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A good accounting internship can prepare you for a career in the field while giving you leverage in a competitive environment. If you are in the process of earning your accounting degree, or you plan on enrolling in a program in the near future, knowing how to land a great opportunity fairly early in your student career is important. Having an accounting internship on your resume will give you the one item you need to stand out in a crowd against others who never sought after the experience. If you want to find a quality accounting internship with a big ticket company, you need to be know how to appear like the perfect candidate. Here are some valuable tips to find opportunities with influential companies instead of small no name companies.
Why Should You Make the Effort to Get an Opportunity with a Top Accounting Firm?
Before you start to learn about the steps you need to take to seek out opportunities, you should get motivation to do the work. As an accounting student, chances are that the numbers are what speak to you the most. It is great to say that the employment rates for interns go up compared to students who did not work as interns, but applying numbers to this fact can truly help you see how this information matters. Aside from living the life of an accountant, taking time to complete an internship makes your chances more likely that you will receive a job offer immediately after graduation.
Based on a survey conducted by Texas State University, an average of 70% of new hires that are recruited annually are interns. These interns also average a salary of $19.78, which is unheard of in most fields. These figures are enough to encourage you to do the work.
Know the Timeline Before It is Too Late
Now that you are excited about being an intern, the next step is searching for opportunities before it is too late. If you were going to start your search as a senior or even as a graduate student, but this could be entirely too late. Accounting firms take a unique approach to hiring interns because they will hire based on their expected staffing needs in the next 2 years. This means that you need to interview a year before you would like to intern to even get considered.
If you still have time to apply, you need to research the largest accounting firms that are in your area and visit their website. You can research open opportunities and the application time frames so that you have your resume and cover letter ready before the deadline hits. Research the company to see what it is known for and what its mission is. Once you have this information, you can create your personal brand that will be cohesive to the company’s brand. Always show passion instead of leaning on your GPA to communicate your worth. Your interviewing skills will need to be present when you are called in. If you are a nervous interviewer, make sure to dress appropriately and practice beforehand.
Not all accounting internships are created equal. Take time to seek out opportunities, and do not expect all openings to be advertised. Once you have a list of firms, submit a resume and a custom cover letter and pursue the recruiter for your accounting internship interview.