I’m 26 years old and I’m seriously looking into getting into automotive sales as a career. My long-term goal isn’t just to sell cars for a few years — I’d like to work my way up and eventually become an F&I Manager.
The problem is that I have zero professional sales experience, so I’m trying to figure out the smartest way to get my foot in the door.
I’m located in the Charlotte, NC area, and I’m currently trying to figure out:
• What dealerships should I be looking at as someone with no sales experience?
• Should I specifically be applying for Sales Consultant / Automotive Sales Consultant positions?
• Are there certain brands or dealerships that are better for learning the business and moving up?
• Is it better to start at a large franchise dealership or a smaller dealership?
• What should I expect my first 6–12 months to look like?
• What does a realistic career path from Sales Consultant to F&I Manager look like?
• What are some red flags I should watch for when interviewing with dealerships?
• Should I be worried about having no degree or previous sales experience, or will dealerships train someone who is hungry and willing to learn?
I’m willing to grind and learn. I’m not expecting to walk into a dealership and immediately make a ton of money. I’m looking at this as a potential long-term career and want to build the right foundation.
For those of you who have been in the business — if you were 26 again, had zero sales experience what would you do to get started?
What dealerships/brands would you target, what position would you apply for, and what would you focus on learning during your first year?
I’d really appreciate honest advice, including the stuff people usually don’t tell you about getting into this business.