InternQC draws young talent back to the region

The connections Gerry Anne Hayes made during internships in the QC drew her back to the region from Chicago. She’s launched her career in the Quad Cities and a path to leadership in the professional development program at Vibrant Credit Union.

While a student at St. Ambrose University, Hayes interned for the Quad Cities Chamber from January to August 2021, first as a marketing and sales database intern. After graduation, she was invited to stay on for the summer to help with communications and logistics for InternQC, a summer program hosted by the Chamber that allows young talent to gather, experience and become immersed in all the region offers.

“It was really fun,” she said. “There were interns from different schools, and some of them didn’t have friends in the Quad Cities. At these monthly meetups, you’d meet a friend or two, make weekend plans, and get a taste of the QC.”

The goal of InternQC is to attract and retain young professionals and keep that talent in the Quad Cities. Hayes said it also was a good way to learn about local businesses, several of whom she now regularly interacts with as part of her job at Vibrant.

Nearly 80 percent of employers extended job offers to eligible interns. And 83% of those interns accepted the position, according to a 2021 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

“By partnering with companies, we can engage summer interns into our businesses and community. They get to see and experience what the QC offers - as a young professional and a young person. That connection is an effective tool in workforce attraction for our region,” said Mark Holloway, the Chamber’s Vice President, Talent and Inclusion.

Hayes graduated in May 2021 with a BA in marketing with a minor in accounting. Originally from the Beverly-Morgan Park neighborhood of Chicago, she moved back home hoping to find a job in her field and live with her parents as she landed on her feet. Then a contact at the Chamber reached out to her, telling her about a job at Vibrant Credit Union. No prior experience was needed and they would train you. “It was perfect,” Hayes said.

Hayes moved back to the QC and started at Vibrant in November. She is now two-thirds of the way through the company’s nine-month professional development program.

At Vibrant, she’s getting experience as a bank teller and as a contact center agent. She’ll transition into the role of a personal banker in the next couple of weeks. She’s also shadowing more experienced colleagues in the areas of loan management, information technology and human resources.

“The professional development program lays out the groundwork for a basic understanding of what the company does,” she said, adding the company is “learner-friendly and supportive.”

Hayes said her internships and InternQC experience played a role in her decision to move and call the region home. “It taught me so much about the community, about networking and about how to market my skills.”

Sign up your summer interns now. The program begins June 2.