STUDENT FEATURE PART 1
Students from the Automotive Business School of Canada (ABSC) at Georgian College share their experiences from participating in the Financial Services Manager Certificate Program in June 2017.
Delivered by members of LGM’s Training team, the five-day course offers students the opportunity to learn about the functions of a dealership’s Financial Services Office and best practices for Financial Services Managers.
Interview with Jessica Corey, 3rd year student
Q: What first attracted you to a career in the automotive industry?
A: When I was in grade 10, I was searching for what I wanted to do after high school and it was also around this time that I developed a love of vehicles. Due to the love I had for business and cars, the two came together nicely and I decided to pursue a career in the auto industry. A little later, I learned how fast-paced and ever-changing the industry was, which excited me and matched my desires for a career.
Q: Why did you decide to enroll in the Financial Services Manager (FSM) Certificate?
A: I enrolled in the Financial Services Manager course as I wanted to have another qualification under my belt that would open more doors to me and enable me to learn more applicable and transferable skills for every aspect of my future career. When I first enrolled in this course, I did not know what I was going to do after graduation in August. I decided that, by taking this course, I would have more options and be able to apply to a greater variety of jobs.
Q: What was the biggest thing you learned throughout the course?
A: The biggest thing I learned in this course was the ability to be more effective when making a sales pitch. I also learned how to bring products and services into a normal conversation in a way that helps the customer not feel forced to listen or buy. Learning how to overcome objections and deal with different types of customers is vital to a career in the auto industry as it’s built upon making connections and selling vehicles, but also positioning yourself in a certain way.
Q: After taking the course, are you more interested in potentially having a career in the Financial Services Office? Why?
A: I am very interested in pursuing a career as a Financial Services Manager if the opportunity presents itself down the road. By being in the Financial Services Office, selling is made easier because customers have already purchased the base product (the car) and it helps them to have a greater rapport with the dealership. I am also interested in the Financial Services Office as it seems like an interesting part of the dealership and it is important to have experience in every department before going into management, which is what I would like to do in the future.
Q: Would you recommend this course to future students of the Automotive Business School of Canada?
A: I would definitely recommend this course to others as the information I learned was extremely interesting, applicable, and delivered in an engaging way. The course is also transferrable to different aspects of the industry and a variety of careers as the skills and knowledge learned are not only applicable to the Financial Services Office. So, if students are not interested in being a Financial Services Manager, the skills they gain will aid in their future career decisions and make them a more valuable asset in the position they end up in.
