June is PRIDE Month. Diversity is currently a hot topic in many organisations, but at Enterprise it’s been the usual practice for some time. Dimitri Tenev, Management Assistant in Bavaria, Germany, tells us that it is embedded in Enterprise’s culture and that every member of the team is treated equally and with respect.
Tell us about yourself and your time at Enterprise.
My name is Dimitri. I live in Nuremberg, in Germany, where I grew up and went to school.
Before joining Enterprise, I worked in an accounting department for a while, where I completed an apprenticeship as an industrial clerk. Then I moved into a customer service role, but I knew that I didn’t want to do that job forever.
After moving to Bavaria, I started looking for something new. Of course, I was familiar with Enterprise and I knew that there was an Enterprise branch in the town I lived in, so I applied to the Management Training Programme. At first, I was a little nervous about whether I would be successful in my application since I didn’t have a university degree, but I was able to convince the recruitment team that I had the necessary competencies for the job. In June 2019, I started the Management Training Programme and successfully completed it in 9 months. I was then promoted to Management Assistant. When I started as a Management Trainee I also started a distance learning course to complete a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration because my education is important to me and I was grateful that Enterprise offered this opportunity.
Due to personal circumstances, I decided to move back to my hometown in autumn 2020. I had hoped to find a job in one of the Enterprise branches there, but unfortunately, there were no vacancies at the time due to the COVID pandemic and I was worried that I would have to part with the company and look for a new job. However, my managers were able to offer me a position as a Management Assistant in our long-term division, which of course I was happy to accept. I am still very grateful to Enterprise for this support and I do not take this flexibility and this kindness for granted. For me, this new role is of course also a unique opportunity to gain new experiences and learn a lot.
How important is it to you that Enterprise is a diverse employer?
I think it is very important that Enterprise is a diverse employer, and I know that this is communicated openly in the company.
For me, the subject of LGBTQ + is actually just ‘normal’. But I know people older than me who still can’t be open about it, especially at work. I never used to talk quite so openly at my previous employers. At Enterprise it’s quite different. Here I can just be myself.
My experience as an LGBTQ+ employee at Enterprise has been overwhelmingly positive. From day one it was never a problem.
I have colleagues from all kinds of different backgrounds, religions, and places of origin, and you can see that being different is never a reason not to work here. We all treat each other with respect and can rely on the support of all our colleagues.
Everyone is welcome at Enterprise. Diversity is currently a hot topic in many organisations, but at Enterprise it’s been the usual practice for some time. Enterprise is a diverse employer, and this ethos is embedded in the way we work – and it always will be.
What appeals to me about the future at Enterprise is that you can achieve so much here if you are dedicated. There are many career doors open to everyone if you want to use them. Everyone can accomplish something great here.
Want to work in a company where every single employee is treated equally and with respect? Search for our latest graduate jobs and internship opportunities in your area and see where your career could take you.
