Requirements for a Career As a Car Salesman

There are certain personality requirements to selling vehicles.auto image by jasmina nemanjic from Fotolia.com

Automotive salespeople must possess certain qualities to succeed. This type of position is not for everyone. While the salesperson must possess strong communication skills, she must also have an outgoing attitude, knowledge of the product being sold and some form of business expertise. These attributes will help the salesman as well as the automobile dealership to be successful in the industry.

Outgoing Personality

Salespeople must be outgoing and willing to make the sale.sales manager checking the sales image by Peter Baxter from Fotolia.com

Being an automotive salesperson is not a profession for the shy. Anyone aspiring to become an automotive salesperson must be willing to go out of his way to get a sale. This includes daily follow-up calls as well as convincing the customer to purchase a vehicle. In addition, many car dealerships also require salespeople to make cold calls every day to bring in more business. For example, if a customer wants to go home without any form of commitment to purchase the vehicle he is looking at, salespeople need the strong communication skills to stop him from leaving without purchasing a car because the customer can go down the street and make the purchase with a salesperson who will talk them into the purchase.

Automotive salespeople must have extensive knowledge in the products sold.3d cars row image by Tottem Torro from Fotolia.com

Whether selling new or used vehicles, the salesperson must have an extensive knowledge of the product she is selling. For instance, customers will frequently ask what options are available, what book values are and what horsepower an engine has. The salesperson must be able to answer all of these questions honestly and have a thorough knowledge of automobiles in general. For instance, if a customer wants a car with two doors, heated cloth seats and a standard transmission, the salesperson needs to ensure that the vehicle is available with these options. Many cars do not have the option of heated seats made of cloth instead of leather. It is imperative that the salesperson is aware of any options available in the vehicle.

Business expertise comes in the form of college or prior work experience.business image by peter Hires Images from Fotolia.com

A college degree is not required to become an automobile salesperson; however, the salesman should know the basics of running a business. This expertise can come in the form of a college education or prior sales experience. The salesperson should be aware of how much profit is needed to maintain a satisfactory profit margin for both his own commissions as well as the dealership as a whole. Business experience includes computer experience, profit margin experience and sales experience.