When most American consumers think of Enterprise, they think “car rental”—but as a Management Trainee intern on the other side of the counter, Bethany Bonilla ’19 is learning it is much more than that.
“I never thought I would see myself renting cars, but after a month in with Enterprise I realize they are giving us the tools to run an entire business,” the management major said. “I can’t say that I’ve been given an opportunity like this other than with Enterprise. I’m having the summer of my life with this company!”
Enterprise Holdings’ management training program aims to develop its future leaders with a holistic hands-on view of all aspects of the company—customer service, sales and marketing, finance, operations and more. Trainees are encouraged to shape their own future and are well positioned to benefit from the company’s “promote-from-within” practices. In fact, the company’s current president & CEO and executive chairman started out as Management Trainees.
Bonilla first engaged with Enterprise when talent acquisition specialist (and former management trainee) Jessi Marquardt visited campus during the Career Center’s Recruiter Series.
“She inspired me so much that I reached out to talk about interning with Enterprise,” she said. “She was so open and encouraging, which made the entire Enterprise process a lot smoother than most companies at which I applied to work.”
After about a three-week application process, which consisted of a phone interview with Marquardt and then an in-person interview with the area rental manager in the district for which Bonilla was applying, she was offered the full-time internship.
Bonilla hit the ground running with Enterprise’s fun and comprehensive training program, a weeklong session during which she and her fellow interns stayed in a hotel and got to know both each other and the ins and outs of the company.
“I met my best friend at this training week, and I’m very grateful that Enterprise gave us this time to hang out with my fellow interns while also learning how to run a business,” Bonilla said.
A varsity lacrosse player who also serves on the Saints Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and was named to this year’s Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Academic All-Conference Team, Bonilla harnesses the competitive energy she honed on the field in her daily work.
Management Trainee interns are giving the same amount of responsibility as the company’s permanent employees—and they gain the same, valuable, real-world experience. For Bonilla, an average day at her branch usually begins at 8:00 a.m., with a team meeting about who is taking the lead on the day’s tasks—from renting cars and selling protection plans, to responding to customer inquiries, building relationships with dealerships and providing Enterprise’s popular complimentary pick-up service.
“It’s definitely a full day,” she said. “But there is always something to do and always someone to help.”
"If anyone would ask me what to do in college, I would tell them to do everything. Get as much experience as you can. Meet people and do things. Take advantage of all college has to offer."
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