How did you prepare for your internship search? What were some of the steps, i.e. fine tuning your resume, interview prep, etc.

The first step in my internship search was creating a resume. I went to a resume review with employers from the accounting profession and made an appointment with the UACC to have a one-on-one review. Once I was comfortable with my resume and cover letter I sent them to the companies in which I was interested. I then researched the companies by going to their websites to learn more about them. The information I focused on was their history, services offered, mission statement, and any other notable attributes. This also had the effect of putting me more at ease during the interview process. During this time I also made a list of questions I had developed throughout the searching process to ask during the interview.

What three things would you tell your peers they need to do so they find and secure a great internship?

• Research: Nothing is worse than going into an interview not knowing anything about the firm. Your interviewer will see that you did not spend any time preparing.
• Develop Questions: Go into the interview with questions. The interview is a chance for you to learn whether you will be a good fit with the firm.
• Relax: Try your best to relax and be yourself when it comes time for the interview. I tried to think of each interview as an opportunity to converse with an experienced individual in my future profession rather than being drilled with one-sided questions.

Talk about the benefits of networking, timely follow-ups, and being proactive in your search.

The purpose of an internship is to learn, so employers realize at this point, a student will not have a lot of real-life experience in the field. For this reason, finding an internship has a lot to do with relationship building. There are a lot of students in the internship pool during recruiting season, and any way to get your name into a recruiter’s head is beneficial. This can be done by attending career fairs and events where you have the chance to meet recruiters. After meeting an employer, send a quick email or note thanking them for taking the time to meet with you. This really shows employers you are serious.  

What did you learn from your internship search that you will apply in future job searches?

I feel that the more practice I had interviewing, the easier it became for me. While at the beginning I dreaded the interview, toward the end of the search I was really excited to meet new people and have the opportunity to learn about a firm. Throughout the process I learned the interview is just as much about me as it is the employer.

What is the most valuable part of your internship experience so far? What skills are you learning that you can apply to other internships and jobs?

While the education I have been receiving is highly valuable there is simply no substitute for real-world experience. An internship is a great test to see if the educational track you are on is one that can lead to a successful future given your own personal strengths. If a student finds that their internship experience was not all they thought it would be, this can also be beneficial. It is better to realize that a career choice adjustment is needed earlier than later.

During my internship I have learned that knowing the answers is not always as beneficial as knowing how to find the answers. Throughout the summer I have been working on several different “projects” at once. Multi-tasking is a very important skill to have in public accounting as it is in all fields. Another valuable skill I learned this summer was how to communicate more effectively. While I certainly learned a lot pertaining directly to the auditing profession, these aforementioned skills are imperative to have in any job, so regardless of which direction I take my life in, this summer will have been very rewarding.