Claire's Story

I first learned about Enterprise in 2000 at a recruitment fair held in Ireland. I was a recent graduate from Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology and had just returned home from six months on a J-1 visa working for a company in Chicago. The friendly people from Enterprise talked to me about promotion, teamwork and customer service, which really appealed to me. So I accepted a Management Trainee position in the busiest branch in Dublin.

Today, I am the Area Manager covering the west and northwest of Ireland not far from where I grew up. The people in this part of the country are very friendly and interested in what Enterprise does as a company. They love to see businesses opening up and employing people locally. The Irish economy has really turned around in the last 10 years. Instead of moving to America or England, more young Irish people are graduating and finding work here in Ireland. I think it's good for the older generations to see a company like Enterprise provide jobs to so many young people, and then reward them with increasing levels of responsibility and career success based on merit and hard work. When my parents were young, a person might have had to wait 10 years for a promotion; at Enterprise, if you grow sales and excel, you will be promoted quickly.

Teamwork has always been important to me. At Enterprise, we work hard and play hard, supporting each other to meet and exceed goals in a fun working environment. Many Irish businesses have a more traditional structure where managers work above you, not with you. The great thing about Enterprise is that no matter how high you ascend in the company, you can never forget that you started as a Management Trainee just like everyone else. That fact really keeps everyone grounded and aware of the need to work together no matter where you rank in the company.

The thing I find most rewarding about being an Enterprise employee is training new employees and helping them advance in the company. When I started as a Management Trainee I had a manager who was always there for me, and helped me get promoted within my first six months with the company. Over the years, she has continued to be a friend and mentor. Now I try to provide my trainees with that same level of support.

Recently, many people of different nationalities are moving to Ireland, so we're continually working with our employees to learn language phrases to accommodate Polish and French residents, as well as the increasing variety of tourists that visit our country. On Fridays in our Galway office, we may assist customers from no less than 30 different countries. In the same way that America and England provided the Irish with opportunities for so many years, companies in Ireland are now able to offer those types of career opportunities to our new immigrant population. And having that type of diversity in our groups helps broaden our perspective and provide better customer service.

Over the years, I have worked with some fantastic people who enjoy the chance to make a difference each day, both within the company and the community. Just a few months ago, one of my employees asked for support to raise funds for the oncology unit at a local hospital. Fellow employees responded by not only donating money, but also by giving up their Friday night to travel to the northwest of the country to take part in a table quiz. It's that kind of support from colleagues that makes me proud to work for Enterprise.

When I'm not working, I love to travel. Last year I traveled to Italy, Sicily and Sardinia. I've also gone to Dubai to visit friends and to Sri Lanka and Barcelona. Next year I'll be going to Prague. I also go up to visit some former employees/friends in Dublin and Belfast. It's important to balance my work with my outside interests. Having that time to relax allows me to come back to work fresh.

Enterprise has given me a career I love and the chance to work with wonderful people. Even within a company as large as Enterprise, I know that I am not just a number, but a person who is respected and supported in my work and career.