Car/Manufacturer Head Office advice please! (And life advice

[Jip]

PHers -
I'm in a really tricky situation and would love opinions and advice.
My first question is with regards to manufacturer head offices. My aim
Is to work in a product analyst style role for ford, Audi, etc, whomever I can gain employment with! Question being whether this section of the industry is a good one to get into? And whether these jobs will be enjoyable!

I've worked in the sales side of the industry for a few years (still work for merc) and am
Currently at uni as i have been told countless times that I will get nowhere In life without a degree.

However - I'm pretty dam fed up of uni. I have been offered a nice sounding car sales job full time and I'm
Now in a position where the only single reason I am continuing with Uni is because I want to get a head office role. I've tried to contact people within head offices etc to see if they will take a non graduate but I'm not having much luck getting hold of anyone to tell me the answer (have been turned down for product analyst roles as well)

So question being - is it worth sticking uni out if I might end up with an awesome job as a result - or do I sack it off now and be content working in sales. I'm at a real loss as to what to do, any advice will be massively appreciated!

Thanks,
Jip

[NBTBRV8]

What degree are you doing? I would continue on with it, but after all the degrees I've done, it is experience that gets you the job, not the degree. The degree "might" get you to the interview.

[Jip]

I'm doing an economics degree at loughborough. I've got 3/4 years of relevant experience, it's just getting in the door that I'm really struggling with!

[toohuge]

Jip said:

I'm doing an economics degree at loughborough. I've got 3/4 years of relevant experience, it's just getting in the door that I'm really struggling with!

Then you'll need a degree in order to get in through the door. Amongst some other things.... Thankfully, Loughborough has good links to the motor industry. It would be worthwhile seeing if you can include yourself in the Formula Stupid Student project that Loughborough are running and maybe do a project on budgeting or similar to add to the automotive side of your application.

Remember, your application and interview possibility lies in the hands of the busy body HR executive that will be told to discard all those without a degree.

Chris

[Woodrow123]

Get the degree...DO NOT leave to go back to sales. As others have said, you won't even get an interview without a good (2:1 or above) degree...

[Jerry Can]

I work for, and have worked for various manufacturers. It is a good idea to gain experience at dealer level, although sales is less beneficial than aftersales. Having said that I worked as a car salesman for 1 year and landed a job with a manufacturer ( by pure chance )

There are many ways to get a job with a manufacturer, you don't need a degree as retail experience is as important. Many regional manager types have a long career in spannering, service advisor (10 plus years)and then get into a job with a manufacturer, But you'd need to be good and get noticed.

My advice to you is to stick at the degree, and probably move into either, aftersales, CRM, Finance or fleet sales, and get good at these, you will then get a chance to apply for manufacturer roles.

Unfortunately you really need to base yourself in the Thames valley as there aren't any manufacturers based where you live. There are plenty of jobs advertised, either on the manufacturers website - go to the about/careers section, or via various trade magazines like am-online.

You may be a good fit for TTL automotive who are looking for sales coaches for VW. It's worth applying to them. OK you are not directly working for a manufacturer, but you are taking instruction from VW and smoking round the country training sales staff.

You could also try Impetus Automotive or MSXi.

These companies are possibly slightly easier to get into than a manufacturer, but could allow you to make that leap if you are good. However I think you are going to need 10 years experience generally to get a role.

Forget the grad scheme, join as an experienced hire, the industry does not really value education that much.

hth

[StormGrey]

Yeah a degree (Marketing/Business/Economics) is the right route in for a Product Analyst role (even if just to get you to the interview).

How you get to the next step varies. Suggest you apply for internships/grad schemes/normal jobs and just be persistent.

Other routes in are through marketing agencies that work for automotive manufacturers (less competitive, but less well paid too).

I'd suggest you just keep checking their career websites (I know of at least two manufacturers that currently have product analyst roles available currently)

Also good to keep up with industry trends etc, so maybe worth subscribing to Autocar (or at least looking at their website), as that'll help when it comes to interviews.

[Jip]

Gents, I'm very grateful for all your replies. Seems like a degree is the agreed thing to do.

StormGrey - do you know which companies are currently hiring product analysts?

Cheers,

Alex

[StormGrey]

JLR had a few the otherday, but no longer showing on there

Aston have got one on their website currently (although looks like about to expire)

Worth just keeping your eye on their career websites, as good to get an idea of what the roles are and what they are looking for in a person.

While you're at uni, also worth getting involved in automotive related stuff (ie. Formula Student, internship/work experience etc.), as all good talking points in interviews.

Industry booming at the moment, so very likely to be positions available in the next few years