Don’t Quit Your Dealership Job Without Another Job
If you’ve spent much time in automotive retail, you know how quickly a bad day can turn into an “I’m done” day.
Maybe there’s a disagreement with the dealer. Maybe the pay plan changed, a bonus didn’t turn out the way you expected, or you feel like you’re being second-guessed after delivering results. In a dealership environment, where personalities can be strong and emotions can run high, things can get heated pretty quickly.
And most professionals in automotive aren’t exactly known for being wallflowers.
We’ve seen very successful automotive retail executives get angry over a compensation issue or disagreement, decide they’ve had enough, and resign before they’ve really thought through what comes next.
In the moment, walking out can feel pretty good. The problem is what happens the next morning. You may still be angry, but now you’re angry without a job (and looking for one).
Unless there is a compelling reason to leave immediately, our advice to dealership executives is pretty simple: Find your next job before you quit your current one.
Give It a Little Time Before You Walk Away
You may have very legitimate reasons for leaving your dealership. But you don’t necessarily have to resign today to take those reasons seriously.
Take a breath. Sleep on it. Have the conversation you’ve been avoiding. Give yourself enough time to decide whether the problem can be fixed or whether you truly need to make a change.
Sometimes a confrontation actually clears the air and improves the relationship. Other times, a few days of reflection confirm what you already suspected: it’s time to go.
Either outcome is better than making a major career decision when you’re furious.
And if you’ve spent 10, 15 or 20 years building a stable career with an organization, remember that stability has real value.
Let Your Current Dealership Job Help You Find the Next One
There is nothing wrong with deciding you’re ready for something different while continuing to do your current job well.
Update your resume. Talk discreetly with an automotive executive recruiter. Reconnect with dealers and industry contacts you trust. Start paying attention to dealership General Manager opportunities that might actually be a better fit.
More importantly, figure out what you want next. Do you want a larger store? More autonomy? A different brand? A better relationship with ownership? A clearer compensation plan? A path to a Group President or COO role? Would you consider relocation for the right dealer group?
Those questions are much easier to answer when you aren’t under pressure to accept the first reasonable opportunity that comes along.
Keep doing your job. Keep the search confidential. And let your current position buy you something extremely valuable: Time.
Having a Job Gives You Room to Be Picky
This is one of the biggest reasons we encourage people to stay employed while they look, when possible.
You can turn down an opportunity that isn’t quite right. You can dig into the pay plan, ask more questions about the dealer and the store, meet with ownership more than once, and take the time to decide whether it’s really a better fit.
And for many successful General Managers, money isn’t necessarily what creates the urgency. They simply aren’t wired to sit still. After a while, they get bored, start feeling like they’re losing their mojo and want to get back in the game. That urgency can affect your judgment just as much as needing a paycheck.
One Rushed Decision Can Lead to Another
We recently talked with a very strong automotive General Manager who is a great example.
He had spent 16 years with one organization, building his career and exactly the kind of stability dealer groups like to see. Then he left and, over roughly the next two years, made four job changes.
He could explain the reasons for the moves. But the root of the problem was that once he left that 16-year position, he started making decisions too quickly.
When one job wasn’t right, he was back in the market again, feeling even more urgency to find the next one. One rushed decision can lead to another, and suddenly the story your resume tells has changed.
Unfortunately, a resume doesn’t get to explain itself. A dealer looking at his background now sees four jobs in two years. The 16 years of stability are still there. But they’re no longer the first thing someone notices.
Know What You’re Moving Toward, Not Just What You’re Leaving
“I can’t work for this guy anymore” may be completely understandable. It just isn’t a career strategy.
Before leaving a dealership leadership position, get specific about what needs to be different in the next one. Is it compensation? Autonomy? The relationship with the dealer? Resources? Expectations? Store performance? The franchise? Geography? Long-term opportunity?
And be honest about what’s good where you are today. Maybe you have a strong management team. Maybe ownership gives you more freedom than you realize. Maybe you’ve built relationships with employees and customers over many years. Maybe your income would be harder to replicate than you think.
It means you should understand exactly what you’re giving up and exactly what you’re trying to gain.
The Goal Isn’t to Get Out. It’s to Get the Next Move Right.
If you’ve spent years building a reputation and a stable career in automotive retail, protect it. Take a breath. Have the difficult conversation. Then, if you still know it’s time to leave, start looking. Be selective. Ask good questions. Give yourself the luxury of saying no.
Time gives you discernment. And discernment helps you make sure the job you’re running toward is actually better than the one you want to run away from.
You can still enjoy the imaginary mic drop on the drive home. Just show up at the dealership tomorrow.
If you’re considering your next move in automotive retail, connect with Malo + Conner. We help dealership leaders explore the right opportunities discreetly and strategically.