Financial Institutions Are Using Branded Welcome Kits for Virtual Interns

The school year already looked different for college students, who had to finish out their semesters virtually. Internships are such an integral part of the college experience and transition from education to the workforce, but the COVID-19 pandemic and remote work are throwing quite a monkey wrench into the way we do things.

But the world needs to keep spinning, and college kids are still expected to get the necessary work experience internships provide, even if they don’t show up in an office. So, to make them feel welcome and keep things as close to normal as possible, big-name companies are giving their interns some pretty cool welcome gifts and gift bags.

The Goldman Sachs welcome kit was actually designed by a former intern, and includes a duffel bag, water bottle, portable charger, pen and notepad. Everything is, of course, branded with the Goldman Sachs logo, and is also recyclable.

Elsewhere in the finance sector, Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse interns are getting branded T-shirts. Conversely, the money usually set aside for Citi’s intern welcome kits has been reallocated to charitable donations, according to eFinancial Careers.

For students and recent graduates navigating the working world for the first time, having something as simple as a branded pen and notebook or a T-shirt can go a long way to make them feel like part of the team, even while they’re working from home. There's also the emerging shift toward welcome kits that include PPE items for office spaces in the midst of the pandemic.

And just like events and trade shows that have gone virtual, it goes to show just how important promotional and branded items are for creating a sense of normalcy. Sending promos to attendees and employees makes them feel like they didn’t miss out on as much, and can create a positive perception of the brand or group.