How to Become a Car Dealership Receptionist

Car dealerships benefit greatly from a successful automotive receptionist. Car dealership receptionists must interface with customers to create a positive experience which can lead to repeat customers and positive reviews. They can also help sales by following up with leads, scheduling vehicle servicing and test drives, and receiving calls and messages. These tasks amount to a major factor in a dealership's success, making it a valuable role.

Let's discuss the role of an automotive receptionist, how to become one, and how to spot the best candidate for this role.

What Does a Car Dealership Receptionist Do?

A car dealership receptionist's role requires strong communication skills, as it's a customer-facing role. They're typically the first face customers see when they enter a dealership, so someone in this role must be able to answer general questions, transfer phone calls to the right extensions, and have a general understanding of the dealership's services, layout, and personnel.

A dealership receptionist may also be tasked with data entry, such as asking for and recording customer information, or helping provide receipts and other paperwork to customers who have purchased a vehicle or have gotten their car serviced.

Other tasks might include engaging with the public and potential customers through social media or company newsletters and emails. These roles make it important for receptionists to be well organized and have good time management.¹

What Is the Job Description of a Car Dealership Receptionist?

Automotive receptionists have a variety of roles and responsibilities. Below is an example of a list of job tasks that may be included in a dealership's job description:

• Greet and guide customers through their dealership experience while putting forth a professional demeanor.
• Answer phone calls, emails, and social media messages to engage customers and answer questions.
• Respond to messages in a timely manner with accurate information.
• Pass on information to the relevant parties in different departments.
• Schedule and manage appointments for customers and staff.
• Enter customer data into dealership software, manage electronic and physical documents, and run data reports for staff.
• Type reports and print documents including sale receipts, memos, and brochures.
• Collect payments including cash and card transactions and ensure the correct balance is charged.²

How Can Someone Become a Car Dealership Receptionist?

For anyone looking to become a car dealership receptionist, understanding basic requirements is essential. There are credentials, as well as soft skills worth considering when preparing to become a solid candidate for this role. Typically, a minimum of a high school diploma or GED equivalent is a required education level. Advanced degrees relating to office management or customer service can differentiate a candidate as more competitive. A valid driver's license may also be a basic requirement.

Important soft skills include the ability to interact with customers in a friendly and professional manner. Receptionists will be expected to learn how the dealership works so that they're able to accurately answer questions and host customers during their experience. This means that candidates that can show experience in an administrative role or similar jobs will have a greater chance at landing this role.

A candidate may also have tangential experience dealing with the general public in a different type of customer service job. Ultimately, someone in this role will need to fulfill the following:

• Provide great customer experience
• Stay organized
• Meet the minimum requirements, including relevant training, education, and skills³

What to Look For When Hiring a Car Dealership Receptionist

Hiring the right automotive receptionist can be a challenge. Personality is an important trait to look into, as this person should have a warm and welcoming disposition. Receptionists should present themselves as friendly and capable. Candidates should be able to demonstrate:

• Proficiency in communicating through writing and speaking
• Multitasking
• Problem-solving skills
• Ability to adapt to different situations and surroundings

Some technical skills can be a benefit as well. Candidates familiar with particular software suites that the dealership uses will be able to get up to speed faster, for example. Either way, you'll want a candidate that is comfortable utilizing computers and learning new software or processes. While these are some general guidelines in what to look for in a car dealership receptionist, ultimately the best place to start is to outline what skills you value most for your particular dealership.⁴

How ACV Auctions Can Help Your Dealership Grow

Car dealership receptionists keep customers happy, and so do great cars at competitive prices. At ACV Auctions, our vehicle inspectors review each vehicle before they are added to our auction platform. The inspectors provide details on everything from Engine Sound to OBD III readings. Sourcing from ACV Auctions ensures that you know up front what you're getting and there are no surprises because of our thorough Condition Reports.Sign up today to build up inventory for your dealership.

Sources:

1. ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team (N/A). What Is a Car Dealership Receptionist and How to Become One. ZipRecruiter. (9/26/2024), https://www.ziprecruiter.com/career/Car-Dealership-Receptionist/What-Is-How-to-Become
2. AUTOJobs.com (N/A). Automotive Receptionist Job Description. Autojobs.com. (9/26/2024), https://www.autojobs.com/jobs/receptionist-job-description/
3. DARCARS Automotive Group (N/A).Car Dealership Receptionist Guide. DARCARS Automotive Group. (9/26/2024), https://jobs.darcars.com/car-dealership-receptionist.html
4. Sampat, Samir (2/14/2023). How to Hire the Best Receptionist for Your Car Dealership. Smith.ai. (9/26/2024), https://smith.ai/blog/how-to-hire-the-best-receptionist-for-your-car-dealership

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