The goal of Geneva Capital’s internship program is to give students a closer look at the world of equipment finance while helping them develop the skills and confidence to take the next step in their careers. Our internships focus on several facets of our business from finance and underwriting to marketing, business development, or accounting. For many, that experience has seamlessly moved them from intern to full-time employment on our team.
A good internship is more than a line on a resume. It’s also a great opportunity to put coursework into practice, discover new career paths, and build relationships. If you’re lucky, an internship can also help you find work that you’re passionate about.
We interviewed a handful of former interns turned-full-time team members (and their hiring managers!), to learn how their Geneva internship helped influence career goals, what made them want to return full-time, and what qualities and skills made us want them on our team for the duration!
Geneva Helps Make it Real
We do have department-specific internship tracks, but most of our summer interns cycle through several departments – getting a front row seat to how each internal team works together from bringing a customer in the door to funding and beyond. This structure immerses students in real-world experiences, giving them the opportunity to try on different hats and learn where their interests lie.
Understanding each team’s role gave Brennan, now a Working Capital Manager, the opportunity to learn about the full life cycle of a lease while he shadowed the various departments at Geneva. It gave him a wider scope of how a finance company operates, and how several teams work together…and affirmed his interest in sales.
Already studying finance, Lexi’s internship showed her a side to her major that she might not have considered. Learning about different market segments and how Geneva compares to a traditional bank helped shape her career path as a Financial Analyst.
Getting to take on practical assignments and responsibilities has been a favorite experience of all the interns we interviewed. Brennan, Lexi, and Luke all enjoyed credit case studies because they could apply the training they got from Geneva employees to making their final decisions independently. Hands-on experiences helped them bridge the gap between college and career and narrow their focus.
Comfort in the Uncomfortable
Professional and personal growth happens when you’re willing to take risks, question things, and trust your intuition.
One of our CEO’s favorite quotes is “Get comfortable being uncomfortable”. Facing unfamiliar situations is a huge part of being a young adult, and specifically an intern. Our now Corporate Accountant, Sam, said that asking questions was encouraged during his internship, and it strengthened his ability to be more vocal about what he wasn’t quite sure of…shortening his learning curve! This skill was one he wasn’t able to hone in the classroom alone.
Wade (Credit and Sales departments) and Shawn had similar experiences. They both said they gained confidence by making phone calls and navigating conversations they weren’t sure they were quite ready for. Their Geneva mentors were able to give them the gentle shove they needed to grow.
A Valued Part of the Team
In addition to workplace skills, building connections was the thing most of our intern-turned-employees found invaluable. Spending time together, going for a walk at lunchtime, making team breakfasts, and going on “educational field trips” topped the list for intern-bonding experiences.
Gaining mentors, learning from “seasoned” team members, and truly feeling part of the community we’ve built is something that all interns take away from the experience…whether they’ve ended up coming on full-time or not. Brennan still talks about facing off with some of his favorite co-workers in our annual hotdog eating contest. Prospective interns, here’s your hiring tip: add “Hot Dog Eating Champ” to your resume – and you’re in! (Or at least have a leg up!)
Career Clarity
Hopefully interns walk away with more than work experience; they find some clarity regarding their career goals. During her internship, Lexi, a finance major, realized she preferred being on the equipment side of the industry, a career path she wasn’t familiar with prior.
Wade found himself excited and hoping to return once his internship was over. Getting to know more about our team, our business model, and our commitment to community helped seal the deal in his mind…and he applied right after graduation.
The Ultimate Internship Goal: Prepare You for Whatever is Next
Our goal isn’t to hire every intern who walks through our doors, but it’s a happy bonus when we both find what we’re looking for! The real goal is to give back and help mentor the young people entering the workforce “behind” us…and let them also teach us old dogs some new tricks along the way.
How do you stand out as a student, intern, or job applicant? Here’s what some of our hiring managers said about the former interns we interviewed for this article:
- While each of these interns brought unique strengths to the team, they all shared a willingness to learn, contribute, and embrace new challenges.
- There was no hesitation to ask thoughtful questions and seek out additional responsibilities.
- Relationship-building ability, dedication, and commitment to growth made them an obvious choice for a full-time role.
- Poise in managing competing priorities, working through setbacks, and navigating challenging projects are invaluable qualities to display.
- A positive attitude, optimistic energy, and the ability to critically think and confidently make decisions let future employers know you’re capable of making an immediate impact.
For students considering their next steps, we’re always taking resumes for internships! Apply (if it’s within the application window) or fill out our wait list form here. And, who knows? At Geneva, it may be the start of something even bigger!
