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Useful experience for motor vehicle salespeople includes:

• sales work
• customer service experience
• vehicle servicing and grooming work.

Motor vehicle salespeople may do some or all of the following:

• prepare vehicles for sale
• help customers decide which vehicles will best suit their needs
• accompany customers who are test-driving vehicles
• decide on the trade-in value of the customer's used vehicle
• collect payment or arrange finance on vehicles
• arrange vehicle insurance for customers
• organise advertising and promotions
• keep a database of customers and potential customers
• deal with painters, panelbeaters and vehicle parts suppliers.

Shortage of experienced motor vehicle salespeople

Job opportunities for motor vehicle salespeople are good as there is a shortage of experienced workers and a strong demand for vehicles, due to:

• the popularity of cheap, imported new cars
• availability of electric and hybrid vehicles and the incentive of the Clean Car Discount scheme.

According to the Census, 1,599 motor vehicle salespersons worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Sales experience improves chances of finding work

Employers prefer to take on trainees who already have sales experience as they have limited time to train staff.

Most salespeople work for car dealerships

Motor vehicle salespeople usually work for vehicle dealerships. Some may run their own business.

MITO

0800 88 2121 - www.mito.org.nz

Motor vehicle salespeople may progress to set up their own business, or move into managerial roles.

Motor vehicle salespeople may specialise in:

• selling a particular vehicle type
• fleet sales
• importing used vehicles from overseas.

Motor vehicle salespeople need to be:

• confident dealing with people
• self-motivated, proactive and resilient
• friendly, polite, helpful and honest
• good listeners, to ensure they understand their clients' needs
• skilled at negotiating and selling
• good at communicating
• organised.