As part of my course at University, I had to participate in a 12-month work placement. At this point, I was unsure as to what direction I wanted my career to go and therefore I was finding it difficult to find a placement which appealed to me. I first heard about the Enterprise Rent-A-Car placement at a careers-fair, and it really stood out to me due to the diversity of the role, the career progression and the experience on offer.

The application process was very simple and the management team were completely honest at every stage of the process with their answers. The fact that you have a branch visit as part of the interview process is great, as you can make sure that Enterprise is somewhere where you would like to work.

As a placement student, I was expecting to be treated differently to graduates or other full-time employees, however from your very first day you are the face of Enterprise just like everyone else! The skills which you learn and develop throughout your placement are ones which you can carry with you throughout the rest of your career. These include sales, marketing, HR, accounting and customer service, to name a few.

READ: Enterprise ranked second among top placement employers

One of the best aspects of the placement scheme is the 12 month training file which you receive. This consists of four stages which if you complete within the year, provides you with the opportunity to be promoted and potentially return as a Management Assistant. At Enterprise, every employee has to start as a Management Trainee and progress upwards from that point, so there are always people available to give you advice and training throughout your time at the company.  Although you do have to work hard whilst on placement, with long days and often working evenings and weekends, we have loads of fun and friendly competition. Ranging from a day out quad-biking with your colleagues, friends and managers for reaching your targets, to gaining a fantastic work ethic which will stay with you forever.

I would 100% recommend doing a internship. Whether it is a summer internship or a yearlong placement, it is essential to gain experience. The graduate market is saturated with individuals who have achieved a 2:1 degree and have done extra-curricular activities whilst at University but if you have experience, this is what will ultimately set you apart from everyone else and help you secure that graduate job. 

Check out the opportunities at Enterprise Rent-A-Car in your city.