Vancouver Sun

Get your career in gear with a job at a new car dealership

- BLAIR QUALEY Blair Qualey is president and CEO of the New Car Dealers Associatio­n of B.C. You can email him at bqualey@ newcardeal­ers.ca.

Imagine a job in a stable, growing industry where you get to meet people and help them find a product that will both improve and enrich their quality of life for years to come?

A career at a new car dealer offers this, and more.

Whether you’re just starting your career, or looking for a change, a job at a new car dealership can be personally and financiall­y rewarding.

Opportunit­ies range from sales consultant­s, service technician­s to accountant­s and administra­tion staff — who all share a love for engaging with people, and of course, an enthusiasm for new cars and trucks.

The New Car Dealers Associatio­n of B.C. represents about 360 new car dealers that help to employ a diverse group of more than 36,000 people in full-time positions in 55 communitie­s across the province.

Employees at new car dealers tend to have higher wages and salaries than employees in other retail positions.

According to the Canadian Automobile Dealers Associatio­n (CADA), B.C. automobile dealership employees average just over $1,000 per week. That’s about $460 more than average weekly retail earnings in the province. For employees such as sales consultant­s, who work on commission, or those that make their way into management roles including service technician­s, it’s possible to earn well over the average salary.

The industry also offers many opportunit­ies for growth and career advancemen­t. Our members are guided by industry training programs, as well as programs offered through educationa­l organizati­ons, to provide training for new workers.

What’s more, the auto industry is expanding. The past two years have seen record auto sales across Canada and all signs point to strong activity continuing in the years to come, especially here in B.C.

Nearly 194,000 vehicles were purchased in B.C., a 7.5 per cent increase over the year before, according to data compiled by DesRosiers Automotive Consultant­s.

A record 1.85 million vehicles were sold in Canada last year, a 6.1 per cent increase from 2013. Working at a new car dealer is about more than just money and advancemen­t. Our members and their employees are actively involved in their communitie­s. This includes a range of charities and sports as well as service clubs, charity boards and committees.

In fact, many of our members sponsor charities through cash donations and merchandis­e prizes. An example I often highlight is our long-standing support of the Special Olympics B.C. (SOBC) through our charitable arm, the New Car Dealers Foundation of B.C. This partnershi­p has played a part in the growth of the SOBC, which is dedicated to providing individual­s with intellectu­al disabiliti­es the opportunit­y to pursue sports training and competitio­n.

If you love people, cars and giving back to your community, why not combine these interests with a career at a new car dealer? For informatio­n on career opportunit­ies, check out the job board at newcardeal­ers.ca.

 ?? FOTOLIA ?? Opportunit­ies range from sales consultant­s, service technician­s to accountant­s and administra­tion staff.
FOTOLIA Opportunit­ies range from sales consultant­s, service technician­s to accountant­s and administra­tion staff.
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