Congratulations, you've landed an interview! Now it's time to prepare and seal the deal. But with so much competition out there, how can you stand out from the crowd? To help you get ahead, we've compiled the 12 best tips from employees at today's most successful dealerships. These tips go beyond the usual advice to sit up straight and dress to impress.
12 tips to help you prepare for your job interview in the car business:
1. Research the company beyond their website by looking at earnings calls, quarterly reports, and blog posts.
Before the interview, research the dealership beyond their homepage. Look at their inventory ,team links, and blog posts to get a deeper understanding of their footprint in the community. For example, if you're interviewing with a Ford dealer, impress them with data-driven answers that show you've done your homework.
2. Use Google Alerts to stay up-to-date on company news and developments.
Using tools like Google Alerts can also help you stay on top of the latest news about different car manufactures.
3. Clean up your social media profiles using an app like Redact to remove any red flags that may deter potential employers.
If you don't use a app like Redact make sure you clean bad posting they are negative. Especially political postings for left or right. Car dealers don't care who you voted for all they care about is do you have talent to sell and are you willing to learn... are you teachable. Many employers now search social media for red flags, so it's important to make a good first impression on your own terms.
4. Schedule your interview for Tuesday at 10:30 AM for the best chance of a successful interview.
Number one is always be on time. If you have a interview scheduled with the used car manager of a dealership and you tell him/her you will be there on Tuesday at 10:30 am don't show up at 10:31 if you do you're late.
5. Dress appropriately for the job you are interviewing for, and avoid wearing anything too distracting.
Don't ware a hat unless it's the dealerships hat which you can usually buy in the parts department - hint hint. Lose the sunglasses, no one cares how cool you look. Make sure nothings wrinkled and if you have a suit... ware it. Ladies should always wear pants and a conservative top.
6. Bring extra copies of your resume and a notepad to take notes during the interview.
I know many sales people that are making well over one hundred thousand per year and never had a resume. But if you do have one it doesn't hurt.
7. Prepare answers to common interview questions, and practice your responses beforehand.
One of the first questions a car dealer will ask is: "Have you ever sold anything before" if you haven't that's okay and actually better so just tell the truth. Dealers love working with new hires with no sales experience. This way the dealer can train you the right way from the start and doesn't have to worry about breaking bad selling habits you may have picked up from Best Buy.
Car dealers often ask job candidates if they have prior sales experience. "Have you ever sold anything before" if you haven't that's okay and actually better so just tell the truth. Car Dealers love working with new hires with no sales experience. There are others who prefer to work with individuals who have prior experience in sales. Therefore, it's important to be honest about your experience and let the dealer decide if your skills and experience are a good fit for the position.
8. Research the person or people who will be interviewing you to get an idea of their background and role within the company.
When you're being interviewed for a sales job, it's likely that the department manager will be conducting the interview. If you're specifically interested in a used car sales position, it's important to make that clear during the interview process. There are a couple of reasons for this. Firstly, there's no Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) associated with pre-owned cars. CSI is a metric that auto manufacturers and dealerships use to measure customer satisfaction, and it's typically only used for new cars. Secondly, selling pre-owned cars can be more lucrative than selling new ones. However, if you end up in the new car department, it's not necessarily a bad thing - just be sure to receive proper training.
9. Make eye contact, speak clearly, and avoid filler words like "um" and "uh."
This is pretty self-explanatory. if you need help there's an online program that can help with practicing eye contact, clear speaking, and avoiding filler words is InterviewStream. It is an online video interviewing platform that provides virtual practice interviews with a variety of customizable interview questions. It also includes features such as automated feedback on body language, speech rate, and word choice. Additionally, it allows you to record and review your own practice interviews so you can identify areas for improvement. InterviewStream is used by many universities and career centers as a tool for job interview preparation.
10. Be honest in your responses and don't try to fake knowledge or experience you don't have.
During a job interview, it's important to be honest in your responses. While it may be tempting to exaggerate your qualifications or work experience, this will ultimately do more harm than good. If you're asked a question that you don't know the answer to, it's okay to admit that you don't have that specific knowledge or experience. Car dealers appreciate honesty and integrity, and they will likely respect you more for being truthful rather than trying to fake your way through the interview. Remember from earlier a dealer would rather hire someone that has no experience and teach them the right way.
11. Follow up with a thank-you email or note after the interview to show your appreciation for the opportunity.
Following up with a thank-you email or note after the interview is a crucial step that many candidates tend to overlook. It's a chance to express your gratitude for the interviewer's time and consideration while also reiterating your interest in the position. A well-written thank-you note can set you apart from other candidates and leave a lasting positive impression.
In your email or note, be sure to thank the interviewer for their time and for the opportunity to discuss your qualifications for the role. You can also mention any particular aspects of the interview that you found especially engaging or informative. If there were any points of discussion that you feel you didn't fully address during the interview, you can use this opportunity to elaborate on those points.
Lastly, reiterate your enthusiasm for the position and your interest in moving forward in the hiring process. This can be an excellent chance to remind the interviewer of your strengths and qualifications, and to leave them with a positive impression of you as a candidate. Taking the time to follow up in this way can demonstrate your professionalism, attention to detail, and strong work ethic, all of which are qualities that ALL car dealers look for and teach daily. The car business is all about daily follow up and setting appointments.
12. Stay positive and confident throughout the interview, and remember that it's okay to be nervous.
Stay positive and confident during an interview, it's important to prepare ahead of time, focus on your strengths, take deep breaths, smile and make eye contact, stay engaged, and be yourself. Remember that it's okay to be nervous, and that the interview is an opportunity to showcase your skills and learn more about the company and the position.
Remember, getting an interview is just the first step. With the right preparation, you can ace your interview and seal the deal. Get more job tips and training from Playbook for Success to help you land your dream dealership job. Visit proautojobs.com to apply today!