CIBC Caribbean Welcomes Summer Interns to its Cayman Business

“We are setting you up for success, but you must play your part.”

This was the message CIBC Caribbean’s Chief Human Resources Officer Janine Billy shared as she welcomed just over 80 bright young men and women spread across the branches and offices of eight of CIBC Caribbean’s ten territories as part of the annual summer internship programme. Six of those interns are currently stationed across the bank’s business in The Cayman Islands.

“We are excited about giving you the opportunity to set you up for success,” Ms. Billy told the interns, many of them final year or recent university graduates. However, she told them that they also had a part to play. “You have to do your part, show up, ask questions and make sure that you understand. You will get out of your internship, what you put into it,” she said.

She added that the bank was “very proud of our internship programme as it is one of the ways that we give back to our communities. We have a culture of care for our communities, and you are part of those communities.”

Billy noted that the internships will offer “meaningful work”, and the participants will not just be “filing somebody’s paperwork, but we will let you use the skills you learned at university. It is very important to us that you have a meaningful experience,” she added.

Her comments were echoed by Jewel Clarke, Director of Talent Management & Employee Experience, who said the internship programme was “a labour of love and a very important part of our early career development programme.”  She told the interns gathered online for the welcome event that she “loved seeing the energy and passion that you bring” and encouraged them to “enjoy the next couple months.”

Andrew McLaughlin Jr.  is currently working with the bank’s Technology team. He noted: “I am currently studying Information Systems at Florida Institute of Technology, working in the (bank’s) Computer Services Department gaining a 4th summer’s worth of experience to be able to handle a possible full-time position here for when I complete my university education. With every summer that passes, I become more familiar with the CIBC environment and how they both implement and maintain the technology within. I also gain experience on how to professionally respond to and comply with users’ technological problems.”

Josh Cumber’s attachment to the Corporate Credit Risk Management team means he can broaden his experience as he pursues a degree in accounting at Brock university. During my internship.  “I am working with the corporate credit department, where I’ve had the opportunity to gain hands on experience and enhance my knowledge of the banking sector. This internship has been incredibly beneficial in helping me apply the theoretical knowledge I’ve gained in class to practical situations. I’ve also improved my technical and communication skills and developed a better understanding of the professional work environment.”

Stephanie Menko is studying Anthropology and Arabic at the University of Sussex in the UK. This summer she is working in the Customer Service Department, and, coupled with her internship experience at CIBC last summer, she notes that she has become more acquainted with banking operations.  “I am continually gaining experience on how to professionally engage with clients and colleagues. additionally, my experiences continue to help me develop useful skills such as communication, collaboration, and adaptability.”

Gemel Sobers, the bank’s Head of Country form Cayman, added: “this is our opportunity to expose these bright young minds to the world of work; for them to see that banking goes beyond the frontline who serve our clients with distinction every day. There is a lot of dedication that goes into making the whole banking experience a great one for our clients and we want to show our interns how we do that.”