new career advice

stevem099

Hello, firstly great forum really enjoy reading it.
since leaving school ive worked as a plant mechanic, i achived nvq level 3 in automechanics and plant repair and matainance.
ive worked 4 1/2 years with a access platform company, (cherry picker rentals) and 1 1/2 with a forklift main dealer.my role in both companys was a feild engineer going to customers sites to fix faults or maintain. ive left my last job to move to brighton with my girlfreind she is following her dream and working as a journlist, whilst we are ok financially i wish to start a new career.
i felt in my past jobs there was little room for promotion etc all the other men i worked with were 20+ years older than me which i didnt mind but felt there was always this "your the boy" kind of attiude. i felt myself loosing alot of enthusaim for the job over the past for years.
the only job i can think id like to give a go is a carsales man or somthing similar but im unsure how to get into it also dont know anyone thats ever been one to give me a view.
basically im after anyone that can give me there expericance of what carsales was like, how to get into it etc. or anyone that can suggest another job that they think could suit.
the other thing ive been looking into is doing an economic course this intrests me but i strugle to see what sort of job it would be applyed to.
many thanks in advance
steve

wuckfit

In order to be a successful salesman you have to be utterly ruthless. You have to be able to manipulate customers in such a way that they don't realise that they're being manipulated. You have be able to lie convincingly too and get away with it. By this I mean that you tell the customer what they want to hear, and when they discover later that you've not been wholly accurate with them they shrug it off.
Car sales is one of the most cut-throat businesses out there.
With your skills, I'd concentrate on the service side of things. You've got a proven work history of service and repair.
Remember that salesmen's salaries are usually very basic, and OTE (On Target Earnings) bonuses/commission will be very hard to achieve. Other sales guys are not your friends - they'll steal your customer and close the deal you'd been working on with a customer for maybe weeks (and get your commission). You'll come in on your day off to try to close sales etc.

System

I think with Car sales its the type of thing you either have or don't, you need the gift of the gab so to speak, I don't think its something you can learn.

Its the same really with any commission based selling.

stevem099

thanks for your replys, it dosnt sound too nice to be honest lol.
i may go back into education then or something, i really dont want to go back on the spanners i think its because i have freinds starting there own business and doing well, my girlfreinds dads a dr of chemical engineering and i want to do a job i can be proud to say i do, or people to be intrested in, suppose its jealousy really lol..
cheers
steve

System

stevem099 wrote: »

thanks for your replys, it dosnt sound too nice to be honest lol.
i may go back into education then or something, i really dont want to go back on the spanners i think its because i have freinds starting there own business and doing well, my girlfreinds dads a dr of chemical engineering suppose its jealousy really lol..
cheers
steve

As I have learned on here, you shouldn't compare yourself to others, the green eyed monster takes over.

elsietanner71

Hi Steve

It sounds as though you could use some careers guidance. If you call the Careers Advice Service on 08080 100 333, they can help you decide what the right direction is for you. They are a telephone based service. Visit their website for more info: www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice It's all free as it's government funded.

Alternatively, you could contact your local Nextstep office who offer similar services on a local level, face to face.

If you're considering an economics degree, you can use a tool on the Prospects website (www.prospects.ac.uk) which will tell you what kind of jobs you can do with a specific degree eg English degree = teaching, journalism etc

Good luck

Els x

stevem099

thanks again all for supporting me on my very early (22) midlife crisis hehe,
els i shall give them a call and see if they can help me.also the prospects website looks very infomative so ill have a good read up on that too,
and in reply to nirelandguy i know the green eyed monster can be a terrible thing, i wish my freinds all the luck and know it will work out for the guy,hes always had an amazing business brain, but you just cant help think i wish it was me in a nice way hehe
cheers all
steve