Internships Unveiled

Texas Bay delves into the dynamic world of internships through the dual lenses of interns and employers, shining a spotlight on the transformative journey experienced by both parties. In this post, we navigate through the intricacies of internships, offering insights into Texas Bay's esteemed internship program. From the perspective of interns, we explore invaluable opportunities for growth, learning, and professional development. Simultaneously, we delve into the perspective of employers, unveiling the strategic benefits and profound impact of nurturing emerging talent within the organization. Join us as we unravel the symbiotic relationship between interns and employers within the framework of Texas Bay's internship program,  aspirations transform into accomplishments.

Internship programs offer numerous benefits for interns:

1. Skill Development: Interns gain hands-on experience in a real-world work environment, allowing them to develop practical skills that are often not taught in academic settings. They can learn specific technical skills related to their field of study as well as important soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and time management.
2. Networking Opportunities: Interns have the chance to connect with professionals in their industry, which can lead to valuable contacts for future job opportunities. Building a network early in one's career can be instrumental in finding employment and advancing professionally.
3. Resume Enhancement: Internship experience looks impressive on a resume, especially for individuals who may have limited work experience. It demonstrates to potential employers that the candidate has practical skills and is proactive in gaining relevant experience in their field.
4. Exploration of Career Paths: Internships allow students and recent graduates to explore different career paths within their field of study. This firsthand experience can help them determine if a particular industry or role is the right fit for their interests and skills.
5. Potential for Full-Time Employment: Many organizations use internship programs as a pipeline for recruiting full-time employees. If an intern performs well and demonstrates their value to the company, they may be offered a job upon completion of their internship or in the future when a suitable position becomes available.
6. Mentorship and Guidance: Interns often receive mentorship and guidance from experienced professionals within the organization. This mentorship can be invaluable in helping interns navigate their career paths, offering advice, and providing feedback on their work.
7. Increased Confidence: Successfully completing an internship can boost an individual's confidence in their abilities and professional skills. This confidence can be a significant asset as they transition into the workforce and pursue their career goals.
8. Exposure to Company Culture: Interns get to experience the culture and values of an organization firsthand, which can help them determine if they align with their own values and career aspirations. Understanding company culture is essential in finding a workplace where one will thrive and be happy.
9. Personal Growth: Internships offer opportunities for personal growth and self-discovery. Interns may develop resilience, adaptability, and problem-solving skills as they navigate new challenges and situations in the workplace. These experiences can contribute to their overall growth and development as professionals.

Employers can derive several benefits from implementing internship programs:

1. Talent Pipeline: Internship programs serve as a talent pipeline for organizations, allowing them to identify and attract top talent early in their careers. By nurturing relationships with interns, companies can potentially fill entry-level positions with individuals who already have a good understanding of the organization and its operations.
2. Fresh Perspectives: Interns bring fresh perspectives and ideas to the organization. Their unique viewpoints, often shaped by recent academic experiences, can inspire innovation and creativity within the company. This diversity of thought can lead to new approaches to problem-solving and contribute to the organization's growth and development.
3. Cost-Effective Recruitment: Internship programs can be a cost-effective way for companies to recruit new employees. Rather than investing significant resources in traditional recruitment methods, such as job postings and hiring fairs, organizations can hire interns and assess their skills and fit within the company over a predetermined period.
4. Increased Productivity: Interns can contribute to the productivity of the organization by assisting with various projects and tasks. While they may require some training and supervision initially, interns can take on responsibilities that free up time for full-time employees to focus on more complex or high-priority projects.
5. Brand Ambassadors: Interns can serve as brand ambassadors for the organization, both during and after their internship. Positive internship experiences can lead to interns speaking highly of the company to their peers, professors, and professional networks, enhancing the organization's reputation and attractiveness to potential future interns and employees.
6. Diverse Perspectives: Internship programs allow organizations to bring in individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences. This diversity fosters a more inclusive and dynamic work environment, which can lead to improved decision-making, problem-solving, and overall performance.
7. Mentoring Opportunities: Internship programs provide opportunities for experienced employees to serve as mentors and share their knowledge and expertise with interns. Mentoring relationships can be mutually beneficial, with mentors gaining satisfaction from helping others develop professionally while interns receive guidance and support as they navigate their careers.
8. Retention and Engagement: Offering internship programs can improve employee retention and engagement rates within the organization. Interns who have positive experiences are more likely to consider returning to the company for full-time employment after graduation, reducing turnover and the associated costs of hiring and training new employees.
9. Corporate Social Responsibility: Implementing internship programs demonstrates a commitment to corporate social responsibility by providing opportunities for students and recent graduates to gain valuable work experience and develop their skills. This investment in the next generation of professionals can have positive social and economic impacts on the community.

Texas Bay Credit Union's Internship Program

Texas Bay Credit Union offers a paid internship to graduating seniors heading to college or vocational school or current college students. While the program is geared to the summer months, we do have interns throughout the year when the need and ability are there. Interested applicants can apply through our Career Center. Prospective interns are interviewed by HR to find candidates who wish to learn and gain real experience they can put on their resume. Our internships are paid internships.

An interview with Texas Bay’s HR Generalist, Bianca, about Texas Bay’s Internship Program:

Q:  What are the qualification requirements?
A:  Any recent high school graduate and current college student is eligible – all majors are welcome

Q:  Other criteria required?
A:  No, but we do look for interns who have great energy, a positive personality, and who want to learn and grow.

Q:  What is the average number of interns per year?
A:  We aim for 15, but in 2023 we had 22 interns join the program. Seventeen were new interns, and 5 were returning.

Q:  Is it just summer or do we offer other times of the year?
A:  The big program is only in summer where we do professional training, financial training, lunch with the President/CEO and EVP/CFO, etc., but we have had a few interns come on board during other times of the year, such as during Christmas break.

Q:  What do you feel we get out of the program?
A:  I feel like we get a lot out of the program. The departments/branches that add an intern to their staff have the opportunity to develop their leadership skills and training skills in ways that they may not normally be able to. Some of our interns are not pursuing a major in finance or even business. This requires our leaders to figure out a different approach to training these interns I also think that it's an easy way for the credit union to help young adults increase their financial literacy – one of our training days is dedicated to financial wellness where we talk about credit, loans, and things that most young people have no experience/knowledge about. Lastly, it helps the organization stay with the times, we get to know the thoughts and opinions, of what matters most out of an employer, from our future workforce, or even who we’re currently recruiting. One year we had a lunch with the interns where we discussed multiple topics regarding the workplace (time off, dress code, etc.), and from that conversation, I think we were able to look at and develop new policies that I think will benefit us as an employer in the future.

Q:  Anything else you can think of from either the intern or Texas Bay perspective?
A:  I believe our paid internship program will always be one of the better options for anyone interested in professional experience and it’s because we learn as much from our interns as they will from us. We meet with all interns as their internship is ending to gain feedback so that TBCU can make improvements to the program every year. Last year, from the feedback provided, we added a mentorship program for our interns. This year, we are adding a group project where the interns will work on together so that they get to work more with other interns versus only seeing each other at orientation and training days.

Texas Bay interns learn real skills. For example, in the Marketing and Business Development department, interns receive hands-on experience with content creation and management, email marketing, graphic design, data analysis, managing and attending events, and more. Additionally, we strive to teach interns general business skills, like utilizing Microsoft Office Word, Excel, and Outlook, professional email etiquette, and how to correspond effectively.