Motor Trade - Any Good?

Motor Trade - Any Good?

Author
Discussion

Jip

Original Poster:

103 posts

146 months

Thursday 29th March 2012
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I've been a lurker for some time so thought I would introduce myself, but at the same time put a question to the PH community!

Basically, I used to work for Audi as an assistant sales exec/general dogs body. I've recently been poached to work for Mini and am now a full sales exec part time as well as doing A-levels. I'm loving the job, and also the car/money side of things, but every person I speak to tells me to get out of the motor trade and go to Uni!

To me I'm looking at 60k debt and no job, or continue a job I love in an industry I am enjoying being in!

Anyone got any views on staying in the motor trade? Is it such a bad thing??

Thanks in advance!

Captain Muppet

8,540 posts

266 months

Thursday 29th March 2012
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Go to university and study what? If you haven't got a plan it'd be stupid to give up a life you enjoy for it.

mwcr85

152 posts

150 months

Thursday 29th March 2012
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I did similar, did my apprenticeship at vw, did a brief spell at Audi, then a back street garage, then a fast fit. My mates still in the trade tell me I did the best thing getting out. Might take a while to get my engineering career going but it will be worth it when I do. Depends what you want to do at uni really?

Caulkhead

4,938 posts

158 months

Thursday 29th March 2012
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Jip said:
To me I'm looking at 60k debt and no job,
If you don't get a job, you don't get any debt.

As for the motor trade, if you're enjoying it carry on. When all my friends went to university I took a year off and started my own business, intending to shut it down and go to uni a year late. By halfway through the year off I was employing 11 people, earning loads of money (it was the late eighties!) and driving around in a new 944. I never did go to university. . . . . smile

entwisi

727 posts

192 months

Thursday 29th March 2012
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plenty of people go back to uni later in life when they want to change. Why not get your A levels, try the motor trade, if it doesnte work out or turns out you dont enjoy it as you thought you go to Uni at that point.


stowey1984

192 posts

152 months

Thursday 29th March 2012
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Everyone that tries to get out always end up staying in. To be honest there are a lot worse jobs/careers to do. I've slowly worked my way up since joining the motor trade in 2004 and am still loving it. Yeah the hours are long, but you can earn some decent money, drive some nice cars and progress within the trade with many different brands. I've thought about starting a fresh and doing something else but I like my job role.
Uni wasn't an option for me as I didn't want to do it or have the brain power to do it. I like to think that I've done quite well for myself earning an *cough* honest living in the trade.

wink

Cyder

7,058 posts

221 months

Thursday 29th March 2012
quotequote all
Jip said:
I'm loving the job, and also the car/money side of things, but every person I speak to tells me to get out of the motor trade and go to Uni!
Why are people telling you to get out of the motor trade and what qualifies them to say it?

Everyone I speak to who knows fack all about the car industry at the moment believes the media hype and is of the opinion we're all sitting around twiddling our thumbs waiting for the economy to pick up and manufacturing is dead, engineering is doom and gloom and the end of the world is nigh.

In reality we're up to our necks with work and making/selling more cars than ever to the best of my knowledge.

My point is, do they actually know what is best for you, or are they Daily Wail types getting hysterical over the state of the motor trade?

mikeveal

4,581 posts

251 months

Thursday 29th March 2012
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http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/executive...

If you have a job at 19 that meets the dictionary definition of executive (or even assitant exec), then I'd say you don't need university.

If however you see the title executive as one that is bandied about by people desperately trying to raise their self import, you find it slightly pathetic and you aspire to do a little more with your life then maybe University is a good idea.


But please, choose a course with some practical use. Studying medieval Flemish literature is unlikely to lead to gainful employment in that field.

spaximus

4,232 posts

254 months

Thursday 29th March 2012
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The motor trade has given me a good living but it has changed. Years ago salesman were able to sell cars at higher prices and hence make more bonus. With th internet came shopping around on a huge scale and margins cut and bonus payments likewise. The problem for some is that once you have had easy money that will never come back, you can understand the problem. Once you have worked in the trade some people do seem to pigeonhole you.

As for UNI, if you had no great urge to go then don't. There are many graduates who are in debt who cannot get jobs. If you make it up the tree to dealer principle it is okay but it will never make you a millionaire if you work for others.

Jip

Original Poster:

103 posts

146 months

Thursday 29th March 2012
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies!

I'm looking to do economics, studying it at the moment and seems like a good, rounded subject, but no real clue what to do afterwards.
Have been told to get out of the industry by colleagues/managers at Audi and Mini, most of them saying I'll never leave, hours are tough and there isn't a huge amount of room for progression. I think being dealer principal would be good to aspire to, although no idea what they earn!

Like the take on 'executive', know feel very important! although I think it's labelled to make a customer feel more relaxed about buying a 28k countryman off an 18 year old smile

GTiFrank

625 posts

185 months

Thursday 29th March 2012
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spaximus said:
As for UNI, if you had no great urge to go then don't. There are many graduates who are in debt who cannot get jobs.
...like me, uni is great but it's not for everyone. Don't throw away a well paid job to go to uni. I graduate in a month and I am looking to get into the motor industry without much luck.

Jip

Original Poster:

103 posts

146 months

Thursday 29th March 2012
quotequote all
GTiFrank said:
spaximus said:
As for UNI, if you had no great urge to go then don't. There are many graduates who are in debt who cannot get jobs.
...like me, uni is great but it's not for everyone. Don't throw away a well paid job to go to uni. I graduate in a month and I am looking to get into the motor industry without much luck.
Thats my main worry, Uni for 3 years, fees of 9k a year to pay and I might end up in the motor industry afterwards anyway! Plus the fact if I go fulltime, I would get a company car, which is highly appealing...

ReaperCushions

6,037 posts

185 months

Thursday 29th March 2012
quotequote all
mikeveal said:
http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/executive...

If you have a job at 19 that meets the dictionary definition of executive (or even assitant exec), then I'd say you don't need university.

If however you see the title executive as one that is bandied about by people desperately trying to raise their self import, you find it slightly pathetic and you aspire to do a little more with your life then maybe University is a good idea.


But please, choose a course with some practical use. Studying medieval Flemish literature is unlikely to lead to gainful employment in that field.
Bit harsh, the word executive is pretty common place now for the bottom rung on the ladder in a lot of jobs, especially sales.


750turbo

6,164 posts

225 months

Thursday 29th March 2012
quotequote all
Jip said:
GTiFrank said:
spaximus said:
As for UNI, if you had no great urge to go then don't. There are many graduates who are in debt who cannot get jobs.
...like me, uni is great but it's not for everyone. Don't throw away a well paid job to go to uni. I graduate in a month and I am looking to get into the motor industry without much luck.
Thats my main worry, Uni for 3 years, fees of 9k a year to pay and I might end up in the motor industry afterwards anyway! Plus the fact if I go fulltime, I would get a company car, which is highly appealing...
DO NOT go for a job on the basis of a company car...

Jip

Original Poster:

103 posts

146 months

Thursday 29th March 2012
quotequote all
750turbo said:
Jip said:
GTiFrank said:
spaximus said:
As for UNI, if you had no great urge to go then don't. There are many graduates who are in debt who cannot get jobs.
...like me, uni is great but it's not for everyone. Don't throw away a well paid job to go to uni. I graduate in a month and I am looking to get into the motor industry without much luck.
Thats my main worry, Uni for 3 years, fees of 9k a year to pay and I might end up in the motor industry afterwards anyway! Plus the fact if I go fulltime, I would get a company car, which is highly appealing...
DO NOT go for a job on the basis of a company car...
Totally agree! However I'm driving around in a 55 plate 1.2 clio, (albeit I've just sold it), and my manager has said if I go full time now, he'll give me a cooper S demo to run around in. Tempting!

smashy

3,041 posts

159 months

Thursday 29th March 2012
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Jip ,jip mate ,My mates daughter has a 2:1 in engineering.She cannot get a job.

However it gets worse than that ,she cant even get a minimum wage job!!!!!!

You are in a position 1000s would like to be in.
,just wish you luck.

Sir Bagalot

6,481 posts

182 months

Thursday 29th March 2012
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90% of people going to Uni shouldn't really be going. It's simply become fashionable.

Stick with the job you love and work your way up

philmots

4,631 posts

261 months

Thursday 29th March 2012
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One of my very good friends started out at VW, went to Mini when they were the new thing and is now at Audi. He does VERY well out of it... Always in the latest new A6 or whatever.

The hours/days are crap but no more unsociable than me, who drives wagons for a supermarket, or cops, paramedics, firemen etc etc etc

I say go for it.

caprirob

263 posts

146 months

Thursday 29th March 2012
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If you're doing a job you enjoy in an industry you like thats most of the battle won.

Personally I'd say stick with it - many people end up doing jobs they hate in industries they hate for life.

University doesnt guarantee you a job but does guarantee a significant debt at the end of it.

Massivewettie

2,428 posts

147 months

Thursday 29th March 2012
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I'd recommend uni regardless of job prospects or not. Best 3 years of my life.
If you've got decent job experience (which you have), it should be relatively straightforward getting a job afterwards.
I finished uni with only 3 months job experience and did a sh*tty job for a year,went travelling and am now in a pretty decent job on £22k

You've got 40 years or so of working life ahead of you, go and enjoy yourself for 3 years first!