As an automotive enthusiast from birth, this is my life, my passion. But the automotive industry is so hard and competitive to get into! Meeting the President of Jaguar-Rover this weekend was truly something else, and just cleared my mind that doing a boring desk job at an accounting firm is just too lame! Seeing as so many others get into the industry I asked some tips and truthfully they weren't so pleasing. The fact of the matter is you got to be lucky, you have to establish connections with the right people and be a well rounded individual. Seeing that I'm not the luckiest guy, and don't want to rely on mere chance to get a job this is surely something to think about. Based on his work experience, Mercedes-Benz, CFO and CEO of BMW Financial Group, and now President of Jaguar-Rover, he made it look so easy! I seriously have to push higher and harder if I really want this. As much as I would want to now, the opportunities are limited, I won't be able to sell cars, won't be able to get a 1year internship (as it interrupts with the time frame of my school) and won't be able to get a student job at an automotive company as they look for more qualified applicants. I mean, so what now? How do I get my foot in the door? Do dealerships have jobs that they don't post on the main sites? Do I walk in and ask if theres any opportunities available? Basically I am asking, if anyone has an tips. Does anyone here work for the auto industry and if so how has your overall experience been?
I understand your passion ... I was lucky enough to land a job with Delphi and GM during and after college. Worked at GM until 2009. The automotive industry is complex and cyclical, but also very satisfying. Major automotive manufacturers in the States (don't know about Canada) are currently hiring for different positions. Many older salaried employees were offered buyouts in the past couple of years. Now that people are buying more American vehicles, auto companies are hiring again and calling previous workers that left in good terms. What positions are you interested in and what kind of degree do you have? The easiest way to enter the auto industry is with an engineering degree, but their finance depts are huge. Just an FYI, dealerships are not the ideal way of landing a job with an automotive company. Dealerships are not managerially (is that a word? lmao) linked to auto manufacturers. PM if you need more advice. I still have strong ties to GM and "may" eventually return to work for them.
Not much I can do at this point as I'm only going into second year. My school does offer a Co-op program so its a good way to get 3, 4month work experiences. Figured I would do best in something like finance or accounting, but I don't get to specialize until year 4 oddly enough.
Working finance/accounting at a dealership is really nothing special and no different than doing the same thing at another company. You really won't be in touch with anything automotive related even though you're at a car dealership.
what's wrong with starting at body shops? it's almost the same job responsibilities compared to anywhere else when you first start. gain some experience and move up later in life.
not as SEEEEEEEEEEEXXXXXXXXXXXXAY as detailing LOL, I totally agree, some of the best skills are learned at a body shop. you will learn more about paint, hardness and how it reacts to abrasives in that type of setting then in most places.
stay away from the automotive industry. Other than detailing, I am working on never getting back into that industry ever again. I did almost ten years supervising in an assembly plant, and by the end I couldn't wait to jump ship. I have also worked at dealerships, and they have their own issues. If you are looking to hone your skilss as a detailer, body shop time is definitely a benefit. Working at a dealership in the A/P department or something beginner would probably bore you. If you honestly want a job at a dealership, I can make a few calls and give you a few names. and yes, the good jobs never get posted.
6 years in the lorenson auto group remember this everyone in the car business knows eachother every wrong and right you do others hear about it it can be slow at times but can be alot of fun
I worked in Stamping ... Parma MFD for 4 years and Pontiac MFD for almost a year. Worked for short periods at D-Ham and Orion.
I have worked for the same fortune 500 automotive supplier as a quality engineer for the past 10 years... I have spent countless hours/days/weeks in component assembly plants as well as OEM vehicle assembly plants in the U.S. Canada and Mexico and it's not what you think it would be...
^ This... I believe I'm like you Luke, I also loved cars since a very young age before that I was very much into aeronautics and that's why I initally started to pursue a Mech. Eng. Degree but I realized loving cars had nothing to do with the car companies. I wanted to go into Honda's R & D program especially since almost all major headquarters are just 20 minutes from my home but it's a very complex and stressfull career path you have to love it and have a will to change it. Your pursuing a business degree with a speciality in accounting, you can do that anywhere. I mean now I want to go into the tubing and hydraulic equipment field but I will still love cars, I'll build them, work on them, detail them.... This way I won't discriminate on brands or models but love all cars Best way to find out if your really want it is to do a co-op placement and experience it
there were parts that I did enjoy, but not being an engineer would not be qualified to work in the field full time. i enjoyed my time in the quality department, but it too can become tedious and more travel than what I would have wanted as a full time job. Just become wealthy in the financial field and make your own man cave to work on cars.
Hmm... Seems like you just have to try it out. Can't say I would want I be in assembly truthfully. Planning on applying to a few internships for the summer otherwise Bryan I may have to take up your offer on some dealership work. Just looking for anything that can give me some experience as my schools co-op is competitive on marks and previous work.
