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Auto Sales Manager Jobs: Responsibilities, Benefits & Career Growth
Are you wondering if an auto sales manager job might be your next career step? Car sales manager careers can be highly rewarding, both professionally and financially. Plus, with a cultural reliance on individualized transportation, auto dealer sales manager jobs are also not at risk of becoming obsolete any time soon.
In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has predicted faster-than-average growth for sales manager roles over the next decade,1 and statistics project a 4% growth rate specifically for auto dealer sales manager jobs between 2018 and 2028 – that's 63,300 new car sales manager careers, one of which could be yours.2
If you have sales manager experience in any capacity and are curious about carrying your skill set into the automotive industry, working as a sales manager for car dealership powerhouses like DARCARS might be your perfect fit. Scroll this page to learn more about automotive sales manager positions within our expansive auto group, including the typical responsibilities, necessary skills, and potential benefits of an auto sales manager job.
Automotive Sales Manager Positions at a Glance
Short on time? Here's a quick overview of a typical car sales manager job description:
- An Associate's or Bachelor's degree, particularly in business or business administration, is not required but could increase your chances of being hired for an auto sales manager job.
- Core auto sales manager responsibilities include managing budgets, supervising and motivating sales staff, promoting and implementing sales strategies, and interviewing and hiring new employees.
- Key skills include written and verbal communication, knowledge of computer software and CRM systems, promotional and marketing experience, a proven track record of exceeding sales goals, proficiency in managing vehicle and parts inventory, and impeccable relationship management.
- An automobile sales manager salary varies by location and experience level, but most sales managers receive a base salary plus a commission based on a percentage of the dealership's total revenue from car sales.
- Car sales manager careers at DARCARS come with high-value benefits like health, vision, and dental insurance, 401(k) options, paid time off and holidays, and opportunities for professional growth.
Necessary Sales Manager Skills
Before applying for an auto sales manager job, take stock of your skill set. Remember that even if you've never worked in the automotive space, many of your skills might still be transferrable to a sales manager role.
Overall, a sales manager needs to offer excellent customer service and easy rapport with anyone they meet. A background in creating sales strategies, budgets, and promotions is very useful, as well as the ability to communicate those marketing strategies and budget goals to your internal team.
Basic office software, such as the programs in Microsoft Office Suite, is used frequently to organize budgets, arrange schedules, and manage forecasts, while customer relationship management (CRM) systems are used to organize and facilitate interactions with customers – experience with both is a must. Other hard and soft skills are also helpful in an auto sales manager job, but if this brief outline seems to fit your experience, contact our corporate office to apply for an open position.
Auto Sales Manager Responsibilities
Now let's dive a little deeper into the most common auto sales manager responsibilities to see what an average day, week, or month might look like in an auto sales manager job.
You'll likely need to analyze your dealership's sales figures on a monthly, quarterly, and yearly basis and compile reports accordingly. Your role will also require you to extract insights from your most recent sales figures to develop effective new sales techniques that can boost those numbers. While customer interaction may not be the main focus of sales manager jobs, be prepared to occasionally answer customer questions or make sales when needed.
As the head of your dealership location, you'll also need to organize weekly work, meeting, and training schedules to make sure you're always fully staffed and everyone understands how to perform their expected duties. If your team isn't robust enough to handle the day-to-day responsibilities, you'll also be responsible for hiring and training new staff members.
Make sure your entire team is on board with the dealership's vision by hosting regular meetings and training your sales staff on any new marketing efforts. Set short-term and long-term goals to engage your staff and help them see how their individual contributions make a difference to the entire company. Continually coach your sales team to help them close deals and increase profitability while also forecasting upcoming sales to keep everyone motivated.
The Challenges of an Auto Sales Manager Job
Just like any career you might choose to explore, car sales manager careers at DARCARS also come with inherent challenges. We don't say this to scare you away – in fact, we hope this knowledge will inspire you to put your best foot forward and confidently step toward a future in automotive sales management. We also want you to be prepared for the road ahead. So, here's a quick look at what might be difficult in an auto sales manager job.
Your time spent directly interacting with customers and giving tours of new and pre-owned vehicles in the dealership showroom will be limited, which means your auto sales manager job isn't likely to be physically demanding. However, you'll need strong mental fortitude to play your part because most of your auto sales manager responsibilities are thought-based.
For some candidates, the idea of analyzing sales data, tackling difficult marketing challenges, and motivating a sales team to perform at their highest potential sounds like a dream – for others, the mental load is too taxing. Take inventory of your preferences and skills to see if an auto sales manager job is right for you.
DARCARS Sales Manager Benefits
At DARCARS, we know the secret to a successful business is keeping our employees happy, healthy, and supported. We deeply value each staff member's contribution, whether they work as a technician, sales associate, sales manager, or any other role.
To highlight our commitment to our employees' well-being, DARCARS offers a long list of benefits. We provide a comprehensive benefits package to make sure our team members and their families have access to the healthcare they need, including dental and vision services.
Life insurance and 401(k) options are also available, and our work schedules include several holidays and generous paid time off. We also strive to provide a competitive automobile sales manager salary – we encourage you to ask about and discuss salary ranges and commission structures when you're contacted for an interview.
Last but most certainly not least, we set our employees up for success by offering opportunities for growth. You can take continuing education and training courses to increase or hone your skills, and we love to promote our staff from within. Learn more about our DARCARS employment benefits online to see how an auto sales manager job could make every day on the job more enjoyable.
Take Your First Step Toward an Auto Sales Manager Job Today
Hopefully, this overview of a typical auto sales manager job, skills, responsibilities, and benefits has helped you decide whether one of our car sales manager careers is right for you. We look forward to getting to know you and welcome you to submit your resume and application soon.
If you've skimmed the sales manager responsibilities, skills, and challenges above but can't see yourself in that role, don't worry. DARCARS offers a wide variety of job opportunities, and they're all easily accessible online. Browse all our current DARCARS automotive careers to see if a different job title sparks your interest and complements your skills and experience!
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an auto sales manager do?
An auto sales manager wears multiple hats: They compile and analyze sales data, create sales reports, develop new marketing strategies, host meetings, train employees on new marketing initiatives, motivate staff to strive for higher sales goals, hire new team members, and occasionally interact with customers. If these auto sales manager responsibilities sound tailor-made for you, apply for a DARCARS auto sales manager job.
What qualifications do you need to be an auto sales manager?
Auto sales manager qualifications are not universal, but most dealerships prefer an Associate's or Bachelor's degree in business or business administration. You'll also need experience managing budgets, supervising staff, implementing sales strategies, and hiring new employees. Knowledge of computer software and CRM systems is also a necessity in car sales manager careers. Do these auto sales manager responsibilities and skills look like a match for your background? Apply today!
How do I become an auto sales manager?
An auto sales manager job could be in your future, and the first step is to assess your qualifications to see if our car sales manager careers align with your experience. Then, take a few moments to apply for an open sales manager position through our DARCARS Careers website. We take pride in treating our employees like family, and we provide generous benefits as well as opportunities for professional advancement.
1Reference to this third-party claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For more details, please visit https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/sales-managers.htm
2Reference to this third-party claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For more details, please visit https://www.zippia.com/car-sales-representative-jobs/trends/