How can the industry recruit well for the future? With demand for skilled staff more important than ever there is a need in the automotive industry to bring more people into dealerships with a wider range of skills than may have been required previously. This presents a challenge however as these skills intersect with other industry’s demands for skilled staff.
A few questions’ is the industry doing enough to recruit and engage with the next generation of employees the gen Y’s and so on? The skills required at dealership level are very different to what has been required in the past with increasing requirements in a digital world. However some key values remain important regardless 1. Providing great customer service 2. Enthusiasm 3. Passion 4. Engagement 5. Work ethic While looking to employ staff I have seen various job listings I believe the industry may in the future have a shortage of relevantly skilled staff and in particular how it relates to digital in the automotive environment. Be willing to listen to new idea's if they are positive. Don’t be afraid to offer appropriate training to entry level staff or existing staff as well to up skill staff for the long term. I believe any year is a good year for dealerships to look at the skills they require for the long term and have a serious look at how to attract those skills and also look to up – skill existing staff more in key areas where you are able too.
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Are we doing enough to promote careers in the automotive industry?
With a range of skill shortages in New Zealand and long term competition from other industry’s for talent / recruitment. As an industry can we do more to promote the idea of a career in the automotive industry? There are great people in the industry from apprentice technicians through to highly experience skilled senior staff. I myself had the benefit of learning a lot in the industry from my family. A career in the automotive industry can mean a lot of things including a great range of learning experiences, meeting great people and also has its fair share of challenges too all of which are exciting. Is there an opportunity to create an industry website highlighting the opportunities and career options for those looking to enter the industry in New Zealand whether they be from another industry or just out of education. This would cover all areas of the automotive industry like sales, parts, management not just mechanical. It’s a great industry with great people and we can do more to promote it. As an industry and as with other industry's we must be open to positive idea's. Transactional leadership vs transformational leadership in automotive digital marketing.
Transactional leadership has a large part to play in digital marketing , setting goals , increasing efficiency , getting team members to do their part and following what others do however that will only get you so far as often more than not it is responsive leadership. What is needed more in automotive digital marketing is transformational leadership , trying new things , throwing out the rule book and being open to a new way of doing things. Transformational leadership is about being proactive and engaging all staff in your overall mission. Its one thing to do what others do , for example third party listings , Search marketing ads , selling via email these would be examples of transactional and driven by the transactional thought that everyone else does it to varying degrees of skill. Don't get me wrong you need to do these things and do them well adjusting and continually improving. However then there is transformational examples like using video Facetime or other tools to sell to customers out of town or to encourage them into the dealership with a live personalized video call and presentation of the car. Or setting true ground breaking customer service benchmarks that go beyond what every other dealership does. They key is having an advantage over everyone else. Let everyone else be late to the party and follow you rather than the other way around. It was Steve Job's that said "innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower" In New Zealand the transformational ideas don't get much traction as many are set on following the crowd. No one wants to experiment with new ways of doing things and without that experimenting new innovations and competitive advantages don't see the light of day until they are brought in from elsewhere / other countries. I feel proud and grateful that I have been involved in the automotive industry in New Zealand and overseas for the past 16 years. I want to be proactive and have the ability to bring forward my ideas to serve the industry further in a positive manner. Anngow Marketing are seeking all forward thinking / open minded dealers to work with to drive future growth and are looking for dealers in the industry that want competitive advantage. |
Author - Joel Anngow20 years of Automotive experience in a range of functions from sales through to after sales ArchivesCategories |