Being that you love cars, from tinkering with them to talking about them, you think that working at a car dealership would be a great. You wonder though, can you get a job at a car dealership when you are 16?

Chances are that obtaining a job with a car dealership at 16 will be difficult. Many have a minimum age of 18 before they are willing to hire someone. Because some dealerships are owned by individuals, this may not always be the case.

This blog post will cover:

• Obtaining a job at a car dealership
• Options for employment at a car dealership
• Other opportunities available to you at age 16

Obtaining a Job at a Car Dealership

For someone who loves cars, working at a car dealership would be a great fit. While many car dealerships have a minimum age requirement of 18, it does not hurt to contact the car dealerships near you to see if they are open to hiring you at the age of 16.

First, make a list of the car dealerships that are located near you and that you could get to should you be hired for a job. You can visit the dealership’s website to see if there is any information about their age requirements for employment. Rather than search the internet, you can also contact the dealership and ask whether they hire staff at 16.

Should the dealership express that they are open to hiring 16 year-olds, go ahead and ask if they have any open positions and what those positions are for. If they don’t have any open positions, ask when they anticipate next having an opening. You can also ask whether they have applications for employment online or if you should pick one up at the dealership.

It is always best to submit an application in person, so if they do have one online, go ahead and print it if you can. You can complete the application and then bring it to the car dealership. Even if they don’t have immediate openings, submitting an application in person will give you the chance to make a good impression. Remember to dress nicely; nice pants and a button-down shirt for example.

When you arrive at the dealership, ask to speak with a manager. If a manager is available, introduce yourself and ask about any open positions. Regardless of whether there are any openings, go ahead and give your application to the manager. Make sure to ask when they anticipate next having an opening and get their name.

Let the manager know that you plan to follow up on your application in a few weeks, even if they are not sure when they anticipate a job opening.  Make sure to thank the manager for their time.

If it turns out that there are immediate openings, it is helpful for the manager to have met you and know that you present and communicate well. They may have a bunch of applications, but they don’t know the people behind those applications.

If a manager is not available, you can do one of two things: leave the application and ask for the name of the manager with whom to follow up, or you can ask when a manager will be available so that you may submit your application.

Submitting your application in person will allow you to make a good impression and stand out from the applicants that the manager has not met. Getting the name of the person that will be involved in the hiring as well as an anticipated date for the next job opening, is a great success. This is great information that may lead to your getting an interview down the road.

For more information on applying for a job in person, click here.

Remember that it is important to have an idea of the child labor laws and work permit requirements in the state where you live prior to beginning your job search. Click here for more information on child labor laws and work permit requirements in your state.

Options for Employment at a Car Dealership

There are different options for employment at a car dealership. Keep in mind that each dealership will be different and may offer different opportunities than described here.

One role that is necessary in a car dealership is that of a sales person. These employees work with customers to learn about what they are looking for in a vehicle and help them to make the best purchase for their needs and wants. Sales experience is often preferred for these positions.

Maintenance positions are options at a dealership. Maintenance can include anything from cleaning the vehicles to ensuring that they run correctly and repairing them as necessary. For the positions that involve car repair, experience and education will be imperative.

Like any business, a car dealership will have administrative staff. There may be openings for a receptionist or front desk person, or someone to help with general office tasks. While this might not be exactly what you were thinking of when considering a car dealership, this would be a good way to get in the door to prove yourself so that you can move in to other roles in the future.

Other Options Available to You at Age 16

Should you not be able to find a job at a car dealership, the great news is that there are plenty of their options available to you to earn money. At 16, there are many businesses that will hire you; grocery stores, retail establishments, restaurants and movies theaters are typically open to hiring individuals at your age.

Another possibility to consider is to look into online jobs. Working online will offer the opportunity to earn money while setting your own schedule.

An option for those who enjoy being creative is to build websites or blogs. There are businesses and individuals who are willing to pay you to build these for them. The idea may sound intimidating, but there are templates available that you can use and build upon to create something unique and you don’t have to be a computer expert to do so. Offering to create your first few websites or blogs for free or for a low cost will help you to build a portfolio of your work that will lead to your being able to get more business.

You can also design a website or blog for yourself.  Think of an interest or hobby that you have and build a site around it. You can then learn how to drive traffic to your site and earn money by doing so.

Upwork.com and Fiverr.com offer opportunities for you to earn money writing. For those interested in freelancing, these sites will allow you to build a profile and apply for writing jobs. Often the jobs are to write content for existing websites and blogs. Pay will vary by the client and it is a good idea to start with a low rate while you build your business.

If you speak a second (or third) language fluently, translating documents can also earn you an income. Upwork.com offers translating opportunities and you can apply for the jobs that you are comfortable you can do well.

For more information and opportunities to earn money online, click here.

Should you prefer to work away from your computer, consider a side job. This will enable you to work around your school schedule while meeting the needs of those you work for.

Tutoring is one good option if you are comfortable with younger children and teens. You can set your own schedule and tutor those topics that you are comfortable with. You will work with the parent of the child you are tutoring to come up with a scheduled time that works for all involved.

Another option is to offer homework help services for kids in elementary school. Particularly in a household with multiple children, many parents will appreciate having someone spend time with their kids to help with homework. A starting rate of $10 per hour is appropriate, and you can negotiate an increase once the child you are working with shows improvement in their grades.

Adults are often trying to work full time and run a household, and assistance running errands will be a value to many. You can offer a service that helps with grocery shopping, going to the post office, etc. By providing a quality service, it is likely that your customers will refer you to their friends and your business will grow.

Pet sitting and dog walking services are also great ways to earn money. When people leave town they often worry about how their animals will be fed and how they will handle being alone. Even when people are not out of town, if they work long hours they may be interested in having someone come and walk their dog to ensure it gets exercise and time outside. You can charge a rate per visit or walk and set a schedule that works for you.

For more information on side jobs click here.

Getting a job at a car dealership is possible at the age of 16 but might be difficult. When searching for work, it is important to be persistent. It is likely it will take multiple applications and interviews before you are hired and that is okay. Keep in touch with the manager for jobs that you apply for and consistently follow up so that should a job become available, you will be in the front of their mind.

So, what do you think about whether a 16 year-old can work at a car dealership?  Do you agree with what was said above?  Comment below to let us know!