Workshop to Sales
Discussion
Hi all,
Wondering if anyone may have any advice for me. I’ve been in the motor trade since I left school at 16, now 33. NVQ level 3 then senior technician and now workshop manager. This has all been at the same independent garage.
I feel like I need a change and if I don’t do it now I’m not sure I ever will. I don’t really want to go back on the tools and have been looking at sales jobs. Does anyone think any of the skills would be transferable? I do enjoy dealing with people and can handle pressure. The wages look low without bonus, is this easy to hit?
Also don’t know how sales people are to each other e.g trying to steal sales etc?
Thanks
Wondering if anyone may have any advice for me. I’ve been in the motor trade since I left school at 16, now 33. NVQ level 3 then senior technician and now workshop manager. This has all been at the same independent garage.
I feel like I need a change and if I don’t do it now I’m not sure I ever will. I don’t really want to go back on the tools and have been looking at sales jobs. Does anyone think any of the skills would be transferable? I do enjoy dealing with people and can handle pressure. The wages look low without bonus, is this easy to hit?
Also don’t know how sales people are to each other e.g trying to steal sales etc?
Thanks
Much depends on what you are selling. It can be very cut-throat and you're judged on nothing other than the sales you achieve. You could put in the effort and hours and be a diligent employee but if the figures aren't there then you'll be gone.
If you are expected to develop your own prospects, there can also be a fair few months before you start seeing the fruits of your effort in your bank account.
The flip side is that it can be a very lucrative career with - potentially - limitless, or at least very high, earning capacity.
Key is to sell something you know so transitioning from workshop to selling the services the workshop offers would be a logical step.
One of the biggest challenges is shifting your mindset. As a mechanic, you are motivated to do a good job regardless of anything else. As a salesman, you are motivated to achieve the highest margin as its this that determines your earning and this approach can sometimes conflict with your past approach to work.
If you are expected to develop your own prospects, there can also be a fair few months before you start seeing the fruits of your effort in your bank account.
The flip side is that it can be a very lucrative career with - potentially - limitless, or at least very high, earning capacity.
Key is to sell something you know so transitioning from workshop to selling the services the workshop offers would be a logical step.
One of the biggest challenges is shifting your mindset. As a mechanic, you are motivated to do a good job regardless of anything else. As a salesman, you are motivated to achieve the highest margin as its this that determines your earning and this approach can sometimes conflict with your past approach to work.
ThrottleBod said:
Hi all,
Wondering if anyone may have any advice for me. I’ve been in the motor trade since I left school at 16, now 33. NVQ level 3 then senior technician and now workshop manager. This has all been at the same independent garage.
I feel like I need a change and if I don’t do it now I’m not sure I ever will. I don’t really want to go back on the tools and have been looking at sales jobs. Does anyone think any of the skills would be transferable? I do enjoy dealing with people and can handle pressure. The wages look low without bonus, is this easy to hit?
Also don’t know how sales people are to each other e.g trying to steal sales etc?
Thanks
Funnily enough, 2 of the best sales guys I've ever dealt with took exactly the same career path you have.Wondering if anyone may have any advice for me. I’ve been in the motor trade since I left school at 16, now 33. NVQ level 3 then senior technician and now workshop manager. This has all been at the same independent garage.
I feel like I need a change and if I don’t do it now I’m not sure I ever will. I don’t really want to go back on the tools and have been looking at sales jobs. Does anyone think any of the skills would be transferable? I do enjoy dealing with people and can handle pressure. The wages look low without bonus, is this easy to hit?
Also don’t know how sales people are to each other e.g trying to steal sales etc?
Thanks
1 worked his way up with an Alfa Romeo dealership and I bought a 156 (new) through him, the other guy worked for a BMW dealership and he achieved 4 sales (all new) from me.
I'm not sure whether car sales would be your thing though based on what you've written as it can be as you've described, was moving into car sales what you were considering?
ThrottleBod said:
Hi all,
Wondering if anyone may have any advice for me. I’ve been in the motor trade since I left school at 16, now 33. NVQ level 3 then senior technician and now workshop manager. This has all been at the same independent garage.
I feel like I need a change and if I don’t do it now I’m not sure I ever will. I don’t really want to go back on the tools and have been looking at sales jobs. Does anyone think any of the skills would be transferable? I do enjoy dealing with people and can handle pressure. The wages look low without bonus, is this easy to hit?
Also don’t know how sales people are to each other e.g trying to steal sales etc?
Thanks
Are you thinking car sales or field sales selling in to garges like for Wurth or Euro Car Parts etc.?Wondering if anyone may have any advice for me. I’ve been in the motor trade since I left school at 16, now 33. NVQ level 3 then senior technician and now workshop manager. This has all been at the same independent garage.
I feel like I need a change and if I don’t do it now I’m not sure I ever will. I don’t really want to go back on the tools and have been looking at sales jobs. Does anyone think any of the skills would be transferable? I do enjoy dealing with people and can handle pressure. The wages look low without bonus, is this easy to hit?
Also don’t know how sales people are to each other e.g trying to steal sales etc?
Thanks
I've no direct experience to offer whatever.
However one of my friends has a son (probably mid 20's) who had spent years working in the parts/service department of an Audi main dealer. He's a super smooth, genuinely nice guy, really chatty, confident, friendly and really has his head screwed on.
He got the opportunity to move into sales within the Dealership and myself and his dad both thought he would be really great at it and be a big success. Unfortunately it didn't work out for him and he left sales after about 9 months. I believe he struggled with the "rejection" when he'd spent a lot of time with customers and took things a bit personally and to heart when they perhaps ended up buying something else or somewhere else or when he became a bit more aware of some of the backstabbing within the sales teams.
Anyhow, no real point to this. I'm sure if he toughened up a bit or stuck it out a bit longer he would have done ok. Apparently it was a bit awkward dropping back to parts/servicing again within the Dealership and he felt he had to move within a couple of months and is now in the parts dept with the main Volvo dealer.
However one of my friends has a son (probably mid 20's) who had spent years working in the parts/service department of an Audi main dealer. He's a super smooth, genuinely nice guy, really chatty, confident, friendly and really has his head screwed on.
He got the opportunity to move into sales within the Dealership and myself and his dad both thought he would be really great at it and be a big success. Unfortunately it didn't work out for him and he left sales after about 9 months. I believe he struggled with the "rejection" when he'd spent a lot of time with customers and took things a bit personally and to heart when they perhaps ended up buying something else or somewhere else or when he became a bit more aware of some of the backstabbing within the sales teams.
Anyhow, no real point to this. I'm sure if he toughened up a bit or stuck it out a bit longer he would have done ok. Apparently it was a bit awkward dropping back to parts/servicing again within the Dealership and he felt he had to move within a couple of months and is now in the parts dept with the main Volvo dealer.
If you’re talking car sales, probably best to have a look at Car Sales Memes on Facebook.
Whilst a lot of it is parody, it gives you a huge insight into the world of car sales and the people that inhabit it.
Do you own any winkelpickers, for a start!?
Joking apart, there are a *lot* of complaints about unsociable hours and hard graft for scant reward.
Whilst a lot of it is parody, it gives you a huge insight into the world of car sales and the people that inhabit it.
Do you own any winkelpickers, for a start!?
Joking apart, there are a *lot* of complaints about unsociable hours and hard graft for scant reward.
ThrottleBod said:
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
I’m not sure it’s for me then based on what you’ve said. Definitely given me something to think about.
It’s the backstabbing and taking sales off of other people which just isn’t for me at all.
I ended a 10 year retail career after cars sales killed me. I’m not sure it’s for me then based on what you’ve said. Definitely given me something to think about.
It’s the backstabbing and taking sales off of other people which just isn’t for me at all.
I worked within a fairly niche brand where the customers knew what they wanted so half the battle was won. Average working week was 8am-6pm, 6 days a week, with ‘breaks’ being stuff a sandwich down your throat around 3pm between customers - around 55/60hrs per week. We were very lucky at the time as the dealership didn’t open on Sunday’s.
Expect to work every weekend, and to want to - it’s the busiest sales days. Expect to take minimal annual leave, taking time off means no commission, not just the week you’re off, but the week before where you’re tying up loose ends before you go and the week you’re back when you’re rebuilding leads.
The money can be good, if you’re good, but is inconsistent. I had months I took home 5x basic (March/Sept) and others where I made little commission (Feb/Aug) it’s always the way around where you rely on credit cards.
We ran a sales system whereby if a colleague had previously logged a customer onto the system they were untouchable. If they bought from you, the other person would make the commission - if anyone noticed. There were occasions my customers bought on my day off and collection was arranged for my next day off so I wouldn’t know they’d been in, sales people are ruthless.
I don’t resent my time in sales, once I’d worked out how to live on nothing and bank my commission I relatively quickly saved a house deposit, but I’d never ever do it again.
OP - what don't you like about being a workshop manager?
You say you don't want to go back on the tools but you must have done well to ascend the greasy pole.
Is it just the workshop at your local indie you don't fancy any more, or any workshop?
If I were in your age/position I would be looking at what you could use your skillset for in the world beyond 2030, with the move to electrification.
You say you don't want to go back on the tools but you must have done well to ascend the greasy pole.
Is it just the workshop at your local indie you don't fancy any more, or any workshop?
If I were in your age/position I would be looking at what you could use your skillset for in the world beyond 2030, with the move to electrification.
Appreciate everyone’s input and it’s pretty much confirmed sales isn’t for me.
I have known a couple of reps who sell supplies to the motor trade but they never seem to let very long!
Looking to the future and electrification is definitely something a lot of people in the trade are thinking about now.
The money as a workshop manager just doesn’t seem great to me. You have to be responsible for everyone who can’t or won’t make decisions. It’s barely more than a good technicians wages really and alot more responsibility.
I have known a couple of reps who sell supplies to the motor trade but they never seem to let very long!
Looking to the future and electrification is definitely something a lot of people in the trade are thinking about now.
The money as a workshop manager just doesn’t seem great to me. You have to be responsible for everyone who can’t or won’t make decisions. It’s barely more than a good technicians wages really and alot more responsibility.
ThrottleBod said:
Appreciate everyone’s input and it’s pretty much confirmed sales isn’t for me.
I have known a couple of reps who sell supplies to the motor trade but they never seem to let very long!
Looking to the future and electrification is definitely something a lot of people in the trade are thinking about now.
The money as a workshop manager just doesn’t seem great to me. You have to be responsible for everyone who can’t or won’t make decisions. It’s barely more than a good technicians wages really and alot more responsibility.
Do the same at a dealership, because at most dealerships every role is a sales role. It sounds like where you are the service side is seen as a necessary evil. "workshop manager" becomes "service manager" and most "service managers" are ex-salesmen who wouldn't know one end of a spanner from the other.I have known a couple of reps who sell supplies to the motor trade but they never seem to let very long!
Looking to the future and electrification is definitely something a lot of people in the trade are thinking about now.
The money as a workshop manager just doesn’t seem great to me. You have to be responsible for everyone who can’t or won’t make decisions. It’s barely more than a good technicians wages really and alot more responsibility.
It sounds like where you are they've given you a title because you do a job nobody else wants to do. A bit like a guy I used to work with who did packing and logistics in a company which was 99% office based roles, they made him goods in/out manager (of nobody), because nobody else could do his job and nobody else wanted to do his job, he's probably still there earning a terrible wage.
How about working in Sales for a company that supplies goods/services to the motor trade?
I was recently looking at sales jobs at Wurth with a view that I have an interest in cars/car related products many of which I already understand & have knowledge of. I can work on cars and aware of the challenges that mechanics face when they don't have the correct equipment available which is where the opportunity to sell "solutions" comes into play.
That ought to make the job an interesting way of combining knowledge of cars/car parts with sales without the need to work in a garage/dealership environment.
I was recently looking at sales jobs at Wurth with a view that I have an interest in cars/car related products many of which I already understand & have knowledge of. I can work on cars and aware of the challenges that mechanics face when they don't have the correct equipment available which is where the opportunity to sell "solutions" comes into play.
That ought to make the job an interesting way of combining knowledge of cars/car parts with sales without the need to work in a garage/dealership environment.
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