Looking for Advice/Feedback for a career with Ferrari NA or similar

Hello all!

My first post on FChat, despite spending many many hours on here researching, reading, and learning.

I hope this is the right place for a post like this...

Anyways, I am looking to move forward with my career with an engineer/management level position with either Ferrari North America, or something fairly similar, so I figured I'd come here for some advice/recommendations/assistance, and maybe even some constructive criticism. Any and all help from all you here would be greatly appreciated!

A little about me first...
I function as Team Manager & Race Engineer with an independent Ferrari service shop and track support team (I'm sure you can figure out where I work from context, but I feel it's irrelevant to name drop - bonus points if you can figure it out!). I've worked plenty of street cars, challenge cars, and even a few genuine race models. I primarily handle data acquisition/logging, and vehicle setup, among many other things, such as social media, travel logistics, event management, and shop/business affairs.

I proudly graduated in May of this year with a degree in Mechanical Engineer from Penn State (WE ARE...!). While at school, I was involved with the Formula SAE team, where I was Team President for two of the years. For most of my college summers, I worked where I do now, but more as a shop assistant/car detailer, rather than what I do now. I had an internship with General Motors for a summer, so I have some real industry experience as well. I studied Italian for three semesters at school, but I wouldn't claim to have any more than an elementary understanding of the language.

I have always LOVED Ferraris, even as a child, so any job in this field is really a dream come true. I currently work under someone who worked at FNA for over 12 years, and has had a *reasonable* amount of experience with dealerships and challenge teams. Now, don't get me wrong, I genuinely enjoy my current job, where it's located, and who I work with. It's an absolute honor to work for and with all of you out there, and I hope to one day own a few of these beautiful cars as well (I'm looking at you, 355, F40, and Scud 16M...). I would just like to explore all of my options, especially at my age (I'm 23).

Now, I feel that an engineering/management position with FNA would be mutually beneficial, perhaps with the Challenge series and/or Corse Clienti program. I have (what I feel) is an excellent education from one of the best engineering programs in the world, a wealth of hands-on experience with high-performance cars, racing vehicles, and project/event management, and an incredibly deep, strong passion for work on and with these vehicles. I am mechanically skilled, and do regularly work on the cars at work - however, I wouldn't go so far as classifying my self as a technician/mechanic. I have a wide range of skills and knowledge, but I'll keep it short here. I can provide a resume and cover letter if you ask nicely. I have a nice, broad list of references to use as well, from current clients, previous coworkers/bosses, and university faculty.

So far, I've both snail-mailed and emailed my resume and cover letter to the HR department at FNA, and spoken to someone over the phone there as well. I've gotten a (hand-signed) letter in return saying that my letters have been received and will be reviewed, so I think that's good! According to the nice lady I spoke on the telephone with, there is no sort of online application process whatsoever, so the only method of applying to FNA (Ferrari factory has an online application) for a position is by mailing/emailing my information in, like I did. I'm on LinkedIn, and have a fairly broad network of connections.

Now, is there anything else that I could do to better my chances? Anyone I should I try to contact? Anything I should try to learn or teach myself? Has anyone here worked with FNA or with Ferrari in Italy? Any similar companies? Am I asking the right questions?

Thanks in advance!

Greg

 

Bump. Any thoughts, anyone?

 

On second thought, I'm gonna move this to the "Jobs" sub-forum under "Business and Investments" - I imagine it will fit better there.

 

Yea, I've heard the same, that FNA only handles sales and whatnot - however, my resources and research tell me the the NA Challenge Series and Corse Clienti programs are at least organized and housed at FNA in Englewood Cliffs, NJ (Maria McNeil). Now, I'm not sure if FNA does hiring for these programs, or if those positions are actually organized by Maranello...I do feel that working with the NA Challenge Series and/or the Corse Clienti program would be an incredible fit for me!

I'm gonna plan to attend a Ferrari Challenge race this season and try to speak to the people who organize the series.

I am open to a position in Maranello as well (I've applied online), but I figured it would be best to start investigating positions closer to home. I'm working on my application to Haas F1, and I am certainly going to look into a position with Risi Comp.

Thanks!

 

I've thought the same at some points, wondering if I'm asking for too much too soon. - let me explain a little more

Obviously, I'm not looking to be hired in as the company president (ha!), and, frankly, I wouldn't even hope to start with a position with the word "management" even in it. That being said, I am looking to get into the company somewhere that would allow me to eventually move upwards into a management type position. I suppose any position within the company could eventually lead to management if I work hard enough and shake the correct hands, but I'd like to aim for the most effective starting point. I'd even be willing to "step down" into a position with them, relative to what I do now, but only with the justified hope that it could go up.

In short, I'm still very happy with what I do now, so I would only strongly consider a position with FNA if it really "fits" what I'm looking for and has the potential for upwards movement. I'm by no means "desperate" for a position with them, but I am certainly motivated.

 

Thanks! I'm gonna look more into sending my cover letter/resume to the President and other high-up positions via that method. Definitely a good way to get noticed!