American actress Gene Tierney once said: “Cars……were never my weaknesses”. But, that obviously is not true for most of us. So let’s change that statement to suit everyone in the world – let’s make it “cars… are, were and will always be my weaknesses!” Those of you aspiring to desperately work with these four-wheeled wonders must definitely look into the occupation of a car salesman. So what is your job? Marketing and selling! Sounds easy? The responsibilities of a salesman are much more than just ensuring sales. It involves a combination of talents such as people and communication skills, technical knowledge of the product (in this case – the car), aptitude and a few other qualifications along with the ability to meet the ubiquitous demands of after-sale services which again means a double-up of all your people and communication skills. As your career progresses, you need business and management skills too. Coming back to your obsession with cars, making it big in this profession can obviously help you buy your first big car and that too the one with the right configuration. Now, we’ve got you interested, right? Read on to satiate your curiosity!
Becoming A Car Salesman
Requirements
Eligibility
Actual requirements for a car salesperson are not many except for a high school diploma and probably a graduate degree in a similar field. Some may even opt for a postgraduate degree in Sales & Marketing to enhance their knowledge. Most dealerships hire personnel with some prior experience or put them through on-job of about 3-6 months. More than academic criteria, salesmen are required to know about the market, types of cars, competition and most importantly, the needs of a customer.
Courses Required
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Diploma In Marketing: To support your qualifications further, you could take up a diploma in sales which covers modules like formulation and implementation of market strategies, planning and managing budgets and evaluating the current market trends etc. After this course, entry level roles become easier to come by. These diplomas usually take about a year.
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Diploma In Sales Distribution: This is another diploma course which can add value to a salesman’s profile and lasts for about a year. It covers different subject areas such as company sales distribution, sales management and product launches etc.
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Certificate In Sales: If you are not too keen on engaging in a long program, then do a short course of about 3 months. Certificate course in sales are popular all over the world and cover topics like ethical practices, partnerships with clients, sales and sales management and business development etc.
Skills Required
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Effective Communication: You don’t have to be an orator but you must be able to speak clearly, without any slang. Making people understand what you’re saying is of utmost importance.
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Listening Ability: Imagine a non-stop talker, when the customer is trying to get in a word! Being able to hear at least half of how much you said is what differentiates a good salesperson from a not-so-good one.
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Problem Solver: Speak, listen and solve! That’s the purpose of having a salesperson in the first place.Cracking the buyer’s problems and giving suggestions and solutions is appreciated.
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Naturally Persuasive: This is an inherent skill which needs polishing while you are at your job. Good salespeople are those who know how to get the right words out of the consumer. You must be convincing enough to seal the deal with your attitude.
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Well-Mannered: Good manners always go a long way in the sales business! Respect is one of the greatest weaknesses of mankind. Respect them and they will surely listen to you but be honourable and truthful to them.
Roles And Responsibilities
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Understanding the industry is one of the primary concerns of a good salesperson. One needs to look at the market trends and the impact they are creating on the figures.
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Considering the market and being able to understand the desires of customers is important. This way you can serve and satisfy clients’ needs better.
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Keeping a watch for competition is natural. Making a mental note of the competitor’s prices and features is an important role of a salesperson. This research helps them gauge their products’ strengths better and comparison with competitors becomes rather easy.
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Understanding the product is a must. A successful car salesman must know the intricate details of his company’s car — all the details come in handy at the time of sealing the deal.
Career Prospects
Future career options can be either organizational or independent. Taking the step upwards to a supervisor and then manager comes from quantity of products sold and number of years of experience. Automobiles never go out of trend and same applies to car salesmen. Becoming a business car sales professional is the next step forward.
The career of a salesman is always dynamic and when it is a car salesman, the task becomes all the more challenging. It is essential to keep growing the ladder in order to grow as an individual!
