A Step-by-Step Guide for Automotive Professionals
Your CV is your first impression — and in the automotive industry, hiring managers often decide within 20–30 seconds whether to shortlist you.
At Car Dealer Recruitment, we review thousands of CVs for sales, service, bodyshop and management roles across UK dealerships. This guide shows you how to write the perfect car dealer CV, what employers really look for, and provides a professional CV template designed specifically for the motor trade.
Why Your CV Matters in Car Dealership Recruitment
Car dealerships are performance-driven environments. A strong CV must quickly answer three questions:
- Can you do the job?
- Have you delivered results?
- Will you fit into a fast-paced dealership?
Generic CVs fail because they don’t highlight numbers, targets, or automotive experience clearly enough.
What Car Dealerships Look for on a CV
Recruiters and Dealer Principals want to see:
- Proven sales or management performance
- Stability and career progression
- Knowledge of finance, EVs, and compliance
- Strong customer service results
- Clear presentation and professionalism
Your CV should be concise, factual, and results-focused.
Key Rules for Writing a Perfect Automotive CV
1. Keep It to 2 Pages
Unless you are applying for a senior leadership role, two pages is ideal. Long CVs often go unread.
2. Use Clear Automotive Job Titles
Avoid vague descriptions. Be specific:
- Sales Executive (New & Used)
- Business Manager
- Sales Controller
- Aftersales Manager
- Bodyshop Estimator
3. Include Numbers and Achievements
Statements like “good performer” are meaningless without data.
Use:
- Monthly unit averages
- Finance penetration %
- CSI scores
- Team performance improvements
- Awards or manufacturer recognition
How to Structure Your Car Dealer CV
1. Coloured Header (To Stand Out)
A coloured header at the top immediately makes your CV more engaging and professional. Use a dark blue, charcoal, or manufacturer-neutral colour.
Include:
- Your name
- Job title
- Contact details
- Professional photo
✅ Dealerships prefer a clean, modern CV that looks confident and well-presented.
Perfect Car Dealer CV Template (With Photo & Colour Header)
Below is a CV template layout you can copy into Word or Google Docs.
🔵 COLOURED HEADER SECTION (FULL WIDTH)
[YOUR FULL NAME]
Sales Executive | Business Manager | Aftersales Professional
📞 Phone:
📧 Email:
📍 Location:
🔗 LinkedIn (optional)
🖼 [Professional Photo Placeholder – Top Right]
PERSONAL PROFILE
Experienced automotive professional with a proven track record in [new/used car sales / finance / aftersales]. Consistently achieving and exceeding targets, with strong customer service results and a professional approach to dealership standards and compliance.
KEY SKILLS & STRENGTHS
- New & Used Vehicle Sales
- Finance & Insurance (FCA compliant)
- EV Sales Knowledge
- Customer Objection Handling
- CRM & Digital Lead Management
- CSI & Customer Reviews
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Sales Executive – XYZ Motors (Franchised Dealer)
MM/YYYY – Present
- Averaged 12–15 units per month (new & used)
- Achieved 45% finance penetration
- Consistently ranked top 3 in dealership league table
- Maintained 95%+ customer satisfaction score
Previous Role – Dealership Name
MM/YYYY – MM/YYYY
- Brief bullet points focusing on results
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
- Manufacturer Sales Award – 2023
- Top Finance Performer Q2 & Q4
- Increased used car conversion by 20%
TRAINING & QUALIFICATIONS
- FCA Compliance Training
- Manufacturer Accreditation
- EV Sales Training
REFERENCES
Available upon request
Should You Include a Photo on a Car Dealer CV?
Yes — in the automotive industry, a professional photo is acceptable and often preferred, especially for customer-facing roles.
✔ Neutral background
✔ Smart business attire
✔ Friendly, professional expression
✘ No selfies or casual photos
Common CV Mistakes We See (And Reject)
- No performance figures
- Too much text, not enough results
- Poor formatting or spelling errors
- Missing employment dates
- Generic CVs sent to every dealership
Final Recruiter Tips to Get Interviewed Faster
✔ Tailor your CV to the role
✔ Update figures regularly
✔ Keep formatting clean
✔ Be honest — dealerships verify performance
✔ Send your CV as a PDF
Need Help With Your Automotive CV?
At cardealerrecruitment.co.uk, we help candidates:
- Improve CVs for dealership roles
- Prepare for interviews
- Access exclusive UK automotive vacancies
If you want your CV reviewed by a specialist car dealer recruiter, contact us today.