It’s October. That means 3 things—cooler weather, pumpkin everything, and time to start looking for a Summer internship.
When I was a college Junior the only thing on my mind in October was what I was going to be for Halloween. But one of my professors encouraged me to attend a career fair, where I met an Enterprise recruiter. The recruiter was friendly and engaging, and when she told me about the paid internship, I was sold.
I had so much fun during my internship and the summer flew by. It ended up being the busiest summer I had ever experienced, and it changed my life forever. Here’s how my experience shaped my future, and why I would recommend an Enterprise internship to anyone looking to jump-start their career.
You’ll gain the experience of a full-time employee.
I learned about customer service, finance, operations and logistics, and applying my accounting degree—all in one summer. I was treated just like every other full-time Management Trainee. I was on track to graduate early and getting a taste of a professional environment fueled my drive to finish my degree and jump into the working world. I even ended up finishing at the top of the Intern performance matrix and getting a bonus at the end of the summer, and an offer to return to Enterprise after graduation.
You’ll get your foot in the door.
Now, almost nine years later, I reflect on that whirlwind of a summer and how my internship turned into a career with Enterprise. I came back to Enterprise after graduation and started as a Management Trainee. Because of my performance as an intern, I was able to receive my first promotion within seven months! Within three years, I was running my own business as a Branch Manager. Now, I am a recruiter with Enterprise, and oversee the Internship program for the Central and West Texas region.
You’ll develop professionalism and confidence.
That summer, in addition to learning how to run a business, I gained a professional maturity that put me a cut above my peers, as well as a newfound confidence in myself. I love seeing that same metamorphosis from our interns when they come to orientation to the end of the program.
You’ll grow a supportive network and see how others succeed within the company.
Several of the managers I worked under during my internship are now in upper management roles. Seeing so much internal movement in my career fuels me to do better, because I know the sky is the limit. I’ve also connected with several mentors that I know I can always lean on. Remember that friendly, engaging recruiter for the career fair? We now work in the same department, and she continues to be a mentor to me.
My favorite part of being a recruiter is visiting college campuses and telling students about our internships. It’s rewarding to speak from my own experience and connect with students, just like a recruiter did for me 9 years ago. So, if you’re internship-hunting this fall and you see an Enterprise booth, come say hello! You never know how much it might change your life.