A BIT OF ADVICE WOULD BE GREAT ...

[90 B]

To cut a long story short... After months of filling in bleeding online applications and emailing CV's and cover letters ... I finally landed a job as an estate agent. However, 3.5 weeks into my probation period I contracted glandular fever which not only made me job-less, put me in hospital Xmas eve. Couldnt fly to Italy for NYE (where my girlfriend lives) and couldnt get out of bed for weeks. When I did finally get a bit more energy... I found the estate agency I worked for had underpaid me AND I had to tax, MOT and insure my car by the 14th of Jan. All my wages GONE and no money coming in (And still fighting really low energy levels)

However, I am now starting to really recover and want to get back into work ... I desperately want to get into motoring sales as motoring really REALLY is my passion but I am finding it extremely difficult to find work in ANY field, let alone my selected one.

Im applying for jobs everywhere. Gaining replies seems to be an acheivement at the moment ... Is it a sign of the times? Is it my cover letter? My CV?

I have had several " more mature " personel have a glance over my CV and cover letters and all seems to be good there ...

Anyway.

I was thinking if it was a good idea to dress smartly, present myself professionally and walk into a few local dealers (small, independant) and just ask them for a sales position? All I would ask for in return is a commision on anything I sell.

I would be on no base rate what so ever. As far as I am concerned, I have NOTHING to lose and neither do they. Its free labour in a sense and that is certainly rare these days.

Does this sound like a good idea? Or is it too risky for potential employers? Is there legislations in place to prevent this being an attractive proposition to dealers?


I really appreciate any opinions on this.



90

[mybrainhurts]

90 B said:

To cut a long story short...

AAAAAAAAARGH, GET OUT...

90 B said:

I finally landed a job as an estate agent

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH, GET OUT...OUT, OUT, OUT

[AndrewW-G]

Sounds like a good idea, good luck

[sulli]

mybrainhurts said:

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH, GET OUT...OUT, OUT, OUT

That made me laugh

[Du1point8]

+1 on the good idea....

I would prefer someone went the extra mile to get a job then just send a CV in if they are not hiring as it shows that they want it and more likely to think they will give you a try.

Maybe sorting a CV+ covering letter and a business card (god I hate them) to get yourself remembered by the boss and something for them to quickly look up.

They may treat you as slave labour for few months, but you might get a job out of it.

[martin84]

Well they'd have to give you a contract eventually of some sort. I think 13 weeks is the limit. You'll need to make an impression and be easily contactable (business card mentioned above is good) because they wont say yes or no on the spot. Whether you're on a base rate or not you will still be the face of their business and they don't hire on a whim.

[90 B]

Thanks for the replies.

This is the sort of dealer I had in mind to start with. If I have no success then I would obviously not aim as high.

http://www.mervhannam.co.uk/

[martin84]

Looks like a good dealership. I know somebody who works for a family run dealership mainly selling Skoda's and its a great place but they won't make a fast decision about you. They really care about reputation and wont throw just anybody in there, however if you come across well to them they'll know you can do the same with customers. You might have more chance there than a large franchised dealer, you'll be lucky to talk to the sales plod in a big Audi dealership for example nevermind speak to the organ grinder who already has 50 CV's from experienced salespeople in his inbox.

[Du1point8]

90 B said:

Thanks for the replies.

This is the sort of dealer I had in mind to start with. If I have no success then I would obviously not aim as high.

http://www.mervhannam.co.uk/

dont aim so high... by all means go to them but be prepare for rejection and look at it from their POV the you have no experience, etc... be prepared to work for arthur daily to prove yourself first before doing what you are thinking... or ask them for advice on how to get into the industry and what it would take for them to hire someone with no experience.

maybe ask to talk with head of sales and ask frankly what they did and what you need to do... most none arses will take you aside for 30mins and tell you like i do when people ask what it takes to get in my industry and maybe give advice.

BUT DONT WALK in thinking you are johnny big nuts otherwise you may get severely deflated.

[Du1point8]

Also talk to poorcardealer on PH and see if he can give advice.

[martin84]

A smaller dealership, an independent selling used cars primarily under £5k would be a better place to start. Typically the pay is ordinary in such places anyway and they'd be quite interested in someone who's happy to take 'negotiable' salary.

[90 B]

Yes. You are absolutely right. I have to be confident but not over confident. I feel I am capable working with people so I should be ok in these situations.

As far as rejections go, I am not even getting replies from people (Even TESCO). Even estate agents! It was a last resort for me to back to being an estate agent. Really didnt enjoy it my time working as one.

I doubt I will feel deflated, that gets you nowehere.

[davepoth]

90 B said:

Yes. You are absolutely right. I have to be confident but not over confident. I feel I am capable working with people so I should be ok in these situations.

As far as rejections go, I am not even getting replies from people (Even TESCO). Even estate agents! It was a last resort for me to back to being an estate agent. Really didnt enjoy it my time working as one.

I doubt I will feel deflated, that gets you nowehere.

Lack of rejections is quite normal these days unfortunately, I think probably because it's become so much easier to apply for things.

[WhoseGeneration]

You have nothing to lose by going into every car dealer, main or independent, within travelling distance and asking whether they have a sales vacancy.

[martin84]

davepoth said:

Lack of rejections is quite normal these days unfortunately, I think probably because it's become so much easier to apply for things.

More like because companies receive so many applications. The News tell us 6 people chase every job but those are simplistic figures. My place put an ad out not long ago for a simple job and received over 150 applications. Job sites like Reed will show applications exceeding 50 on most occasions. Even employment agencies struggle to find the time to call everybody.

[90 B]

All great points. Yer, applying for jobs is " easier " but not so efficient.

I applied for a job in a post office which requires me to sort mail. Doesnt demand intense levels of intelligence yet I had to fill out an online application where I had to fill out a 45 question questionairre on what potential situations I could be confronted with.

When you are applying for jobs in volume, it becomes EXTREMELY time consuming and very inefficient having to spend over 45 minutes on a part time job for 10 hours per week. Emailing CV's and cover letters gets you nowhere and calling the organisation directly gives them the opportunity to say " apply online ".

If I received 5p every time I heard " apply online ", I'd be posting in the Aston Martin forum!

Thanks again people.

[90 B]

martin84 said:

More like because companies receive so many applications. The News tell us 6 people chase every job but those are simplistic figures. My place put an ad out not long ago for a simple job and received over 150 applications. Job sites like Reed will show applications exceeding 50 on most occasions. Even employment agencies struggle to find the time to call everybody.

I called up about a part time position as a " teaboy " in a cafe. It was located in a garden centre.

157 applicants and apparantly 45% had previous experience.

A TEABOY for crying out loud!

[martin84]

90 B said:

I called up about a part time position as a " teaboy " in a cafe. It was located in a garden centre.

157 applicants and apparantly 45% had previous experience.

A TEABOY for crying out loud!

Brings it home doesnt it. There aren't enough jobs out there and contrary to the Daily Mail's belief people actually do want them. I keep getting told everybody wants to start at the top these days, yet a teaboy gets 157 applications.

[90 B]

martin84 said:

Brings it home doesnt it. There aren't enough jobs out there and contrary to the Daily Mail's belief people actually do want them. I keep getting told everybody wants to start at the top these days, yet a teaboy gets 157 applications.

It certainly does.