Do you have what it takes to be an RV salesman?
The Winona Daily News interviewed Joe Breza, RV sales and service manager for Breezee's RV Center in Homer MN for a weekly column. In it he talks about what it takes to be a successful sales person at an RV dealership. Compared to selling cars, he says, "it’s the same but you also need to know the mechanics of how everything works and operates." Of his combined job, he says, "You got to be kind of a jack of all trades. I’ll wash RVs, I’ll dump them, I’ll be in the shop rotating tires or changing batteries and I’ll sell them new, on consignment or for rent …"
If you've thought about doing either of these seasonally or full-time on the RV road, read his advice. He does add that at least 80 percent of his work is paperwork and that it is not 9 to 5. Those might be downsides or part of the picture we don't usually see. Being the manager, he probably has more paperwork and longer hours than employees under him.
Areas like Phoenix and Tucson in the winter and Alaska in the summer are examples of places where RV dealers hire during the busy season. You can find other areas too that are busier one time of the year than another that will hire extra employees for RV sales or service. Salespeople usually work on commission so those jobs can be easy to come by. For the service area, you can get training, as Joe mentions, as a technician. Other seasonal RV workers I know have mechanics training or can do walk-throughs where they check the systems out for buyers and then show the buyers everything at time of purchase and how to operate everything.
One more possibility for working on the RV road! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak
For information on working in RV industry-related jobs, see Jaimie's 2nd edition of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, available at the RVBookstore.com
If you've thought about doing either of these seasonally or full-time on the RV road, read his advice. He does add that at least 80 percent of his work is paperwork and that it is not 9 to 5. Those might be downsides or part of the picture we don't usually see. Being the manager, he probably has more paperwork and longer hours than employees under him.
Areas like Phoenix and Tucson in the winter and Alaska in the summer are examples of places where RV dealers hire during the busy season. You can find other areas too that are busier one time of the year than another that will hire extra employees for RV sales or service. Salespeople usually work on commission so those jobs can be easy to come by. For the service area, you can get training, as Joe mentions, as a technician. Other seasonal RV workers I know have mechanics training or can do walk-throughs where they check the systems out for buyers and then show the buyers everything at time of purchase and how to operate everything.
One more possibility for working on the RV road! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak
For information on working in RV industry-related jobs, see Jaimie's 2nd edition of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, available at the RVBookstore.com
Labels: RV sales, RV technicians
2 Comments:
If you have RV repair training, some experience, tools, and a desire to provide quality workmanship, you can go to almost any location in this great country and find seasonal employment as an RV Service Tech. Some dealers will hire you right out of the training schools. Some dealerships will also have seasonal work for the spouse. This can work great for full-timers.
After completing the training at Camping World RV Institute in Bowling Green, KY., the fall of 2004, I have worked seasonally two winters in FL., three summers in WY., one winter in AZ and this summer in MT. I have also established a mobile repair LLC and make repairs for RVers in campgrounds as I travel.
Being a seasonal service tech is a good way to make a few extra bucks on the road, get some additional tax deductions and meet a lot of great RV folks.
Bee B. O'Neil
Full-timer
By
Bee O'Neil, at July 12, 2008 8:33 AM
Thanks, Bee, for sharing your experience. I agree, being an RV service tech opens up all sorts of opportunities for an RVer who wants to work and travel. Jaimie
By
Jaimie Hall-Bruzenak, at July 12, 2008 11:45 AM
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