Working at Ferrari

Question to you:

what are you MOST interested in. Ferrari is one of those companies where you could do "anything". What I mean is that you could be a cook in company cafeteria (They're currently building a brand new staff restaurant), or a truck driver or an accountant or you could even work in the areas you mentioned.

I would recommend that you pick a field where you are passionate and that you actually enjoy. Make sure it's withing Ferrari's core business areas so that you can work FOR Ferrari (as an employee) rather than AT Ferrari (as a contractor). Then get yourself focussed on being among the very best in the world in your field. A few solid achievements behind you in research or in another company will be the minimum ticket of entry even for just an interview.

Expertise in demand and in short supply (I mean qualified AND experienced) are AERODYNAMICS/CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) and FEA (Finite Element Anlysis). The supply and demand situation changes frequently so the trick is to pick an emerging feild and make yourself a recognised leader in the topic.

Keywords are FOCUS and HARD WORK, Ferrari gets hundresd of average CV's every year, they are (and can afford to be) extremely selective.

Good luck. I hope you achieve your goals...

 

Try to get a job there as an intern first. Everybody loves people working for them for free.

 

Learn how to speak Italian first.

 

let's see how this goes. bets?

 

You know, my wife knows someone who works at Ferrari. I believe he works in design or something--I don't recall. I do remember he was working somewhere here stateside and was offerred a job there. Once they interview you, you're pretty much in from what I understand (at least if you come from the US-travel etc).

Let me run some traps and see what I can find out. I probably should have done this earlier, it just slipped my mind. I'll come back to post whatever I find...

 

What do you want to do? Engineering?


Big difference between engineering and being a mechanic.


You might want to try working for Fiat first...learn Italian

 

strictly speaking, if you possess skills that are absolutely needed then they will hire you even if you don't speak Italian. I know of several Brits in the F1 team who didn't speak Italian when they were hired. These were people with lots of specialist experience in other teams. The non-Italian speakers are expected to attend (free) Italian classes. Even Michael Schumacher learnt Italian.

It's not where you studied that's important (there are plenty of numb-skulls with rich parents) rather it's what you know and what you've demonstrably achieved.

Getting in as an intern will be extremely tough unless you are studying at a University with links to Ferrari, but you could always write and ask them.

 

Italian companies work differently from us here in NA.

Personal connections and/or references play a bigger part than an interview. Many employees are often 'headhunted' and are personally picked to fill a position in the company.

They won't interview a hundred people from a pile of resumes, they know who is working where, and will try and bring them on.

Europeans are also known to employ more younger people than older, who are encouraged and given responsibility early on.

For example, our employees here are at an average age between 40-50 yrs old, when I have visited customers in Italy on many occasions, the majority of employees there are between 25-40 yrs old.

I think if you apprentice, or find a job in another automotive related business and become VERY good at what you do, then you may have a chance.

Ferrari is an international company, so speaking English and/or other languages is a bonus.

 

I speak not only Italian, but Spanish and French; have an Ivy League education as well as high-end sales experience in addition to world class business experience. I've traveled the world and know the European culture pretty well. Not to mention I have an Italian background. I've spent as much time in Italy as any American-born person has.

Unfortunately none of this seems to matter to people at Ferrari dealers.

I think most people who work at Ferrari dealers have a connection of some sort. Qualifications don't seem to matter a bit and certainly have gotten me nowhere.

Every time I have tried to get my foot in the door at a Ferrari dealer, they don't even bother to find out any of my credentials. They basically tell me to "come back" another time as soon as I present myself. And I'm not a bad looking guy either, I flatter myself to say. It has nothing to do with me: it has to do with their lack of desire to let anyone in who hasn't been given "permission."

It's a combination of plain rudeness and lack of real business sense. That these people won't even take a few minutes to have a brief chat about someone's credentials and background is plain stupid.

So, original poster -- GOOD LUCK.

And I say that sincerely. I can see you have real passion for Ferrari. I won't say I have more passion than everyone, but I will say I have just as much passion as the guy who has the most passion. I eat, speak, and breathe Ferrari -- I love the brand and the philosophy. This has caused me to want to be a part of the whole enterprise. Alas, the folks at Ferrari don't seem to care. I would just love to know how these folks at Ferrari get hired.

 

Yah I'm 43yr's old and have been trying to get in as an apprentice with Ferrari since I was 16yr's old it's tough. I came very close on two occasion's but for various reason's they did not hire me. I was willing to sweep the shop's etc etc whatever it would take to just be there, you should do the same.

I say just be VERY VERY persistent and since you are only 16yr's old consider taking an internship with them. You have a few year's left where you do not have to worry about paying bill's and such so an internship is perfect for you. I would also suggest learning as much about Ferrari and the car's as possible.

Keep at it and I wish you all the luck in the world,
Gregg

 

Hello Aviram,

I have been a lurker for a while and I would like to not only say Hi to all but throw in my .02 4-U.

Make sure you stay in school. As you are going to school stay connected to hi-end euro (Ferrari, Porsche, MB, Audi, Volvo etc) dealerships by cleaning cars, cleaning the shop working in the parts dept., keeping your nose clean and don't burn any bridges. Once you have completed your schooling, get a full time job at one of the above retailers as an apprentice. Try to find a retailer (dlr) that is connected (early warning repair shops) to the MFG/distributor. They usually have a good relation with the distributor / Mfg. and chase every mfg internal contest (without pissing off the dlr) and be the star infront of (not only) dlr mgmt, but with all the factory reps that visit the store. This create relationships while being productive to dlr and mfg. Remember (99.9%) the Car Dlrs ARE NOT the mfg- two different business units, sometimes with different mid-level goals.
Then ask to be sponsored to a specific job within the group you want, racing, factory rep, bus mgmt etc, PLANT THE SEED and wait patiently, It will happen.

Two other important traits: Passion and attitude has been working for me. Also stay positive and focused to your goals.

best of luck, now hit those books!

 

your time may be better spent on other opportunities.

 

I've heard some stories of people hired by Ferrari.
one of them was a guy who graduated at the university of Bologna with the best grades, he is an engineer.
one of his teachers knew someone inside the factory and when they were looking for someone with those qualities he suggested him.
the second is a girl who graduated in automotive engineering, the same thing i'm studying for...
but in this case i don't know if she knew someone inside the factory or not.
in any case, i think the first thing they look is experience, or the grades if you just graduated, and they have to be more than good.
I hope to have been useful and excuse me if i made some mistakes writing.

 

Ferrari of North America just started an apprentice program for technicians that graduate from a college or trade school. Will only accept peaple with perfect attendance and 3.5 or better grades while at their previous school. 3 months in USA and 3 months in Italy. Must be selected by a dealer and sponsored.

Keep in mind there are only 33 Ferrari Dealers in North America and 110 factory certified technicians in North America. There are alot of peaple claiming to be factory trained or certified but very few who actually are. I recommend introducing yourself to as many dealers as you can with a professional letter and meet them if you can. Take time out of vacations or trips to visit, call first.

Dealers get hundreds of appliacants but it really does take some exceptional skill to work on these low production cars and there is very little factory information. Most technicians new to Ferrari wash out very quickly as they just don't work out.

Best of luck.

 

"About being an internship, cleaning cars, parts, etc, it's not that simple from me. I'm from Israel for one thing, there is nothing over here that connects to Ferrari, but we've got Porsche and other hi-end euro dealerships, so I guess that's a good place to start."

might not help him much.