Looking for a career/job in the Motor Industry
Discussion
The most successful car salemen are those who shift stock as commodities and don't worry about whether the car is any good etc so never feel embarrassed about giving the customer what they want, not what he thinks they should have - being a petrolhead often is not what they are looking for, they want someone to shift unsaleable cars.... 
LuS1fer said:
The most successful car salemen are those who shift stock as commodities and don't worry about whether the car is any good etc so never feel embarrassed about giving the customer what they want, not what he thinks they should have - being a petrolhead often is not what they are looking for, they want someone to shift unsaleable cars....
You sound like you talk from experience? Like I said; Sand - Arab all that jazz!
I wouldn;t mind going into sales, but would not like the "prettyboy" status the Mechs would brand me with
MikePlum said:
LuS1fer said:
The most successful car salemen are those who shift stock as commodities and don't worry about whether the car is any good etc so never feel embarrassed about giving the customer what they want, not what he thinks they should have - being a petrolhead often is not what they are looking for, they want someone to shift unsaleable cars....
You sound like you talk from experience? Like I said; Sand - Arab all that jazz!
I wouldn;t mind going into sales, but would not like the "prettyboy" status the Mechs would brand me with
I did sell motorcycles for a very pleasant 2 years and soon learnt thet Honda Super Dreams (yep, that long ago) would be bought by people blindly and regardless of anything I ever said and regardless of how mediocre they were. Sometimes you just have to accept that what someone else wants is what you should be selling them, not what is best for them in your opinion. I'd say 1 in a 100 thanked me for steering them to a better bike or something more suitable for their needs.
Car sales are all about targets and turnover and having a conscience has no part in the process.
LuS1fer said:
No but I once applied for a job with an Austin Rover dealership who were only interested in how I would sell the maximum number of cars and weren't interested in whether the product was good or bad. I couldn't ever have imagined selling a Morris Ital to anyone who was still sane...
I did sell motorcycles for a very pleasant 2 years and soon learnt thet Honda Super Dreams (yep, that long ago) would be bought by people blindly and regardless of anything I ever said and regardless of how mediocre they were. Sometimes you just have to accept that what someone else wants is what you should be selling them, not what is best for them in your opinion. I'd say 1 in a 100 thanked me for steering them to a better bike or something more suitable for their needs.
Car sales are all about targets and turnover and having a conscience has no part in the process.
I agree, I once worked in an American originated Golf shop and they had the same mentality. All about how much and how often you can sell. Not to spend precious time actually thinking about the type of person and what product suited them! Nahh... This £500 peice of 4 foot metal is for you sir! It will look fantabulour poking out of the rear window of your Jaaaagg!!I did sell motorcycles for a very pleasant 2 years and soon learnt thet Honda Super Dreams (yep, that long ago) would be bought by people blindly and regardless of anything I ever said and regardless of how mediocre they were. Sometimes you just have to accept that what someone else wants is what you should be selling them, not what is best for them in your opinion. I'd say 1 in a 100 thanked me for steering them to a better bike or something more suitable for their needs.
Car sales are all about targets and turnover and having a conscience has no part in the process.
I did quite well though!
MikePlum said:
I see where you are coming from and I desperatley want to avoid this! Although, I have to suffice to the fact that I may have to start low and work high, which I am more than willing to do if I cannot get in at the deep end, of you know what I mean.
I have just been researching Ford Masters Apprenticeship Program which seems to offer an excellent developement program. It does say it is paid, but now how much. It's very much aimed at 16 - 19 year olds also. The brochure says stuff like "Your Son or Daughter will be..." I wonder if they have many self sufficient 20y/o succesfully applying!
Your age might be at an advantage as long as its not an age capped thing due to some random thing like government legislation on grants for school leavers. A lot of 16-19 y/o are lazy and expect everything to be handed to them like it was at school whereas you sound like you're prepared to work hard for what you want. Most employers will see that and like it.I have just been researching Ford Masters Apprenticeship Program which seems to offer an excellent developement program. It does say it is paid, but now how much. It's very much aimed at 16 - 19 year olds also. The brochure says stuff like "Your Son or Daughter will be..." I wonder if they have many self sufficient 20y/o succesfully applying!
Do you want to be getting your hands mucky fixing things or do you want to simply be involved with cars e.g. sales, logistics, marketing etc? If its the later then if you have some transferable skills then looking for similar jobs and using them as a stepping stone in might be a better way than going down the mechanic apprentice route.
renrut said:
Your age might be at an advantage as long as its not an age capped thing due to some random thing like government legislation on grants for school leavers. A lot of 16-19 y/o are lazy and expect everything to be handed to them like it was at school whereas you sound like you're prepared to work hard for what you want. Most employers will see that and like it.
Do you want to be getting your hands mucky fixing things or do you want to simply be involved with cars e.g. sales, logistics, marketing etc? If its the later then if you have some transferable skills then looking for similar jobs and using them as a stepping stone in might be a better way than going down the mechanic apprentice route.
I don't think the Ford one is capped at an age, it does say it welcomes any age or gender. But, this may be contrary to who they actually accept! I suppose from their point of view, the few, dedicated 16y/o are fresh out of the learning box and may have a mind like a sponge, more so than a 20 y/o who has been doing the same thing, day in day out for the past 3 years! Not that I am this person, but on paper, this is how I may come accross.Do you want to be getting your hands mucky fixing things or do you want to simply be involved with cars e.g. sales, logistics, marketing etc? If its the later then if you have some transferable skills then looking for similar jobs and using them as a stepping stone in might be a better way than going down the mechanic apprentice route.
Ideally getting my hands mucky and getting into the nitty gritty of the technical sides of things. I have always had an intersedt in anything technical and always swore I would not become a desk jockey!! Surprising how influencing a few bills can be on your career choice eh!
But with regards to Sales, Marketing etc. I am attracted to the clean cut "glamorous" side to it. Company car, good commission etc. But definitley swayed towards to Mech side of things!
MikePlum said:
Yeah, I really cant afford to be taking a pay cut with a house and a family to run! So it is scary... And even though I'm not really kean on my job, it's a case of Better the Devil you know!
If you start selling cars and are earning less than £20k you'll not be selling cars long!LuS1fer said:
The most successful car salemen are those who shift stock as commodities and don't worry about whether the car is any good etc so never feel embarrassed about giving the customer what they want, not what he thinks they should have - being a petrolhead often is not what they are looking for, they want someone to shift unsaleable cars....
In some businesses yes, there are however exceptions.....markmullen said:
Haighermeister said:
Mr Mullen.....
Giz a job.
Yours sincerely.
Me.
Haha, if I did I would be putting myself out of one!Giz a job.
Yours sincerely.
Me.
I think it's going to be a case of keeping my eyes peeled for the right oppurtunity to arise.
Or try and find out if I know anyone in the industry
Mark helped me get into the industry, and is full of good advice.
As far as sales goes, personally, I found it had very little to do with your passion for cars (this is different in Mark's case I would bet) its all about selling finance products and shifting cars.
You'll earn ok, sure, but you'll work hard for it, and you'll be sick of cars before long if you were anything like me! so I jumped ship to work with cars in a different area of sales
As far as sales goes, personally, I found it had very little to do with your passion for cars (this is different in Mark's case I would bet) its all about selling finance products and shifting cars.
You'll earn ok, sure, but you'll work hard for it, and you'll be sick of cars before long if you were anything like me! so I jumped ship to work with cars in a different area of sales
okgo said:
Mark helped me get into the industry, and is full of good advice.
As far as sales goes, personally, I found it had very little to do with your passion for cars (this is different in Mark's case I would bet) its all about selling finance products and shifting cars.
You'll earn ok, sure, but you'll work hard for it, and you'll be sick of cars before long if you were anything like me! so I jumped ship to work with cars in a different area of sales
Do you mind me asking how you got into the game? And what area do you work in now?As far as sales goes, personally, I found it had very little to do with your passion for cars (this is different in Mark's case I would bet) its all about selling finance products and shifting cars.
You'll earn ok, sure, but you'll work hard for it, and you'll be sick of cars before long if you were anything like me! so I jumped ship to work with cars in a different area of sales
Devilstreak said:
Biscuit Bus said:
Depending on where you live and whether you would move, most car manufacturers offer apprenticeships. You should get close to what you earn now during your time if you don't mind some overtime.
Sorry. Apprenticeships - Nearly 20k? Please tell me you are joking. Half that and you would be closer. Fully trained up yes. But apprenticeships. Expect £80-150 a week. Or have things changed so much recently?I stand to be corrected but that seems alot.
I'm currently in a similar situation. Desperately trying to get an apprenticeship at a dealership but not hearing from anyone. The system isn't great in my opinion. You have to apply on the manufacturer websites and then they contact you if any opportunities arise.
They all say they are an equal opportunities employer blah blah blah but I can't help thinking that being 20 is hindering me as if you are under 19 the government pays for 100% of apprentice training, over 19 and your employer has to pay half. Also, if you are 19 or over, in your second year you have to be paid minimum wage, whereas 16-18 year olds can be paid apprentice wage still which is £2.50 an hour.
The manufacturers don't publish their apprentice pay rates, but I have seen Mercedes vacancies on the national apprenticeship website advertising £100 per week, and have heard Honda give £150.
I'm currently working in a garage on Saturdays and really enjoying it, hoping that this will help get an apprenticeship with the knowledge I am gaining. Don't let people put you off, I wanted to be a mechanic when I left school at 18, family talked me out of it so I worked in IT for a year before ending up unemployed (still am) and now I'm finding it difficult to get into the trade. If you get an opportunity and can afford a bit of a pay cut, I'd say take it.
Sorry for the long winded post.
They all say they are an equal opportunities employer blah blah blah but I can't help thinking that being 20 is hindering me as if you are under 19 the government pays for 100% of apprentice training, over 19 and your employer has to pay half. Also, if you are 19 or over, in your second year you have to be paid minimum wage, whereas 16-18 year olds can be paid apprentice wage still which is £2.50 an hour.
The manufacturers don't publish their apprentice pay rates, but I have seen Mercedes vacancies on the national apprenticeship website advertising £100 per week, and have heard Honda give £150.
I'm currently working in a garage on Saturdays and really enjoying it, hoping that this will help get an apprenticeship with the knowledge I am gaining. Don't let people put you off, I wanted to be a mechanic when I left school at 18, family talked me out of it so I worked in IT for a year before ending up unemployed (still am) and now I'm finding it difficult to get into the trade. If you get an opportunity and can afford a bit of a pay cut, I'd say take it.
Sorry for the long winded post.
okgo said:
Not if there is no progression or want to succeed. I had a job which had a £22k basic plus commision at 18, it's not about the headline salary all the time.
But, as OP said he has a family to support (I think) so getting some money saved up whilst you're earning well would provide a nice buffer if anything should happen. Just IMO. Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff