Investing in Tomorrow’s Workforce

For decades, internships have been among the best ways for prospective employees to get their foot in the door and get noticed by a well-developed and respected company. For employers, internship programs are among the best ways to recruit highly talented young people who often bring fresh perspectives and a different way of thinking.

As part of Golden 1 Credit Union’s commitment to increasing educational opportunities and strengthening financial well-being, we proudly invest in California’s future leaders through our Golden 1 Summer Internship Program. This dynamic internship program has positions available in many departments including auditing, communications, human resources and more. The Golden 1 Summer Internship Program is designed to equip students with the tools and resources needed to be successful young professionals and help them plan their future career paths.

Internships at Golden 1 are a great way for young professionals to be introduced to our company culture, make invaluable connections, gain real-world work experience and possibly land a job. During the eight-week Golden 1 Internship Program, interns participate in valuable learning and development workshops, volunteer in the community, participate in networking sessions with leaders and engage in meaningful work related to their field of interest. At the end of the program, interns are asked to give a presentation to Golden 1 President/CEO Donna Bland on what they learned, their key takeaways, what they worked on and the benefits of their opportunity.

From Intern to Employee

Former Golden 1 intern Gavenjit Kaur (Kaur) was hired for an internship in the human resources department in the summer of 2019 while she was a senior attending the University of California, Davis.

She said the internship helped her find her passion and decide what type of work she wanted to do after graduation. During her internship, Kaur experienced hands-on work in the HR department and participated in meetings where she was able to engage with and learn from our leaders. The entire internship program taught Kaur life skills she says she didn’t develop in college.

We were so impressed with Kaur, we offered her a part-time position when her internship ended, which transitioned into a full-time position as a campus recruiter when she graduated. Kaur said the Golden 1 work culture she experienced as an intern played a major role in her decision to continue her journey at Golden 1.

Operating a Successful Internship Program

The process to be considered for a Golden 1 internship is robust – and yours should be, too. First, we have recruiters screen the candidate to get a better understanding of their interests, goals and even work ethic. Next, we invite any potential interns to meet in person with a recruiter. If they are still being considered, they will then interview with the vice president of HR. Lastly, we have the candidate complete a self-assessment that is shared with the hiring team.

Once we have selected our interns, we provide them with a hands-on, challenging work experience that is not only geared toward honing their skills and helping achieve their career goals, but also provides value to the organization.

Their meaningful work, duties and responsibilities, in turn, benefit Golden 1 team members who can trust interns’ skillsets and work on other priorities.

We teach soft skills as well, such as building professional relationships. One of the greatest advantages to students is the access they have to accomplished professionals in their field. Not surprisingly, speakers from the executive ranks are very popular with students – it’s a great career development and role modeling experience for interns.

When it comes to the future workforce, an internship program is one of the best ways to facilitate success at your credit union.

Rhotunda Conda is the Vice President, Human Resources with the $17.5 billion Golden 1 Credit Union in Sacramento.