Whether you are considering starting a new a career in auto or you’re just seeking a better opportunity, today the Internet can provide many helpful tools for your career path. You can easily research available auto sales jobs in your area, comparing the hours and benefits before you visit the dealership, or you can even locate job opportunities in a new city if you are relocating.
Beginning an auto sales career
If you are new to auto sales, you will receive on-the-job training from your new employer, but you will want to supplement this training to be successful. Study the dealer’s product line until you know it inside and out, and consider taking a sales course. Work on any weaknesses that could stand in your way, such as using mnemonics to remember names.
Online career tools
While there are a number of well-known sites such as Monster.com that list auto sales management jobs, there are a number of sites specializing in auto sales manager jobs. These speciality web sites provide free information for anyone in the auto sales industry, such as articles detailing the latest sales techniques, information about Internet car sales, advice about the issues faced by auto sales managers, and how your finance department can perform better. Of course they also have national job boards, letting you easily locate auto sales positions that meet your needs.
Auto sales job search tips
Working in the sales industry can be very competitive, especially if the sales people work on commission. Even for salaried positions, there are goals that must be met to retain your job or receive bonuses or other incentives. This competition is also true for obtaining a sales position. In today’s tight job market, some sales positions are declining. To get one of the available jobs, you must sell yourself as thoroughly as you would sell a car.
First, review your resume. Make it easy for a busy sales manager to get the important information through a quick skim. Sales managers are interested in numbers; make sure your resume highlights your accomplishments in those terms. Include your closing ratio, increased sales you’ve brought to your previous employer, your ranking among the sales staff (assuming you are one of the top producers), and total annual or monthly sales both in terms of number of cars sold and the dollar amount. Make sure that your resume is free of errors, as this makes you look unprofessional. If writing is not your strong suit, have a friend proofread it with a critical eye or consider hiring a professional resume service to make your resume stand out.
Next, have your facts ready. Understand the dealership’s products, history, clients, and if possible, compensation structure. Be prepared with fact based responses to typical questions, such as how you handled a particularly difficult customer, how you work with other sales managers, what you do if there is a problem, and ways you have shown commitment to both the customer and the dealership.
New opportunities in auto sales
The explosion of Internet auto sales has created new opportunities for auto sales professionals, especially if you have Internet experience. Today most larger dealerships have sales staff dedicated to assisting Internet shoppers, and these shoppers aren’t just restricted to your usual sales area. Customers want to shop inventory online and compare prices, but they often have questions that must be handled by a live person. Internet sales reps are responsible for following up on these leads, whether it’s answering questions about financing, current inventory, special orders, or obtaining a vehicle from another dealership. Internet sales professionals must be highly organized, as you will be handling many more customers in a day than you would for strictly in-person sales, and any missed opportunity could mean a missed sale.
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