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The New Employment Era in the Automotive Industry
I'm passionate about the things I do, the people I spend time with and especially the work I do . . . always have been and always hope to be. My philosophy is simple: we spend more than half our lives working, so why not enjoy what you do and give it 110% every day'
If you have even a fleeting interest in a career in the automotive industry, you owe it to your self and to your family to research the many opportunities available. Before you get too excited, let me give you the good news right now: with full training and credentials, you can be an asset to the industry and earn a good wage.
But with passion, you can become a role-model in sales, service, parts or collision repair, working in a dealership, for the manufacturers or in any of the many related sectors. Best of all, you can earn a very comfortable living and enjoy the respect of your peers.
If you love people, love being around them and diligently trying to serve their needs, the automotive industry is for you. There are a host of courses out there designed to jump start your career. This article touches on a couple in the sales and administrative side. We'll look at service, parts and collision repairs in a future article.
The Canadian Automotive Institute (CAI) at Georgian College in Barrie has a 3-year Automotive Diploma Program, the only one of its kind in Canada. Its graduate student placement rate is an amazing 98%, one of the highest in Canada. In September of 2003, it will be offering its first-ever degree program: A Bachelor of Applied Business in Automotive Management. A diploma, or better still a degree, will ensure that you have the right passport to enter into this fascinating business.
Completing the CAI/OMVIC Automotive Certification Course is mandatory for anyone wishing to become a vehicle salesperson or dealer in Ontario (excluding those with already-valid Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council Licences).
The course is a joint project with the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC), the licence-granting body for dealership salespeople in our province. It covers the laws and regulations that govern our industry, ethics, buyer's rights, responsibilities of the dealership and its salespeople, and so on.
'We're raising the bar of professionalism throughout the automotive industry,' says Melinda Williams of the CAI. 'Our courses are definitely setting a new standard.' For more information visit: www.thecai.on.ca.
The Toronto Automobile Dealers Association (T.A.D.A.) Training Academy is another important resource. From the manufacturer to the dealership floor, the Academy uses proven strategies and techniques to keep the skills of dealership personnel up to date ' and most importantly, sensitive to the ever-changing needs of the consumer. The TADA Training Academy provides courses for sales, service, business office and most importantly for dealership receptionists. For more information, visit www.tada.ca/training.
Now let's review. In the past, an employee with basic knowledge and a congenial demeanour could get by. Not so today. Dealership staff and manufacturers' staff must, and should, be highly skilled, computer literate and self-motivated. Their knowledge must be all-inclusive and their skills constantly upgraded.
Bottom line: To the educated and the passionate go the spoils ' a challenging career, respect from your peers and a comfortable living ' all from the automotive industry, a people business where people truly make the difference.
Are you up to the challenge' Can you rise above the 1% of consumers who will challenge you and enjoy the other 99% who make it all worthwhile'
The help is definitely out there. Investigate it for yourself and remember, DRIVE SAFELY.
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