Park cars, distribute keys, accept payment. Providing customer services is an important part of participating in an internship at Enterprise. However, it is hardly inclusive of all the valuable projects and experiences interns participate in during their internship with the leading organization in its industry.
Range of experiences
“There are also many opportunities through Enterprise beyond day-to-day sales that interns will learn about,” said Illinois State University’s Madilynn Mueller. “I worked with customers when they rented a car, but I also worked with insurance companies and body shops for our customers. I also had some free range to make decisions on my own when handling situations and got to draft new ideas for Enterprise. I also got to work with other interns on a group project that could potentially be used by Enterprise. I learned so much and became more well-rounded.”
Career Services Associate Director Natalie R. Alexander works closely with Enterprise, which has been recruiting Redbirds from Illinois State for over 25 years.
“Enterprise’s commitment to Redbirds from all majors is reflected in their internship program,” Alexander said. “Students utilize their skills and participate in projects that involve various aspects of the organization. That makes Enterprise attractive to all students, and a relationship we highly value.”
Commitment to Redbirds
This year, Enterprise hired 83 interns with 20 of those from Illinois State. In addition to Mueller, they include:
- Caitlyn Coty
- Lauren Darata
- Dameon Gault
- Lorenzo Harris
- Nicole Herrera
- Thomas Hilgart
- Gavin Hitzmann
- Julia Lukasik
- Luke O’Connell
- Jack Podlasek
- Shannon Ranalli
- Daisy Rodriguez
- Elvis Selimovic
- Chloe Siegel
- Josh Soundrajann
- Jimmy Stephan
- Drake Van Nostran
- Bailey Walter
- Eli Willett
Strategy development
As part of the internship experience at Enterprise, interns participate in a group project. Students are provided with a business scenario and are challenged to utilize the skills and knowledge they acquired in their academics and throughout their internship to identify strategy recommendations for the organization. The project may include marketing, sales, human resources, accounting, technology, and other areas the interns participated in during their experience.
Awards and recognition
In fact, eight Redbirds were honored for their outstanding work with Enterprise. Bailey Walter was recognized as one of the top 10 interns in the Chicagoland area as best individual speaker/presenter. She, along with Lorenzo Harris, Nicole Herrera, Thomas Hilgart, Gavin Hitzmann, Madilynn Mueller, and Daisy Rodriguez were recognized in front of their peers and Enterprise leadership for consistently living the organization’s core values and representing its brand to customers and employees.
Career success
“Interns go on to great careers after graduation and are promoted to management positions faster because of their experience,” Enterprise Group Talent Manager Drew Butts said. “We have seen success as many ISU/Enterprise hires have gone on to outstanding careers based on their drive to be the best. Our company rewards employees based on the same principles as ISU. Everything we do is rooted in learning.”
Those principles are a reality for 20 Redbirds as Enterprise hired them as full-time management trainees after graduation. They include:
- Caitlyn Cody
- Lauren Darata
- Dameon Gault
- Lorenzo Harris
- Nicole Herrera
- Thomas Hilgart
- Gavin Hitzmann
- Julia Lukasik
- Madilynn Mueller
- Luke O’Connell
- Jack Podlasek
- Shannon Ranalli
- Daisy Rodriguez
- Elvis Selimovic
- Chloe Siegel
- Josh Soundrajan
- Jimmy Stephan
- Drake Van Nostran
- Bailey Walter
- Eli Willet
Networking and relationships
Internships at Enterprise also help students to network and develop professional connections that can help them succeed in their careers.
“Constructive criticism (provided during the internship) gave me the necessary tools to help me learn and improve my efforts each week,” Mueller said. “Enterprise’s professional events helped me gain confidence to meet other professionals. All the relationships I made at Enterprise were the best part (of the internship). Every single person is ready to help you in and out of the workplace. I know I can always reach out to any of them in the future for references in my future career and advice in general.”
When considering internships, students should conduct research beforehand on organizations that offer them. Internship programs can provide experiences that are not necessarily unique to one field of study but can provide valuable career development to students from all majors or areas of interest.
“I had no clue about Enterprise before the career fair,” Mueller said. “(Now) I would recommend this internship. I learned so much and became more well-rounded with my skills. I became more confident in the professional atmosphere and was able to learn a lot about myself.”
