WHEN I GROW UP I WANT TO BE A...(FOURTH OF 10 PARTS)

Paperwork is a big part of the job for car salesmen, and good math skills are necessary.

Car salesmen get to drive new cars as part of their job.

Phone skills are important for salesmen when talking to customers.

The best part about working in auto sales is meeting people, according to Cape Girardeau car dealers.

"The job is not the same any two days in a row," said Rick Crow of Wieser Honda, 2611 Auto Park Dr.

"It's not like a factory job where you go in and make the same thing every day. No two customers are alike."

Everybody, regardless of background, profession or economic status, buys cars. That means car dealers meet people of all personalities and with drastically different needs.

"You have to be adept at addressing all issues with different personalities and backgrounds," Crow said.

Steve Ramey of Cape GMC Pontiac Inc., 755 S. Kingshighway, said he enjoys the "challenge of discussing business with a variety of people, meeting a variety of people and listening to their concerns about what I can do to help them."

Al Bloomingberg of Auffenberg Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge, 611 S. Kingshighway, said a background in automobiles isn't necessary to get a start in auto sales. He said personable people without sales experience are often hired.

Bloomingberg spent a decade in law enforcement before going to work for a dealership.

"Police officers make good car salesmen because most police officers know how to deal with people," Bloomingberg said.

The most important quality in a good car salesman is attitude.

"If you have a bad attitude, stay off the lot, it's as simple as that," Bloomingberg said.

Said Crow: "It takes someone who is outgoing, and it helps if you are a car nut and really love automobiles."

Car dealers get an undeserved negative rap, according to Ramey.

"I think a lot of people misunderstand what car sales are all about. Car salesmen get put low on the totem pole as far as ethics go," Ramey said.

"But it is not as negative a business as some people might think it is. It can be a very positive profession, as it has been for me over the last 25 years."

Crow said an old joke in the business is that while the owner of the downtown car dealership is one of the most respected people in town, his salesmen are among the least respected.

Good salesmen, he said, don't fit that stereotype.

"The most important thing is to always be honest and straight up," Crow said. "You will get caught in a lie every time."

While the job can yield extreme financial awards, long hours, sometimes as many as 60 a week, are the norm.

Although some dealerships offer sales staff a regular base pay with bonuses for cars sold, most sales personnel work on straight commission.

"Basically a dealership offers you a place to work, but you are almost like an independent contractor," Crow said.

That means that while some months are great financially, others can be pretty lean.

"If you don't think you are going to enjoy it, don't get into it because it is a tough job," Crow said.