Rob - Eastern Ontario

cdnr

New member
Hey there!



I joined the forums a while ago, but remained but a "fly on the wall" until now, choosing to absorb as much information as I can. Last summer I had to supplement my income and opted to do mobile car washing / minor detailing. Basic things like wash, wax vacuum etc. Currently, I am 21 and a university student. I love these forums, and plan to continue to use them as they are a wealth of information.



I have an interview set up at the local Honda dealership for a car detailing position. I have read about the mixed bag of experience out there as far as working for dealerships goes. I feel it's worthwhile in my situation, as the potential pros outweigh any cons that I can come up with. They are offering $15/hour and a steady 40/hrs a week. I know that dealerships have a tendency to instil bad habits and often do not put out quality work.



I am hoping that in the two weeks before my interview I will be able to begin to make a quick reference guide. I am planning to scour these forums, ask questions, and want to come up with a list of what are considered to be the most acceptable methods to deal with various situations (finishes, upholstery stains, decontaminating etc). Is this something worth doing? Or as a 'new' detailer are they more likely to tell me how to do things and expect them done that way?



Anyone have any experience with having to explain to a senior employee/manager why you are doing things differently?
 
Hi! Defiantly just be ready to show you're stuff. I got a job recently at a car dealership for detailing and there wasn't too much of an interview, it was 'trial shifts' to show my stuff.
 
So far I've been learning the Garry Dean 'perfect wash' method. It seems to be my best shot at having them scratching their heads wondering how I can wash a car quickly without worrying about rinsing a sponge. I don't think they're expecting me to know how to correct paint so much, but I am teaching myself any ways. I'm confident that once I know and have studied my methods and reasoning inside and out (heh - being a student has paid off :P ) that I can impress them. What are the chances that a dealership will have MF towels in that quantity & approve of me employing Garry's method?



Speaking to a family friend who is close to the owner, it randomly came up that I had applied at the dealership and was hoping to work there this summer. Before that (how i found out about the job) I called an old hockey coach who works at the lot as well, and I guess he and the woman both put in good words for me around the same time.
 
Welcome to Autopia!



The biggest thing that can accelerate your career at a dealership is performing the work as quickly as possible with the least amount of come backs. This tends to come 2nd nature as time goes by. A low water wash method is certainly one (of many) things that can speed things up, but unfortunately the detailing product lines that dealers use don't offer products to perform these kinds of cleanings.
 
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