i didnt realise i had a unique sales point to be honest! I have about 2.5 years experience in sales now and have been working back in Electrical Retail since December now.
I sent a letter off to each manufacturer, printed on heavy quality paper, together with my CV. I also printed the envelopes and tried to make everything look as professional as possible. I also proof read my CV several times and got others to do the same - and suggest improvements. I think this helped considerably.
I now have to ring and arrange a number of interviews with different dealerships tomorrow as I have been rushed off my feet all weekend at work!
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Wow! You certainly have had some luck!
I did the same with the CV, *very* expensive, quality paper, proof read by someone who works in a dealer's personnel department etc. etc. All appears well with that. Never mind, I still have to send it to VW< Audi, Volvo, Saab, Mercedes-Benz etc.
Fingers crossed!
Blue
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cool.
Well, i did an 'taster' day today with VW and really enjoyed it. Nice people, great products, and a superb location. Only thing is, I wont know till a weeks time if I have even made it into the major interview - however, I think I made a good impression.
I am still going to go for the interviews for the other car firms and particularly like the look of Citroen and Honda. Both of these marques have their own individual advantages.
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....and particularly like the look of Citroen and Honda. Both of these marques have their own individual advantages.
In Citroen's case, disenchanting their customers by knocking 17.5% off the price of a car 2 weeks after you paid full money.
;o)
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hmmm i can see your point lol. I have had another 2 calls today - one from renault and another from Subaru (subaru only offering a part time job though which doesnt interest me).
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Yay!
Just had a phone call to attend an informal chat at a Nissan garage. I'm going later this week, obviously my application form isn't as flawed as I was beginning to believe!
Blue
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lol same here - i just got an email from my local Nissan Garage too.
I went along for that Honda interview and they seem to be a firm who are very 'mind' focused - they made me do a special test and then a structured interview. The interview went fine, however I have no idea how the 'attitude/personality test' went. I will probably hear from them this week.
I also went for an interview at Ford - seems a good place to work too.
Hopefully this week I will find out which garages are serious about employing me. I will let you know how i get on.
Chris
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Well good luck with the Honda interview, I've got no idea what their dealers are like, but Honda itself seems like a very forward thinking company, I would guess that this is reflected in their dealers...
It's quite a trek to the Nissan garage, about 30 miles from my house, but I just made the run to check exactly where the garage is and it doesn't seem too bad. I'll just have to start getting up earlier :-(
I have realised that I would be the only Nissan salesman driving a Ford Fiesta, but other than that I can see no drawbacks :-)
Will keep you posted.
Blue
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Cool - hope it goes well! you should get it!
I got a phone call from Honda today asking me to go and meet the manager again tomorrow to talk through my assessment results. Im a bit nervous as apparently the 25 questions gave 9 pages of information! - not bad considering about 2/3rd's of them seemed the same!
I will let you know how i get on.
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Good luck mate.
The last personality test that I did was quite interesting, and fairly accurate, except for one or two little points. It's really freaky having someone sit and tell you all about yourself on the strength of a few questions on an exam! Enjoy :-)
Blue
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lol im nervous now hehe. It should be good fun seeing what they got back. I keep thinking about the answers i put down and am convinced I put some bad ones down! Oh well, we shall see...
I am much more relaxed during an interview situation than I am with tests such as that. If someone asked me if I would prefer a 10 minute test or an intensive 2 hour interview - I would still take the 2 hour interview!
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Don't worry. The test is just a piece of data.
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The reason the questions seem the same is that they are testing your honesty in answering them, i.e. your consistency.
They can be uncannily accurate with these tests.
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Hi,
Well it was exactly what you all said it would be! It had a hell of a lot of information within the results, including my overall personality profile and even a list of questions i may find tough to answer.
Lol it was quite scary as many of the points he raised were probably quite accurate! - although, obviously, there were a few points I was unsure about.
Apparently I am a mr average really - I am target orientated, sometimes im assertive, other times im not, am an individual worker and not really a team player. Quite interesting really - the last point about not being a team player isnt right as I am very team orientated too. Still it was a bit of fun hearing the results!
I was offered the job so have accepted it. Was really impressed with the dealership and particularly liked the manager and friendly, positive feeling within the place. Also, there are good prospects within the firm and I feel they are interested in their staff, not just sales figures.
Start in about 2 weeks! :)
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Well done, good luck with it
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Congratulations - get to smoke around in a CTR hopefully?
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hehe maybe...but i think a Jazz is more realistic!
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Congrats! That's excellent mate, It sounds like you've made a good decision going for a company that's obviously people orientated, and at least they make some good cars, you shouldn't have customers throwing their keys back at you. Hope you're not getting rid of the Mini though! :-)
Let us know how you get on.
Blue
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Well - if this job works out, I think the writing is on the wall for the Mini. Although the money is good and I could afford to run my own private vehicle, i see no advantage in doing so. I am going to be cripled with company car tax anyway let alone my own insurance and running costs for the Mini! if im working a 6 day week, I see no reason to pay for a car which is effectively just sat on the drive!
Im not going to do anything though for about 3-4 months just to ensure I am happy with the job and they like me.
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Congratulations...
Right, I'll have a Civic type R, in Jazz metallic pink, with a years free insurance and £5k part ex for Polo please. Ok? ;-)
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I don't think I've ever had to moderate any of PG's posts before, but on the grounds of good taste I'm sorely tempted.
A pink Type R? Are you currently undergoing extensive medical treatment? Did any errant Polo bodywork meet forcibly with your head, perchance?
Good grief....
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Congratulations Mate!
And that's all because you met the Dealer Principle and sold him a camera.
Let's just hope the camera lasts a few months at least!
Hugo
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Well it's pink or black, and given the luck I've had to date with the metallic black car.... ;-)
(By the way ND...aren't you in Dorset somewhere? Don't want to worry you but I've got a job interview coming up in that direction...Polo and I could be heading south again!)
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Totally OT but... my 'reply to...' thing isn't working. I click on the post I want to reply to, but my post gets put at the bottom of the thread regardless.
Just wanted you to know I'm not deliberately making a mess!
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Totally OT but... my 'reply to...' thing isn't working.
Yes it is.
I click on the post I want to reply to, but my post gets put at the bottom of the thread regardless.
That's because Hugo has replied to the same message as you. His was earlier, so that's why yours come later.
If you view this thread in "threaded view" it'll become clearer:-
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=20162&...t
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Good taste - the type R civic is an absolute blast! apparently its peak rpm is about 7500! - it comes to life at about 6000rpm - quite a car for £16k!
You have to hand it to Honda - they are brave to release pink as a colour option! many car firms wouldnt dream of it - i.e. Mini for example.
Oh well - if anyone wants a honda, you know who to contact :D
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Well it's pink or black, and given the luck I've had to date with the metallic black car.... ;-) (By the way ND...aren't you in Dorset somewhere? Don't want to worry you but I've got a job interview coming up in that direction...Polo and I could be heading south again!)
I'm in Poole, like Bournemouth only better beaches and less stag-parties at the weekends. (That's the sanitized version).
You'll be lucky to catch me in Dorset at any other time than on weekends though. Currently spending a lot of time in London and will be doing some work in Edinburgh in the coming weeks. All good fun.....
Good luck with the interview.
ND
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I don't think I've ever had to moderate any of PG's posts before, but on the grounds of good taste I'm sorely tempted. A pink Type R? Are you currently undergoing extensive medical treatment? Did any errant Polo bodywork meet forcibly with your head, perchance?
Much as admire the wisdom and patience of the current moderators, may I suggest that this might be evidence of the need to add a female moderator[1] to the ranks? (And no, I am not angling for the job, been there and do not ever want to be a moderator again!)
I mean, next thing you'll be telling us that it's more important for a car to drive well than to have a cutesy face!
[shakes head while keeping tongue lodged firmly in cheek]
[1] The obvious alternative, of giving a sex-change to one or more of the current moderators, might not be entirely welcome to them ...
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[1] The obvious alternative, of giving a sex-change to one or more of the current moderators, might not be entirely welcome to them ...
Hmm, short bearded female mod. Don't see it. Dave, Mark, any takers?
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>>Hmm, short bearded female mod. Don't see it. Dave, Mark, any takers?
It would be great to have a female mod, but until that happens we shall all just have to make do with No Dosh.
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oooh, \'ark at \'er!
To be fair, I\'m not afraid to get in touch with my feminine side. I can drive just as badly as any woman if the mood takes me.
Now where\'s the chocolate? I\'m in a grump.....
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Betting this is the last reply before this gets locked for being totally OT...
Much as admire the wisdom and patience of the current moderators, may I suggest that this might be evidence of the need to add a female moderator[1] to the ranks? (And no, I am not angling for the job, been there and do not ever want to be a moderator again!)
I'd do it with pleasure. Only one problem... I don't drink pints and I hate pickle, so we'd have to change the pint and ploughmans to Archers and pasta... ok boys?
[shakes head while keeping tongue lodged firmly in cheek]
NW I applaud you... I just tried to do that and it's very difficult. Am sat here quite pleased that I'm in on my own tonight or I think bloke I live with would think I'd gone a little mad.
PG (Still smiling at the fact that the company Alfa of a friend of mine has just been taken to the same repairer that butchered Polo... can I resist the temptation to go with him to collect it??)
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Hmm, well the Nissan thing doesn't look like it's going to happen, I was supposed to receive a call yesterday telling me either way, I didn't, so I rang today, and no one has rang back. Not exactly a good sign.
Anyway, I'm off round some of the other dealerships tommorow, I have the addresses for divisional directors for some of the premium marques so I will send my cover letter and CV in via post to these companies as it is going straight in fairly high up in the company. However, I was going to try the old fashioned method of just calling into some of the other local franchises, such as Honda, Toyota, Peugeot etc.
I've printed some copies of my CV onto the usual high quality paper etc. but I don't feel right just handing in a couple of sheets of paper, anyone know if these things are usually bound, and if so, any recommendations on where and how to get them bound?
Also, does anyone think that just going in and asking to speak to the sales manager about any potential vacancies is a bad idea? I'll be going in dressed smartly etc. I thought this might be a better way of making a good first impression with the right people.
Blue
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>>>> Also, does anyone think that just going in and asking tospeak to the sales manager about any potential vacancies is a bad idea? I'll be going in dressed smartly etc. I thought this might be a better way of making a good first impression with the right people.
Not a bad idea! I did this in 1972 with a company to which I had already sent an application some months before, which they had rejected. Second time round the company took me on, and I'm still there.
PS (further encouragement) I now own the company.
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Yea it could be worth doing. I think I would ring up and ask to speak to the sales manager first - and ask if there are any potential vacancies. If there are, ask if it would be possible to go in and chat about it. Maybe tell him a bit about yourself on the phone first, how youve always been into cars, etc...BS it a bit if necessary - just GET NOTICED!
I wouldnt worry about Nissan - they are not exactly the most exciting company out there at present.
If it makes you feel any better, I still havent had anything in writing back from Ford. He basically offered me the job in the interview but I said I needed to think it over - so he said he would write to me. Anyway, no response - tbh, i wouldnt have taken it anyway as I now have a better firm to work for - but it would have been nice to be offered it!
Something interesting i found out about this Ford dealer's commision structure though was...
If a customer who has brought a car off you doesnt give you 5 out of 5 on the satisfaction survey, Ford FINE the salesman £150! - not great if your earning say £50-100 on selling the vehicle! This instantly put me off......Its worth doing a bit of digging about their commision if you think you can get away with it in the initial interview.
Also, something else ive found is that some firms operate a 'claw back' pay scheme. Say your basic pay is £8000 - if you dont sell any car's, some dealers GUARANTEE you say £15,000 a year. This is divided up per month, so in this case they would give you £1250. So in effect, they loan you £7000. However, as soon as you start selling car's, they dock your pay. This can be a + or a - depending on how you look at it - but in my view, I think it would be tough to know how much money you will earn each month.
Hope this helps you when your negotiating pay in your new position.
Have you considered applying to Citroen? they are supposed to be a good firm to work for as most of the sales are through finance + they have SEVERAL incentives on offer constantly - i.e. No VAT, free Insurance etc..
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Thanks Chris, I've been into three seperate showrooms today, and managed to get an interview tommorow afternoon for Honda :-)
The information on the commission and pay is really useful thanks, I'm not really sure whether I would like the clawback system, I have enough debt as it is without owing my employers money! I'd have to look into it in more detail to be sure.
If you're on-line later on would you mind e-mailing me? I've got a few questions that I'd like to ask if you've got time, but I can't get your e-mail addy off your profile. Cheers.
Blue
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Hi blue,
I have emailed you my MSN id - so feel free to add me to your list.
if you dont have msn we can just talk via email.
cheers,
chris
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Thanks Chris
I've added you to my MSN, although my MSN ID is notorious for not working properly, so if you haven't got the message telling you that I've added you to my list then let me know.
Blue
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Well, I'd just like to thank everyone, especially Chris, for their help and advice... I start at Honda on Monday! :D
Much better working environment than the Nissan job that I applied for, more promotion prospects and it means selling better quality cars, can't complain at that! :-)
Blue
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Hi guys
Well did my first day yesterday and really enjoyed myself. Got to meet all the staff - very good atmosphere, and also drive a number of cars - more or less the entire range.
Its early days but I like the dealership soo far. I was mainly observing though yesterday and felt a bit like a spare part at times but i recognise that this is just part of the 'new job' experience.
Blue - how are you getting on mate?
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Hope you guys are going to offer special discount to any 'Roomers who stumble into your respective showrooms?
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***uncomfortable silence at prospect of discount*** :)
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I think we both know that there isn't exactly a large margin for discount with Honda cars! :-)
Blue
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