Explore Early Careers for Students + New College Grads

Welcome to the Starting Line

Let's Build Tomorrow, Together

The starting line of a great career can begin here, now. Our early career development programs are designed to provide a variety of growth, mentorship, real-world experiences and opportunities to help you explore different career paths so you can find the role where you can make the biggest impact. Explore more today about what we offer, including:

    • For Students: The Starting Line program – paid 12-week summer internships at our New Hampshire headquarters.
    • For Recent College Graduates: Next Gear rotation program – immersive one-year paid full-time role (benefits and bonus eligible) that’s part of a comprehensive early career development path at Merchants designed to transition to the perfect role for you!

Meet Your Team Leader

Say hello to Joe. Joe Wentworth, PHR, SHRM-CP, is Senior Learning + Development Specialist on the HR team at Merchants, developing learning and #growth paths for our entire fleet, advocating for lifelong learning  … and always reaching out to the #futurefleet (with excellent early career opportunities to learn and grow with us). He manages MerchantsiQ, the Starting Line program (paid summer internships), technical apprenticeships, mentorships (43 pairs in 2023), and our increasingly popular Next Gear one-year rotation program for recent college graduates.

  • Joined team in 2021
  • 20 years of experience including innovative internship programs at major NH employers, including Lindt Chocolate and High Liner Foods; he holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources from Granite State College

 

 

 

For Students

The Starting Line (paid internships)

The STARTING LINE program offers students 12-week paid summer internships at our New Hampshire headquarters.

Apply to the Starting Line program at Merchants Fleet – a 12-week paid summer internship opportunity designed to jumpstart your exploration of a rewarding career. This structured program connects you with a dedicated mentor within a specific area of interest that aligns with your educational goals and aspirations – and allows for exposure to all facets of what it’s like to work at the fastest-growing Fleet Management company in North America.

  • Credit & Risk Management
  • ESG & Innovation
  • Technology
  • Acquisitions
  • Financial Operations
  • Sales Enablement
  • Mobility Operations
  • Fleet Registration

Fast Facts

  • Candidates should be currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Associate’s program at an accredited college or university with a minimum 3.0 GPA, with anticipated graduation in 2024 or 2025.
  • All Starting Line internships are currently located at the Merchants Fleet headquarters in Hooksett, NH. Parking is free on-site and we encourage ride-sharing with other participants. We also have funds and networks to put you up in a local dorm and other things.
  • Sorry, the Summer 2023 Starting Line program cohort is filled – see listings to apply for the best group for your background and interests for next year.

An Internship at Merchants Fleet will give you valuable real-world experience while you are still a student. It will enable you to apply your education in an environment that is both intellectually challenging and rewarding. At the end of your time with us, you will have a greater understanding of what we do and how closely our career offerings match your career ambitions. Bonus: Successful Starting Line program participants are automatically invited to apply for the intensive one-year Next Gear program once they graduate from school.

 

 

 

For Recent College Grads

Next Gear: Early Career Rotation program

The NEXT GEAR Early Career Rotation program is an immersive one-year paid full-time apprenticeship (benefits and bonus eligible) for recent college graduates that’s part of an innovative development track at Merchants Fleet designed to transition to the perfect full-time role for you!

This structured program connects you with a dedicated mentor within a specific area of interest that aligns with your educational goals and aspirations – and allows for exposure to all facets of what it’s like to work at the fastest-growing Fleet Management company in North America.

All Next Gear tracks include rotations through a variety of business units and teams to provide you ample opportunities, leadership access, and rewarding experiences during your early career journey at Merchants Fleet.

  • Financial Operations Track
  • Marketing and Human Resources Track
  • Fleet Operations Track
  • Sales Enablement Track

Fast Facts

  • Candidates should hold a recently completed Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or expected graduation by May 2023.
  • All Next Gear program associate roles are currently located full-time at the Merchants Fleet headquarters in Hooksett, NH.
  • Sorry, the 2023 Next Gear program cohort is closed – see listings to apply for the best group for your background and interests for next year!

The key objective of this unique program is to allow you to surface your career strengths and interests through meaningful, challenging work experiences – resulting in a better informed choice for your next role (hopefully with us)! Next Gear program graduates are regularly offered promotions, on the fast track to becoming our new generation of innovative leaders at Merchants Fleet. Associates in this program are full-time employees eligible for full-time benefits and the annual Total Rewards Incentive Program. See job listings for more information.

Picture Yourself Here

Merchants Fleet was founded on a philosophy that puts you in the driver’s seat. For more than 60 years we’ve been giving our clients flexible, customized, and consistent fleet management solutions they can rely on. Today Merchants Fleet is the fastest growing fleet management company in the United States, driving toward ambitious goals, including helping 50% of our customers switch to electric-powered transportation by 2025.

Learn From Your Mentor, Company Leaders & Your Team

Enjoy unprecedented access to company leaders and the opportunity to build lifelong relationships that will power your career for a lifetime with a thriving, one-of-a-kind workforce. We have in our awesome ranks several interns who are now VPs. We’ll share those stories here soon (in the meantime, feel free to contact Joe and ask about that). A few other items below for you …

  • Please don’t let geography or financial constraints deter you from applying to our Early Careers programs, because Joe might be able to arrange subsidized housing at New England College (Manchester campus) and/or deeply discounted vehicle rentals (maybe even a really cool #EV that’s good for the planet) if you need a way to get to us at the Hooksett, NH campus #goforit
  • Timing: Starting Line summer internships typically start the Monday before Memorial Day and run 12 weeks; Next Gear rotation program typically begins the Monday after Memorial Day and runs one calendar year; exceptions to this can be made, contact Joe.

 


Pictured right: Say hello to Adam Secore (SVP of Operations) and Steven Curt (VP of Client Services). Steve started out as an intern at Merchants Fleet in 2012!    

Our Values

Service

We Commit to the Most High-Touch & Responsive Service in the Industry

Integrity

We Believe that Doing Business With the Utmost Integrity is the Only Way to Do Business

Flexibility

We are Creative, Entrepreneurial, and Nimble in Our Solutions

Community

We Believe in Giving Back Our Time, Energy and Resources to Make a Better World

Innovation

We Cultivate Out-of-the-Box Thinking, Continuous Improvement, and Technology

LIFE ON THE TEAM

Voices #LifeAtMerchants

I am truly impressed with the professional development opportunities that have been made available to me so early on in my career at Merchants. The leadership team is involved with employees and provide a level of mentorship that I haven’t experienced at any other company.

Sarah Davis
Executive Marketing Specialist


Explore Early Career Opportunities with the Fleet: We offer early career tracks including 12-week Starting Line paid summer internships for students, a unique one-year Next Gear rotation program for recent college graduates, and a very cool Apprenticeship program for technical roles. 🎓 Learn more and apply today!  

Hey Rock Stars, Meet Your HR + Talent Team

PICTURED ABOVE Top Row: Christine Fredericks (Senior Talent Business Partner since 2015), Victoria Goudreau (HR Associate since 2021; 2019 Marketing, Sales & Innovation Intern), Aubrey Bussey, PHR (Benefits Manager since 2022), Jen Raimer, SPHR, SHRM-SCP (Director, Talent Management since 2019), and Sarah Rossetti (HR Manager since 2021). Bottom Row: Alicia Hart, SPHR, SHRM-SCP (VP, Human Resources since 2007; Fleet member since 2003), Joe Wentworth, SPHR, SHRM-SCP (Senior Learning & Development Specialist since 2021), Julia Therrien (Talent Management Supervisor since 2019), Penny Desauliners (HR Information Systems Analyst since 2001), Meaghan Hull, aPHR (Employee Experience Specialist since 2018), Brenda Kelley (Senior Talent Business Partner since 2017), Richie Coladarci, Ed. D. (Director of Human Resources since 2019), and Chip Clarke (Talent Recruiter since 2021).