Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Applications, Interviews & Assessments

"The selection process is very tough, a phone screen then an interview with a recruiter. If successful, this is followed by a visit to a branch and then an interview with a manager. The final stage, if successful in the branch, is a full assessment day at our head office. The process is tough, but gives the candidate a real insight so they can be sure we are the career match for them, as well as us selecting the top candidates." -- Area Manager
"The interview process to get hired at Enterprise always has been, and still continues to be, very competitive with three interviews. Today it also includes an assessment centre as part of the process, where you compete head-to-head with the other candidates doing role plays and answering various interview questions. The questions are intended to reveal personality traits and behaviours, and the strengths and weaknesses of every candidate. I interviewed with a recruiter, Area and Branch Manager and a City Manager and I gave a minimum five year commitment to the City Manager, which I am very pleased to say I kept as I have now been here for nine years! The interview process is quite intense but this is required to ensure we get the best people onboard in our organisation." -- Assistant Financial Controller
"Phone interview, then if successful a branch visit, then an assessment day. Sometimes at assessment days we will take 4/10, other days 0/10. Don't get me wrong, if all 10 were quality we can take all 10. Assessment days are usually every three weeks or so." -- Area Manager
"Process is CV screen, phone interview, interview with HR, branch placement/interview with branch manager, and assessment day led by area managers." -- Group Rental Manager

"Everyone applies online at Enterprise – upon completion of the application, the first interview is with a recruiter. The second interview is with a branch manager – out at a location. This is a great opportunity to get a sense of what the job and the company are all about. The final stage is an assessment centre. We have been told that our AC is much more ‘casual’ than others. We are very open with information and are happy to answer any and all questions. We don't spend too much time ‘selling’ the role – it's important that candidates get the appropriate information in which to make a decision. It's no use if they only hear the positives – they need to hear about the reasons why people choose to leave the company." -- HR Manager
"Although there was an online application, phone interview, branch interview and assessment day, in comparison to other graduate recruitment processes that I experienced, it was not as academically challenging. The main focus was on sales, positive attitude and customer service." -- UK Implementation Manager
"Interviewing to join Enterprise has greatly changed over the last 15 years. Currently we ask for an application online, followed by a telephone interview. If you are successful here, you will be asked to a face to face interview with a recruiter. From here you have the opportunity to spend half a day in a rental branch to see hands on whether we are the career choice for you. Finally, you will attend an assessment day where practical skills will be tested, and you will interview with an Area Manager. I did not follow this path but have heard it can be quite gruelling – but we want the best people with a set skill set." -- Group Sales Manager

Tips & Advice for Graduates

"We like proactive employees who are prepared to come to work with questions, and look to better our environment and working practices." -- Damage Recovery Unit Manager
"Our company looks for outgoing graduates from any degree background. Candidates should be self motivated, independent, and have good people skills. Most starting positions in our company are within our branch network as a management trainee, so being able to work well with the public, and being hard working is essential." -- Strategic Account Manager
"Enterprise looks to hire enthusiastic, target driven, hard working, and customer focused employees. There is not an incredibly strong academic focus to the recruitment, it is more important to demonstrate a commitment to/examples of customer service and sales experience." -- UK Implementation Manager
"Definitely helps if you have previous sales background. We look to hire ambitious, intelligent, proactive and self-motivated people. Organisation, and sales ability definitely a bonus. We recruit from all universities, 98% of our full time employees have degrees, but this is not always essential" -- Group Rental Manager
"We look for flexible candidates with a great work ethic. Sales and customer service experience are a bonus but not essential. We want people who are prepared to work hard for a great career opportunity. If you enjoy variety and lots of interaction with people, this is a great opportunity." -- Area Manager
"Hungry, self motivated sales people who are looking to develop a career. If you don't like sales, don't apply." -- Business Rental Sales Manager

"Be yourself – and ask a lot of questions! We hire such a varied group of employees – we recruit at every university and we are an extremely diverse employer. We are more interested in what you did at university than in what you studied or what your result was." -- HR Manager
"Energetic people who show leadership and display charisma, we require a minimum level degree education. But it is without doubt that it is your personal characteristics that are the most important. People lead and change companies, not pieces of paper." – Head of Sales
"The company is looking for outgoing and fun employees. We are looking for candidates that are strong sales people and deliver great customer service." -- Remarketing Manager
"We look for candidates that have a strong work ethic, competitive nature, are self driven, and have a hunger to progress. We are looking for people that are not afraid of hard work and are looking to be challenged and grow with the company. We want people that have strong communication and interpersonal skills as there is a great deal of interaction with customers, colleagues and external parties (i.e. vendors, accounts, etc.). A positive person with a 'yes’ mentality and strong customer service skills will go far in our company." -- Assistant Financial Controller
"Enthusiasm, common sense, people skills, communication, good work ethic, sales experience preferred." -- Area Manager
"Ambitious self starters with an outstanding work ethic and positive attitude." -- Area Manager

What made you choose your firm?

"I started with the company temping and really loved the environment, the energy, and the people." -- Vehicle Acquisitions Manager
"The person that interviewed me had gone through the same graduate programme that I was applying for – I could see how he had progressed through the company and he was still really passionate and enthusiastic – it was the same when I visited the branch." -- Strategic Account Manager
"The prospects for the future and the hire from within culture. If I work hard I am rewarded." -- Remarketing Manager
"At the time there were very few management trainee ‘roles’ available if I am honest. But I was drawn to the philosophies of Enterprise. Although at the time relatively small in the UK compared to where we are now, there was enough information about the US to give an indication of the type of company they were. I was drawn to the idea that I could be rewarded by hard work, not just how long I happened to have worked there. I also liked the opportunities available to move from daily rental into more specific fields and learn more skills. There is a great team spirit in the company and you can relate to that having just left university, so it feels quite dynamic. Finally, I am greedy when it comes to money and saw a way to be able to personally impact my wage – oh and as mentioned I am a car geek!!!" -- Group Sales Manager
"The ability to get in at entry level and work my way up, while being rewarded well for my work. It’s a fast paced environment and I like that. The opportunity for promotion is always there." -- Area Manager
"When researching the company I wanted the opportunity to progress quickly, be rewarded and recognised for my efforts, as well as offer me opportunity to progress as a female in management, all of which Enterprise has lived up to and more." -- HR Manager

"I’m never bored, I never look at my watch, every day is different, very wide spectrum of responsibilities and duties, work with fun people, rewarding." -- Area Manager
"I chose Enterprise because they were a growing company with a stable financial background. I felt that they would be able to offer me opportunities in Europe in the future, and I was attracted by the fact that my pay and promotion opportunities would be based on performance." -- Strategic Account Manager
"I chose Enterprise because I saw that I would have an opportunity to progress based on merit, and I could see that I would have a bright future here. I felt that with hard work, loyalty and commitment, opportunities would come my way and they did! I saw an opportunity for me to have a challenging career where I would be well compensated working with people that I like. When I was interviewing, I could see Enterprise was a very successful company with a great deal of future potential and I wanted to be a part of it. I am so happy with the decision I made nine years ago and I have never looked back!" -- Assistant Financial Controller
"Progression, salary at higher management levels, a huge company still privately owned." -- Area Manager
"When I graduated I was not sure what I wanted to specialise in. It seemed like a huge step to make that decision then. Enterprise offered a role where I would daily have a varied role, and training in numerous fields. I thought that I could make my decision later on where I wanted to specialise. Which I did!" -- Strategic Account Manager
"Opportunity. I received a good degree qualification and chose Enterprise over two more established blue chip companies due to the promotional opportunities." -- Vehicle Acquisitions Manager

Internships & Placements

"Enterprise Rent-A-Car offers internships for the summer, and year-long placements and they exactly replicate our training programme – you are not treated any differently to a regular employee – you won't be filing and making coffee. It's a great opportunity to try before you buy!" -- Strategic Account Manager
"The intern scheme has been very successful and some of our top employees have started this way. It is a great scheme where they are treated just like a new hire despite the fact they will initially only be with us for 12 months. If they are good and want the career opportunities they come back as a graduate, but already a few rungs up the ladder." -- Area Manager
"Enterprise does offer summer internships and I think it is a great opportunity to ‘get your foot in the door’ so to speak. It is a great way to get to know more about the company and see the operations first hand. A summer internship will give a taste of what life at Enterprise is like, and the kind of future you can have." -- Assistant Financial Controller
"We offer three month and 12 month internships. Graduates are not at a disadvantage if they have not had an internship at Enterprise. Interns at Enterprise go on the same program as graduates and we treat them no differently. If they are successful in their internship, we guarantee them a job when they finish university." -- Area Manager
"We work closely with universities and we are flexible with the schemes we can offer. Many former interns have returned to a successful career." -- Area Manager
"We offer both a 12 weeks summer sales and service placement, along with a 12-month full placement. We feel they are vital. If doing 12 months, they can hopefully complete their training manual before heading back. This gives them a head start after graduating as a management assistant. This gives them the opportunity to be eligible for promotion to assistant manager within the first couple of months after graduation. This was not available when I joined the company, but has proved incredibly successful. It gives a taster of Enterprise life before graduating, and a very high percentage of these people come back to us. They will be working with like minded people who often enjoy the same socialising aspects of life, and therefore make firm friends and house mates along the way." -- Group Sales Manager

"We do offer all kinds of internships. It's really important to have work experience to work at Enterprise, so an internship (either here or somewhere else) is a great opportunity to get that. Interns do exactly the same thing as our trainees – they are learning all aspects of the business. The majority of our interns return to us after graduating – which says a lot. The time that they spend as an intern counts towards completing their management training programme. It's not unusual for an intern to join as a graduate and spend only a couple of months as a trainee and then be promoted." -- HR Manager
"We do offer both summer positions and internships. Not essential, but it’s a great way to get a good flavour of what we do and what you can expect from us. Last summer we posted three-month internship positions. The key roles were to book reservations over the phone, serve customers, and sell our value added products to them. The interns are part of our sales force, and as such are included in bonuses for top sales performance, entry into our achievers club, as well as a separate competition run just for interns. The hours are 8am – 6pm and it is expected of you to work longer than this if necessary. Quite long hours, but the day is varied and goes quickly!" -- Group Rental Manager
"Interns are vital to our overall success as a business as it provides energy to our business, and quite often we will surprise a few people who didn't expect to be renting cars." – Head of Sales
"We offer three and 12 months internships. They are treated exactly the same as a normal full time employee, with regards to bonuses, pay and promotion. We want them to come back after they have finished, so they are very important for us." -- Area Manager
"We offer both. They are not tied to getting employment with us but if you do well you will be invited back." -- Area Manager
"The feedback I have from people who have taken part in them is that they are a great way for you to find out if you like the job/company or not, with no long term commitment required. As an employer it is so much more reassuring to hire someone who has experience in the company. They know that you can and have performed well, compared to someone with no experience of the company where fundamentally they have to take a risk." -- Strategic Account Manager