Dealership Employees

JAFO · May 16, 2008

Recently noticed that the local GM dealership is looking for a Parts Manager. I was wondering, those of you in the know, how important do dealers see mechanical experience for this position? Been a die-hard GM person as long as I can remember but an oil change is about as mechanical as I dare to get.

Know from personal experience that this dealership doesn't seem to care if you have knowledge of GM products (Went in years ago looking for a part for my 95 Monte Z34. "Is that a 2 door or 4?" ??? MONTE CARLO! "What size engine does it have?" ??? A 95 Z34! ) But that was a parts schlepper not the manager.

I realize that it's worth a shot, they won't kill me for not being qualified but I don't want to waste their time or mine for that matter. At any rate I need to get out of the dead end job I'm in now and to be surrounded by new Chevy's and GMC's and get paid for it. Would make me a happy camper!

Thanks in advance for any help!

svensk · May 16, 2008

I think it's more along the lines of if you have experience with customer service and auto parts in general you should take a shot at it. Have you ever worked for an auto part store? Have you been a customer service manager at some point? That would be experience that might get you the job.

BigJayDogg3 · May 16, 2008

Since no one else seems to be giving you any information, I will take a shot in the dark. Keep in mind, I don't work at a dealership, but it seems to me, while you would need to know basics about vehicles, you wouldn't need to know as much as a tech. The computers have programs that will probably ask all the questions you would need to ask if you were working the counter. As parts manager, I would assume you would be more the person that makes sure the dealer doesn't run out of commonly needed parts. You would probably need to be more business oriented than mechanically inclined.

IMO, go to the dealership and at least see if it is something that could work. Worst case scenario they tell to "Get the heck outta here you crazy old coot!"

Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

EDIT: Svensk you must have come in just after I refreshed and decided to post. When I came in the page, the only people in the room were me and the OP.

svensk · May 16, 2008

Since no one else seems to be giving you any information, I will take a shot in the dark. Keep in mind, I don't work at a dealership, but it seems to me, while you would need to know basics about vehicles, you wouldn't need to know as much as a tech. The computers have programs that will probably ask all the questions you would need to ask if you were working the counter. As parts manager, I would assume you would be more the person that makes sure the dealer doesn't run out of commonly needed parts. You would probably need to be more business oriented than mechanically inclined.

IMO, go to the dealership and at least see if it is something that could work. Worst case scenario they tell to "Get the heck outta here you crazy old coot!"

Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

EDIT: Svensk you must have come in just after I refreshed and decided to post. When I came in the page, the only people in the room were me and the OP.

Haha I sniped ya