| College of Automotive Management Graduates Who Had No Prior Experience:
The College makes no claims regarding starting salaries, graduate incomes or job availabilities for any position. Many College graduates and employers have provided the College with their own statements about their experiences in the industries we represent after graduating from the College.
Many of these positions were obtained with the help of our Career Development Department and employer contacts within the industries we represent. “This is not an implied or expressed claim of what all of our graduates earn. Individual results may vary and be higher or lower than these figures”. The terms "current occupation" and "current income" as used below apply to the date each testimonial was provided by the graduate to the College and may or may not be their current occupation or income level at this time. Also, the College assumes that in many cases the graduate is providing general figures or income levels rounded off for discussion purposes and the income levels reported, before or after College training, should not be interpreted as EXACT amounts earned monthly since many of the positions listed below, before or after CAM training, are commission based and total incomes could vary from month to month.
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Milam Byers
Previous Occupation: Musician
Previous Income: $2,200 per month
Current Occupation: Internet Consultant
Current Income: $8,000 per month
"I am now in my second month as an Internet Salesperson. The first month I was here I trained for about 2 weeks before I was added to the lead pipeline full time. In those 2 weeks in February, traditionally a very slow month, I sold 7.5 cars. I thought that was a good start since I had never sold a car before that but I had no idea what was to come. I started March, my first full month of sales, and sold 2 in the first 2 days of the month. By March 10 I had 9 cars out, the highest in a store of approximately 40 salespeople (and the highest volume Toyota dealership in a region of 5 states) and I was the top guy at the first sales meeting of the month! I am so excited to see what is in store for the future. I never expected to see such a drastic increase this quickly. I am currently on track to make about $8,000 this month, that's 4 times the most I had ever made prior to this in my life! I see the value of The College of Automotive Management's education on a daily basis. I see salespeople all around me that have been in the business for years that don't tell the truth, don't serve their customers and don't care about every single person that walks through the door. Because I was trained at The College of Automotive Management I know what they are doing wrong, and they look at the "new guy" and wonder how in the world I have already sold more in the first 10 days of the month as they had all last month! Needless to say I am enjoying my job immensely and can't say enough about the preparation The College of Automotive Management provided for my success."
-Milam
Internet Consultant
Stephanie Carvallo
Previous Occupation: Fast Food Restaurant Manager
Current Occupation: Sales Representative
"Before I discovered The College of Automotive Management, I was managing quick service restaurants for over 7 years. I had become accustomed to working 6 days and over 60 hours per week. My dad began school at The College of Automotive Management and he started telling me all about it. I thought it would be something perfect for my husband but I had no interest at all. We traveled up to the main campus and it was funny because by the time the presentation was over, I was very interested and my husband was not at all interested, the tables had turned! I signed up within a week and never looked back. I have landed a wonderful position in sales at a well-known Honda dealer in North San Diego County. Now I am only working 40 hours a week and my income potential is so much greater than it could have ever been in the restaurant business!!! My old career is like a nightmare that I finally woke up from, thanks to The College of Automotive Management!!!! It is such a wonderful feeling to know that you are in control of how much money you make, and you don't have to depend on anybody to write you a check. I finally feel free!!! None of this would have been possible without studying at The College of Automotive Management. They provided the tools that one needs to succeed in the automotive industry. I know that my future is now secure and it is up to me to make it all happen!!"
-Stephanie
Sales Representative
Javier Pineda
Previous Occupation: Truck Driver
Previous Income: $2,900 per month
Current Occupation: Salesperson
Current Income: $5,000 per month
“Before coming to The College of Automotive Management, I was a Class A truck driver and a warehouse worker making about $35,000/year. I decided to go to College of Automotive Management because I wanted a better paying career. It took a couple of tries but I finally found the right dealership for me and I have been there for over a year selling cars. I now average $5,000/month and was Salesperson of the Month the last two months! I had no people skills before attending The College of Automotive Management and now I have a great career ahead of me.”
-Javier
Sales Representative
Fabiola Alvarez
Previous Occupation: Unemployed
Previous Income: $0.00
Current Occupation: Internet Consultant
Current Income: $4,200 per month
"I was just hired at a brand new Honda dealership that has been in the business less than a year. I was just hired on as an Internet Consultant and have already sold 5 cars. Our department has sold 20 cars already and we have a goal of reaching 30. We get bonuses based upon how many units we sell and I am positive that we will reach our goal. This is a great learning opportunity for me and I am having so much fun!”
-Fabiola
Internet Consultant
David Kirkham
Previous Occupation: Office Manager
Previous Income: $3400 per month
Current Occupation: Internet Department Manager
Current Income: $5000 per month
“Before attending The College of Automotive Management, I was new to the Automotive industry but very eager to get started. I was hired the same week I graduated from The College of Automotive Management and started at a Nissan store, the following Monday. First day on the job, I sold my first car, making more than $700 on that deal. In only 6 days, I made $2,500! I'm able to get big profits because I believe in the art of "Selling Myself" before selling my products, just like I learned in The College of Automotive Management. I'm currently an Internet Manager. I expect to continue the Internet Manager position for a few more months, and then move into the Finance position I have my mind set on. I'm almost there.”
-David
Internet Manager
Mandy Kuo
Previous Occupation: Office Manager
Current Occupation: Sales / Internet Sales Consultant
"I have good news that I got hired by Connell Nissan! I had the formal interview with Sales Manager, Carlos yesterday, and he and Jason has offered the pay plan which is acceptable to me. The position is a mix of Internet sales and floor sales, I have my own desk, computer and 50 leads to start with. We have come to agreement that this will last 60 days or 90 days most, then I will be working in Internet Dept. full time with a different pay plan. The best thing is they let me have the days off I request, which is Wednesday and Sunday Morning till 1:30pm. I was able to negotiate a schedule that worked for me! Anyhow, I am really happy and thankful for all yours and The College of Automotive Management's staff’s help and support. All my friends are amazed how I could find a job so fast! Thursday will be my first day. I am really excited and ready to learn more things / skills for moving up! Say Hi to my favorite instructor, Roy, and favorite model to look up to, Sharon. Thank you all and I will stop by to see you all very soon!"
-Mandy
Internet Consultant
Joseph Choi
Previous Occupation: Marketing Representative
Current Occupation: Salesperson
I sold 5 1/2 cars in my first week! My GM said he will pick me up in a limo every morning!!
-Joseph
Update July 2007
Joseph Choi
Previous Occupation: Marketing Representative
Current Occupation: Salesperson
“After I graduated from The College of Automotive Management I received several job offers and decided to work for Huntington Beach Mazda as a Salesperson. I started off very fast and have consistently been one of the top 3 salespeople at the store. I am selling about 13 cars a month. Not bad for a person with no sales experience! I am grateful for the education and placement assistance I have received from The College of Automotive Management. The scripts that we had to learn are helpful although it takes practice to use them effectively. Each transaction is different and you need to adjust your presentation as you are working with your customer. That is why knowing the scripts is so important. I am looking forward to continuing my education for F&I after I gain some more experience in sales. The automobile business is a great way to make a living.”
-Joseph
Salesperson
Ernesto Hermozillo
Previous Occupation: Lowes Representative
Previous Income: $1,700 per month
Current Occupation: Sales Representative
Current Income: $4,200 per month
"My name is Ernesto, I am 20 years old and I am a recent graduate from the College of Automotive Management. Within the first week after I had graduated, the placement department set me up with a lead to a dealership that they had built a strong relationship with. Being that I was so young, I thought I would have a very difficult time finding a position as I did not have a lot of work experience and had zero automotive experience. I called the dealerships and set up an interview two days after I had graduated. I interviewed for the position, was presented an offer and was hired all in one day! I couldn’t believe it! I thought I would have had to interview with 10 companies or more before I found a position. It’s been two months since I have been working at the Jaguar dealership and I am one car away from reaching my new car bonus for the month! I also have a meeting next week with our Finance Director, She was so impressed by my ability to “ink” a deal that she told me I am doing a good job and that she wanted to talk to me. She asked where I had learned my stuff and I told her I had attended the College of Automotive Management and this is where I learned how to do the contracts. I am looking forward to meeting with her and hopefully this will give me an opportunity to be their next Finance Manager."
-Ernesto
Sales Representative
Chrystal Baird
Previous Occupation: Granite Counter Sales representative
Current Occupation: Sales Representative
"Before coming to the College I worked for an hourly wage selling granite kitchen countertops, not making much money. I had never received any training in sales but I find selling cars a lot easier. This is because of the training I received at The College of Automotive Management where I learned to overcome customer objections. The Sales Script I learned was a "GOD SEND". One of the sales veterans of 11 years has even copied some of my responses because he sees how well they work!! This is a small dealership (80 cars a month) but I am already exceeding my income by more than $1,000.00 per month and I took time off last month to spend with my husband who is being redeployed. The College of Automotive Management gave me the knowledge and training to be successful and for that I am grateful."
-Chrystal
Sales Representative
Steve Gronowski
Previous Occupation: Bartender
Current Occupation: Sales Representative
"Everyone at The College of Automotive Management, I want to start off by saying thanks to everyone at the College for their support. I went on my first interview today and received a job offer to sell Chevy's. As everyone knows I was most interested in an F&I position and I was adamant about not settling for anything other than that. Well that only lasted an hour. I interviewed with the Director of The Heritage Auto Group and he was really impressed with The College of Automotive Management and the fact I attended it on my own. However, he did want me to work on the sales floor before he gave me an F&I position. He seemed real sincere about me learning from the ground-up and getting me into an F&I position as soon as I felt comfortable on the floor. He also said I could slowly ease my way in to F&I by filling in on their days off. So, I accepted the position because he seemed sincere about getting me to where I want to be. And looking ahead, he didn't think it would be a bad idea to sell cars, especially if I ever thought about becoming a General Sales Manager."
-Steve
Sales Representative
Mills, MD
Wesley Benton
Previous Occupation: Casting Recruiter
Previous Income: $41,000 per year
Current Occupation: F&I Manager
Current Income: $11,000+ per month
After graduating from the College of Automotive Management I was hired as a Special Finance Salesperson at Sunrise Ford in North Hollywood. I used the scripts I learned at the College especially the one that says “the more you put down the more you will save….” I was so successful using these techniques that within 6 months the boss let me start doing my own deals and within 4 months of that I was a manager and had 3 people working for me. I was making about $11,000 a month.2 years later I was hired as a Sales Manager at Manhattan Beach Toyota. Talk about a change!! Now most of my customers had great credit and knew what they wanted. I just used the scripts and methods I learned at the College to continue my success. I left that position after about a year and a half to accept a job as an F&I Manager at Douglas Nissan. I enjoy the F&I business, you get to deal with so many different personalities and utilize all of your interpersonal skills to find out what the customer really wants and needs. You use different methods of overcoming objections depending upon the personality type of your customer. Having started out in sales gave me the experience dealing with people and discovering their needs. I was able to take this experience and apply it to my customers in F&I. Before I came to the College of Automotive Management I was renting an apartment, driving a 1993 Pontiac Sunfire and making $41,000 a year after working in the movie industry for 8 years!! Now I own a $700,000 home, drive a 2003 Mercedes E500 and make well over $100,000 a year.
What did I learn at the College? I learned the basics necessary to be successful, I learned that you have to treat people fairly and most of all I learned that you must be ethical and not lie to your customer. The skills I learned helped me to get started; I still had a lot to learn about dealing with people so I am glad that I sold cars for a while to get that experience.
Given the choice would I do it over again?? Without a doubt!
-Wesley
F&I Manager
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