A Day in the Life of...a Car Salesman
To a car buyer, a car salesman’s job seems pretty easy: answer questions, offer test drives, and haggle over prices until a deal can be reached. But someone starting out in the field will find that there’s a lot more to selling cars. If you’re considering becoming a car salesman, take some time to find out just what the job entails with this guide from Heritage Hyundai Towson. You might find that it’s the best profession for you.
Getting started
Required training for car salesmen can vary widely from one dealership to the next. Many dealerships require a high school diploma. A college degree, particularly in some form of business, sales, or marketing, is even better. Some dealerships have their own formal sales training programs and others will teach new employees on the job. An outgoing personality and a clever mind are often more important than formal education.
A typical schedule
Car dealerships are commonly open six or seven days a week. They open early in the morning and stay open late into the night. Weekends are usually prime selling days, so a salesman’s days off are typically on weekdays. The hours are varied so some salesmen come in early and others stay late. Some dealerships may have relatively set schedules, but salesmen often have hours that may change from one week to the next.
Sales meetings
Typically, car dealerships will have a sales meeting before each work shift. These meetings are designed to pass on any important new information to the salesmen, but they are also a chance for managers to get the team pumped up for a good day of sales. There may be longer meetings before weekends or during special promotion periods.
Opening and closing
If you’re working an early shift, that will mean getting to work before the doors open to customers. This gives you a chance to help set up banners and displays to get the dealership ready for business. Late shifts mean staying to close up after the last customers have left. Dealerships do have closing hours, but salesmen will often stay late if they have a chance to wrap up a sale.
Making sales
Making sales is the goal of any car salesman. This includes many steps such as answering questions, going on test drives, and negotiating sales prices (although the final price will typically be approved by a sales manager). Car salesmen will also take customers to the business office to arrange for financing, and work with the service center to have the new car cleaned and prepared to leave the lot.
Building customer relationships
A car salesman’s primary job is to interact with customers. To be successful, that often means building a relationship instead of just looking at a deal as a one-time sale. Many customers will return to buy future cars from a salesman they like, and they may refer their friends as well. Successful car salesmen often send thank you notes to buyers and follow-up with customers who are still in the process of looking for a new car.