If you’re a recent or soon-to-be college graduate, you may be concerned about landing that dream job. Recent layoffs at big-name technology, financial and media companies mean jobs in those industries are harder to come by. Fortunately, plenty of opportunities exist in industries you probably never considered. One that deserves a look, especially if you’re pursuing a career in sales, management, operations or equipment maintenance and repair, is the equipment rental industry.

What is the equipment rental industry?

Equipment rental companies rent out a wide range of equipment, vehicles and tools for do-it-yourself homeowners, construction contractors, landscaping companies, industrial and manufacturing companies, municipalities, event organizers and other customers. Larger rental companies offer specialized equipment and solutions for specific industries in addition to boom lifts, backhoes, generators and other basic equipment.

Full-service, one-stop equipment rental companies also offer cloud-based fleet management platforms, mobile apps, “smart” devices such as wearables and in-house engineers for designing custom solutions.

Why is it a good choice now?

A hot construction market and recent government investment in infrastructure are fueling demand for equipment rentals. Think of it like this: Every new data center, industrial plant, solar farm or highway requires equipment to build it. Equipment rental companies need staff to support the boom in activity, and they compete for top talent.

The industry is evolving rapidly as manufacturers create more sustainable heavy equipment and power generation equipment and the demand for it increases.

What kinds of jobs are there?

The rental industry offers a wide variety of career paths. For people who prefer hands-on work, there are mechanic and commercial driver jobs. For people who thrive on customer interaction and relationship building, there are sales associate and inside sales jobs.

Starting in sales puts you on a career path that can lead to opportunities such as outside sales representative, branch manager or corporate leadership position.

What does United Rentals offer new grads?

Many recent graduates want a job that offers more than just a paycheck. Here are some of the benefits of working at United Rentals, an award-winning Fortune 500 company and the world’s largest equipment rental company.

Onboarding programs

Navigating the transition from school to workforce can be intimidating. United Rentals offers orientation and onboarding programs to welcome new team members and set them up for success from day one. The START program, for example, introduces new hires to different cultural and technical aspects of their job through a blend of online and in-person learning.

Ongoing training and development

United Rentals offers development programs that cater to a variety of skills sets and experience levels. The Sales Development Program is an excellent training opportunity for people looking to start or switch to a career in sales. This program offers a combination of in-person and eLearning, with peer-to-peer activities, coaching sessions, sales challenges and more.

The Technician Development Program is an excellent option for people interested in a mechanical career. Recognized by the AED Foundation, which accredits post-high-school equipment technology programs, it includes technical eLearning with on-machine follow-ups, core skills training in shop equipment and tools and supplier-led hands-on training sessions with tool assistance. Participants receive structured training in general rental equipment as well as specialty products lines.

To help employees in sales, operations, equipment service and beyond excel and advance, United Rentals runs a Leadership Academy that develops leaders and promotes continuous on-the-job learning. The company also has formal and informal coaching and mentoring programs for employees at all levels.

A healthy, positive company culture

A positive company culture is often a high-priority checklist item for young job seekers. Many new grads want to work for companies with values that align with theirs.

United Rentals actively promotes a culture of mutual respect and embraces peer-to-peer support. It has created dedicated employee resource groups to celebrate and support women, military veterans, LGBTQIA+ employees and more. Planet United brings together team members who want to champion sustainability initiatives. You’ll also find plenty of organized opportunities to give back to the community.

It’s no wonder United Rentals was recently named by Forbes one of America’s Best Large Employers. It has also been recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity and by Forbes as one of the Best Employers for Women.

Competitive benefits

Aside from competitive salaries, the company’s benefits packages and employee perks are a key piece of total compensation.

United Rentals offers comprehensive medical, dental and vision care, wellness programs, paid time off (vacation, holidays and sick days), paid family leave, a company-matched 401(k) and educational assistance.

Locations across the U.S. Canada and beyond

As someone who’s just starting their post-college life, you may not want to stay in the same town or city forever. A company with multiple locations gives you flexibility. United Rentals has branches in 49 states, 10 Canadian provinces, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Learn more about why United Rentals is a great place to work and grow, and check out open positions in your area.