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MSU Federal Credit Union's intern program provides pipeline of future employees
By more than doubling the size of its intern program, MSU Federal Credit Union plans to expand opportunities for area high school and college students to gain on-the-job experience—and expand its own pipeline of “homegrown” future employees.
The $2.9 billion credit union serving 202,000 members plans to open the MSUFCU Financial Innovation and Education Center next spring to house its intern program and Financial Peer Education Program. Interns will begin working in the member relations and financial education departments and will have the opportunity to move into other positions based on their skills, interests, and career goals, says Whitney Harrell-Anderson, VP/sales and financial education.
MSUFCU had 13 paid interns as of early fall, when it began accepting applications for a new “class” of 20 to 30 additional students interested in learning about financial services as a career. Several former interns have gone on to full- and part-time positions with the credit union in its call center, member relations, communications, financial education, IT, and accounting departments.
“One of our major goals with the MSUFCU Financial Innovation and Education Center is to continue to increase the number of interns who move into full-time positions at the credit union after graduation,” Harrell-Anderson says. “We have seen success with interns transitioning into full-time careers here, and we hope to see that success continue and grow.”
The credit union will recruit new interns through regional college campus programs and events at local high schools. The length of the internships will vary based on students’ goals and performance, from a single semester up to four years, she notes. Students will also have the opportunity to job shadow for a day, a week, or an entire summer if they are interested in learning more about work in specific departments.
Karen Bankston is a long-time contributor to Credit Union Management and writes about credit unions, membership growth, marketing, operations and technology. She is the proprietor of Precision Prose, Middleton, Wis.
