Looking for a career/job in the Motor Industry
Discussion
ammaco said:
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.
This is very much what was going through my mind!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.
The same as companies are not "supposed" to discriminate against race/religion/disabilities/gender etc but we all know some of them do! It's just a matter of life!
To be honest, I'm not sure that an apprenticeship is the way forward as i would have to take too much of a pay cut.
I think that I may have to use the skills I have at the moment as a stepping stone (as someone previously mentioned) and get my "foot in the door". Then when I'm emplyed I could perhaps approach my employer and ask for training in other departments such as technical departments.
From what I can gather, a lot of the people in the trade got in because their uncles, brothers, step-daughters goldfish had 2nd cousin who worked there. So it may be a case of not what you know, but who you know!
okgo said:
£20k isn't earning well and with kids and a house to pay for £1300 doesn't go far, it's ok for his age, maybe, but most his age don't have those commitments.
This!It really doesn't stretch very far!
Especially as I am running two cars. SWMBO has only just got her own little job as a carer, but the money isn't the best IMO. And being 20 I am being well and truley raped on insurance (£200 per month for a Bora PD130 and a Fiat Seicento Sporting!)
Before you jump into selling cars you need to make sure you and your family can commit to the hours.
You'll get one day off a week and most likely work every weekend, at best have every other Sunday off.
Start at 8.30 and finish at 6, then 7 or 8pm a couple of times a week if the dealership is open till then. You will then get customers who stroll in 5 minutes before closing and you will have to stay until they leave, as everyone is an opportunity to earn money.
Basic sallaries are usually £12k - £15k, the money used to be earnt from 'selling the car' now its the add on's that earn you and the dealership money, I once sold an £81,000 7 series that lost the dealership £1,500 but as you had to sell so many per qtr it was a must do deal!
I've worked with a bloke who earn £118,000 one year and it is possible but very few and far between, until this last year I have never earnt less than £42K and £65K was my best...... however we all make mistakes and I'm paying for mine now!!
It is the worst job in the world at times but also the most addictive, you meet all sorts of characters and each day is different.
Good Luck....
You'll get one day off a week and most likely work every weekend, at best have every other Sunday off.
Start at 8.30 and finish at 6, then 7 or 8pm a couple of times a week if the dealership is open till then. You will then get customers who stroll in 5 minutes before closing and you will have to stay until they leave, as everyone is an opportunity to earn money.
Basic sallaries are usually £12k - £15k, the money used to be earnt from 'selling the car' now its the add on's that earn you and the dealership money, I once sold an £81,000 7 series that lost the dealership £1,500 but as you had to sell so many per qtr it was a must do deal!
I've worked with a bloke who earn £118,000 one year and it is possible but very few and far between, until this last year I have never earnt less than £42K and £65K was my best...... however we all make mistakes and I'm paying for mine now!!
It is the worst job in the world at times but also the most addictive, you meet all sorts of characters and each day is different.
Good Luck....
I've literally just got back from a meeting at the dealers. It's the one I used to work at, french, rhymes with Benault. 
Looks like I'm going to be back in car sales by the beginning of June, with my current salary matched.
The only sutmbling block is the company car, they want me to have Megane derv, I want Clio Renaultsport. I'll know on tuesday.
Times still aren't great, but I'm in a better financial situation at the moment to make the jump, so I'm going for it Wish me luck.
Looks like I'm going to be back in car sales by the beginning of June, with my current salary matched.
The only sutmbling block is the company car, they want me to have Megane derv, I want Clio Renaultsport. I'll know on tuesday.
Times still aren't great, but I'm in a better financial situation at the moment to make the jump, so I'm going for it
Wish me luck.Haighermeister said:
I've literally just got back from a meeting at the dealers. It's the one I used to work at, french, rhymes with Benault.
Looks like I'm going to be back in car sales by the beginning of June, with my current salary matched.
The only sutmbling block is the company car, they want me to have Megane derv, I want Clio Renaultsport. I'll know on tuesday.
Times still aren't great, but I'm in a better financial situation at the moment to make the jump, so I'm going for it Wish me luck.
Good Luck Mate!! Jammy bLooks like I'm going to be back in car sales by the beginning of June, with my current salary matched.
The only sutmbling block is the company car, they want me to have Megane derv, I want Clio Renaultsport. I'll know on tuesday.
Times still aren't great, but I'm in a better financial situation at the moment to make the jump, so I'm going for it
Wish me luck.
d! 
I wish it was that easy...
And Donut, I have heard that the hours can be sometimes demanding, but the rewards are reflective of that. My problem is I have so experience in car sale, so some may say I'm better off starting off down at "Terry's Motors" down the road and gaining experience. But thats not where the money is earnt, no?
MikePlum said:
Haighermeister said:
I've literally just got back from a meeting at the dealers. It's the one I used to work at, french, rhymes with Benault.
Looks like I'm going to be back in car sales by the beginning of June, with my current salary matched.
The only sutmbling block is the company car, they want me to have Megane derv, I want Clio Renaultsport. I'll know on tuesday.
Times still aren't great, but I'm in a better financial situation at the moment to make the jump, so I'm going for it Wish me luck.
Good Luck Mate!! Jammy bLooks like I'm going to be back in car sales by the beginning of June, with my current salary matched.
The only sutmbling block is the company car, they want me to have Megane derv, I want Clio Renaultsport. I'll know on tuesday.
Times still aren't great, but I'm in a better financial situation at the moment to make the jump, so I'm going for it
Wish me luck.d! I wish it was that easy...
And Donut, I have heard that the hours can be sometimes demanding, but the rewards are reflective of that. My problem is I have so experience in car sale, so some may say I'm better off starting off down at "Terry's Motors" down the road and gaining experience. But thats not where the money is earnt, no?
Don't go to a back street garage, you'll pick up bad habits and short cuts from a sales angle.
Just go to your local main dealers and ask or look out for adverts, you don't need to have experience you just understand the sales process and how to guide people to your goal with there agreement.
I have never used cheesey lines or done a hard sell, I just do everything assumptively.... You just need to find what works best for you.
MikePlum said:
Good Luck Mate!! Jammy bd!
I wish it was that easy...
And Donut, I have heard that the hours can be sometimes demanding, but the rewards are reflective of that. My problem is I have so experience in car sale, so some may say I'm better off starting off down at "Terry's Motors" down the road and gaining experience. But thats not where the money is earnt, no?
Luckily, its a garage I've worked at before with a manager and team I've worked with before so its pretty easy. Still, going from a 25k basic to 13.5k is a bit dramatic and its the bit I'm most scared of, but you have to take risks sometimes (and I hate my current job) d! I wish it was that easy...
And Donut, I have heard that the hours can be sometimes demanding, but the rewards are reflective of that. My problem is I have so experience in car sale, so some may say I'm better off starting off down at "Terry's Motors" down the road and gaining experience. But thats not where the money is earnt, no?
Try and always get in at a main dealer, register with somewhere like jobsite.co.uk who will email you stuff as soon as its available
Good luck
It's been a while since I last posted (Yes I am the OP and have literally found out that I have two User ID's, that of MikePlum and that of MikeyPlum )
I've just sent my CV and Covernote for a vacancy at Sinclair VW in Newport. I'm hoping I can get an interview as I find that a better way of selling myself (rather than CV/Application form) so will just have to wait and see whether they will consider me or not...
)I've just sent my CV and Covernote for a vacancy at Sinclair VW in Newport. I'm hoping I can get an interview as I find that a better way of selling myself (rather than CV/Application form) so will just have to wait and see whether they will consider me or not...
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