James Andrew Southam
Nelson,BC
Summary
Enthusiastic individual with superior skills in working in both team-based and independent capacities. Bringing strong work ethic and excellent organizational skills to any setting. With strengths in sales, customer service and communication, inventory management, appointment setting and customer follow ups. Friendly, knowledgeable and hard-working team player with proven success in exceeding sales objectives and securing repeat patronage. Excited to begin new challenge with a successful team.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Automotive Service Advisor
Nelson Ford Sales
Nelson, British Columbia
04.2022 - Current
- Used service skills and technical knowledge to ascertain issues and provide swift, successful resolutions.
- Greeted customers, identified their needs and provided advice on automotive services.
- Collaborated closely with colleagues across departments such as sales, finance and accounting.
- Exceeded monthly sales targets consistently
- Scheduled service appointments for customers
- Scheduling the workshop loading daily and adjusting as necessary
- Carried out Warranty administration and warranty claims processing
General Store & Liquor Store Supervisor
Panorama Mountain Resort
Panorama, BC
06.2020 - 12.2021
- Assisted customers each day with store products and resort questions.
- Responsible for keeping stock levels in the store correct and ordering from vendors to restock the store and liquor store
- Cash handling and cash outs performed at the end of each day
- Responsible for training new staff
- Ensuring all Covid-19 protocols were followed by staff and customers alike.
- Opening and closing of the store
- Assisting with scheduling staff
- Kept social media accounts updated with information and offers from the store
- Reordered inventory when supplies dropped below predetermined levels.
- Managed inventory tracking and physical inventory counts to minimize loss.
- Balanced sales, reconciled cash and made bank deposits to facilitate opening and closing duties.
Vehicle Maintenance Workshop Assistant
SilverStar Mountain Resort
Vernon, British Columbia
11.2019 - 03.2020
- Working a ski season living at the mid mountain village my responsibilities were general check overs and preventative maintenance of Pisten Bulley Snow Cats and the fleet of light vehicles, heavy loaders and small generators, tractors and ATV's.
- As well as snow removal around the workshop and general workshop maintenance.
Light Vehicle Auto Electrician / Workshop Advisor
Site Fleet Services
Newman, Western Australia
11.2018 - 11.2019
- This job was a FIFO role working in the remote town of Newman Western Australia.
- Working on a 2/1 roster with 12 hour days.
- Performed on site service at various mine sites including FMG, Rio Tinto and BHP
- All types of vehicles worked on from Light Ute's to heavy mining equipment including but not limited to cranes, excavators, skid steers, loaders, light passenger buses, small generators and electric golf carts.
- Moved from the workshop into a front of house service advisor role and assistant work shop supervisor after 6 months.
- Liaised with clients on their service needs and entered in to booking system.
- Liaised with parts department to advise of bookings and parts required.
- Assisted in day to day running of the workshop and delegated the days jobs to each technician as well as organizing felid service and breakdown requirements.
Service Advisor
Auto Classic BMW
Perth, Western Australia
06.2018 - 10.2018
- Took a service advisor role to gain more experience and expand my skill set, also bringing closer to a technical role where I could use my experience as a Master Technician as well as my sales and customer skills.
- Recommended additional, useful services to customers, which helped to increase overall sales.
- Welcomed incoming individuals and ascertained needs by asking open-ended questions.
- Explained amount for expected services and provided detailed answers to customer questions.
- Built client rapport while accurately processing repair documentation and troubleshooting technical discrepancies through completion.
- Informed customers about billing procedures, processed payments and provided payment option setup assistance.
Assistant Sales Manager
Wangara Kia and Suzuki
Wangara, Western Australia
05.2017 - 12.2017
- Returned to my previous dealership as I was approached to become assistant sales manager, assisting a team of other sales people as well as aftersales and finance colleagues.
- Liaising with other departments and business's to ensure clients vehicles were ready to be collected on time and everything was how they ordered it.
- Oversaw inventory purchases and sales contracts to keep records current and compliant.
- Helped sales professionals finalize customer sales and handled escalated concerns.
- Taught new associates sales tactics and performance improvement techniques.
- Promoted exceptional levels of customer service by asking open-ended questions and assisting clients on sales floor.
New BMW Sales Executive
Westcoast BMW
Wangara, Western Australia
10.2016 - 02.2017
- An opportunity came up to join a exciting and growing BMW dealership. With my wealth of BMW knowledge I was very excited to join the team here and gain valuable experience selling luxury vehicles.
- Provided excellent service and attention to customers when face-to-face or through phone conversations.
- Recognized by management for providing exceptional customer service.
- Improved operations by working with team members and customers to find workable solutions.
- Organized customer appointments in and out of the dealership via phone and email.
- Ensured all vehicles were clean and well presented and ready for test drive appointments
- Followed up with all clients within 24 hours of vehicle collection, and again within the week, and every 3 months there after.
- Attended product training courses to keep my product knowledge up to date
New Vehicle Sales Consultant
Wangara Kia and Suzuki
Wangara, Western Australia
06.2015 - 10.2016
- I made a decision to take a career change and challenge myself after 15 years of being a mechanic and started a traineeship as a New Vehicle Sales Person at Wangara Kia and Suzuki.
- Relished the new challenge and consistently hit targets and won sales person awards.
- Recommended vehicles and products based on customer needs and desires.
- Educated customers on product and service offerings.
- Met or exceeded upselling, targets on consistent basis by leveraging excellent communication and interpersonal strengths.
- Demonstrated products to customers, discussed features and redirected objections to capture sales.
- Readied merchandise for sales floor by marking items with identifying codes and accurate pricing.
- Performed floor moves, merchandising, display maintenance and housekeeping to keep sales areas well-stocked, organized and current.
- Provided excellent service and attention to customers when face-to-face or through phone conversations.
BMW Master Technician
Auto Classic BMW
Perth, Western Australia
05.2008 - 06.2015
- Gained Master Technician status and sponsorship for Australian residency that led to me becoming a Australian Citizen in 2014.
- Earned reputation for good attendance and hard work.
BMW Senior Technician
Lloyd BMW Colne
Colne, United Kingdom
02.2003 - 02.2008
- Joined Lloyd BMW and completed my apprenticeship
- Worked my way from Service Technician to BMW Senior technician and was one of the youngest in the country to achieve Senior status
- Went to several BMW training courses per year to keep my product knowledge up to date
- Troubleshot, diagnosed and repaired various CAN BUS systems
- Diagnosed mechanical problems and determined solutions to correct concerns.
- Communicated advanced mechanical information to non-mechanical people in easy-to-understand terms.
- Detected refrigerant leaks using special instruments.
- Completed simple and advanced repairs according to specifications for systems such as brakes, exhaust and electrical.
- Performed maintenance inspections, tune-ups, oil changes and other key services.
- Performed customer work and warranty repairs in compliance with manufacturer standards.
Apprentice Auto Electrician/Mechanic
Sabden Service Station
Sabden, United Kingdom
06.2000 - 06.2002
- Learned and followed correct safety procedures for all areas.
- Performed wiring tests and removed faulty components.
- Completed basic and intermediate repairs under oversight of senior electricians.
- Read and understood diagrams, manuals and schematics.
- Performed maintenance inspections, tune-ups, oil changes and other key services.
- Completed simple and advanced repairs according to specifications for systems such as brakes, exhaust and electrical.
- Conducted inspections and tests to verify safety and compliance with emissions limits.
Education
Western Australian Repairers License -
IMA
2015
Hybrid Vehicle Certification -
BMW
2013
BMW Master Technician passed in -
BMW
Melbourne2012
Automotive Airconditioning License -
AMA
Perth2012
Basic First Aid, St Johns Ambulance -
St Johns Ambulance
Perth2011
BMW Senior Technician -
BMW
United Kingdom2007
NVQ Level 2 Auto Electrics / Vehicle Mechanic -
Training 2000
United Kingdom2005
Sales Persons License -
Department Of Commerce WA
Western Australia2015
High School Diploma -
Ivy Bank High School
Burnley, United Kingdom06.2000
Skills
- Negotiations
- Customer service
- Listening skills
- Team player mentality
- Communication and presentation
- Sales process
- Complaint resolution
- Inventory management
- Organization
- Relationship development
- Vehicle Maintenance
- Scheduling
Interests
- Travel ( I hold 3 passports, UK, Australian and Canadian ) and have travelled to various countries
- Golf
- Snowboarding
- Music ( live and attempting to play guitar badly )
- Nature
- Photography
- Hiking
References
References
References available upon request
Timeline
Automotive Service Advisor
Nelson Ford Sales
04.2022 - Current
General Store & Liquor Store Supervisor
Panorama Mountain Resort
06.2020 - 12.2021
Vehicle Maintenance Workshop Assistant
SilverStar Mountain Resort
11.2019 - 03.2020
Light Vehicle Auto Electrician / Workshop Advisor
Site Fleet Services
11.2018 - 11.2019
Service Advisor
Auto Classic BMW
06.2018 - 10.2018
Assistant Sales Manager
Wangara Kia and Suzuki
05.2017 - 12.2017
New BMW Sales Executive
Westcoast BMW
10.2016 - 02.2017
New Vehicle Sales Consultant
Wangara Kia and Suzuki
06.2015 - 10.2016
BMW Master Technician
Auto Classic BMW
05.2008 - 06.2015
BMW Senior Technician
Lloyd BMW Colne
02.2003 - 02.2008
Apprentice Auto Electrician/Mechanic
Sabden Service Station
06.2000 - 06.2002
Western Australian Repairers License -
IMA
Hybrid Vehicle Certification -
BMW
BMW Master Technician passed in -
BMW
Automotive Airconditioning License -
AMA
Basic First Aid, St Johns Ambulance -
St Johns Ambulance
BMW Senior Technician -
BMW
NVQ Level 2 Auto Electrics / Vehicle Mechanic -
Training 2000
Sales Persons License -
Department Of Commerce WA
High School Diploma -
Ivy Bank High School