Hi guys
I posted this a few weeks ago but it disappeared.
I currently work in IT but have met a friend of a friend who works at a busy Ford dealership and was telling me about his job etc.
I do some sales in my current job in IT but would like a career change into the car industry as its a great interest of mine.
anyway il cut to the chase - friend has advised to do what he did - pop into the dealership and introduce yourself to manager (there are currently no jobs advertised)
can anyone offer me any advice in terms of what they will be looking for, questions asked 'if' the manager is willing to see me there and then, or maybe over an informal chat.
any advice is greatly received.
thanks in advance.
thanks
dave
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Read up about the company in question. Find out about all of their products, new products and be prepared to answer the usual questions, such as "why do you want to work here", "why should we employ you", "what relevant experience do you have" etc etc.
Preparation is the key, if you just go in for an informal chat, there's always the chance it may be used as a first interview (whether or not you realise it), so make sure you know your stuff.
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In some ways the "informal chat" is harder to pull-off than the formal interview. And it *will* be used as a first interview.
Sales isn't my field. I imagine you'll need to strike a balance between showing you have knowledge and some ideas and, on the other hand, a desire to learn.
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You're asking for a sales job. Your first job is to sell yourself.
Approach it in much the same way so that you have many thought, facts and opinions about yourself so that you can pull on them as you need them during a conversation.
What would you do to sell me a car ? Look for interest, try and show benefit, enjoyment, etc. etc.
You just have to try and do the same but where the subject is yourself.
Why should they want to employ you ? Why should they believe that you're going to sell cars ? Why do you think you'll be successful at selling cars ? What sets you apart from other aspiring salesman ? Why should they put any effort into training you ? What do they get back ?
You need to have answers to these questions - since if you don't have the right answers, they won't even try.
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David, have a search on 'Carmad' - I think he was asking something similar a while back and got a truck load of advice.
P
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Agree entirely with No FM2R - whom I believe to be Mark!
If I were interviewing someone for a sales position I'd try to get them to sell the actual product to me or an imaginary person in a particular situation. Imagine you're trying to sell the ubiquitous Mondeo TDCI to me - I've never had a Ford in 35 years of car owning, but am not a complete brick wall as I know that most of them are good cars. Get me out of my Audi and show me I can't afford NOT to have a Mondeo next time.
If the sales manager takes you on, you'll have a target of x number of cars to sell in a month. He needs you to show that you have a chznce of meeting it.
Here are a few more case-studies for you -
Rover 45 driver - trilby hat - always had Austins, then Rovers, since the Fifties. Won't have a Ford - says they're bad starters (that was true in the 50's).
Vauxhall man - had seven Cavaliers / Vectras in a row since 1980. Why should he change the habit of a lifetime?
Girl driving mum's Yaris. Getting her first car. Why should it be a Ka rather than an Aygo?
Antique dealer with his clapped-out Volvo estate - you have a nice used Mondeo estate in stock.
Young man driving Focus saloon and wants something more exciting. Knows a lot about cars and has a short-list with no Ford on it so far. How do you keep him as a Ford driver?
Best of luck!
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Get me out of my Audi and show me I can't afford NOT to have a Mondeo next time.
If I *ever* meet a car 'salesman' (or woman) who actually tries to *sell* me a car, I'd probably faint. They're all (the hundreds I've met anyway) just order takers.
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Thanks for your advice guys. Im going to pop into a couple of showrooms at the weekend and also send some CV's out. Il let you know how i get on.
I searched on 'Carmad' in the forum and found his post most interesting and the replies from it.
Thanks again
thanks
dave
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"Young man driving Focus saloon and wants something more exciting. Knows a lot about cars and has a short-list with no Ford on it so far. How do you keep him as a Ford driver?"
Except that i believe that this *imaginary* young man has indicated that he could be swayed by a very good deal on a Mondeo ST....
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...in dodgy yellow of course
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My simple answer is don't.
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Following on from BH's frank response, for what its worth, forget the motor trade, stay in IT. Engineer yourself a move across to a pre-sales position supporting a very competent sales exec who you rate (try and be very very fussy who you work with) and learn off them how to communicate and operate in a sales situation. If this isn't possible in your current situation, change jobs. IT has turned the corner and is now becoming a vibrant sector desperate for talent and skills. If you can, get your current employer to provide professional sales or consultancy training for you. Become a good listener. If you can, keep up to date with your technical skills either in work or outside of it. You'll find people will appreciate and warm to your technical/support background. If you're good enough (and most are), you'll earn a good living and build a career path that the motor trade just won't be able to afford you. If you have to sell cars, sell Alfas!
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Well I wonder who this imaginary young man could be. Sorry - "imaginary". ;-)
And yes - I could be swayed by a nice ST. One with 3 numbers after it!
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Adam
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A Family member recounts a great story about a man who walked into the Bristol cars showroom in London. The salesperson was making a model of a car, and steadfastly ignored the punter. The man walks around the showroom for 5 minutes then approaches the desk.
"Excuse me! Aren't you going to sell me a car?"
After a lengthy pause, whilst fixing the model, the salesperson replies slightly haughtily -
"Sir, we don't sell cars here. People come here to buy them from us!"
I love the attitude of that.
Good luck in selling yourself and your future. Remember, be genuine with punters..
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Thanks for your advice guys. Im going to pop into a couple of showrooms at the weekend and also send some CV's out. Il let you know how i get on. I searched on 'Carmad' in the forum and found his post most interesting and the replies from it. Thanks again thanks dave
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Since you're asking for advice I think that you have to be prepared to take the rough with the smooth. If you are going to submit something in writing then it needs to be impressive. Firstly I suggest that you seek advice regarding the format of a CV and secondly I suggest that you pay more attention to your grammar and punctuation. The truth sometimes hurts, I know. However, I have offered this advice with the best of intentions.
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L\'escargot by name, but not by nature.
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After working in car sales for nearly two years now i hate it! My wife moans about the hours i have to work and witht he internet revolution people can always find a car cheaper elsewhere, so margins are very low.
How many other sales guys are out there, id be interested in your views.
thanks
dave
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If you want to get into the motor trade,
1 Get your head examined !
2 Get another opinion.
3 Don't ! It is the wrong trade to get into now. especially if you are good with IT/computers.
4 If you must get into the motor trade, get into the electrical (computing side) diagnostic area.
Anything else and you will be putting yourself back years.
Salesmen sell figures not cars, you will have to sell the wrong cars to people just to meet your targets and earn any money. If you want to sell with honesty you will need to find a good independant (and because he is independant he won't want you !)
Nearly everyone of any ability I know in the trade is planning a way out of it right now !
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Yes, that is the impression I get when visiting car showrooms. It is all about figures. And the knowledge that the salesmen have is usually 'limited' from experience.
With sales, I don't think that pushy selling works anymore - it is just intimidating and very unprofessional. I have never seen a person worth their salt ever work in this manner.
I think a sales attitude is necessary, for example being polite, positive, pointing out the positives of the car etc, at the end of the day the consumer will not spend large sums of money without thought. They will judge themselves.
A lot of sales I would have thought would be made up of lots of test drives, returning calls (and reminding people for test drives), and lots of one to one talking. So in addition to sales, a people person would be very important.
And one more point; a freind of mine works in sales, and he says he doesn't earn a lot of money. So I assume it would need lots of hard work - so loads of exercise and fitness a must.
Greg
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I currently work in IT I do some sales in my current job in IT but would like a career change
>>anyway il cut to the chase
I was in IT for a few decades and I found there are lots of nerds who cannot communicate.
I cannot believe, if you have the "wanted" skills that you cannot make a good career in IT provided you can communicate.
As has already been mentioned , a "good" salesman can flog anything to anyone but could you do it and would you sleep well?
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Get into the sales side of IT - I recruit guys for senior sales roles in a very specialist area of the business, and £150,000 pa on target is not t all unusual (though hours are still long, but at least the wife has a good holiday).
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listen guys, david andrews has resurrected this thread after two years to update us on how he now feels in this job.
yes, he is not asking the question from two years ago, but asking the question posted today at
Tue 10 Jul 07 09:53
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I thank David for coming back to give us his verdict having done what he set out to do. It's a shame it hasn't worked out well for him.
Are there any other car sales guys/girls that can answer his question about their feelings as a career in car sales? Particular interest is his question about the Internet deals pushing down dealer margins.
Always interesting when a thread like this is updated rather than just archived for eternity.
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Firstly david, congrats on getting your sales job. you obviously did something right. Ok two years on its not all you hoped.
Now then - you have IT skills, you have sales skills. You have practical experience of both to go on CV. IT is changing. Jobs are being marginalised. Its splitting into fewer high paid customer focussed jobs (Architect, pre sales specialist, customer management, highly specilaist skills) and the (many) rest which is and will be offshored (or temorarily landed) from India and alike.
you are perfectly skilled now to go back to IT in sales. Big money. yup long hours too!
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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all i'm going to say is.....
i told you so!
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don't foget the old adage
"a salesman is only lying when he(she) is talking" how else would they sell half th ejunk they do?
I have found that to be pretty true as well in dealing with car people.
prefer the internet really.
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No offence to car salespeople who visit and contribute their wealth of knowledge to this site I'm sure TurboD......
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