Where to Start
The requirements for the many jobs available in franchised new vehicle dealerships may vary from dealer to dealer. But it goes almost without saying that the better prepared you are, the greater your chances of success.
If you are in school, stay in school. In today’s very competitive job market, nearly all employers can demand a high school diploma. Courses in automotive service are important, and so is a background in business, electronics, mathematics or computer science. A college degree can be a definite advantage if sales or management positions are your goal.
Ask your school’s guidance or career counselor for help in planning the curriculum that best suits your needs. If you are in high school and interested in the trades, Careers: The Next Generation Foundation brings together students and business offering training opportunities.
If you are out of school, or looking ahead, there are a number of training opportunities available that will help prepare you for either sales or service jobs in a dealership. High school adult education classes, technical institutes, community colleges and universities offer a variety of courses specializing in nearly every aspect of automotive sales and service.