Vehicle remarketing: career opportunity

Sales isn’t easy and you have to be tenacious. Some days you doubt your ability. You have to find the strength to keep going. Customers have preconceived ideas about women in remarketing and you need to relish the chance to overcome these opinions.

I love selling Enterprise. I was in the elite sales club for eight months in a row as a Management Trainee. As a Branch Manager in Cannock, then in Walsall and then Gloucester, I helped to turn around branch performance and customer service scores. I then became a BRSE – so more relationship building, negotiating and sales. Then a position in remarketing became available. I had always wanted to be a part of this team and I now had the confidence and skills to go for it. I’ve never looked back!!

Remarketing offers tremendous flexibility. Being a mum with a young family I need a great work life balance. I can pick up my children from school, clear my head and then focus back on selling. It is a great feeling.

Remarketing is a completely a level playing field. You are ranked on your numbers and achievements, male or female. You can have a family and an ambitious strong career. There are opportunities to develop so many skills. It is a lot more than selling cars. It’s a fantastic platform from which to take on jobs in other departments in the future.

"As a woman, I had to work harder to earn credibility with some customers"

The second-hand car industry is catching up to Enterprise in diversity and inclusivity. There are still gender diversity challenges though it is changing. Hopefully I am playing my part in the education along the way!

Only 20% women make up the automotive workforce and 60% of women do not see a career path to the positions they aspire to because of a lack of senior women. This empowers me to stand up for change.

You don’t need to know anything about cars or the industry to work in remarketing. You just need to be able to get along with people, have great selling skills, an ability to learn and to be organised. Your manager will support you. Every department head I have worked with has offered development opportunities and advice.

Joining the Women in Leadership committee was fantastic in terms of exposure, honing skills and building a personal brand. I would urge any women thinking of joining a committee to go ahead and do it. Only positive things can result.

Remarketing has been the most rewarding and challenging part of my career so far. The opportunities to learn over the past seven years have taught me a huge amount. I feel ready and confident to advance when the next opportunity comes up.

"Only 20% women make up the automotive workforce and 60% of women do not see a career path to the positions they aspire to"

If you possess the skills to work in a sales environment and can show you are a top performer, remarketing is a great place to clearly demonstrate your talent and get noticed.

There are multiple options for career development: the direct sales team, auction sales and remote sales. These all offer fantastic flexibility, which is going to be great when I return to work as a new mum.

Being able to adapt to change is really important. Being amenable and as flexible as possible is really important to ensure you stay at the top of your game. Change can be daunting, but I have learnt to embrace it.

Enterprise has been really supportive as I am starting a family. It’s been a really positive experience and since having the conversations about when and how I will return to work after maternity leave. I feel really excited about getting back into work and know that the business is there to support me. Knowing that I have the daily flexibility to manage my work and home life fills me with confidence that I can thrive at work.

"Enterprise remarketing is a diverse environment where everybody’s opinions count"

A successful automotive career is not reserved for men. Women can bring a different perspective. Enterprise remarketing is a diverse environment where everybody’s opinions count. Providing you have the right skill set, work ethic and can think outside the box, remarketing is a great career step. Understand your skills and strengths and how you can develop within the role.

I have always been happy at every job. Whether that is down to choice or luck I don’t know but it is something that I will pass on to my children as it is so important.

Living in Manchester I regularly walk past the statue of Emily Pankhurst, and I explain to my children how she had such passion in what she believed to be the right thing. She dedicated her life to something that now affects my life and my daughters in the future.

I joined Enterprise from SHB in 2019 and I have felt really welcomed to the Enterprise family and in particular the remarketing team. 

The network of people around me is second to none. Enterprise's experience in all fields means there is always someone to turn to if you need help. This has a great impact on making me feel a part of something special. I have never felt so supported in my career than I do now – thank you.

"I was made to feel at home and the opportunities to advance my career are exciting"

I have been with Enterprise for 11 years and worked in Canada and the UK. When in 2017 an opportunity for my partner came up in the UK, Enterprise found me a role in Britain too. Enterprise truly treats their people like family and I’ve been fortunate to experience the benefits of.

Two years later the opportunity to join Remarketing became available. Being a competitive person, I love the satisfaction of selling cars. Walking into a new customer and selling to them on the first day gives me real job satisfaction. I love the thrill of selling and with the support of the team around me we are well set up to expand our book of business and also achieve my career goals.

As a woman, I had to work harder to earn credibility with some customers. At first, I found this a real challenge, but I focused on understanding their business, demonstrate that I have the knowledge and business acumen and looked to the business to support and empower me and to equip me with the tools to succeed.

The motor trade is going through huge shift where women are feeling more empowered and have the ability to succeed. It’s exciting to be a part of that. I know the whole Remarketing team stand up to discrimination in the workplace and it's comforting to know I have that support.

"Enterprise is a fantastic place for ambitious women"