Top 10 Hertz Interview Questions and Answers for 2026: Counter Sales, Management Trainee, and Customer Service Roles

You landed the interview. Now what?

Hertz is one of the biggest names in the car rental industry, and whether you’re going for a counter sales representative role, a management trainee position, or a customer service spot, the interview process has some consistent patterns you need to know about.

Most Hertz interviews for front-line roles are relatively straightforward. According to data from Indeed, about 84% of candidates felt the interview was a fair assessment of their skills, and a large portion received an offer within a day or two. That said, “straightforward” doesn’t mean you should walk in unprepared. The candidates who get hired walk in knowing exactly what Hertz is looking for: energy, a customer-first attitude, and genuine ambition to grow.

Before we get into the questions, it helps to understand what you’re actually walking into. The typical counter sales interview is a 30-minute, one-on-one conversation with a branch manager. It’s mostly behavioral. Management trainee positions may involve a recruiter phone screen followed by an in-person or video interview. Either way, the themes are consistent: customer service, conflict resolution, sales, and your career goals.

If you’re still working on putting together the resume that gets you in the door, our guide to how to write a resume with no experience is a great place to start.

Let’s get into the questions.

The Top 10 Hertz Interview Questions and Sample Answers

1. Tell Me About Yourself

This one opens almost every Hertz interview. It sounds simple, but a lot of people ramble. The goal here is a tight 90-second snapshot of who you are professionally — not your life story.

Keep your answer focused: where you’ve been, what you’re good at, and why Hertz makes sense for where you’re headed. Branch managers are listening for confidence, communication skills, and fit.

Sample Answer:

“I’ve spent the last two years in retail customer service, mostly handling high-volume environments where I had to manage multiple customers at once. I got really good at staying calm when things got hectic and at finding ways to turn a frustrated customer into a loyal one. I’m at a point in my career where I want to be somewhere I can actually grow, and Hertz caught my attention because of the clear progression path from counter rep to management. That’s exactly the kind of opportunity I’m looking for.”

Interview Guys Tip: Don’t open with “I was born in…” or “I’ve always loved cars.” Anchor your answer in your professional story and connect it directly to the Hertz role. Keep it under two minutes and end with why you want this specific job.

2. Why Do You Want to Work for Hertz?

This question shows up in nearly every Hertz interview, and the wrong answer tanks you fast. Saying “I need a job” or “I like cars” is a miss. Hertz wants to see that you’ve done your homework and that you have a real reason for being there.

A few things worth knowing: Hertz is the number one airport car rental brand in the U.S. It also operates the Dollar and Thrifty brands. The company is investing heavily in its EV fleet and digital customer experience. Mentioning any of these shows you’ve done more than skim the website.

Sample Answer:

“Honestly, it came down to reputation and growth. Hertz has been in this industry for over 100 years and is still expanding. I looked into the management trainee path and the fact that you can move from a front-line role to branch management is genuinely exciting to me. I want to be somewhere where putting in the work actually leads somewhere. Hertz seems like that kind of place.”

3. How Do You Handle a Difficult or Upset Customer?

This is the heart of any Hertz interview. Counter reps deal with delayed vehicles, billing confusion, long lines, and frustrated travelers — every single shift. Your answer needs to show that you stay calm, take ownership, and find solutions without making things worse.

This is a behavioral question, so use a real example using the SOAR method. Walk them through the situation, the obstacle, what you did, and what the result was — without labeling each part out loud.

Sample Answer:

“I was working the front desk at a hotel when a guest came in absolutely furious. His reservation had been moved to a different room category without anyone notifying him, and he’d planned the trip specifically around the original room. My manager wasn’t around, and there was a line behind him. I apologized right away and made it clear I understood why he was upset, because he had every right to be. I looked at what we had available, found a comparable upgrade at no extra charge, and had him moved within about ten minutes. He left satisfied, and he actually came back to thank me before he checked out.”

Interview Guys Tip: Hertz interviewers are specifically listening for whether you stay calm and take initiative. The words “I apologize” and “here’s what I can do” should both show up somewhere in your answer. Blame-shifting or getting defensive in your story is a red flag.

4. Tell Me About a Time You Upsold a Product or Service

This one surprises some candidates because it feels more like a sales interview question than a customer service one. But it shouldn’t be a surprise at all. Upselling insurance, fuel options, and vehicle upgrades is a core part of the counter rep job at Hertz. Your ability to sell — without being pushy — matters a lot here.

If you’ve never had a formal sales role, think about any time you recommended something to a customer that genuinely helped them and that they agreed to. Retail, food service, even recommending a phone plan upgrade at a wireless carrier all count.

Sample Answer:

“At my last job in retail, I was helping a customer pick out a gift for his wife’s birthday. He had a specific item in mind, but I noticed it was her first time trying that product line and asked a couple of questions. Based on what he told me, I suggested a starter kit that had everything she’d need, which was more expensive but made more sense for her situation. He appreciated the recommendation and came back two weeks later to say she loved it. That interaction stuck with me — it’s not really about the upsell, it’s about actually listening and making the right recommendation.”

5. Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?

This question has a very specific purpose at Hertz. The company invests in promoting from within, and branch managers are actively looking for candidates who want to climb. Saying you just want a steady job is the wrong answer. Showing ambition — specifically toward management — is exactly what they want to hear.

One former Hertz employee put it well: they want someone who wants to move up, who wants to earn the company as much as possible, and who won’t settle for complacency.

Sample Answer:

“In five years, I’d like to be in a management role. I don’t want to fast-forward over the learning — I think there’s a ton of value in really understanding every part of the operation from the ground up. But I want to grow into someone who’s leading a team, hitting branch targets, and mentoring the next wave of people coming in. That’s the kind of trajectory that gets me excited.”

For more help framing career goal answers, check out our deep-dive on where do you see yourself in 5 years.

6. Tell Me About a Time You Worked Under Pressure

Hertz airport locations can be absolute chaos during peak travel seasons. Flights land, lines pile up, vehicles aren’t ready, and systems go down. The ability to stay composed and keep working efficiently under pressure is non-negotiable for this role. This is a behavioral question — have a real story ready.

Sample Answer:

“I was closing out a shift at a restaurant when three large parties showed up at the same time, our kitchen was running behind, and two servers called out sick. The manager was handling the phone, which left me and one other person on the floor. I quickly reorganized the section assignments, stayed communicating with the kitchen, and focused on keeping every table informed even when the wait stretched longer than expected. We got through the rush. A few tables even left good reviews specifically mentioning how calm the staff seemed. That was a good night.”

7. What Does Excellent Customer Service Mean to You?

This question feels easy but it’s a trap for generic answers. “Making the customer happy” isn’t good enough. Hertz wants a candidate who has actually thought about what service means — and who understands that in the rental car business, the customer is often stressed, rushed, or already having a bad day.

Sample Answer:

“To me, excellent customer service means the customer leaves feeling like someone actually paid attention to them. Not just processed them through a transaction. It’s making sure the information they got was accurate, the interaction was smooth, and if something went wrong, we made it right without making them fight for it. In a high-volume environment like car rental, a lot of that comes down to speed and honesty — people don’t mind waiting if you communicate with them.”

8. Tell Me About a Time You Had a Conflict with a Coworker

This question tests your maturity and communication skills. Hertz branches are small, fast-paced environments where team dynamics matter a lot. They’re not looking for someone who claims they’ve never had a conflict — that’s not believable. They want to see that you handle friction professionally and that you can move past it without drama.

Sample Answer:

“There was a stretch at my last job where a coworker and I kept overlapping on tasks and stepping on each other’s toes. Neither of us meant to, but it was creating tension. Rather than let it build, I asked if we could grab five minutes after a shift to sort out who was handling what. It was an awkward conversation to start, but once we talked through it, we came up with a simple system that split things clearly. After that, we actually worked really well together. I think we were both relieved someone said something.”

Our full breakdown of how to answer conflict with a coworker questions covers this in a lot more depth.

9. Are You Comfortable with the Physical Demands and Schedule of This Role?

This question comes up specifically because the Hertz counter rep and driver roles have real physical components. Moving vehicles, working in extreme weather, standing for full shifts, and maintaining a flexible schedule — including weekends and holidays — are all realities. The candidates who get hired are upfront about their availability and don’t hedge.

One key thing Glassdoor reviewers flag repeatedly: Hertz heavily values flexibility. The more open you are about your schedule, the stronger candidate you become.

Sample Answer:

“Completely comfortable. I understand the role involves being on your feet, moving vehicles, and working in different conditions. I’m physically capable of handling that and I actually prefer being active at work over being desk-bound all day. As far as schedule goes, I’m flexible on evenings, weekends, and holidays. I want to be where the team needs me.”

10. Do You Have Any Questions for Us?

This question is not the end of the interview — it’s a final opportunity to show you’re genuinely interested and that you’ve thought this through. Asking nothing is a red flag. Asking smart questions about growth, culture, and what success looks like in the role signals that you’re serious.

Avoid questions about pay, vacation, or benefits at this stage. Ask those after you have an offer.

Strong questions to ask Hertz:

“What does a typical first 90 days look like for someone starting in this role?”

“What separates the people who advance quickly here from those who stay in place?”

“How do you measure success for this position beyond sales metrics?”

“What do you enjoy most about working at this branch specifically?”

Knowing how to read the room and ask the right questions is a skill — our guide on questions to ask in your interview has a full breakdown.

What Type of Interview Should You Expect at Hertz?

The interview format varies by position. Counter sales and customer service roles typically involve a single in-person interview with a branch manager, lasting about 30 minutes. The questions lean heavily behavioral.

Management trainee candidates usually go through a recruiter phone screen first, then an in-person or video interview with the branch or city manager. Some locations use a panel format for management roles. After any offer, expect a background check and drug screening.

The overall tone tends to be conversational and relatively low-pressure. That said, don’t mistake “low-pressure” for “easy.” Branch managers are reading your energy and personality as much as your answers. The entire interview is an audition for how you’ll show up with customers.

If you want to get into the full psychology of what happens in an interview room, this piece on what happens in the room after you leave is worth a read before your interview day.

Top 5 Insider Tips for the Hertz Interview (Straight from Glassdoor)

After digging through hundreds of real employee and candidate reviews on Glassdoor, some patterns emerge that you won’t find in the generic “interview prep” content out there. Here’s what people who’ve actually been through the process say.

1. They’re hiring for personality fit as much as skill.

Multiple Glassdoor reviewers who successfully landed Hertz roles mentioned the same thing: the interview focused heavily on their personality, energy, and whether they’d fit the team culture. One candidate described it as the manager looking for “motivations and drive to succeed.” Your attitude and enthusiasm are being evaluated as hard as your answers.

2. Show you understand this is a sales job.

A lot of candidates come in thinking of Hertz as a customer service position with some car stuff involved. Former employees are clear that upselling insurance, upgrades, and fuel options is a major part of daily performance. Going into the interview with that understanding — and showing you’re comfortable with it — puts you ahead of candidates who seem surprised by the sales component.

3. Bring up ambition early and naturally.

One of the most consistent pieces of advice from people who work at Hertz is that the company genuinely wants to promote from within, and managers are actively looking for that hunger during the interview. Weaving your growth ambitions into your answers — without forcing it — signals that you’re the kind of employee worth investing in.

4. Be specific about your availability.

Reviewers consistently note that Hertz branches can be understaffed, especially at airports, and that managers put significant value on scheduling flexibility. The more specific and open you are about evenings, weekends, and holidays, the better your odds. Vague or hedging answers on availability have cost candidates offers.

5. Don’t underestimate the follow-up.

Several reviewers noted that candidates who sent a thank-you email after the interview created a favorable impression, while others reported being ghosted when they didn’t follow up at all. Given that branch managers are juggling operations while hiring, a brief, professional email after the interview keeps you front of mind. You can find solid thank you email after interview templates to use here.

How to Prepare Your Behavioral Stories Before the Interview

The biggest preparation mistake candidates make is trying to memorize answers. What actually works is building a small library of real work stories you can adapt on the fly. For Hertz, you want at least four solid stories ready that cover:

A time you dealt with a difficult customer or situation and turned it around. A time you worked under pressure or in a high-volume environment. A time you went above and beyond what the job required. A time you had a conflict or disagreement at work and resolved it professionally.

We teach the SOAR method — Situation, Obstacle, Action, Result — as a framework for constructing behavioral answers that tell a complete story without running long. If you want the full breakdown, our guide on the SOAR method walks through exactly how to use it with real examples.

The key thing to remember with behavioral answers is this: the story matters less than what it reveals about you. Hertz managers aren’t collecting anecdotes. They’re assessing how you think, how you handle stress, and whether you’ll hold up when the counter is backed up and a customer is frustrated.

Final Thoughts: Walking In with Confidence

Hertz interviews are designed to find people who are energetic, customer-focused, and genuinely interested in building something at the company. The questions aren’t designed to trip you up — they’re designed to give you room to show who you are.

The candidates who succeed walk in having done their homework on the company, with two or three solid behavioral stories ready, an honest and open answer on scheduling, and a clear message that they want to grow. That combination checks every box a branch manager is looking for.

Do that, send a thank-you note, and you’re in better shape than most of the people you’re competing against.

If you want to brush up on the full spectrum of behavioral interview prep before your Hertz interview, our guide to top 25 behavioral interview questions is the most comprehensive resource we have.

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