Jeremy Hurtado always dreamed of being a doctor, but by the time he finished college with a degree in biological sciences, he did what many young grads do: changed his mind. However, he says, “I still had a strong desire to help people.”
Hurtado ended up staying in the medical field, becoming an emergency medical technician and then working at a biotech company as a medical responder. “I eventually became the manager of the emergency response team, and while I really enjoyed it, the position didn’t offer many options for upward growth,” he says.
Today, as a management trainee (MT) at Enterprise Holdings, Hurtado has nothing but opportunity to grow. He learned about the position thanks to a former manager whose wife worked at the car rental company.
“I applied online and listed her as a reference,” Hurtado says. “After speaking with a talent acquisition manager, I was sold. At Enterprise, you’re only limited by your personal desire to learn and grow.”
Here, he shares how becoming a management trainee can launch a long career at Enterprise, his future goals at the company, and why he doesn’t talk about work when he’s at home.
How did you know Enterprise would be a good fit? What was it about the culture that sparked your interest?
During the recruitment and interview process, everyone was open and honest about their experiences and the management trainee position. It’s hard work and long hours at the beginning, but as long as you perform well, you’re recognized with promotions and opportunities. They have a strong focus on employee retention and really make an effort to provide a great work environment. The general progression for most careers with Enterprise has you moving from a management trainee to a branch manager, but once you reach that point, there are so many other opportunities within the company if you’re not interested in the daily rental side of things.
What was the onboarding process like and how did it prepare you for your role?
After I accepted the job offer, I was sent to a three-day class with other incoming MTs in the area. They really invest in you as soon as you walk in the door. Enterprise goes over the culture they have created as well as the expectations and roadmap for your career. They take the time to show you that you aren’t meant to be an MT forever.
Tell us about your career trajectory at Enterprise. What do you hope to achieve at the company in the future?
I’m still working as an MT, but plan to be promoted to a management assistant by the end of November and to an assistant manager shortly thereafter. The training process and business structure helps develop employees regardless of their prior work history. As of now, my goal is to become a branch manager. Depending on how I feel continuing to work in daily rental, I would either continue down that path and become an area manager or look into other departments within the company.
In what ways does Enterprise support growth from within?
From the moment you walk through the door, you’re told that Enterprise only promotes from within. It still blows my mind that the entire company is made up of people who started in the same position I’m currently in. It’s one of their biggest strengths and helps create a strong culture of growth and employee development.
I also appreciate how available upper management is to new employees. I think I met Scott Bowman, a regional vice president (RVP), within my first month working for the company. I’d never worked somewhere that even allowed that or seen that title outside of an occasional email sent to the whole company. The RVP knows me by name!
What was the biggest challenge you faced when shifting your career path and how did you overcome it?
My biggest challenges were becoming well versed in the vehicles we offer and embracing my inner salesman. You never stop learning about different cars and their features and, for the most part, it all comes with time. Learning to sell products and upgrades takes a bit more finesse, but you’re always able to lean on your peers and managers. We all started in the same position so everyone has their own perspective and tips to improve sales. What I’ve learned is that as long as you know the products well and do your best to address customer needs, you’ll make sales.
What skills from your experience as a medical responder do you still use in your current role?
Multitasking, remaining calm in high-stress situations, and providing customer service are the skills I still use on a daily basis. There’s always something to be done while you’re working in the branch: answering phones, working on collecting payments for open rentals, assisting new MTs with questions, greeting customers, and any other myriad of daily responsibilities. I love it when it’s busy. It’s a completely different kind of stress, but it’s fun and I’ve been really enjoying my time so far.
How do you maintain work-life balance?
Prior to working at Enterprise, work-life balance was a bit lacking. While managing the emergency response team, I felt like I was always on call so when I started at Enterprise, I Ioved that I could leave work at work. The hours are long, but it’s nice to really be off when you clock out. I’ve also made it a point to limit talking about work outside of work and just enjoy time with family and friends and allow myself to be present. Enterprise is also very generous with time off and it’s important to take time off when you can.
What are you currently reading, watching, and/or listening to?
For the last few years, my New Year's resolution has always been to read an hour before bed and it’s still a work in progress. I’ve been working through the novelization of Once Upon A Time in Hollywood and I’m really enjoying it so far. My girlfriend and I are watching Dahmer on Netflix. It’s so intense! I’m a big fan of music and am patiently waiting for a new album announcement from Frank Ocean. Channel Orange, Endless, and Blond remain in regular rotation.