Car Sales Interview
Discussion
Hello you lot.
Just after some advice really. I've been invited to an interview for a car sales position at Pinkstones Toyota in Stoke.
Car sales has always been something I've wanted to try so I'm very keen to get the job.
What I've been invited to is an "assessment day" at a local Hotel with coffee at 8:30am and interview starting at 9am. So I am assuming that there with either be a long wait around in a room of strangers whilst everyone has there interviews and leaves OR there will be some group/team building activities to keep us entertained whilst the interviews go on (I hate those sort of things...).
Anyway, what sort of questions am I likely to be asked? Should I expect to have to role play car selling or is it more likely to be just the usual "give us an example of when..." type of questions?
Any further advice would be great too!
Cheers
Just after some advice really. I've been invited to an interview for a car sales position at Pinkstones Toyota in Stoke.
Car sales has always been something I've wanted to try so I'm very keen to get the job.
What I've been invited to is an "assessment day" at a local Hotel with coffee at 8:30am and interview starting at 9am. So I am assuming that there with either be a long wait around in a room of strangers whilst everyone has there interviews and leaves OR there will be some group/team building activities to keep us entertained whilst the interviews go on (I hate those sort of things...).
Anyway, what sort of questions am I likely to be asked? Should I expect to have to role play car selling or is it more likely to be just the usual "give us an example of when..." type of questions?
Any further advice would be great too!
Cheers
I went to a car sales interview (although it wasn't Pinkstones, and I didn't get the job) and part of the interview involved being given a phone and being asked to describe it, you are expected to talk about what brand it is, colour, features, size etc. Aside from that it was all the normal interview questions.
Also if this is a trainee position, I was told by the interviewer that the company looked for people who are able to talk and once gave a job to a former postman simply because they couldn't get him to shut up. Their view is that they can mould someone like that into a salesman more easily than someone who finds it difficult to talk for long periods of time.
Also if this is a trainee position, I was told by the interviewer that the company looked for people who are able to talk and once gave a job to a former postman simply because they couldn't get him to shut up. Their view is that they can mould someone like that into a salesman more easily than someone who finds it difficult to talk for long periods of time.
And they are right.
As long as you can talk to people, and are not rude, disorganized or un motivated you should be fine.
My interview with BMW was more formal. But they still wanted to know about previous situations of outstanding customer service, and going above and beyond my call of duty to help someone.
Then they assked about working to target, how I would deal with pressure, how I would react to a dry month etc..
Lucky for me I worked for the most tenacious estate agent there is 12 hours a day, so I wasn't short of examples on going all out to help someone.. i.e. doing viewings till gone 9 pm.
Good luck, the money is pretty good for what is a very easy job, but the hours and progression are questionable. IMO.
As long as you can talk to people, and are not rude, disorganized or un motivated you should be fine.
My interview with BMW was more formal. But they still wanted to know about previous situations of outstanding customer service, and going above and beyond my call of duty to help someone.
Then they assked about working to target, how I would deal with pressure, how I would react to a dry month etc..
Lucky for me I worked for the most tenacious estate agent there is 12 hours a day, so I wasn't short of examples on going all out to help someone.. i.e. doing viewings till gone 9 pm.
Good luck, the money is pretty good for what is a very easy job, but the hours and progression are questionable. IMO.
as a bloke who has a couple of businesses but has really always been a salesman I had a little thing which allways got me the job.
Basically at the end of an interview i would say (be humble not flash) " Can I say Having spent the last hour with you I would really enjoy working here at bloggs and co and I know I could reach my targets and make the company money on that basis I when can I start" (big smile ) put hand out for the shake.
They ,lots of time would say "Well we have more people to see before we make a decision"
Id respond " ok may i ask you a quesstion? How many others have you got to see?
"well 4"
"ok if those four were sitting round this table what qualities do you think they may have that i havent got?" Ive got him now whatever he says ive got him.Now you have to have good stories to back yourself.Say he says " well they may have more experience "
I say " I agree experience can be important however i have allways been a quick learner for example....(tell them an experience) I allways said " when I worked for youngs sea foods i used to call on top chefs in the west end.When i started i knew absoloutely nothing about the products or industry but in 8 months i managed to...... on that basis can we shake hands (big smile hand at the ready.) It worked time and time again .Sometimes they would not give me an answer (ego trip)but they would offer days later.
My last ever interview ,he insisted he would not give me an answer.As im going out the door I said " you know I feel quite sad my goal when I came here was to get a decision from you a yes or bearing in mind im a big boy a no and I didnt manage it ,thats a shame.
He then said " I will give you a decision tomorrow but there wont be a no in the answer and gave me a knowing smile.
Guess you need back up evidence of what you have done well to make this work .Basically Smile a lot research your company on the net so you can ask questions keep humbly confident and ask for the job.Wish you well fella ,Pete
Basically at the end of an interview i would say (be humble not flash) " Can I say Having spent the last hour with you I would really enjoy working here at bloggs and co and I know I could reach my targets and make the company money on that basis I when can I start" (big smile ) put hand out for the shake.
They ,lots of time would say "Well we have more people to see before we make a decision"
Id respond " ok may i ask you a quesstion? How many others have you got to see?
"well 4"
"ok if those four were sitting round this table what qualities do you think they may have that i havent got?" Ive got him now whatever he says ive got him.Now you have to have good stories to back yourself.Say he says " well they may have more experience "
I say " I agree experience can be important however i have allways been a quick learner for example....(tell them an experience) I allways said " when I worked for youngs sea foods i used to call on top chefs in the west end.When i started i knew absoloutely nothing about the products or industry but in 8 months i managed to...... on that basis can we shake hands (big smile hand at the ready.) It worked time and time again .Sometimes they would not give me an answer (ego trip)but they would offer days later.
My last ever interview ,he insisted he would not give me an answer.As im going out the door I said " you know I feel quite sad my goal when I came here was to get a decision from you a yes or bearing in mind im a big boy a no and I didnt manage it ,thats a shame.
He then said " I will give you a decision tomorrow but there wont be a no in the answer and gave me a knowing smile.
Guess you need back up evidence of what you have done well to make this work .Basically Smile a lot research your company on the net so you can ask questions keep humbly confident and ask for the job.Wish you well fella ,Pete
RichB said:
Mind you when you say sales people must be able to talk a lot, in fact good selling is all about listening. As I was taught 30 years ago, that's why you've got two ears but only one mouth!
So true!I have been selling cars for too many years now, it has gone from the full sales process to giving your cheapest price!
Everyone wants a deal, your job is to get them the car they NEED at a price they think is a deal!
don't be a smart ass, be polite, ask how they do business and add how you feel you'll benefit them.
Sales can earn you a fortune, it can also lead to endless nights of sleep!
Don't be cheesy or a slick c*nt, the reason I quoted is because that is the only thing you need to know!
Graham thanks for the compliment isnt selling fun.!!
Now, deluded ive just been on your companys website straight away two talking points "wow I see you have finance at 3.9% thats fantastic how has that helped sales? ?(open question )get the bloke talking.
Theres an empathy angle here " Brilliant I see your selling a toyota yaris 1.8 £2000 off ,my sister just loves the yaris.She thinks they are wonderful funny enough when she bought it she said the sales guys were great ,guess thats the training you all have maybe we could do a deal(nice grin) ,what do you think has made the yaris capable of winning so many awards?"
Dont want to bore the PHers anymore PM me and I will be glad to hopefully help not hinder.
By the way you havent got a sister ?let alone a yaris driver? Its all theater deluded, stories sell.Customers love stories.If he says bring her in say shes at uni 300 miles from here ,anything!!!
Quiet confidence and keep smiling deluded!!!
Now, deluded ive just been on your companys website straight away two talking points "wow I see you have finance at 3.9% thats fantastic how has that helped sales? ?(open question )get the bloke talking.
Theres an empathy angle here " Brilliant I see your selling a toyota yaris 1.8 £2000 off ,my sister just loves the yaris.She thinks they are wonderful funny enough when she bought it she said the sales guys were great ,guess thats the training you all have maybe we could do a deal(nice grin) ,what do you think has made the yaris capable of winning so many awards?"
Dont want to bore the PHers anymore PM me and I will be glad to hopefully help not hinder.
By the way you havent got a sister ?let alone a yaris driver? Its all theater deluded, stories sell.Customers love stories.If he says bring her in say shes at uni 300 miles from here ,anything!!!
Quiet confidence and keep smiling deluded!!!
Edited by B3pete on Friday 15th January 23:45
B3pete said:
excellent post apart from Basically
Basically
They might ask you to sell something to them, something in the room, or yourself. The best way of selling a car to somebody is first to ask lots of questions, find out if they are the decision maker, would they be able to buy the car today, is it a private or a company purchase then find out what they are driving now. Then ask questions about it,
Is it your car? the answer could be no, it's a hire car or parents car or a bodyshop car.
If the answer is yes, are you part exchanging it, selling it yourself or keeping it for another reason.
Why are you wanting to change it and then you can start being more specific about the car and other cars they are thinking about.
The idea is to gain as much info so you can point them in the right direction, new/used or 2/3/4/5/ door, auto or manual etc
Before you go prepare yourself for the question, sell yourself to me. You try to think up all the positive things they will look for then apply your experience & job history to in the same way you would find out what your walk-in will be giving you the answers to your questions with regard to a purchase.
Selling cars is only easy when a punter comes in for a specific car and all you have to do is give him it at a cost that will make him deal today.
Ask open questions from the time you meet and the only closed question you should be asking is the final one.
'If I can get you into X car for X£££ a month over X period of time, will you buy it today?
That's the principle and it's subject to change during the buying process as there are a lot of variables to take into account. Be prepared!
Good luck!
I found that selling double glazing (and kitchens), commission-only from your own cold-called leads gave a pretty good grounding.
And yes...listening is soooo important.
That's when you're gathering your ammunition.
Oh and when you're in the showroom, remember... to listen BEFORE you launch into the 20 questions routine...you might actually have a BUYER on your hands who'll simply say " I'll take that one over there please", like I usually do.
Don't want to drive him away.
And yes...listening is soooo important.
That's when you're gathering your ammunition.
Oh and when you're in the showroom, remember... to listen BEFORE you launch into the 20 questions routine...you might actually have a BUYER on your hands who'll simply say " I'll take that one over there please", like I usually do.
Don't want to drive him away.
Edited by grahamw48 on Saturday 16th January 01:00
I have had sals training from pretty much any sector you can name, and I have learn by far the most in car sales. Inchcape training really is good!
But I agree with b3pete, obviously I said things like "how do you think I compare to other candidates you have seen" after the interview, I think this is exepected at a sales interview. He liked it and said I had done well but there was more to see, I was 20, and got offered the job the next day..
Be yourself but incoporate some sales personality into it, like pete says. They want someone who can sll them cars, not be an all round nice guy!
But I agree with b3pete, obviously I said things like "how do you think I compare to other candidates you have seen" after the interview, I think this is exepected at a sales interview. He liked it and said I had done well but there was more to see, I was 20, and got offered the job the next day..
Be yourself but incoporate some sales personality into it, like pete says. They want someone who can sll them cars, not be an all round nice guy!
B3pete said:
Hello okgo guess your estate agent must be foxtons ,guess you have a tale or two up your sleeve!!!
It was indeed! Many tales, many un-repeatable things went down Away from that style of sale now, and I actually quite miss it..Where I am now there are hundreds of dud sales people that just cruise alon on autodrive doing FA, because the basics are good and the commision low.
Promise there is nothing in this for me. Having been at this sales lark for 30 years since i was 18 I have read great books and rubbish ones.Plus seminars ,cd courses dvd courses.
Having said that i would like to share something I have found on you tube.
I only know this guy through a book I found through searching google.
I emailed him through his website to congratulate him on it.He then guided me to his online sales course.It is amazing and he is showing it for free on you tube."sales gurus" would put this on a dvd and charge £100.
Guys it is fantastic.He is a hypnotherapist and has basically set up a hypnotic selling course.
you need to put the sentence below on you tube search and all 33 videos in order will pop op.
online sales training seminars 33 lessons.
The guys shares a lot of stuff free and in that spirit I wanted to share with you fellas.Best thing I have ever seen.I have a lot of books and cds on this nlp hypnotic language stuff but he puts it over brilliantly.Hope you enjoy it.
Having said that i would like to share something I have found on you tube.
I only know this guy through a book I found through searching google.
I emailed him through his website to congratulate him on it.He then guided me to his online sales course.It is amazing and he is showing it for free on you tube."sales gurus" would put this on a dvd and charge £100.
Guys it is fantastic.He is a hypnotherapist and has basically set up a hypnotic selling course.
you need to put the sentence below on you tube search and all 33 videos in order will pop op.
online sales training seminars 33 lessons.
The guys shares a lot of stuff free and in that spirit I wanted to share with you fellas.Best thing I have ever seen.I have a lot of books and cds on this nlp hypnotic language stuff but he puts it over brilliantly.Hope you enjoy it.
Hi all
Just want to say thanks for a fantastic thread. I've been out of work since last March having been n property in the SW since 1988. Am being forced to go back into estate agency and have started to get interviews. Thanks for the closing examples at the end of interviews. I have cut and pasted into word so I have a ready reckoner.
Thanks again
Tim
Just want to say thanks for a fantastic thread. I've been out of work since last March having been n property in the SW since 1988. Am being forced to go back into estate agency and have started to get interviews. Thanks for the closing examples at the end of interviews. I have cut and pasted into word so I have a ready reckoner.
Thanks again
Tim
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