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[Del Boy]

My 17 year old son, out of work, not a problem with me from him, always been a hard working lad, doesn't smoke, doesn't get in trouble (no more than a 17 year old should anyway), never wants anything, and flatly refuses to go on the rock n' roll. He's had some serious problems go on in his life over the past year what with his mum and what not. Anyway he has actually been looking for a job and I can also say he genuinely has too. Now he's getting totally fed up now, of everything say he needs experience etc etc, he's not going to work for £3 odd an hour, now I'm going to say here I totally agree with him on that front, that's a pathetic wage and to get any decent money he'd need to work all the hours god sends and have no spare time (weekends etc) which I personally think a 17 year old needs.

He's 110% interested in cars, and truth be know he's learnt everything from me, and he is as good if not a bit better than me at a lot of things involving cars. He wants to get into sales ideally, but he sat me down earlier and said "Dad, I want to go and work for a company selling cars, but they all say they want experience and I'm too young", this is where I'm stuck, he knows and I could guarantee he would know more than 90% of salesmen in dealerships, I'm not just saying that because he's my son and I'm half a car trader, but he really is on the pulse with everything car related. I'm thinking do I write some local companies letters or what, he's emailed a couple, but as they've said experience is needed, and I can vouch for him that he's an excellent salesman (He sold my SAAB for me when he was 15, and got more for it than I asked him to get actually), but me teaching him stuff doesn't really count for anything with employers, so anyone reckon a letter would help out or not  :-?

I'm just a little bit stuck of what to do for him really, I mean he's hard working (he's with me everyday), which means basically up every morning at half 7, out of the door by half 8 and see what we can get done with the cars we've got. Cars is his biggest interest and I don't want, what I think is a proper talent to go to waste. Although he'd settle for anything which paid a bit more than £3.60 odd an hour, cars is what he does, and I want to see him do well, and he wants to do it as well.

[the alarming man]

My 17 year old son, out of work, not a problem with me from him, always been a hard working lad, doesn't smoke, doesn't get in trouble (no more than a 17 year old should anyway), never wants anything, and flatly refuses to go on the rock n' roll. He's had some serious problems go on in his life over the past year what with his mum and what not. Anyway he has actually been looking for a job and I can also say he genuinely has too. Now he's getting totally fed up now, of everything say he needs experience etc etc, he's not going to work for £3 odd an hour, now I'm going to say here I totally agree with him on that front, that's a pathetic wage and to get any decent money he'd need to work all the hours god sends and have no spare time (weekends etc) which I personally think a 17 year old needs.

He's 110% interested in cars, and truth be know he's learnt everything from me, and he is as good if not a bit better than me at a lot of things involving cars. He wants to get into sales ideally, but he sat me down earlier and said "Dad, I want to go and work for a company selling cars, but they all say they want experience and I'm too young", this is where I'm stuck, he knows and I could guarantee he would know more than 90% of salesmen in dealerships, I'm not just saying that because he's my son and I'm half a car trader, but he really is on the pulse with everything car related. I'm thinking do I write some local companies letters or what, he's emailed a couple, but as they've said experience is needed, and I can vouch for him that he's an excellent salesman (He sold my SAAB for me when he was 15, and got more for it than I asked him to get actually), but me teaching him stuff doesn't really count for anything with employers, so anyone reckon a letter would help out or not  :-?

I'm just a little bit stuck of what to do for him really, I mean he's hard working (he's with me everyday), which means basically up every morning at half 7, out of the door by half 8 and see what we can get done with the cars we've got. Cars is his biggest interest and I don't want, what I think is a proper talent to go to waste. Although he'd settle for anything which paid a bit more than £3.60 odd an hour, cars is what he does, and I want to see him do well, and he wants to do it as well.

biggest prob is getting your foot in the door...would he not start at the bottom i.e cleaning them and if he knows his stuff shouldnt be long before they see how good he is...just a thought

[Del Boy]

My 17 year old son, out of work, not a problem with me from him, always been a hard working lad, doesn't smoke, doesn't get in trouble (no more than a 17 year old should anyway), never wants anything, and flatly refuses to go on the rock n' roll. He's had some serious problems go on in his life over the past year what with his mum and what not. Anyway he has actually been looking for a job and I can also say he genuinely has too. Now he's getting totally fed up now, of everything say he needs experience etc etc, he's not going to work for £3 odd an hour, now I'm going to say here I totally agree with him on that front, that's a pathetic wage and to get any decent money he'd need to work all the hours god sends and have no spare time (weekends etc) which I personally think a 17 year old needs.

He's 110% interested in cars, and truth be know he's learnt everything from me, and he is as good if not a bit better than me at a lot of things involving cars. He wants to get into sales ideally, but he sat me down earlier and said "Dad, I want to go and work for a company selling cars, but they all say they want experience and I'm too young", this is where I'm stuck, he knows and I could guarantee he would know more than 90% of salesmen in dealerships, I'm not just saying that because he's my son and I'm half a car trader, but he really is on the pulse with everything car related. I'm thinking do I write some local companies letters or what, he's emailed a couple, but as they've said experience is needed, and I can vouch for him that he's an excellent salesman (He sold my SAAB for me when he was 15, and got more for it than I asked him to get actually), but me teaching him stuff doesn't really count for anything with employers, so anyone reckon a letter would help out or not  :-?

I'm just a little bit stuck of what to do for him really, I mean he's hard working (he's with me everyday), which means basically up every morning at half 7, out of the door by half 8 and see what we can get done with the cars we've got. Cars is his biggest interest and I don't want, what I think is a proper talent to go to waste. Although he'd settle for anything which paid a bit more than £3.60 odd an hour, cars is what he does, and I want to see him do well, and he wants to do it as well.

biggest prob is getting your foot in the door...would he not start at the bottom i.e cleaning them and if he knows his stuff shouldnt be long before they see how good he is...just a thought

Yup he'd clean them, that's the thing, if it's car related he'll do it 

[tigers_gonads]

As the saying goes, the cream always floats to the top 

With that sort of "go" in him, he will get there but because of the state of the country, it may take a little time.

If I was in his shoes, i'd get my best rags on and walk into the largest dealer I could find ( stuff letters and e mails ) find the manager and say ............... give me a job ................. pay me the comission if I sell a car .............. What have you got to lose ?   

Alot of cheek and little bull can go along way 

If he gets knocked back, leave a card and walk into the next dealer 
Keep going around till they are that pished off of seeing you someone will give him a chance 

All dealers talk and word will soon get around 

Good luck to the lad 

[millwall]

good luck to your boy del  sounds a good lad  just dont let him get dishearted  good things come to those who deserve it   im sure if he keeps approaching garages etc something will come up

[Omega_Dan]

I Always wanted to be involved with cars and after leaving school at 16 i wanted to sell them. I got a job at a Citroen main dealer as a general dogs body but after a years hard graft and passing my driving test at 17 they made me a Trainee Sales Executive to Which i Was Sales Controller at 21. Left the motor trade after 8 Years service 2 years ago due to being made redundant and i was gutted. Back in the Trade now but as a Stock Manager.

Totally understand where he is coming from. If he looks to start in that sort of area, even it being cleaning cars at a dealership its just enough to get noticed of what he is truly capable off.

[Richie London]

i know how you feel del, i'm doing everything i can for my youngest trying to secure an apprentership for him next year somewhere, it all comes down to exam results in the end. but i found this site the other day if its any good to your boy if he wants to get into construction as a last resort.

http://www.alphabse.co.uk/index.php

plus this
http://www.nlggta.co.uk/

[Del Boy]

i know how you feel del, i'm doing everything i can for my youngest trying to secure an apprentership for him next year somewhere, it all comes down to exam results in the end. but i found this site the other day if its any good to your boy if he wants to get into construction as a last resort.

http://www.alphabse.co.uk/index.php

plus this
http://www.nlggta.co.uk/

Cheers Rich mate, he's into a bit of construction stuff too 

[johnnybbad]

As Tigers said, nowt wrong with getting your good clobber on and going knocking on the car dealers doors.

To me it shows far more initiative than just posting / emailing cv's

[Tony H]

As said a bit of up front no bull "go get it" attitude could do the trick. See if your son would be prepared to approach a dealer and be prepared to do any job at all even the most menial of tasks, and say I will work for you for a fortnight for free, if you like what you say pay me the going rate for the two weeks and consider me for a full time job If you don't like what you see show me the door. Any good manager worth his salt will pick up on your sons potential in that time and if it successful your lads on the first rung of the ladder. Good luck to him

[pscocoa]

Del - he should prepare for himself (with your assist if necessary) a CV - nothing heavy just simple one pager setting out what he sees as his strengths/interests/achievements along the lines you have outlined. If he has something to leave/email then it shows he is making the extra effort.

[Vamps]

As Tigers said, nowt wrong with getting your good clobber on and going knocking on the car dealers doors.

To me it shows far more initiative than just posting / emailing cv's

I agree, that is how I got my first 'Sales' Job when left school, went knocking on doors.....Worth a try and shows initiative.....