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What can I do to stand out and best prepare for future opportunities in the accounting world?
I am an accounting student at Texas A&M and recently got into a masters program and have an internship at a big for firm. Any advice for class work, what to expect on an internship, how to grow my network.
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Kathryn’s Answer
Congratulations on reaching this exciting stage in your master’s program and internship journey! I recently wrapped up my first year at Big Four in Charlotte, and I wanted to share a few thoughts as you embark on this next chapter. First, approach your internship with curiosity—be a sponge and soak up as much knowledge and experience as you can. Internships are a fantastic opportunity to get a feel for the day-to-day work and culture at a Big Four firm. Don’t hesitate to ask questions—truly, there are no dumb questions. The more you ask, the more you’ll learn from those around you. My top piece of advice is to get an early start on your CPA exam preparation. Once you begin working full time, it becomes much more challenging to carve out study time. Tackling the exams while you’re still in school can make a huge difference. I know that balancing school, CPA exams, and starting your career can feel overwhelming at times, but remember to find and appreciate the small moments of joy along the way. Those are what make the journey worthwhile. Wishing you the best of luck—you’re going to do great things!
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Michael’s Answer
Hi Lauren - seems like you are already making great progress with your future career. Congrats on the internship. My advice is to not take the internship for granted and learn everything you can about the firm. There is such a wide variety of opportunities at a Big 4 firm. An internship is an opportunity to take advantage of seeing all they have to offer and if there is something that specifically interests you apart from your internship role. Chances are you'll have the opportunity to to request areas that you'd like to start your career, especially if you are a high performing intern. With respect to network, your internship will be a great start. Stay connected with the peers and leaders you meet following the end of your internship. Best of luck!!
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Sneha’s Answer
Hi Lauren, That’s amazing, congrats on the master’s program and Big Four internship! To stand out, focus on mastering the fundamentals in your coursework (especially audit, tax, and data analytics) and always ask questions when something isn’t clear because it shows initiative. During your internship, be proactive: volunteer for extra tasks, be detail-oriented, and seek feedback regularly. To grow your network, connect with professionals on LinkedIn, attend firm-sponsored events, and don’t be afraid to reach out to your peers and mentors for coffee chats. I interned at a Big 4 company and currently work there full time! There's a lot of opportunity if you look for it, remember to put your best foot forward, ask questions if you're unsure of something, and pay close attention to the work you submit for review. Good luck!
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Khushboo’s Answer
Hi Lauren, congrats on the achievements! During college, I had an internship with a Big 4 firm as well and one of the things I found to be most helpful was to schedule coffee chats with professionals from my team as well as other service lines even if I didn't particularly have a project with them. Don't be afraid to ask, since I've realized most people are more than willing to talk to you and help in any way they can! I would also ask your mentor/ coach/ another professional that you work with if you can "shadow" them for a day and sit through a couple internal calls and client calls to get a more practical idea of what your day would look like if you were to start full-time. Finally, it's important to figure out during your internship whether the firm is a good fit for your career aspirations (and not just are you a good fit for the firm). Good luck!
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Matthew’s Answer
Hi Lauren - that's a fantastic question! In my time working at a Big Four accounting firm, I noticed that the people who did well were those who welcomed changes in the industry and kept themselves up-to-date. For instance, when I began my associate role, there was a big focus on automation and digital analytics. I made it a point to learn as much as I could, joined every training session, and chatted with others who were leading these changes. This helped me find new chances to show my skills and connect with colleagues who were also interested in these shifts.
As an intern, you have a great chance to talk with partners and staff. Ask them what the biggest changes are in the industry or your specific area of accounting. This mindset will take you far and help you grow your network!
As an intern, you have a great chance to talk with partners and staff. Ask them what the biggest changes are in the industry or your specific area of accounting. This mindset will take you far and help you grow your network!
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Madison’s Answer
Hi Lauren! Congrats on the program and internship! I'll echo what everyone else has said about putting yourself out there and trying to ask questions and explore as many different types of accounting as possible. One thing that I think is important to keep in mind ahead of starting your internship is that you are there to learn! No one expects you to know everything (or even most things) on your first day on the job. An internship is supposed to be a learning experience, and it is perfect to help your development. If you go in knowing that you won't know everything, you will be more likely to speak up and ask questions. That's best way to learn and it will help you in the future. Seek out mentorship while you are at work and try to find people who want to teach you. Not only will this help you at this internship, but it will help set you up for your career in the future. Congrats again and good luck!
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Yair’s Answer
Hi Lauren, a fantastic way to shine in the accounting world is by taking the CPA exam sooner rather than later. Instead of waiting until you're working full-time, consider studying and taking it in your last year of college or during a lighter internship. This will set you apart and give you a great head start in your career!
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Sarah’s Answer
Hi Lauren! It seems like you're off to a fantastic start in your career. I work at a Big Four firm in Austin, TX, and for your internship, the key is to ask lots of questions and connect with as many people as possible. Try to sit in on calls and meetings. Don't stress about not knowing everything—internships are all about learning!
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Christopher’s Answer
In your internship, I would also recommend trying to get as diverse as an experience as possible. Try to get exposed to as many people and engagements as possible. Also, try to get opportunities, even if only a single day shadow experience, outside of the competency your internship is for. For example, if you are an audit intern try to get exposure to tax or consulting. Not only will exposure to many people help with converting your internship into an offer but it will give you hands on exposure to the varying work types and guide your decision making in if audit, tax etc. is the right competency for you.