Meet Candice Clement-McPhatter, a senior manager, university relations at Fifth Third Bank. Candice graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with degrees in International Studies and Spanish and received her MBA, with a concentration in HR Management, from Strayer University. Candice has many years of experience in university recruitment, professional development, and talent acquisition, with an intentional focus on helping students early in their careers find opportunities suitable to their interests, while providing mentorship and opportunities to maximize their full potential.
Candice began her position at Fifth Third Bank in May 2020, where she works with universities and colleges to build partnerships and strengthen relationships. One of the most rewarding aspects of being a senior manager of university relations is that her position provides the opportunity to help students in some capacity every day. She not only advocates for students, but also facilitates discussions around how Fifth Third Bank can be more inclusive in the hiring process to attract nationwide diverse talent. Candice also helped introduce a housing initiative, where housing accommodations would be provided by the company for incoming interns in the coming years. This housing initiative would allow Fifth Third Bank increased opportunities to recruit not only local talent, but appeal to a wider range of students with diverse backgrounds of talent.
Given the importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives in today’s world, companies are making a conscious effort to ensure these practices are implemented in the workforce, and Fifth Third Bank is right at the forefront in making this happen. When looking for an internship, Candice recommends students do plenty of research on the company, specifically to understand what is important to the company, their mission and values, as well as to ensure the company integrates diversity into all aspects of what they do. She also wants students to know that while a company does take education into consideration, they also want to see leadership roles within student organizations. Getting involved with organizations and taking part in career fairs and Meet-the-Firm events allows students a greater opportunity to network and the opportunity to make a positive impression, which in many cases can lead to internship opportunities. One of the tips Candice has for students pursuing careers in financial services is to place an increased focus on soft skill development. She says that although hard skills are important, an interviewer will initially evaluate your behavioral and interpersonal skills. Additionally, not being afraid to reach out to recruiters via LinkedIn can play a key part in securing internships.
As a woman and person of color, Candice shared that she has faced many challenges in the workplace. Something that attracted her to Fifth Third Bank was the diversity she saw, not just at the entry or executive level, but at all levels throughout the company. She stressed the importance of influencing others even when not holding a position of authority. For young professionals early in their career, Candice wants them to know that being an effective communicator and having confidence in their individual capabilities and skills will take them far throughout their professional journey.
Candice’s passion for recruiting diverse talent, advocating for students, and willingness to find solutions at Fifth Third are much needed in today’s society. We look forward to the partnership we can continue to cultivate with Candice and Fifth Third Bank and cannot wait to see what she does next as she continues to impact college students and early career professionals. Thank you, Candice!