It might be optimistic to assume we’re beyond the stigma surrounding those who make a career in vehicle sales. We’ve pretty much heard all the used car salesperson jokes and put-downs by now. But for those without a post-secondary degree or certificate, car dealership jobs can bring much higher than average incomes.
Types of jobs at a car dealership
Positions in mid to large factory retailers are usually assigned to specific departments. These include – Sales, Service and parts, Admin, Finance, Customer service and HR. Let’s take a look at some of these car dealership jobs in more detail.
Sales jobs in car dealership
Sales jobs at car dealerships vary from lot attendants (those responsible for managing vehicle displays, along with other tasks) to vehicle cleaners and detailers (those who ensure both new and used autos are presented in pristine condition), to showroom greeters/receptionists (who welcome customers and get them connected to a sales rep with efficiency), to sales reps, to finance consultants, to sales managers.
Dealership service jobs
In parts and service, often referred to as fixed operations, you’ll find drivers (who deliver and pick up parts and customers), service advisors (those who interact with and advise service customers), parts counter staff, technicians, apprentices and lube techs, facility maintenance staff, warranty clerks, and of course parts and service managers. None of these positions require a post-secondary degree, but specialized college courses are available and popular, and provide excellent ways to skip certain positions and allow applicants to land their job of choice right out of classes.
Car dealership admin jobs
In administration, there are office managers, licensing/title clerks, and receivable/payable account specialists. Usually these jobs are only filled by experienced applicants.
Entry level jobs car dealerships
Lot attendants and drivers are often referred to as entry-level positions, however, good employers recognize that these are usually the people customers first meet at their facilities, and hence owners look for more than just a clean driving record in the hiring process. Pay for either position is usually just above minimum wage, but may include benefits for full time employment as well as a foot in the door for those looking for advancement.
Skills for car dealership jobs
With the wide variety of jobs at any dealership, the skill sets required for success at car dealerships are equally varied. But for customer-facing positions, the ability to effectively communicate is a real asset. Admin staff are usually filled with financial reporting pros as auto dealerships still have the unique burden of completing a full and very detailed financial statement 12 times a year. And as one might suspect, in fixed operations, specific technical and mechanical skills are highly valued and often a prerequisite of hiring.
How to get a job at a car dealership with no experience
Getting on the showroom floor as a sales rep without experience isn’t as daunting a task as it may sound. Carmakers are continually promoting consistent processes in the sales experience and put a lot of educational resources on the table for dealerships to use to bring a candidate with little or no experience up to speed and on track to succeed. They may actually look for a pool of candidates with no formal experience in order to avoid some tactics neither they nor the automakers they represent wish to present to customers. Going from showroom greeter to a sales rep is a relatively short step. Colleges, like Georgian College in Ontario offer two and four year programs in automotive business and administration and advertise a 90% placement rate for graduates.
What’s the reward? A top-performing sales rep in even a mid-sized store can bring in six figures. The sacrifices are seldom having a Saturday off, working evenings, and burning the midnight oil to make a sale. And of course, enduring the jokes and put-downs all the way to the bank.