Women Succeeding in Dealerships
We know that historically automotive sales is a field dominated by men, but there has been incremental progress toward more gender balance in the past decade. The NADA Workforce Study has found small yearly increases in the number of women working at dealerships, although the percentage of female dealership employees decreased in 2017 from 19.4 per cent to 19.2. Source: NADA’s 2017 study.
According to the study only 5 per cent of dealership general managers and less than 1 percent of service technicians are women. So it is evident that there is still work to be done to make auto retailing a place where women want to look for jobs and a desirable destination for a career.
The good news is that the dealership community is actively discussing how to increase the presence of women in the business.
“What’s changing is that we’re talking about it,” says Julie Brinkman, Chief Operating Officer for Hireology, a Chicago-based Recruitment CRM for Automotive Retail. “Three or four years ago we weren’t really even talking about the role of women in the industry.”
It is widely accepted that women bring something different to the table and there are now reliable findings that customers like to see women in dealerships. Dealers are coming to understand why hiring and supporting women is a business priority.
Thirty seven per cent of businesses in the USA are owned by women and these women are the decision makers at work and at home. Marisa Carnevale-Henderson, Bank of America Merrill Lynch Market Executive for Dealer Financial says, ““If those women walk into a dealership and see only men, especially on the dealership floor, it just doesn’t mirror their world at large. It’s critically important that dealerships mirror the marketplace in terms of who’s making decisions for households today.”
NADA’s research also shows that turnover is higher among women at dealerships, perhaps in part because women are paid less than men for doing the same jobs. Part of the problem is likely to stem from the long-standing “boys club” culture that still exists at many dealership sales and service departments.
Making the Workplace Better: Suggestions for your Dealership
- Take an honest look at dealership operations and culture.
- Address the myths of gender bias —with everyone.
- Restructure work schedules and pay plans to appeal to a more diverse workforce.
- Make sure employee benefits are competitive.
- Market the dealership and its available jobs to the target audience.
- Write job descriptions that are inclusive and appeal to a diverse group of job seekers.
- Consider establishing a human resources department or hiring a dedicated HR executive.
- Dedicate extra effort to supporting new female employees.
- Publicise the role of women on your staff.
- Send dealership and dealer group leaders—both men and women—to conferences and presentations that discuss the issues of women in the auto industry.
- Promote the dealership and the industry as a place where women are welcomed and can make a successful career.
What Women Can Do For Themselves – Navigating the Dealership: Take a five-step approach.
1. Set your own goals and objectives, and stick with them.
2. Build a support network.
3. Self-promote—be an advocate for yourself.
4. Be the best employee or manager possible.
5. Be confident in your success.
22 Mar 2019
Kelly Ross says she joined the auto industry by accident. In December 1985, when her sister-in-law didn’t show up for her new job at a local Maryland auto dealership, the store called and Ross answered. “They said they needed someone to answer the phones, and I thought, ‘I can do that.’ So I took the job. And I never looked back,” says Ross.
“I found the industry intriguing from the beginning.” Today, nearly 35 years later, Ross is executive VP and chief financial officer for Morgan Auto Group and its 35 dealerships and four non-automotive businesses. She oversees the centralised corporate accounting office and its 102 employees.
