Increased sales, a bigger need for technical knowledge in mechanic jobs, more financing activity and longer hours are all reasons that dealerships across the United States have over 100,000 job openings, which is why dealers have launched a campaign to push dealership-related careers with teens and college students.
Among the perks of working at a dealership is that, in many cases, employees don't need a college degree. The recruiting efforts by various regional dealer associations target groups that meet their needs -- in Texas and Florida, dealers are wooing women for sales jobs. In Cleveland, dealers are looking for business-oriented college students to fill marketing and other business jobs. Other areas trying to recruit mechanics have to overcome the grease monkey stigma in favor of the high-tech direction in which that career is moving.
In states like Ohio and Michigan, the loss of manufacturing jobs makes dealer recruiting all the more important -- the jobs are lucrative, at least for those who apply themselves, and they are a way to stay in the auto industry.
[Source: Detroit News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Richard Warren @ Jul 6th 2006 10:45AM
Finding "good" techs has been a problem for years, even when the cars were less technical it was tough to find good techs. What's interesting is back in the late 60's early 70's I was making 28 to 30,000 a year as a flate rate tech. I was making more than my dad who was an engineer at Lockheed.
The automotive business can be a great business and the pay is generally very good. You ignore the comments of peers and do the job. When I was parts and service director for 9 stores in our group in the 80' through the mid 90's my salary and bonus ran between 160,000 a year to a high of 210,000 the last year I was in the retail end of the business.
I still do consulting to dealerships and stay associated with the business. Except for a few years doing something different I've been associated with the business since I was 16 that's 42 years and it's put a lot of meat on the plate.
Alex @ Jul 6th 2006 11:03AM
I worked as an apprentice Mechanic at a dealership. Worst experience in my life, biggest job joke ever.
Pros - Still thinking
Cons - Flat rate sucks, Pay sucks!
Nothing is worst then changing a flat tire in a foot of Snow in winter on a Monday morning.
If you want to get into the Auto Fixing Biz, Work in a small garage. Start from there take lots of courses at night, at your loca College (No you don;t need a Degree to take them).
Then after all that, open your own shop.
Open a specialized type of shop.
When you work at a Dealer, your noghing more then their little "Grease Monkey B*tch'!
Rover Tech @ Jul 6th 2006 12:45PM
You must pay your dues in any profession, if you love cars then being a mechanic/technician can be very rewarding.
The grease is going away. Today so far I have reprogrammed modules, diagnosed wind leaks, fixed a sunroof, reconfigured a security module to accept a new key, plugged a tyre, and browsed the web, and drank coffee. Way more time is spent on fault diagnostics and drivability concerns than actual nuts and bolts, the skills and information required has exponentialy increased and the number of people who actually do these jobs properly has decreased which has increased the average income of a competent professional. High end dealerships mostly understand this and a good technician is valued more than ever.
Plus you get to drive cars, which is what we all like to do anyway.
PJ @ Jul 6th 2006 1:38PM
A lot has changed about the public face of car dealerships in the last couple of decades, but a *lot* more is going to need to change behind closed doors before qualified applicants like the sound of "selling cars."
Right after I got out of college and was scrounging around for a first job (this was, er, last year), I briefly considered working in auto sales. Then I got talking to some friends who had done it. They hated it. Ten-hour days, six-day weeks... none of it mandatory, but if they didn't spend as much time as possible on the floor, their friendly co-workers would steal their customers. And if they refused to be a dick and push a sale after each test-drive, the sales manager gave them a tongue-lashing every couple of hours. The pay sucked, too, since they were unwilling to schmooze people.
I know there are readers of this blog who sell cars, so I don't mean to offend--I'm sure some people have a much better experience. But suffice it to say, I ended up working at a grocery store for the rest of that year.
Richard Warren @ Jul 6th 2006 1:56PM
Rover tech, well put
PJ, welcome to the "real world" you know you actually have to work to make some money and that means putting in the hours up front to be successful. My father in law worked his ass off in the insurance business for the first 10 years and watched about 90% of his peers drop out. Then for the next 35 years he coasted because he'd done the up front work and developed relationships that lasted with his clients.
#2 I had an old boss in the car business who had a saying. You have to eat a lot of shit before you get to a strawberry. He was 100% correct, you pay your dues, work hard and it pays off.
Msgoodwrench @ Jul 7th 2006 3:36PM
PJ that is true. I worked at a dealership from 95-98
and can remember the sales management being harsh with the sales people.
They were also paid a salary of 150/week and when I found that out is when I said 'no wonder they are like sharks" lol sheesh how can you live on 150 / wk in NJ
(you can't)
Im glad I didn't get into that part of cars. I rather turn wrenches.
Now, to be able to find a job would be nice. 100 thousand out there but nobody calling me. I have great recommendations from former bosses. Could be the way I look . LOL (maybe it's not good to be better looking than the boss.) rofl j/k ;o)
PJ @ Jul 7th 2006 4:34PM
I'm a little surprised, Richard. Anyone over 25 has been at the stage I described, and it feels tough at the time, which means that you complain off the job. There's no need to be demeaning.
I have no problem with ten hour days, I simply prefer not spend them doing something I have zero passion for or aptitude in--sales, in this case. I put in my time with a crap job after college, found a better one in my field that I love, and now happily work fifty hours a week.
Not all young people who complain about their work expect success to be handed to them on a platter. It's simply hard to *know* that the success is coming, someday, when you haven't lived it yet.
Gary @ Jul 7th 2006 8:25PM
Im a 17 year old high school student, and I would love to work at a dealership!, doing anything! E-mail or call me!
Jr @ Jul 18th 2006 1:19AM
i just started working as a tech. and truthfully. i hate it, im doing the opposite of what i wanted to do in life. which is sit at my desk with a nice shirt and a tie. i thought that i'd love my job because i've always been a fan of working on cars and making them fast. i just scewed up by paying alot of money to learn to fix cars. (big mistake) im curently looking to get into service writing. im hoping that my BMW training will help me land atleast an entry position in it. to everyone that wants to become a tech make sure thats what you want to do with your life. before going to school and spending alot of money try to get a job as a trainee or a atleast a lube tech. then tell yourself is this what i want to do? im definatly not saying its a bad job. someguys make a killing every pay check and lov their job. i guess its just not for me
David @ Jul 22nd 2006 7:12PM
I have worked in the dealerships for 18 years. sometimes that's a good thing, sometimes a bad. For those who want to work in a dealership, do not pay to go to school for it. The dealers couldn't care less about your education in the auto field. The education they care about is the one that they will send you for after you go to work for them. They will send you for dealer training and ASE certification. It is a hot job in the summer and a cold one in the winter. The money can be good if you are willing to put in the hours and take pride in what you do. I average about $65,000.00 a year. So don't think that everyone hates their dealer job or has a horrible expeience in the dealerships. Give it a try if you really like cars and are willing to put some time and effort in.