Personally, unless I was looking at a top line degree e.g. law or medicine, and I liked the idea of sales I'd be staying well away from university. Earn while you learn.
Good salespeople are always in demand.
Hey there,
Sort of had this dilemma back in 2006 when I did my A-Levels. Like you I only studied Physics, I completely stuffed my maths A Level up, and ended up doing Music Tech instead.
I guess it depends on what you feel you want to do. If you want to go into Sales, it's a hard life, but can be rewarding. My BIL used to work in sales for both large and small dealers across Scotland (that big one rhyming with dark included). However after six or seven years he quit and is now a production manager at a food production place. So the skills learnt can be transferable should you decide to go somewhere else. As someone else said, not much money shifting hatchbacks and you'll have to deal with some of the worst people in the world. The car-buying public.
Do you want to be more hands on though? If you would rather be doing the technician side of things, then you can go via apprenticeships, City and Guild qualifications etc.
Or you can go through university, which won't make you a mechanic, and is generally not quite as hands-on as a straight technical course. But will teach you a lot more about project management (that is actually useful to be good at), design, development. It's not just sums and calculating Parallax, plus you can tailor your learning to what you'd like to achieve, and transfer in some cases to other courses. Like with most things, it is what you make of it.
I'd also make the distinction of a technician and an engineer in the automotive industry, they are two different roles, with different responsibilities.
There's also a life outside working at a dealers. In the UK we have quite a few OEM's, and lots of suppliers to these manufacturers, all of which need engineers, managers, sales people, technicians etc.
As a quick example, I got my physics A-Level as well as a bunch in History, Music and English, and applied to universities on a variety of year zero and year one courses (purely as I didn't have the required subjects/ UCAS points for some). I got into the Motorsport Eng course at UCLan and did my Masters there. They had opportunities to get involved in many extra-curricular projects, notably Formula Ford racing, which was real-life racing with real, paying drivers. We had access to workshops, CAD suites and other facilities so we could learn more than just what's on the course content. I did a placement at an OEM in the UK, and returned after my masters there to do a graduate scheme.
I'm now a design engineer there and have been here for over three years. Initially I wanted to go into motorsport, but the opportunities and benefits at where I am were too good to refuse. My role combines a lot of CAD and design work (some maths), along with project management, product development and testing. Although the most important skill I have found is people skills, to be able to eloquently get your point across and sell yourself and your ideas.
All in all, it depends what you want to do, speak to your careers advisors, there's a lot of information here which can help you.
Feel free to ask me any questions you may have, I know the feeling of being at that point in life, and am more than happy to help.
Keep going with your A Levels though, they're really useful even if they don't seem like it at the time! I know it also sounds very cliched, but there's always a way to get something, even if the path isn't very obvious! You're also young enough that you can change if you decide what you initially wanted isn't all that!
Sort of had this dilemma back in 2006 when I did my A-Levels. Like you I only studied Physics, I completely stuffed my maths A Level up, and ended up doing Music Tech instead.
I guess it depends on what you feel you want to do. If you want to go into Sales, it's a hard life, but can be rewarding. My BIL used to work in sales for both large and small dealers across Scotland (that big one rhyming with dark included). However after six or seven years he quit and is now a production manager at a food production place. So the skills learnt can be transferable should you decide to go somewhere else. As someone else said, not much money shifting hatchbacks and you'll have to deal with some of the worst people in the world. The car-buying public.
Do you want to be more hands on though? If you would rather be doing the technician side of things, then you can go via apprenticeships, City and Guild qualifications etc.
Or you can go through university, which won't make you a mechanic, and is generally not quite as hands-on as a straight technical course. But will teach you a lot more about project management (that is actually useful to be good at), design, development. It's not just sums and calculating Parallax, plus you can tailor your learning to what you'd like to achieve, and transfer in some cases to other courses. Like with most things, it is what you make of it.
I'd also make the distinction of a technician and an engineer in the automotive industry, they are two different roles, with different responsibilities.
There's also a life outside working at a dealers. In the UK we have quite a few OEM's, and lots of suppliers to these manufacturers, all of which need engineers, managers, sales people, technicians etc.
As a quick example, I got my physics A-Level as well as a bunch in History, Music and English, and applied to universities on a variety of year zero and year one courses (purely as I didn't have the required subjects/ UCAS points for some). I got into the Motorsport Eng course at UCLan and did my Masters there. They had opportunities to get involved in many extra-curricular projects, notably Formula Ford racing, which was real-life racing with real, paying drivers. We had access to workshops, CAD suites and other facilities so we could learn more than just what's on the course content. I did a placement at an OEM in the UK, and returned after my masters there to do a graduate scheme.
I'm now a design engineer there and have been here for over three years. Initially I wanted to go into motorsport, but the opportunities and benefits at where I am were too good to refuse. My role combines a lot of CAD and design work (some maths), along with project management, product development and testing. Although the most important skill I have found is people skills, to be able to eloquently get your point across and sell yourself and your ideas.
All in all, it depends what you want to do, speak to your careers advisors, there's a lot of information here which can help you.
Feel free to ask me any questions you may have, I know the feeling of being at that point in life, and am more than happy to help.
Keep going with your A Levels though, they're really useful even if they don't seem like it at the time! I know it also sounds very cliched, but there's always a way to get something, even if the path isn't very obvious! You're also young enough that you can change if you decide what you initially wanted isn't all that!
technodup said:
Sales skills are transferable, and there are a lot of industries where salespeople make A LOT of money. Way way in excess of an engineer, accountant or GP. Although not many get rich punting hatchbacks.
Personally, unless I was looking at a top line degree e.g. law or medicine, and I liked the idea of sales I'd be staying well away from university. Earn while you learn.
Good salespeople are always in demand.
Agreed - but, I also think that to some degree sales skill is a natural ability which is pretty hard to learn (you can learn to be a smarmy used car salesman, but that's not what I mean). I know it's not something I could do well, no matter how hard I tried.Personally, unless I was looking at a top line degree e.g. law or medicine, and I liked the idea of sales I'd be staying well away from university. Earn while you learn.
Good salespeople are always in demand.
technodup said:
areers advisors? The people who started out wanting to be doctors, lawyers and accountants but ended up earning £25k as career advisors?
Ask away, but I wouldn't take too much notice tbh.
Bit harsh, and since when is £25k a salary to have a good chortle at? That's over £1600 a month take home. It's all relative of course, but I would have £750, or around £175 a week left monthly after all bills on £25k, so I'd say it's a pretty good one. There's hardly anywhere outside of London that you can't live comfortably on £25k, unless you live outside of your means. Unfortunately living in a world of easy credit, many people do. But this isn't reality, this is PH, if you earn less than £70k you may as well be a peasant Ask away, but I wouldn't take too much notice tbh.
Apologies for the slight derailment OP. I work for a main dealer too, albeit not in sales. Happy to be of any help if I can. It can be stressful, I recently moved from a very tough dealer to work for to a lovely one which I thoroughly enjoy. A lot of what you read on PH is true, and a lot more isn't. Good luck!
sparks_E39 said:
Bit harsh, and since when is £25k a salary to have a good chortle at? That's over £1600 a month take home. It's all relative of course, but I would have £750, or around £175 a week left monthly after all bills on £25k, so I'd say it's a pretty good one.
It's not good, it's bang average. By definition.But that wasn't the point, the point was no career advisor started out wanting to be a career advisor. They all wanted the big bucks and fancy jobs and for whatever reason they haven't made it and ended up a career advisor. To me it would be more valuable asking someone who is a success in their chosen career, rather than a journeyman or worse.
Car sales in showrooms do not have a longterm future. The Internet, virtual reality, AI robots / avatars, and electric cars will kill them off. Some car companies plan to cut their dealerships by 50-80% in the next 30 years. Think very carefully before joining the car-sales industry.
JW_00 said:
Thank you all very much I appreciate the feedback, really useful advice. I think I'll speak to my careers advisors like you said and weigh up my options.
Again, much appreciated
You mentioned you were into physics , do a teaching degree and you'd walk straight into a job teaching physics.Again, much appreciated
Yipper said:
Car sales in showrooms do not have a longterm future. The Internet, virtual reality, AI robots / avatars, and electric cars will kill them off. Some car companies plan to cut their dealerships by 50-80% in the next 30 years. Think very carefully before joining the car-sales industry.
This!!As far as career advisors are concerned, they're good up to a point, but you're typically going to get much better and more relevant advice talking to people who actually work in the industry you want to join.
OP, please feel free to pm me for a more detailed discussion. I was in your position 20 odd years ago and wished I had access to free advice on the internet from people wishing to help!
there are many options in the motor industry to consider with or without a degree.
You could train to be a tech. Manufacturers sponsor apprentice schemes, my advice would be work for a prestige make like BMW, spend ten years on the tools, become a master tech, and then set up your own BMW specialist business. You'll be never be out of a job if you are a reasonable tech.
You could become a service advisors, there are some manufacturers that offer apprentice schemes, but it is thankless job, and doesn't pay too well, although basics are typically a lot higher than in sales However if you are a good advisor you might make £30k in south east, 20-22k in the north would be more normal. Great at 18, not so great at 30. However if you like managing people you could become a service manager, but that's even harder.
You mentioned sales, small basics although some more enlightened dealer groups are offering more. A really good, well established salesman, might make 50k in a good year, but more typical is 35k. However at your age, the 10k basic will feel like a kings ransom, so there will be question marks from DP's as to whether you would be sufficiently motivated. If you were, you could also be on £35k by the time your 21. Good money, but progression on salary is limited unless you progress up the ranks. Most DP's are ex salesmen and they can earn 100k. If you can sell, can stick it out is in a good dealer group and can manage people that may be a good option.
You can do all the above with a degree behind you, it won't hinder you but the motor trade is one of the few industries where qualifications aren't deemed as important.
Finally you could work for a manufacturer, which is generally the best of both world, better pay, better hours, you don't have to deal with the public. There are two ways in, get a degree join the grad scheme - but this is very competitive and you'd need to go to a good university and ideally have some experience, or approach as an experienced hire and apply for the various regional or head office jobs that are advertised. But you'd need to be good and most roles are over subscribed. Most head offices are based in the south east, so if you aren't prepared to relocate it will be difficult.
You could train to be a tech. Manufacturers sponsor apprentice schemes, my advice would be work for a prestige make like BMW, spend ten years on the tools, become a master tech, and then set up your own BMW specialist business. You'll be never be out of a job if you are a reasonable tech.
You could become a service advisors, there are some manufacturers that offer apprentice schemes, but it is thankless job, and doesn't pay too well, although basics are typically a lot higher than in sales However if you are a good advisor you might make £30k in south east, 20-22k in the north would be more normal. Great at 18, not so great at 30. However if you like managing people you could become a service manager, but that's even harder.
You mentioned sales, small basics although some more enlightened dealer groups are offering more. A really good, well established salesman, might make 50k in a good year, but more typical is 35k. However at your age, the 10k basic will feel like a kings ransom, so there will be question marks from DP's as to whether you would be sufficiently motivated. If you were, you could also be on £35k by the time your 21. Good money, but progression on salary is limited unless you progress up the ranks. Most DP's are ex salesmen and they can earn 100k. If you can sell, can stick it out is in a good dealer group and can manage people that may be a good option.
You can do all the above with a degree behind you, it won't hinder you but the motor trade is one of the few industries where qualifications aren't deemed as important.
Finally you could work for a manufacturer, which is generally the best of both world, better pay, better hours, you don't have to deal with the public. There are two ways in, get a degree join the grad scheme - but this is very competitive and you'd need to go to a good university and ideally have some experience, or approach as an experienced hire and apply for the various regional or head office jobs that are advertised. But you'd need to be good and most roles are over subscribed. Most head offices are based in the south east, so if you aren't prepared to relocate it will be difficult.
Hi OP. I've worked in sales my whole career (not car sales - I originally started in IT sales and now I sell stuff to do with defence and counter terrorism).
Sales can be a hugely rewarding career (both financially and personally). However, to be truly successful, you have to put your life into it, as it's not the sort of career where you can switch your laptop off at 5pm and go home. I've worked customers across 3 continents for the last 10 years or and find myself working odd hours to meet with customers for breakfast / dinner, or travel abroad at the drop of hat at someone else's behest (I write this from half way through a 12 day trip to Asia that takes in meetings and negotiations in 6 different countries, as well as closing some business from my partner in North America).
The bottom line is, if you're passionate about what you are selling and are willing to put your heart and soul into it to enjoy the extreme highs and almost crippling lows, you can become exceptional. However, if you see it as an easy way to a new company car and a sharp suit every couple of years, you will quickly start detesting it.
Sales isn't just about "I like meeting new people". Sales demands a solid understanding of financial models and the different ways in which people can procure. You need to be culturally and politically sensitive, whilst at the same time working to become a trusted advisor of the customer to secure repeat business. Make it your business to know, not just the products or services you are selling, but how your whole business works; the better you know this, the more you can advise the customer and the more confidence you will have that the delivery teams will actually deliver what you've sold. On time and to budget. Make yourself accountable, in the customer's eyes for the whole process from initial meeting to beyond the final delivery (don't just throw the PO over the wall and hope for the best!).
Sales can be a hugely rewarding career (both financially and personally). However, to be truly successful, you have to put your life into it, as it's not the sort of career where you can switch your laptop off at 5pm and go home. I've worked customers across 3 continents for the last 10 years or and find myself working odd hours to meet with customers for breakfast / dinner, or travel abroad at the drop of hat at someone else's behest (I write this from half way through a 12 day trip to Asia that takes in meetings and negotiations in 6 different countries, as well as closing some business from my partner in North America).
The bottom line is, if you're passionate about what you are selling and are willing to put your heart and soul into it to enjoy the extreme highs and almost crippling lows, you can become exceptional. However, if you see it as an easy way to a new company car and a sharp suit every couple of years, you will quickly start detesting it.
Sales isn't just about "I like meeting new people". Sales demands a solid understanding of financial models and the different ways in which people can procure. You need to be culturally and politically sensitive, whilst at the same time working to become a trusted advisor of the customer to secure repeat business. Make it your business to know, not just the products or services you are selling, but how your whole business works; the better you know this, the more you can advise the customer and the more confidence you will have that the delivery teams will actually deliver what you've sold. On time and to budget. Make yourself accountable, in the customer's eyes for the whole process from initial meeting to beyond the final delivery (don't just throw the PO over the wall and hope for the best!).
Edited by schmalex on Monday 27th February 07:06
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