If any, what GOOD came out of our time at ERAC?

[whatdude]

Originally Posted by freeatlast

I still work with the general public but the big difference is I can actually tell people what is going on, and why there is a problem. I could not do this with erac because a lot was going on behind my back that I didn't know about or a car was yanked from my reservation customer 15 min prior to them walking in. Often times I had told the customer less than a 1/2 hour before that their car was ready to go. While my ARM's message of "work your magic" was ever so helpful, I still managed to get chewed out a lot.

Good point, and one of my biggest problems with Enterprise. You can promise a customer something with the ability, inventory and intention to follow through on it - only to have what you need given to someone else without your knowledge, because of a decision you weren't involved in making. Personally, I got tired of giving people my word and then having to go back on it 1/2 an hour later because of a decision I didn't make.

I like the fact that in my current position I can tell people that I'll do something and know that it's completely up to me to make it happen and more importantly that I have everything I need to complete the job by the time it's due.

Back on topic:
- Working for Enterprise gave me the kick in the ass I needed to realize that I should make a career out of something I care about.
- It made me realize that I can live on a lot less money than I had previously thought possible (although thankfully I don't have to worry about that anymore).
- It provided me with the most stressful work environment I'll ever be exposed to, and gives me perspective when I get stressed at my current job. It's nice to step back from a situation and realize that even though a deadline is very quickly approaching, I could be answering 3 phone lines at the same time with a line of customers in front of me and 3 cars to wash.
- It's given my post enterprise employers an idea of what I am willing to do and how hard I'm willing to work.
- It forced me to be much more thorough in salary negotiations with post Enterprise employers ("hourly salary").

Like a lot of people, I don't regret working for Enterprise. The experience taught me a lot and I met a ton of people I wouldn't have otherwise met. The only thing I would change about it is that I would have gotten out once I realized I didn't want to be there anymore.

[Robert]

Originally Posted by Cynical

Yes some good did come from working at ERAC.
1. I learned how not to be taken by fake phone salesmen who smile all day and laugh once you leave the store.
2. I learned how to talk to complete strangers and control the conversation
3. I learned how little 30k actually is, understand I came from a pretty poor family, 30k was more than both my parents made.
4. 2 of the 3 people in my groom party are ERAC dropouts like me. Two guys I would have never met nor associated with had it not been for ERAC.

At least it was not all bad then.

[FormerClone]

I perfected my drinking technique at many after hours events, I learned from the best!

[JD Dude]

Many people at my current job bitch about it, but it's 40 hours a week, and pays nearly double what I made at ERAC. It makes me appreciate the position I have and realize that things could certainly be much much worse.

[contracheck]

Originally Posted by Benzo Lorenzo

Outstanding post.

All very well said .... very well indeed !

[yambag]

i look back on my tenure with some good memories.
i had a lotta fun working at erac...after two weeks of training i was alone in a satellite branch with only a car prep and a intern. it was pretty laid back and i could pretty much dictate how the day went. i truely felt like i was running my own business.
but the good feeling wore off and i started hating ERAC...esp the money. At first it seemed decent, but after a few paychecks i realized how little it was for the work i put in. even harder to stomach was the fact that i was making about 10k less than i did at my previous job.
to make up for the loot i would take vehicles home and around town, as a mt. Did this everyday, didn't use my own vehicle for a good couple months.
that was a definite perk, albeit an illegal one.
so things were going as good as they could, then i was asked to relocate to a bigger branch, which i did.
no more freedom, no more running my own branch, no more cars to drive.
no perks and the job is a complete waste...a few perks (gas card, company car, etc) and the job is stomachable.
after a few months i realized how unprepared for the professional world i was...i had thought "fuck i have a degree, the world is mine" sadly i was wrong. i realized then and there that i needed more schooling...working dead end erac type of jobs was my fate if i didn't.
so after leaving erac i went back to school, got some certs, and now i work for a fire engine company.
i got more time off then i know what to do with, i make about 50k as a rookie, and i love my job.
thanks ERAC for firing me, without that kick in the pants i'd still be slaving away for you living andy taylor's dream...now i live my own!!!

I learned how it felt to be truly humble. This is something I have never felt before, nor do I expect to feel it again, yet I am better for it.

Having a humilating job really helps put things into perspective.