I’ve never known exactly what it is I’ve wanted to do in life. Doctor, dentist, barrister, acrobat, singer, writer, shop manager, cruise director. They were all considerations and the list really does go on. I think that people are expected to make decisions at a very young age and I am no exception to the rule. But at the age of 21 I still didn’t have a clue.
I didn’t really do much with my first year at the University of Lincoln and was really concerned about my prospects after university life. I decided that I wanted to study a History BA; I don’t know why, it just seemed like a good idea.
In my second year, I realised that employers wanted something with a little substance in the old CV. Having a degree, a part time job and/or some voluntary work just wasn’t enough anymore. I got involved with an organisation called Enactus, which is a global movement of students empowering those in need through entrepreneurial action. Just being a part of a university society wasn’t good enough. I worked really hard with my team and we created projects that empowered peoples’ lives and as such I set myself aside from other students. I proved that I understood people and business.
Through Enactus and the Enterprise department at my university I was invited to go to loads of networking events. I met Marco Bardino, a talent acquisition manager from Enterprise Rent-A-Car who saw potential in Enactus Lincoln and the team I led. I noticed there was a massive trend of people doing something called ‘internships’. Like the many other students I researched internships thoroughly and realised that Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s was perfect. I was initially worried as I wasn’t a business student, but if you’re hard-working, determined to succeed and have big ambitions, Enterprise is the company for you, and you are the person for Enterprise.
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Having applied for a three-month Summer Internship with the company I was invited for the interview and after a few stages, I was successful. Only a few days after I got the job I found out that due to a change in my personal circumstances I had to go back home for the summer. I was really worried that after all this hard work it would be over before it started. I called the Human Resources team, explained my circumstances and they confirmed it would be fine to move my internship over to a different branch instead. I was so happy! I couldn’t believe that such a huge company could cater for needs as niche as this.
I knew my internship would be hard work, and I was right. Every single day of my three months allowed me to learn new things and develop myself. I’ve never known a company to care about customers as much as Enterprise. In my first week with the company I was given four customer accounts to look after and placed in charge of customer service. I was so impressed by how much responsibility I was given to shape the business. I was given the skills to create and enhance relationships between the business and our customers. The skills I learned from my manager, assistant manager and my fellow team members were truly skills for life.
I’ve always wanted to work for a company that cares about my welfare and personal development. I’ve worked for several companies out there that will employ people and then push them into positions that are totally irrelevant to their skills, but Enterprise acknowledged my previous experience and placed me into a role that was effective for the business and empowering to me.
I could sit here and talk about Enterprise all day long, but I don’t want to give too much away. Eight months after my first day and I am now working for the company part time, while I finish my degree, and I am STILL learning new things every day. So if you have any questions at all please feel free to get in touch with me or anyone in the company. Enterprise Rent-A-Car has an award-winning graduate management training scheme and they are always looking for the finest future leaders!