Lailani Yepiz completed Enterprise’s Management Trainee Internship, developing skills in customer service, sales, and team collaboration.
How did you get your internship?
I found out about the internship through someone I knew who shared their positive experiences working at Enterprise. I wanted to learn more about the position, so I did some research on my own. Then I learned that there was a career fair at the University of Arizona that representatives from Enterprise would be attending, so I went and got a chance to talk to Enterprise to introduce myself. After that, I decided to apply for the position and was excited to be offered the opportunity.
Why did you choose this internship?
I chose this internship because I wanted to learn more about business and get real, hands-on experience while building professional skills. I’d also heard positive things about Enterprise and knew it was a reputable company. On top of that, one of my professors encouraged me to pursue it, which helped me feel confident in applying.
What kind of work did you do throughout your internship experience?
Throughout my internship at Enterprise, I got to do a mix of customer service, training, and learning from other Management Trainees. I worked directly with customers and to maintain a great standard of customer service and helped with rentals and car returns while learning how the branch runs behind the scenes. I also worked on an intern group project to improve customer interactions and sales at the branch.
What skills did you practice in this internship?
During my internship, I really grew in how I work with others. I learned how to communicate better with the team and with customers especially when we had to support each other when handling busy or stressful days together. I also practiced problem-solving on the spot and adapting when things didn’t go as planned. I felt more confident in my ability to work with different people and handle challenges, which is something I know will help me in any future workplace.
How was the internship related to your Applied Humanities degree?
The internship related to my Applied Humanities degree because I practiced a lot of the skills I’ve learned in my classes. I got to work on communication and teamwork every day, whether I was talking with customers, shadowing other workers, or collaborating with my fellow interns. I also had to think critically and solve problems on the spot, like when handling busy rental days or unexpected customer needs. All of these experiences helped me see how the skills I’ve learned in Applied Humanities like understanding people, working with others, and thinking through challenges apply in a real job.
What did you find most challenging about your internship? What did you learn from it?
The most challenging part of my internship was adjusting to working 40 hours a week and finding a balance with my personal life, including getting into a good sleep routine. Another challenge was dealing with frustrated customers. I learned that a lot of the time, people are renting cars for special occasions like going on vacation or stressful situations like after having an accident. Learning to just listen, stay calm, and be there for them helped me handle these situations better and showed me how important empathy is in customer service.
What was your favorite part of your internship?
My favorite part of the internship was the training trips to Chandler, where I got to meet other interns and share our experiences. It was meaningful because I felt like I was part of a bigger team and I’m also happy that I was extended an offer to stay on as a full-time employee with Enterprise, so I can keep building on what I’ve learned.