What does a Car Salesperson do?
A Car Salesperson can either work for a dealership, in which case they’ll sell new cars that are produced by a single manufacturer, or they can work for an independent outlet that sells used cars of all makes and models. Depending on where they work, Car Salespeople may also sell other types of vehicles for instance, motorbikes and lorries.
As the main aim of the job is to reach sales targets, Car Salespeople need to build new sales leads, while also strategically retaining existing customers. They can do this by extending their services to customers after the initial sales process has been completed. This may include dealing with complaints, selling accessories or liaising with a service department on behalf of a customer.
Car Salesperson skills and qualifications
Car Salespeople should have excellent interpersonal skills in order to build good rapport with customers and to nurture long-standing relationships. A successful Car Salesperson will have various prerequisite skills and qualifications that typically include:
- Great verbal communication skills to effectively share information and build relationships
- Excellent listening and questioning skills to successfully address the needs of customers
- Strong negotiation skills to arrive at a price that closes a sale, but is also profitable
- Excellent customer service skills to close deals and retain customers
- Basic IT skills that include knowledge of the necessary software applications
- Solid mechanical knowledge and the ability to share necessary information with customers
Car Salesperson experience requirements
Although most dealerships provide in-house training, Car Salespeople typically need previous experience in car sales, or at least in a retail environment. Candidates may need to show a solid track record of reaching sales targets as well as proven customer and negotiation skills.
Car Salesperson education and training requirements
There are no fixed education or training requirements for this occupation. Candidates may need at least a few GCSEs, including maths and English, to show the necessary numeracy and literacy skills. Generally, they also need a full driving licence. Candidates can demonstrate their customer service skills through various professional qualifications. The Institute of Sales Management (ISM), for example offers qualifications like a Level 2 Award in Selling to a Customer and a Level 4 Award in Sales Negotiations.
Car Salesperson salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Car Salesperson in the UK, is £26,529 per year. Salaries, differ depending on factors like locations and dealership.
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