Toysport

Archive for the ‘Jobs’ Category

We’ve all heard the jokes about car salesmen, especially used car salesmen. We have a picture in our minds of these shady characters we wouldn’t trust with our pencils let alone with selling us an automobile. The truth is, car salesmen have a tough job. Think you want to sell cars for a living? You might want to read what follows first.

In spite of what most people think, selling cars is not as simple as just showing somebody an automobile and getting them to sign on the bottom line. The car selling process for a salesman is actually quite involved with many steps along the way.

For starters, most of the large car dealers have a sales force. This sales force is broken up into teams and shifts. Because most dealerships are open late, one shift takes the morning and afternoon while another shift takes the afternoon and evening. A dealership may have as many as 25 salesmen working for them, not counting finance people.

When a customer comes in, the salesmen take turns approaching them for help. This way each salesman has the chance to close a sale. If it’s slow, this puts everyone on equal footing. If it’s busy, then the salesman who closes his sales the fastest will make out the best. This is because if he is done and everyone else is with a customer, then he gets the next customer that comes in regardless of who’s “turn” it is. Customers are never supposed to wait more than 30 seconds to be waited on.

The first thing the salesman does is ask the customer what they’re looking for. After getting this info, he’ll show the customer several models in the price range or class that he wants. This is probably the lengthiest part of the process as the customer may have a number of questions and even ask for a demo drive. If a demo drive is asked for the salesman has to check in with the manager to get the keys. This is to make sure that a salesman doesn’t just hop into a car and drive off with it.

If after the demo ride and all the questions are answered the customer decides he wants to get the car, the salesman’s job isn’t done. Not by a long shot. The next thing he has to do is bring the customer to the finance office to work out the financing of the vehicle. While this is going on the salesman has to go to the prep department with the car. Here he tells the prep guys what needs to be done to the car, such as if any extra equipment needs to be added. It’s the salesperson who coordinates this whole process, making sure that the prep department gets the car ready for delivery and also making sure that the finance office takes care of financing.

After the car is prepped and the finance papers are all filled out, the salesman then gets the car from the prep department and drives it to the pickup area. After the customer is all done with the paperwork, the salesman escorts the customer out to the new car, hands him the keys and gives him his business card. He tells the customer to call if he has any questions.

The salesman then has to go back inside and fill out a report on the sale and submit it to his manager.

Yes, selling a car is not just selling a car.

If there is one thing that this world will never stop needing, it’s people who work to find other people jobs, or employment agents. This can be a very challenging and rewarding job. If you have the right personality and can get the most out of both ends of the equation involved, you can make a nice living as an employment agent. What you’re about to read is a brief description of what’s involved.

Obviously, as an employment agent, your job is to find other people jobs. But the obvious doesn’t always really tell the whole story of what’s involved with a job. Being an employment agent is no exception. The best way to explain the challenges of an employment agent is to give you fictional example of the process.

A guy comes into your office and says he’s looking for a job. The first thing you do is have him fill out a very long questionnaire. This will give you a good idea of the person’s background and what they’re looking for. The agent will take some time to look over the application and then call them into the office to talk.

The conversation that follows is more to get a sense of the applicant’s personality than his skills. Those things are all on paper. The agent wants to get a feel for the person’s confidence level with his skills. A big part of getting an applicant a job is knowing the applicant’s strengths and weaknesses. You need to be able to play up the strengths and downplay the weaknesses when presenting the applicant to a perspective employer.

It is during this interview that the agent will ask the applicant what he’s looking for specifically and then what he would settle for as far as position and money. Ideally you want to be able to get him what he wants but in a competitive market this isn’t always possible. It is the agent’s responsibility to explain to the applicant that he can’t be too choosy, especially if he has been out of work for a while.

After the interview is over, the agent then gets on the phone with as many companies as he can that are on file with the agency where the job description at least closely matches what the applicant is looking for. In these phone calls it is the agent’s responsibility to “sell” the applicant to the company. This is not easy to do, especially when you’re representing somebody who has limited skills. This is where you have to be a real sales person.

If the agent manages to find a company willing to meet with the applicant for a job interview, the next step is for the agent to call the applicant back in and prepare him for the interview. This is where the agent instructs about dress, what to say, what not to say, how to behave, etc. The agent must leave nothing to chance. He’ll then give the applicant directions for the interview as well as what time to be there.

Hopefully, when the process is over, the applicant will get the job offer and accept it and the agent will receive his commission. Yes, most agents work on a commission basis. You can make a lot of money doing this. You can also starve to death if you’re not good at your job.

Being an employment agent requires incredible social skills and patience and it’s not for everybody. But if you think you have what it takes and like the excitement of having to sell another human being to a big corporation, this may be just the job for you.

Applying for a Job

There are four general methods of applying for a job including:

(1) mailing your resume,

(2) emailing your resume,

(3) faxing your resume, and

(4) hand delivering your resume.

Mailing Your Resume

Some companies prefer that you mail your resume. For this type of approach, it is best to include a cover letter with your resume. The cover letter is a basic letter that describes the position that you are interested in and a few details of your qualifications and skills. It is basically your lead in to it. Before writing your cover letter, you should know whom the letter is to be addressed to. You never want to begin a cover letter with “Dear Sir or Madame” or “To whom it may Concern.” It shows that you have not prepared, and that you are not looking for a specific position with their company, but any job that you can get your hands on. Basically, it is disrespectful to your prospective employer.

Emailing Your Resume

Emailing resumes is becoming a commonplace way for recruiters to get them. Attach it as a word document or a PDF file. These are the most common formats and what most companies will accept. The subject line should read like this: Smith, John (Accounting Position). This makes it easy for the recruiter to know who the email is from, and what it pertains to. It also assures that your email will be read. Sometimes there are specific methods for addressing an emailed resume. Some companies have certain subject line requirements (so follow them!). If the company wants you to paste it, don’t send attachments because your email will be deleted right away.

Faxing Your Resume

You will need to include a cover letter when faxing your resume. If you are not using your own fax machine, be sure to include your proper contact information. The rules for your cover letter are the same as for mailing it.

Hand Delivering Your Resume

You will want to dress appropriately, as you would for an interview. Generally, companies ask you to do this if you are going to be working directly with customers. They ask for a walk-in because they want to get a look at your grooming habits right away. Sometimes, the employer will give you a brief interview on the spot to see if they will require a formal interview later. So be on your best and most appropriate behavior. Also, walk-ins do not require you to bring a cover letter with your resume. Your appearance is sort of the cover letter. Sometimes, you will be requested to fill out an application form as well. Smile and be polite, no matter who you are speaking with.