Consider a Car Sales Career as the Economy Picks Up

It seems like the jobs that pay well requires years of studying, experience, or specialized training. But you don’t need to be a lawyer, doctor, or a business owner to make thousands of dollars every year. If you are a hardworking individual with great people skills and can thrive in an atmosphere of intense competition, consider a car sales career as soon as the economy picks up. Before the recession, auto salespeople could make up to $70,000 in their first year alone – even if they didn’t have a background in sales! In a car sales career, what matters most is not your work experience; rather, it’s the skills you have that spell the difference between success and failure.

Skills, Not Experience

There is some truth to the stereotype of the aggressive and manipulative auto salesperson. Anyone can get a job as a car salesperson, but keeping it is a different story altogether. You may have encountered several ads for openings in car sales, which may mislead you into thinking that the auto industry is booming despite the recession. This is not true. Car dealerships need many salesmen on board because the pay is usually commission-based. You make money if you sell a car but if you fail to reach the minimum sales quota, you make nothing and you may even get fired.

This is why your work history, education, or qualification matters little in auto sales. What will make or break your car sales career is your ability to deal with potential buyers, your motivation to make money, and a competitive spirit. Take note that when you’re at the dealership, you’re not just trying to sell cars; you’re also competing with your coworkers for the best sale. If you can’t take friendly competition or are sensitive to rejection and criticism, this is not the career for you.

The Job Search

The best place to start looking for a job is a dealership that carries a brand you like. This makes it easier for you to appear knowledgeable about the product so that you can be professional and honest as the company’s representative. Once you’ve decided the dealership and manufacturer you like best, send in an application and wait for the interview. Most dealerships administer a personality test as a standard procedure in the hiring process. This enables the dealership to hire only the best applicants and assess their skills, weaknesses, and any training that may be needed. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the training, their policy on performance appraisals, and initial pay scale. You can even ask the Sales Manager to let you observe a sale being closed by an experienced auto salesman to help you understand the best way to do your job.

Improving As a Car Salesman

Getting hired is only the first step of your car sales career. To stay on top of your game, you have to keep educating yourself and developing your skills. If you don’t know much about the product yet, educate yourself by reading the brochures or reading reviews of the cars over the Internet. Stay updated on the latest trends of the auto industry by subscribing to car blogs. You may also have to go through sales training seminars in order to hone your selling skills. If the car dealership doesn’t provide you with the resources you need to become a great car salesman, help yourself by buying sales training videos, attending sales training seminars, or reading books on sales techniques.