If you want to get a job in the automotive industry, you are facing stiff competition. There are lots of people out there who love their cars, and even having a degree in an appropriate field may not be strong enough to put you ahead of the other candidates. Here are five tips for getting that job, and for advancing forward if you already have one.
1. Look the part
How can you go for a job interview and expect to get it if you don’t look the part? This is a big step, because a lot of our first impressions are made in a flash when we first see one another. This means you have to take care of yourself, make sure that your skin and hair look good, and get a nice suit that you can wear. This applies whether you are male or female. Turn up looking like a professional, even if you’re applying for a job which requires more casual clothing.
2. Know your stuff
While you may be offered some training on the job, companies will be all the more impressed if you can show up ready to work. Know about cars. If you are really meant to work in the automotive industry, then you will be passionate about them anyway. You’ll know everything from what engine sizes mean, to how to change a tire, to which model is the best-selling for a particular brand, to how to look after your car in winter.
3. Apply everywhere
Next up, it’s time to actually start applying. You can’t get a job if you don’t apply! Look everywhere from job boards to the company websites that you are interested in working for. In particular, you can find internships and apprenticeship options which may be a great way to get your foot in the door. Once you have achieved that, it’s all about working hard so that they are interested in taking you on for a full-time position once your internship ends.
4. Annoy people
A great way to get your career moving forward is to start annoying people. Really – we mean it. Find the contact details of HR managers and recruiters. Make friends with people that have good contacts. Send them your resume, ask about available jobs, and keep asking until you get one. There are lots of opportunities for people who know people, and very few for people who don’t. Keep that in mind and make yourself a name that people will recognise.
5. Work hard
If you want your career to advance once you’re in the automotive industry, you will need to work hard. That means doing long hours, putting in as much effort as possible, and still smiling at your co-workers at the end of the day. You want to be the salesman that sells the most cars, the engineer that works the quickest, the data analyst who always has the answers. If you’re the right person for the job and you put yourself into it, you’ll find yourself advancing in no time. If you want to slack off, you’ll find yourself levelling out at a certain position and then never going anywhere.
Getting a job in the automotive industry is hard, but once you get it, there’s no time to celebrate and slack off. You’ve got to keep working even harder if you want to get ahead. In essence, make getting a job your new full-time job – especially if you already have one and want to get a promotion in the near future.
