PERSONNEL FILEs

Personnel Files By Jason Gearld

Hey J, How Do I Get Into The Industry? Follow These 486 Simple Rules

It’s a question I’ve been asked countless times since moving to California 21 short years ago and found myself living a lot of people’s dream job(s). People want to know how they go about working in our rad little industry as well. Of course there is no hard and fast rule, but I am happy to share my opinion on how to go about getting here.

Asking how to get in the industry normally results in me asking several questions back. Questions like “What is it that you want to do in the motorcycle industry?” If just being around motorcycles and talking about them all day is good enough, then get to your local dealer and apply to the sales or parts department. They need someone that has that kind of passion and enthusiasm working in there.

Or if the answer is working for an OEM or doing marketing for Fly Racing, then my reply is likely still the same. Get a job at your local dealer. Why? Regardless of what position you want in this industry, I believe it’s nice to have experience at every level of the industry, starting on the front lines in a local dealership.

If you work in construction, medical, pet care or refrigerator repair, you likely have have friends that do the same. Yeah, I’m talking about networking. This industry is more of the same. A lot of us have been working in the motorcycle industry so long that we forget to refer to it as the “powersports” industry now. Sorry, it’s a force of habit. Because we have been here so long, all of our connections are within the industry, too. What I mean by this is connecting with others that already work in the industry might be your best chance to open the door to land a job elsewhere.

When opportunity comes a knockin’, you want to be the one on the forefront of someone’s mind. As someone recently told me, “it’s not who you know, it’s who knows you.”

Here is a likely example of how things could go. You cruise down to your local shop and get a job working in the parts and accessories department. You learn the ropes and are happy to be selling carb parts and helping to properly fit customers with a new lid. Every couple of weeks the outside road rep for your favorite distributor shows up to count batteries and spark plugs. The rep sees your knowledge continue to grow. Inevitably you develop a nice friendship.

One day the rep hears that another nearby territory will become available and the distributor will be looking for a new rep. Thanks to your friend, she happily throws your name in the hat and vouches for your work ethic. Let’s say for this example that you land the gig. I could easily go on and this story would lead to regional sales manager followed by national sales manager and maybe even VP. Or maybe it goes from outside sales rep to marketing. Who knows?

That part of the story is up to you. But hopefully you could see how easily just getting your foot in the door combined with a good attitude and work ethic could take you to where you want to be. I have seen this story lots of times play out in 20 years. Need examples? I have plenty.

I had a conversation last night with a guy that is currently sitting on the couch and contemplating accepting a position that is paying way less than he expects of himself. My advice, right or wrong, is to take the job and do good work for his new employer. By being out there on the front lines and connecting with people, he’s far more likely to hear about a position better suited for him than he would be while sitting on the couch watching Donahue. It’s still on, right? Maybe Days of Our Lives then? Being more relevant than my TV references is key. Again, it’s not just who you know, it’s who knows you.

You have to be willing to connect with people and let them know you are interested in working within the industry. People won’t naturally assume you would jump at the chance to do an entry-level job working at their employer unless they know you’d love the opportunity. Let friends know you are looking and they will let you know when something good is coming.

Know who is who within the industry. If you are at an event and standing next to Danny Massie and having a great conversation about motorcycle oil, would you know who that is? You say your goodbyes and walk away leaving are really wanting to work in the powersports industry,

a great impression. But if you don’t realize that Danny is the President of Maxima Racing Oils, you may have just missed out on a great opportunity to get a job working for a killer company that was right in front of your eyes.

This part will sound like I’m saying it merely because I’m writing it for Dealernews but that is only partially true. When I worked in a store many moons ago, I used to sit in the break room reading the analog version of Dealernews during my lunch. I’d see the faces and names of people still can easily become just a job if you let it. We all tend

that worked in the industry. I took note of them.

When the industry trade show would show up to Indy each February, I would see these people walking the halls and in their booths. I knew who they were, what they did and maybe some recent anecdote thanks to a picture and with them and have a little something in my back pocket to discuss. The Indy trade show is long gone but these days the AIMExpo is presenting that same opportunity. The common theme with all of these stories is based around networking. Your resume is a nice piece of paper with all of your embellished accomplishments and it might catch an HR person’s eye. It might. It might not. If you you are going to have to do some legwork. Get to events, connect with people, get a job at a dealer, cut your teeth, connect with more people, and see the opportunities as they come.

Working in the powersports is awesome. However, it caption in Dealernews. I was able to spark up conversation

to wear a lot of hats, have somewhat ambiguous titles and don’t make the money the ‘real’ world does. If you embrace that is part of the charm of what we do then you’ll be fine.

For me, the fun outweighs any of those downsides. Maybe it’s because I’m constantly being asked “Hey J, how do I get in the motorcycle industry” that I’m reminded just how cool my job is. Er, I mean… my life is.

MIJ Industry #PROfiles

Dealernews is honored to work with Motorcycle Industry Jobs to recognize the people who make up this great industry. “When you start reading the Industry #PROfles, you will notice that 80-90% of them get their start at a motorcycle dealership,” says MIJ founder Alex Baylon. “The dealers are on the front lines and have always been the heart and soul of the industry. Without motorcycle dealerships, most of us wouldn’t be where we are today, so part of our message is always going to be ‘support your local motorcycle shop.’”

In addition to recognizing industry pros, Dealernews is also working with MIJ to create a job ticker tape of the latest positions opening in the industry at the Dealernews.com site. Check it out at: www.dealernews.com/Industry-Jobs

“Tell us your story,” adds Baylon. “We would love to feature you! Click here to fill out the questionnaire:

www.motorcycleindustryjobs.com/industry-profiles/

MotorcycleIndustryJobs.com founder Alex Baylon has been hiring and firing people in the powersports industry for 25 years.

Currently with a major distributor, he has also been with Dragon Alliance, Ceet Racing, MX GP Services in Europe, Acerbis USA, Motonation/Sidi Boots and Scott USA. He started MIJ as he saw a need in the industry for people who are passionate about the motorcycle industry to have an employment outlet. The motorcycle industry like many others has always recycled employees from one company to another and it has always been done by word of mouth. MIJ allows companies in the industry to post their openings and give others in and out of the industry a chance to apply and insert new blood and fresh ideas in the many opportunities in the motorcycle industry.