Trying to get a car salesman job

[Axel]

Its either sales, bartending, or posdibly going to trade school for welding. I tried most other entry level no expierence job. Not for me or employee/bosses made it a living hell. I called every bar around and either not hiring barbacks or bartenders. Or must have 1-2 years expierience. I have great general resturaunt expierence from my first full time high school job at 15-16 (cashier, server, busboy, dishwasher, short order cook). So I can handle a empty dive bar no problem. Yet Still looking. And I'm not in a spot right now to go to school.

I thought over how scummy the car sales industry is. I think I can do it right. I was taught such a high level of customer care and satisfaction at my previous jobs over tne past 8 years. That I have to treat the customers the same way I would want to be treated as a customer. No bad service is acceptable. I know how I can do this because it's the strongest skill I have in my limited skillset. I'm very good at serving and pleasing someone else. .

I still think you are limiting yourself. Forget about all the reasons you "can't", if anything is possible, what would you do?

Once you have that vision, break it down into steps.

It will never be any easier to achieve your dream than it is today. It only gets harder

[/oldmanrant]

[RAZRBAKK]

I'm with Axel on this. By all means, go for it. Make some money, but long term there are better options.

I came out of the craft beer industry in 2020(awful timing). Honestly, coming out of that industry felt like coming out of prison. Trying to explain to people how any of the specific skills applied to other positions was brutal. I took a car sales job for 8 months before the dealership did mass layoffs. I ended up back in brewing for 6 months as I just needed work. I knew I wanted to switch industries but didn't know what that next industry was going to be. After some soul searching, some late nights googling "how to change careers", "good paying jobs no experience" "what to do when you don't know what to do anymore", I decided to point myself towards IT. I took an entry level job at Geek Squad for less money than I made in the previous 10 years, and I just worked my dick off. I was at Geek Squad for about 9 months, and over those 9 months I got some certifications online, practiced my interview skills, had some truly awful and embarrassing interviews, but soon enough I found my way into an international tech company.

I don't have any post secondary, and I had minimal experience going into this job. I'm not saying this works for everyone. Believe me, r/ITCareerQuestions certainly doesn't think it's possible. I admit I got lucky with where I ended up, but sometimes you make your own luck.

You're obviously motivated, and I don't think it would be that difficult for you to have a similar path if you find the right industry.

[MrKittyCatMeowFace]

Those interviews are the worst. When they just end abuptly with a "we will call you if we are interested in going forward". Stumbling over words because your nerves are already shot on the drive over.

[Ordo]

For what it’s worth, I say go for it. If worse comes to worse, after a year if you’re not feeling it you can move into something else. And you’ve gained all that experience in the mean time. I switched careers twice since I was your age, granted Covid had a hand in that. You’re still young and have time to course correct if it doesn’t work out.

And hey, if you’re interested, the post office is always hiring. It can be a rough go in the early stages as there is a learning curve and you get abused before you make career. But after that, it’s relatively smooth sailing, barring staffing shortages and peak holiday season. Pay is good (especially if you chase overtime like I tend to), benefits are good and the Union is strong. It’s good, honest work. Just a thought. Feel free to message me if you want any details on that.

In any case, good luck with whatever you choose.

[Chuck E Ducky]

Making a living welding it’s tough. Everyone can weld few can weld good. It’s a toxic environment you are constantly dealing with heavy metals, fumes, radiation, and burning paints fall and injurie risks. It pays well and is a good skill to know. Long term the job sucks unless your the boss. I worked for a welding and fabrication shop for years. I also started my own business repairing heavy equipment for a while threw high school. It payed well I was making more then my teachers at the time working part time. It’s a dirty job.

I suggest learning the Electrical trade. It pays extremely well. Often you can get on the job hands on training. It’s not super difficult. It’s good clean work. This is what I’m going to do when I retire from my state job. I plan on working under my buddy who is a master electrician. Learning the trade and sitting for my license.

Plumbing pays really well if you can deal with others peoples shit. It’s a great trade skill to have. Nobody is out sorcing the broken shit pipe repair to an AI Bot. Just saying. Dirty job that pays extremely well if you are willing to do what others won’t.

Construction. Find someone reputable to work for that dose things right. Learn as much as you can. Buy the tools need to make your work life easier. A truck helps. This can be a very lucrative job especially after you become skilled at it. It’s saved be hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years with my rental business. The knowledge of Knowing how build and fix stuff is priceless. But you beat the hell out of your body. But the job is rewarding.

Best bet is talk to some local tradesmen and start at the bottom as a labor. Learn ask questions be useful bust your ass and you will be successful no matter what direction you choose.

[BrickHaus]

Have you considered plumbing? I'm a big trade supporter. I went to school to be an electrician though I'm not working as one. My degree got me some good opportunities along the way.

My brother in law is a plumber. They are desperate for help, and he pulls in enough to support his family on a single income. They will typically hire you with no experience long as you will show up and dig holes.

[Myrkul]

I know multiple plumbers clearing well over 6 figures, and at least one who started his own company who clears over 7 figures. It is far more lucrative then most people realize.

To the OP: I took a sales job at 23, and absolutely got my shit kicked in. It was completely awful, and your young age is going to work against you when selling to people with the cash to buy an Acura. I'd unquestionable go to into the trades if I was you. If Plumbing doesn't appeal to you, electricians and HVAC guys absolutely crush it on the income side too.

[Tarsun2]

its been discussed at nauseum already. skilled trades men (male/female) are fewer and fewer every year. Mike Rowe has been giving speeches on this for quite a few years now. even southpark is making episodes about it. (not that it means much but southpark does follow real/current trends quite well) lol

i LOVE cars. i love working on them. reading about them. watching videos and reviews about them. crappy cars, basic cars, cars i could never afford, hyper cars. i dont have very many childhood memories but, i can tell you where i was, what the weather was like, time of day, color of the car, and the make and model of the car when i saw my 1st lamborghini diablo... i LOVE engines and the classic stuff (sbc's) the 90s era stuff (2zz, b16/18, QR's) and love reading about all the new tech thats out and coming out.

honda uses the flywheel for misfire detection. like wtf?
cars can use the wheel speed sensors to measure tire pressure. really wtf?
mazda spins the cam either faster or slower than the engine to adjust valve timing. who thinks of this?

i got a job as a mechanic and was excited. hated it. i really wanted to like it but left after a year or two. i was going to be the "good/honest mech". i realized i couldn't stay and be that guy... i went back to college and got a job fixing hospital equipment. its awesome. its like being a mechanic but, its either done right or not at all. ive been trained on respiratory equipment and fix ventilators. its really cool knowing that someone's life depends on your work.

when i got the job i think i had $20 in my account. i was eating mustard sandwiches, and buying shoes from salvation army.
im doing good now but knew i wanted to get a job that someone off the street couldnt jump into. it was worth it for me.

ive also worked as a short order cook in a bar.
and as a barback. thats a rough life in general.

do the car sales if youd like, but dont fall into the bucket. (is that what they call it? when you borrow $ when sales are low and then hopefully pay it back).

financing is harder and harder to get.
repossessions are on the rise.
inflation is through the roof.
no more stimmy checks.
people in general are stretched thin.
and cars are at an all time high.

im not in sales though. i tried but dont have "it".
you sound similar and if youre anything like me, youll need to work with your hands. sitting at a keyboard all day would make you go crazy lol.
if cars dont work out, learning a trade might be fun.

[Tarsun2]

oofff i think that was one of my longer posts lol

[MrKittyCatMeowFace]

oofff i think that was one of my longer posts lol

You nailed me on working with my hands. But I do like helping and meeting new people. So I could tolerate sitting in a dealership waiting for people to walk in. I kinda don't want to be on entry level job sites anymore. C***faced addicts and un safe work enviroments really soured the trades for me. Welding won't break my body by middle age. Will have to be provided the correct ppe, and safety protocals must be enforced though. I left turf management/pest control because of the chemicals. Not worth dying for a paycheck. I gotta outlive a couple of my family members. Could not willing put them through a major illiness or death. .

[MrKittyCatMeowFace]

Got a second interview with the other manager at GMC tomorrow morning. He liked my previous expierence a lot. Especially my sales job at Disc Replay. .

[SignOfZeta]

If you’re not already hell bound I’d seek a more honest living. If your last job was Jeffery Epstein’s helicopter pilot or something then I guess go for it.

[MrKittyCatMeowFace]

If you’re not already hell bound I’d seek a more honest living. If your last job was Jeffery Epstein’s helicopter pilot or something then I guess go for it.

I'm kinda hell bound. If you consider jail/prison hell on earth. .

[Levi]

Lots of solid advice in this thread.

The car sales may be a good way to learn and get some sales experience. Long term it will probably be hard to stay honest though.

You might look into getting into industrial sales in some form or fashion. Selling things like valves, bearings, hardware, air compressors, pumps & etc... to business who need those things to do what they do. I've dealt with a lot of these salesmen and don't typically get the sleazy car salesman vibe. Sure they want to sell their products, but the process is more oriented around helping customers solve problems, and showing how their stuff is a good fit for the application.

Something to consider if you want to do sales without compromising your ethics.

[p8ntninja]

I see you are basically in the burbs of Chicago, a really good option is hitting up the airlines and getting on as a ramp agent or event gate agent. The pay is alright but the flight perks even that out. Another solid option is TSA. Say what you want but you are basically making 45k/year starting and working towards a pension. I know quite a few that did it for a year only to use it as a stepping stone into other government agencies.

[Tarsun2]

by all means, follow the car sales path. im all for taking different paths in life.
ive held many jobs over the years from mechanic to pharmacy, construction to cooking, gas station to greenhouse. trying to figure out what my spark was.

if car sales does not work out, a skilled trade would be a job in demand, that not anyone can just walk off the street and fall into. plumbing, electrical, things like that. working with your hands, creating something; staying safe. but if its not your calling, then its just not your calling.

car sales might be... who knows.

the medical field is pretty cool too. with a little training you could be a respiratory tech or ECG tech. heck, you could even go into nursing. there are PLENTY of other jobs in medical that you dont need to be a Dr. to do.

I'm also biased. lol

best of luck to you in whatever filed you choose.

[FullContactUSA]

This may be a left field suggestion but if you are not super tied down, have you thought about joining the military? I'm pretty sure that only the USMC made their recruiting goals last year all the other branches came up short, so there may be some decent sign on bonuses to be had. If you want to stay in your home state Army or Air National Guard may be options as well. Depending on the job that you take there are plenty of military specialties that translate into civilian careers if you decide its not the life for you. But there are also education incentives that can help you go to college without paying a fortune. Just some food for thought.