From Internship to Employment

Texell Credit Union hosts a summer internship program for area college students to learn what it’s like working in a financial institution. This past summer, Texell hired six interns who received real-life experience in six departments - accounting, commercial, marketing, training, IT, and legal and compliance.

At the close of the internship, three interns continued working part time. After graduation from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB) in December, they all accepted offers for full-time employment at Texell. These new employees are Jacob Svare, Finance Analyst; Logan Gerhart, Commercial Support Specialist; and Rawlei Balthrop, Collections Paralegal. They recently shared their thoughts on the experience of moving from an internship to employment.

How did you learn about the internship opportunity, and how was the onboarding process?

“I learned about the internship opportunity at a career fair on the UMHB campus. Onboarding was quick, easy, and the training that followed suit was mostly hands on.” – Jacob Svare

“Michelle Dudas and Chris Haynie [Texell’s HR team] were both welcoming individuals who greeted me with a smile and marketed Texell and its culture phenomenally. The training staff did a great job explaining each aspect of the company. Working with each member of the commercial department was easy because of their kind and helpful personalities.” – Logan Gerhart

“Onboarding was actually very simple and thoroughly laid out. Even something as simple as telling me where to go on the first day and having a group of people there waiting for the interns helped to ease the first day anxiety.” – Rawlei Balthrop

What was your favorite experience during your internship?

“My favorite experience during the internship was volunteering at an event for Churches Touching Lives for Christ, because it was unexpected, but also really cool for a business to get involved.” – Jacob Svare

“Working, learning, and getting to know the commercial department and meeting with potential and current borrowers were my favorite aspects of the internship.” – Logan Gerhart

“My favorite experience of the internship was the work I got to do in the Legal and Compliance department. I knew I wanted more out of this position than just a summer internship, and so I worked hard to prove myself and experience as much as I could in the internship.” – Rawlei Balthrop

How would you describe the work environment at Texell?

“Some aspects that might differ from other businesses would be the availability of management and the breadth of responsibilities an individual might have. As an intern I spoke with the CFO, CEO, and others toward the top of the professional hierarchy, which is telling.” – Jacob Svare

“The employees here really care about the work they do and do it to the best of their ability. They also care about what people think of the credit union and do all they can to keep Texell in high standards.” – Logan Gerhart

“The environment is fun and relaxed but doesn’t jeopardize productivity. The connections I have at work keep me excited to come in every day.” – Rawlei Balthrop.

Why did you decide to accept employment?

“I accepted employment at Texell because I felt like the work I was performing was actually impactful, the compensation was fair, and because I had grown accustomed to the people.” – Jacob Svare

“I needed an internship that would pay, that I could learn from and see a potential future and would allow me to finish my college courses during the summer. I also accepted because of the welcoming spirit and personalities of Chris Haynie and Amy Merriman [COO] in my interview.” – Logan Gerhart

“This was a position that I had already wanted, but the final thing that locked my decision in place was the quick turnaround time from interview to offer. Things were kept realistic in the interview, but being called as soon as the next day to be offered the position made me feel wanted, which is something valuable in a workplace.” – Rawlei Balthrop

What have you learned at Texell that will stick with you?

“In accounting, there are certain jobs that people relate to the field, like tax work, auditing, and bookkeeping. While they are part of accounting, they can differ from industry to industry, and financial institutions (FIs) as an industry are somewhat unique. Having skills that are related to the field of FIs can set me apart from my peers.” – Jacob Svare

“Time management and personal skills are the two most important aspects that I have learned and that will stick with me. I believe that in business, you need to communicate clearly and appropriately. It also improved my decision-making and time management skills.” – Logan Gerhart

“Something that Elisha Nicholas (Compliance Analyst) had told me on our first branch audit together was that Texell is one team. It isn’t headquarters against branch or branch against branch. When we take that approach, we are always growing as a team.” – Rawlei Balthrop

For more information on career opportunities and the benefits of working at Texell, visit Careers.Texell.org. Watch videos featuring employees from different departments and learn about Texell’s philanthropic efforts with Texell Serves. For questions about employment, email hr@texell.org or call 254.774.5120.

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