Whatever challenges we face as we go about our day-to-day working lives, a strong support network made up of our partner, friends and family can really make the difference. But what can we specifically do to help? We asked a handful of Enterprise employees how their partners have supported them in their career so far, and we think this is great advice for all of us:
- Be a team player
Tori Patrick, Enterprise Europe’s Vice President of Airports, credits her husband when asked how she is able to maintain a work/life balance:
I have a very supportive husband first and foremost, who takes an equal lead in our home life. We make both work and home a priority and equally understand the need to prioritise each at different times. Sometimes I have to work late, and as a mother of two I will sometimes leave early to attend one of my daughter’s matches or a school event. It’s not easy, whether you are female or male. You need a well-executed plan to get it done. And you need to plan together with your family, sharing tasks and responsibilities.
- Celebrate each other’s successes
Nothing will spur you on more than seeing your partner succeed, as Jon Thomson, who works as Vehicle Acquisition Manager for London and the South East, mentions:
My husband and I got married in 2015 after 10 years of being together, so he has really seen me develop through different stages of my career. He has always been very encouraging and likes to think big. He is ambitious with his own career too (as am I) so we regularly set ourselves stretch goals, but we also take time together to enjoy our success. On the flip side there’s always another mountain to climb, but the key is that we are in this journey together – sometimes me supporting him – and sometimes him supporting me. I have to admit that if I didn’t have that support I think it would be harder for me to perform at work, so it’s been an important component of my success at Enterprise so far.
- Be a relentless cheerleader
Sometimes all we need is a little boost in confidence when we’re unsure what path to take – especially when it comes to our careers – as Alyson, Talent Acquisition Specialist for our head office, found out:
My partner Matt really supported me when I mentioned to him that I wanted to apply for my current role. Having worked as a PA for six years and knowing my job well the thought of moving to a new job and team outside my comfort zone was really scary! He helped me see that I needed a change and really encouraged me to go for it. His positivity is what spurred me on to apply, mentioning that it was going to be a good experience whether I was successful or not, as at some point I would have had to move anyway if I wanted to progress with my career. Sometimes you need a little push from the ones you love to help with those big decisions.
- Share your skills and experiences
Facing a particular challenge at work? It helps if your partner has the skills to help you overcome it. Jon’s husband’s performance experience proved invaluable for him:
An area in which my husband has been very active throughout his own career is the art of performance, public speaking and how best to use one’s voice. I have always struggled to feel comfortable presenting and speaking publicly, and he has been able to coach me through this. I remember preparing for a big presentation years ago and I practiced it at home with him. He gave me tips on breathing, pacing and even how much information to include both verbally and on power points. I have to say this really helped – even now I use some of his techniques to prepare myself when I have a presentation to give.
- Act as a sounding board
Probably the most important role that a partner can play is that of a sounding board – providing advice, reassurance, support, or just a different point of view. We can sometimes get too caught up in our own problems that we lose perspective, so a different point of view can prove invaluable in showing us a different side to our dilemma. Even better if that support comes from somebody who doesn’t work in the same industry, as Alyson explains:
I talk to Matt about my day every evening when I get home from work: what’s gone well, and some of the challenges I’ve faced that day. Matt’s a carpenter so he’s a very logical thinker, he really helps me when I can’t see the “wood for the trees” with a particular problem. It’s nice talking to someone that doesn’t work in the same field as me because everything sounds so much simpler once I say it out loud to him!
As a family-owned business, Enterprise appreciates the contribution that partners, friends and family make in our employees’ success. Without them we wouldn’t have grown to be the company that we are now – the largest car rental company in the world, with a rental and leasing fleet of over one million vehicles spread across some 9,000 locations worldwide.
Do you want to share in our success too? Browse all our graduate jobs, internship and customer service roles. We even have home working positions available across the UK.
