By Clint Janyes, SVP of Human Resources

Great leadership begins with recruiting and training the best talent, which is why Cash America developed a paid internship program in 2007.

“These days most companies won’t consider you without internship experience,” said Learning and Development Intern Hannah Kunneman. “My time at Cash America has helped prepare me for a great career and gives me an advantage when applying for full-time jobs after graduation.”

Research shows that internships are essential in securing employment after college. Internships have become so important that in a 2011 survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), 86 percent of surveyed companies claimed they use internships to recruit college students for future employment.

“We’ve worked to add more structure to the Cash America internship program and it has grown significantly from five interns in 2007 to nine participating in our program this year – the largest group to date,” said Corporate Human Resources Recruiter Nneka Ladday. “At Cash America we aim to make our internships exciting and challenging, while offering real-world relevance.”

From interacting with top executives, including the CEO, to building a business portfolio, the experience our interns gain is priceless. We have adopted a mentor state of mind that nurtures talent and guides interns onto their career path.