Careers Blog

You've done it! You've landed an interview that will help you advance in your career. This is an exciting time, but there's work to do. If you want to maximize your chances of success, you need to be fully prepared before entering the interview. This will help you be confident in your answers and make a strong impression of who you are and what they can expect from you. Here are five things that you can do before an interview to help you stand out and increase your ability to land the job: 1. Research the Company One of the most critical things you can do before an interview is to research the company you're applying to. Not only will this show that you're genuinely interested in the role, but it will also allow you to tailor your responses to align with the company's values, culture, and needs. By demonstrating that you've done your homework, you prove your commitment and enthusiasm for the position. Start by learning about the company's mission, products, services, and employees. Check their social media platforms and recent news articles to see if there are any initiatives they are involved in. Additionally, use websites such as Glassdoor to get a better understanding of the company's environment and former employees' opinions. 2. Review the Job Description When reviewing the job description for the position you're applying for, pay attention to the specific skills and qualifications the employer is seeking. Highlight the essential responsibilities and skills on your own resume and evaluate how your background aligns with the requirements. Reflect on past or current experiences that you can draw from and discuss how you have achieved success in those areas. As you analyze the job description, take note of any frequently used buzzwords or phrases. These can provide you with insights into what the company values most and help you structure your responses in a way that directly addresses those needs. 3. Practice Common Interview Questions During an interview, you're likely to be asked several common questions, including: "Tell me about yourself." "Why do you want to work here?" "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" "Where do you see yourself in five years?" Practice your responses to these questions out loud. You can do this in front of a mirror, record yourself, or have someone listen to your responses. Doing this will help you avoid stumbling on your responses, ensure that you can articulate your points with confidence, and convey your passion for the role. Remember to keep your answers clear and concise! 4. Prepare Your Questions Always prepare at least two questions to ask at the end of your interview. This aligns with your research of the company and its operations, and it can help to solidify your brand during the interview. It demonstrates your interest and appreciation for the company and the interviewer. Here are some examples of questions to ask: "What does success look like in this position?" "How would you describe the company culture?" "What opportunities are there for professional development?" "Can you tell me about the team I would be working with?" Avoid asking questions that are self-explanatory, easily found, or that the interviewer has already answered. Your questions should be based on your interest in the position, your long-term career goals, and how you could fit into the company. 5. Plan Your Outfit and Logistics It's crucial that as you prepare to talk the part, you also look the part! Consider the company culture when deciding what to wear. A corporate setting would require more business formal attire, while a creative or tech-based industry may appreciate business casual attire. If you're unsure, it's best to choose the business formal route. Lastly, always confirm the date, time, and location of your interview. Plan your route and anticipate any traffic delays to ensure you arrive on time. If you have a virtual interview, ensure that you have a quiet space with minimal distractions, good lighting, and that your equipment (camera, microphone, and internet connection) is working correctly. Test your video conferencing platform and make sure you have the proper application available. The more prepared you are for an interview, the more you will impress the interviewer and increase your chances of landing the job. Remember these five basic steps: research the company, review the job description, practice your responses to commonly asked questions, prepare your own questions, and arrive on time and looking polished. Success is within reach - good luck! Hanna F. joined Enterprise Mobility™ in 2017 as a Management Trainee and quickly moved up the ranks. In less than a year, she was promoted to Assistant Branch Rental Manager at the Ottawa International Airport. Hanna's unstoppable success continued as she received multiple promotions across the region. In 2021, she took on the challenge of being an Area Manager in Winnipeg, overseeing a mix of rental locations both in urban and rural areas. But that's not the end of Hanna's journey. She saw an opportunity to elevate her career even further when a Talent Acquisition role opened up in Central Canada in 2024. Hanna knew this was her chance to shine and make a difference in a new way.

Imagine walking into a big, crowded networking event. Does the idea of this thrill you or frighten you? Conversing with a large group of people can feel intimidating and forced for many. However, networking is a crucial element that can enhance your career progression and job opportunities, during both favorable times and challenging times. To put it in simpler terms, networking involves building positive relationships with people you get to know. Once you start thinking about networking differently, you will realize that you can make meaningful connections daily. If you lack a strong social network or don't know where to begin, this brief guide can help you get started. Building relationships is your focus. Networking is a way of getting to know someone. It requires building a relationship with that person through reciprocity, not outright asking for a job. As you grow your professional connections you want to be authentic and considerate and only ask for advice or recommendations. Think you don’t have a network? You do. When you have a group championing you, your efforts are multiplied. Because people will conduct business with those they know, trust and like, you need to build a network that is uniquely suited to you. Make a list of everyone you know. Include family members, colleagues, former co-workers, friends, friends of friends, neighbors, and even casual acquaintances. Consider people you know from your university, professional and volunteer organizations, the gym, sports teams or clubs, social media connections, and potentially even your child’s school. You will have a longer list than you envisioned in no time. Start making contact. Before you start making contact, know what you want and how to ask for it. Are you seeking a referral, an informational interview, or an introduction? Then, be specific in your request. Let them know you are looking for a job. Give them a little information about the industry and role you are seeking. Then, ask if they know anyone in a relevant field. Your contacts may surprise you with who they know. If you feel embarrassed or scared… Remember, people like to help others and give advice. And most people know what it is like to be looking for work. By gaining connection and emotional support from others, you help avoid feeling stressed and alone in your job seeking process. Maintain your network. Once you are comfortable and begin to build your connections, it is important to remember to nurture the important relationships you make. Be sure to schedule time together to meet for coffee or lunch or make a regular appointment to talk on the phone. If you follow someone on social media and see they have been promoted or recently graduated, congratulate them. If you hear about an event and think one of your contacts would benefit from attending, pass them the registration information with a little note. There are so many easy ways to show people you have them in mind. The bonus: you will stay top of mind with your contacts when they have something to share with you. Networking is a lifelong process and a skill that you can grow and develop at any time. Enjoy the slow pace of networking and you will see the benefits in your professional and personal life in the years to come. Network with Enterprise Mobility recruiters at a career event near you.

Whether you have already spotted a new career opportunity or you have just begun your job search, we’ve got some quick tips on how you can easily update your resume. Dedicating a small amount of time to these updates can pay off big when you land that new career! Here’s how you can be prepared to hit “apply” when you find the perfect job during your search. Step 1 – Search for roles that interest you to see what employers are looking for. Use this research to update keywords on your resume.Once you find a few jobs that are of interest, do some research by reviewing and reading through the job postings to identify what employers might be looking for. The job descriptions and qualification sections should provide these details. The qualifications and skills required may have changed since the last time that you applied for a job so this should give you some insight on how your skillset matches the role. Step 2 – Update your experience, keywords and skills to reflect what you found in your research. Based on your findings in step 1, insert common keywords that you found across the job descriptions. Common keywords could point to transferrable skills, software programs, and proficiency in specific skills and should be updated to show relevance to the role you are applying to. Update your work experience, this is likely going to be adding your most recent role(s) with your current employer. What additional degrees, education and/or certifications have you acquired since last updating your resume? Add these updates. Step 3 – Make sure your contact information is correct. Imagine the recruiter reading through your resume and thinking, “I’ve finally found the perfect candidate!”. You, of course. They dial your number just to find out it’s not your number anymore. Don’t let this happen to you. Review your email address, phone number and LinkedIn profile link and update if necessary. Step 4 – Showcase your volunteer and community experience. Giving back to communities is a key focus for many organizations. Including extracurricular volunteer and community activities that you participate in allows you to show that your values align with the values of the organization. Keep your volunteer and community experience separate from your work experience. Here’s an example of how you might do this: Secretary, Community Kids Club Jan 2022-Present Active volunteer member and secretary of Community Kids Club, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing positive athletic and learning activities for children in the community. It’s Your Time to Shine! Your resume got the refresh that it needed and is now ready for use. Apply for that dream job or go into your job search with peace of mind, knowing that your resume is current and relevant to the job that you are interested in. One last tip is to network and let people know that you are on the search. The next opportunity is waiting for you, seize it!

Want to know what I look for in an interview? Nobody enjoys sitting through bad interviews. Believe it or not, we (the interviewers) are on your side when you come in. We want you to be successful. From experience though, I can tell you that your odds of success are much improved if you prepare for the interview and do your homework. If you are getting ready to interview for our Management Trainee role at Enterprise, here are some tips for success. Leadership Questions If your goal is to progress through management, you will need to show that you have leadership skills as an entry-level employee. In the interview process, you should give examples of times where you drove performance and/or rallied a team. As great as group assignments are, the best examples typically come from work environments or team settings such as sports, fraternities/sororities or clubs. You must be able to help the interviewer(s) see what sets you apart as a leader. (Note: If you completed a class project and it really displays your leadership, by all means use that example. I’ve just seen that almost everyone does a Capstone project, so you have to make your example stand out.) Customer Service Questions Is the customer always right? It doesn’t matter. Our job is to always show customers that they are valued and their needs matter, period. Customers have choices as to where they spend their money, so we ask our employees to display a service-driven mentality. You will need to be able to walk an interviewer through your thoughts on customer service and how you create life-long customers, through specific examples. Sales Questions Sales and revenue generation are the life blood of a business. Without profitability, you cannot invest in your business or grow. As a candidate for a sales-driven role, you must be able to demonstrate the ability to sell. Not your theory on how sales works, but actual examples where you’ve had to be persuasive or demonstrated a strong sales acumen and gotten results. Communication Questions When you are working in sales and management, you must be able to clearly communicate and present ideas. In my interviews, there won’t be a specific question about communication, but I will be listening to how you present your answers and focusing on your communication style throughout the interview. Confidence is very important. There is a fine line between self-promotion and bragging, but your interview is your shot at telling a potential employer how awesome you are, so get after it! Do not be shy about your accomplishments. Remember, an interview is a sales presentation and you are selling you! Competitive Spirit Questions Want to work your way into management? That’s great, but you’ll have to show some grit. How have you competed for things that are important to you? What inspires you? How have you handled failure? Tell me something you’ve worked your tail off for and you’re proud of. You can speak to your GPA, but work examples, team examples or life experience examples are better for interview settings (for the roles I hire for at least). Everyone wants to be the manager, but your job is to show the people across the table “why you.” Close the Deal When an interviewer asks, “Do you have any questions for me?” make sure you have some handy. Here are a few freebies: “Why do you enjoy working for Enterprise?” “What have been your biggest obstacles and how have you (or your department) overcome them thus far in your career?” Once you’ve finished with your questions, close the deal! Reiterate why you are a great candidate and that your goals align with the opportunity in front of you and that you are excited about the opportunity! My final thought Am I now worried that I have given you all the answers for an interview with my team? NOPE. Our job is to dig in during the process and ask more questions based on your examples. You will need to sell yourself at every step of the process… and then the real work begins, because hopefully, you’ll land the job! Whether this helps you in your upcoming Enterprise interview or with an interview for another opportunity, I hope you’ve found some value in it! Feel free to share! Happy hunting!