Car Sales or Journalism...

[bl67550]

OK here's my new dilemma and I was hoping to get some thoughts...even though I'm pretty certain what answer I will get from you guys considering the love vented out towards our profession these day on here.

I have the opportunity to take up a sales position in the area I want to live...and yes, I mean car salesman. Right now it would be a Mazda dealer, though I have heard from Toyota(lol) and Suzuki. I have an English degree and some experience buying and selling electronic stuff to make some money on the side so I think it is something I would be good at.

I thought it would be a feasible solution to getting out of my parents' house rather than continue to wait for an entry-level position with a newspaper that pays more than $10 per hour with &@*@@% benefits.

I figured at worst I could freelance for a newspaper in the same area some nights, though, the papers in that area I have checked only pay $25 per story...and eventually get considered for a full-time position that opens up down the road.

So..any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

I'm assuming the car sales job is commission-based, correct?

I would be hesitant to move out of your parents' house unless there's a guaranteed salary for a certain length of time. But otherwise, it's a job. You always can freelance on the side, and hopefully that can lead to something in journalism.

 

[JimmyHoward33]

What's more important to you: Money or passion? There are always going to be jobs in sales be it cares, insurance, head hunting, whatever. If you're chasing cash and the apartment, big screen TV, whatever are you focus then go for the sales gig. If you don't have a family or serious bills now, and you think you have a passion for newspaper and sports, then try that out for now, better to find out at a young age with less responsibilities what this business is all about. There's no wrong choice; it's what matters to you, what goals you have.

 

[WriteThinking]

Only you can answer this question.

You say you think you might be good it, and I'm guessing you think you might like it, based on your previous sales experience. In this case, you might be right, and this could work, and it might turn out to be a good thing for you -- maybe even a better thing than journalism.

Personally, I would never take a car sales job. But, that's me, and it only applies to car sales. I'm open to retail, and am, in fact, beginning to look into other fields on a more serious/regular basis.

You just need to make a decision that feels good/right to you. It's quite possible you could feel just as passionate about car sales if you're given good opportunities and do well in that job.

There doesn't necessarily have to be a trade-off of either money, or passion. It is possible to have both, in any field, really. It's just a matter of how things go and how they end up working out for you.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

Which has a better chance of being around in 15 years: a car dealership or the daily paper?

I'll hang up and listen...

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

Car sales sucks.

It has a very high turnover and if it is solely commissioned-based expect some lean months.

 

[bob]

Good luck. You're dealing with two of the least respected professions in this country. But I would think you'd feel better about yourself writing a meaningful story than selling a Yaris. From everything I've heard about car sales, from dealing with salesmen and judging by the turnover in that industry, it's a tough business.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I wouldn't want to be in either field right now.

But the economy will rebound. Print journalism will not.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Right now, print journalism and assistant crack ***** are close as worst professions in this country.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

Right now, print journalism and assistant crack ***** are close as worst professions in this country.

Think about someone on an unpaid crack ***** internship this summer.

 

[RedHotChiliPrepper]

Right now, print journalism and assistant crack ***** are close as worst professions in this country.

Think about someone on an unpaid crack ***** internship this summer.

I think someone is doing one of those in the house right next to mine.

 

[BTExpress]

One of my tennis buddies works at a Lexus dealership.

He works 6 days a week, unless his off day happens to be the last day of the month, in which case it's 7 days. Some of those days are 12+ hours.

Right now he's on the verge of filing for bankruptcy. People just aren't buying cars, and selling 8-10 cars a month (instead of the 28-30 in a "good" month) basically means you don't make any money. He has exhausted his savings and refinanced his mortgage. He's 56 years old with, oh, about 30 years of mortgage payments to look forward to.

My job is hanging by a thread, but I'll take it 1,000 times over his. I'll take Wal-Mart greeter before I spend one day in his occupation.

 

[Den1983]

One of my tennis buddies works at a Lexus dealership.

He works 6 days a week, unless his off day happens to be the last day of the month, in which case it's 7 days. Some of those days are 12+ hours.

Right now he's on the verge of filing for bankruptcy. People just aren't buying cars, and selling 8-10 cars a month (instead of the 28-30 in a "good" month) basically means you don't make any money. He has exhausted his savings and refinanced his mortgage. He's 56 years old with, oh, about 30 years of mortgage payments to look forward to.

My job is hanging by a thread, but I'll take it 1,000 times over his. I'll take Wal-Mart greeter before I spend one day in his occupation.

Agreed. I have not heard many flattering things about car salesmen, and yes, there is an extremely high turnover. I've known people who were completely miserable with their job; yes, even more miserable than low-end reporters at a flailing daily.

 

[murphyc]

I've always loved cars, and as a kid would beg my dad to take me to car dealerships. I would learn anything and everything about cars, and would be telling salespeople about the cars they were selling.
But I never wanted to pursue that for a career, just didn't really appeal to me. Also, I would have a hard time selling something I didn't think was worth buying. Sure selling Corvettes would be great, but I think some other Chevys are junk. Yet I would have to tell people the Trailblazer is great.
If I had to sell cars today, I probably would sell Mazdas. I think they make great products. I nearly got a Protege about 10 years ago, and they seem to have a solid product line. But the new 'smile' front end on the current 3 looks plain goofy.

 

[bl67550]

Thanks for the constructive feedback guys, I really appreciate it. I've decided to avoid the car sales path for now. Good news perhaps though, I may have a play on a mid-20k/yr GA assignment job. =D

 

[User 4755]

You're better off in the lumberyard for the rest of your life. Mizzou nailed it, but I daresay assistant crack ***** is probably the better option right now.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

Thanks for the constructive feedback guys, I really appreciate it. I've decided to avoid the car sales path for now. Good news perhaps though, I may have a play on a mid-20k/yr GA assignment job. =D

You want a career? Try Lowes.
A guy about my age went to work with Lowe's out high school. He got stock options... Today he's a store manager with more than million bucks in the bank and he could retire any day ... He's 40.

 

[Dr. Howard]

Car sales or journalism? There must be a third way. Anyone who figures out what it is wins the prize.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Crack whores have better hours, better job security and better pay.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

Avoid vehicle sales at all costs. My stepfather did this for more than a year, and detested just about all of it. First off, he wasn't a salesman sort by a long shot.

The day he walked, he felt back toward my mother and probably me to an extent. But the owner of the dealership shouted that people need to be doing more for sales. He quickly figured that he was doing everything he knew, and didn't want to work for this man anymore. Good for him.

Back on topic: Stay out of the dealership vega-matic.