Pros
Before I start with the many Cons, it is only fair to point out the pro's of working for Enterprise. First and foremost, if you have a successful Branch Manager when you start, you will find that you will learn the fundamental aspects of running a profitable business, along with the mentality to push through tough times and develop a rather Entrepreneurial spirit. In turn this will make you more autonomous and less likely to want to be spoon fed later in life with whatever career you move onto. Like wise the initial training in sales aspects is good, if that is ultimately the direction you would like your career to head into.
Cons
Now, on the other hand Enterprise sell the green dream that this is a Graduate Scheme when in fact, the first alarm bells should ring that they will take someone with a degree from "ANY" discipline. I do not see somebody with an Art History degree thriving in a primarily aggressive, sales focused business. The reason for this is as follows: - Long Hours ~ You will absolutely work a MINIMUM of 50 hours per week, with an almost certain guarantee to surpass this into the high 70+ hours. Of course this is all on a Salaried contract with no overtime paid unless you work more than 200+ hours in a working month. Say goodbye to your family, friends, girlfriend and the ability to socialize in any aspect whatsoever. Once you work out the salary / hours it easily makes this position considerably under minimum wage. I have also seen various Assistant Managers promoted and earn less money than if they stayed where they were. - Glorified Taxi Driver ~ A good percentage of your time will be spent picking customers up and dropping them home, often unable to do this to allocated times due to how busy the office would generally be. Add to the fact that the majority of car hire customers have a multiple objects up certain orifices kinds of attitudes, mean that your under minimum wage job comes with a juicy side of verbal and sometimes physical abuse. I have also witnessed overworked and tired employees crash vehicles with customers in on ride backs, not a very good slogan of "We'll pick you up" if your employees are struggling to keep their eyes open and may kill your "Valued" *cough* fleeceable *cough* customers! - "Sales" ~ This leads me onto the rather dubious area of sales within Enterprise. The real kicker here is that Enterprise actually fail to make profit on just the rental of vehicles and instead must sell "Additional" insurance policies to customers that are designed purely to scare them into reducing an eye watering excess of £1000 for each individual piece of damage on a return vehicle. Most customers have become wise to this now though and buy yearly excess policies through third parties for about £50 a year.... compared to the £12 PER DAY from Enterprise. Talk about a hard sell.... - Cleaning Cars ~ Not much to say about this but quite simply you will be cleaning cars in Smart business wear, rain or shine, snow and freezing cold. This is because you are constantly let down by your car valets from Eastern Europe, fresh off the boat through a third party company that don't seem worried about a valid Passport or actual driving license... - "We don't have any cars"... ~ Through what I can only presume is divine wisdom, Area Managers seem to think that when you are already 10 vehicles short for the next 2 hours, you are able to take on more bookings through the rental system that never says no... until the customer comes to collect their vehicle from your understaffed branch and the best you can offer them for the next 3 hours is a glass of water and a piggy back.
