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How to craft a strategy to get offers from your targeted companies?
I'm an accounting student and I have been applying to many internships but have been getting rejected over and over. I need help!
15 answers
Updated
tech’s Answer
Getting an internship can be especially difficult and very competitive due to the the amount of applicants pursuing the same types of positions. First thing to remember is not to get discouraged! You will likely have to apply to several positions before even getting an interview. If you're thinking your resume/application could use some improving, throw it into chatgpt! It can give you some helpful ideas on how to spruce it up. If your school offers career fairs, or has counselors and/or a job posting portal, utilize all the resources available! A simple internship job posting on my university's career portal lead me to the position I'm currently in today. I did not land the initial internship until several interview rejections later. But I watched for new internship postings daily, took a chance, and finally landed the interview. Be patient and have confidence!
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Amulya’s Answer
To get job offers from the companies you dream of working for, start by learning all about them—what they do, the type of people they hire, and the skills they need. Tailor your resume and cover letter for each company and job, showing how your skills match what they're looking for. If you need to, build any important skills by taking courses or working on projects. Try to connect with people who work there, like on LinkedIn, and getting a referral can really help. Practice answering interview questions and be ready to talk about your experiences and why you want to work there. Focus on applying to jobs that match your skills instead of sending out lots of generic applications. After interviews or meetings, send a thank-you note to show your interest. Learn from each step, stay positive, and don't get discouraged by rejections. This way, you'll have a much better chance of getting offers from your dream companies.
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Guillermo’s Answer
Hello Salma,
I have recent experience with this question as I participated in my company's recruiting events. The prior responses are spot on. First, prep your resume to highlight your skills - use active voice and tailor the items to the position you want. For example (it's a silly one but stay with me on this) let's say you worked as a team lead of 4 (different ages and backgrounds) to change a light bulb - you can dress it up professionally and say that you led a diverse team to provide a better office environment which led to X improvement. Its not what you say, but how you say it.
Second, attend the relevant career events at your university, from the resume workshops to career fairs.
Third, when you meet recruiters or recruitment team members, have your 30 second elevator speech as well as question prepared. The more engaged you are with the individual, the more memorable you are. After the event, send a follow up email or message on LinkedIn.
If you apply and get rejected, send a thank you note for their consideration, and if you are so inclined ask if there are any items they think you should work on for future interviews. The worst that can happen is that they don't respond, on the other hand you could have just found a new mentor at your side.
I have recent experience with this question as I participated in my company's recruiting events. The prior responses are spot on. First, prep your resume to highlight your skills - use active voice and tailor the items to the position you want. For example (it's a silly one but stay with me on this) let's say you worked as a team lead of 4 (different ages and backgrounds) to change a light bulb - you can dress it up professionally and say that you led a diverse team to provide a better office environment which led to X improvement. Its not what you say, but how you say it.
Second, attend the relevant career events at your university, from the resume workshops to career fairs.
Third, when you meet recruiters or recruitment team members, have your 30 second elevator speech as well as question prepared. The more engaged you are with the individual, the more memorable you are. After the event, send a follow up email or message on LinkedIn.
If you apply and get rejected, send a thank you note for their consideration, and if you are so inclined ask if there are any items they think you should work on for future interviews. The worst that can happen is that they don't respond, on the other hand you could have just found a new mentor at your side.
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Emily’s Answer
If you go to a college or university, I HIGHLY recommend going in-person to a career fair. Often times companies there will direct you to an application link specifically for students that attended the fair, which means a smaller competition pool. In addition, if you can consistently show up to a company's events and have a recruiter recognize your face, I found that to make a difference. Someone who shows up, is excited and interested, and shows professionalism will probably still get an interview even if their resume isn't in the top 10-15%. When you go to these fairs, try to make an effort to talk to a recruiter specifically, and ask for their email/LinkedIn. After the fair finishes, go send them an email saying thank you for their time and the information they provided. It goes a LONG way, and I have had recruiters respond to my email offering me an interview. At the end of the day, I think getting yourself into the interview process is the biggest hurdle to overcome, and there is something to be said about practice makes perfect. When I was doing recruiting, I applied pretty much everywhere and took every interview I could get just for the practice of it, so by the time the interview came round for my dream company, I was able to ace it.
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Cameron’s Answer
I went to a College which was considered a target school for the Big 4 Accounting Firms and the most helpful thing for me was joining the Student Accounting Society on Campus. Within that club, there were weekly guest speakers from:
- The Big 4 firms
- Mid-tier firms
- Government agencies
My first internship was actually an unpaid internship with the Department of Health and Human Services and although I did not get paid in dollars, I was able to add my experiences from that internship on my resume. This helped me get a job at Deloitte right out of college, and I eventually moved to Okta.
The Student Accounting Society let me network with accounting professionals every week. That’s how I met my future team at Deloitte. It came down to a good culture fit. I knew I could work well with them, even during the long hours of busy season.
- The Big 4 firms
- Mid-tier firms
- Government agencies
My first internship was actually an unpaid internship with the Department of Health and Human Services and although I did not get paid in dollars, I was able to add my experiences from that internship on my resume. This helped me get a job at Deloitte right out of college, and I eventually moved to Okta.
The Student Accounting Society let me network with accounting professionals every week. That’s how I met my future team at Deloitte. It came down to a good culture fit. I knew I could work well with them, even during the long hours of busy season.
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Jerome’s Answer
Get out and network! The market is super competitive and a fair number of roles go to those who have connections. You can also look to try and network virtually. You never know who your connections may be connected to.
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Julie’s Answer
I had a similar experience, and my mentor told me to alter my resume to match the job description. This was the best hack and landed me the job I wanted!
Look at the career you're going for and find key words that stick out or are mentioned most often. Then when looking at job descriptions, look for those same key words and phrases and incorporate them into your resume. Try to write a brief introduction describing your experience, while incorporating words from the job description.
When you change your resume, recruiters will match key words and phrases when doing a search for candidates. Most companies use an internal tool to help recruit talent and they'll tell the tool what words to look for. As someone who's been a hiring manager, this is exactly what has helped find candidates with the experience I was looking for.
I hope this helps! Best of luck to you :)
Look at the career you're going for and find key words that stick out or are mentioned most often. Then when looking at job descriptions, look for those same key words and phrases and incorporate them into your resume. Try to write a brief introduction describing your experience, while incorporating words from the job description.
When you change your resume, recruiters will match key words and phrases when doing a search for candidates. Most companies use an internal tool to help recruit talent and they'll tell the tool what words to look for. As someone who's been a hiring manager, this is exactly what has helped find candidates with the experience I was looking for.
I hope this helps! Best of luck to you :)
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John’s Answer
If you're repeatedly getting rejected before the interview stage (i.e. your resume wasn't accepted) then that likely means you should focus on your resume. The responses above were all great but here are 3 quick things you can do to improve your chances.
First is the structure of your resume.
Look up Jake's resume online if you aren't sure on the overall structure, it's tailored to software roles so probably replace projects/tech skills with leadership or community involvement. It's a good example of a clean, readable resume that's ATS friendly and doesn't have too much whitespace.
Second is the content of your resume.
Focus on showing that you have experience with the work necessary for the job and with working well in a team. You can also use this format for almost any bullet point - "What you did, how you did it, what was the result if applicable." By putting what you did first it lets the recruiter immediately see your individual impact instead of having to search for it or potentially miss it cause they're really just skimming the page. Assume the recruiter's only gonna read the first part of the sentence so you wanna show what you did specifically then if they want to know more they can read the details of how you did it and what the results were after (try to include metrics when you can).
For example, "Selected data points to be monitored by analyzing cable manhole histories in Excel exposing 2 infrastructure risks."
Last is prioritize applying early.
Most companies give out interviews on a rolling basis so the first candidates they see that have quality resumes will be the first to get interviews which can fill up quickly.
First is the structure of your resume.
Look up Jake's resume online if you aren't sure on the overall structure, it's tailored to software roles so probably replace projects/tech skills with leadership or community involvement. It's a good example of a clean, readable resume that's ATS friendly and doesn't have too much whitespace.
Second is the content of your resume.
Focus on showing that you have experience with the work necessary for the job and with working well in a team. You can also use this format for almost any bullet point - "What you did, how you did it, what was the result if applicable." By putting what you did first it lets the recruiter immediately see your individual impact instead of having to search for it or potentially miss it cause they're really just skimming the page. Assume the recruiter's only gonna read the first part of the sentence so you wanna show what you did specifically then if they want to know more they can read the details of how you did it and what the results were after (try to include metrics when you can).
For example, "Selected data points to be monitored by analyzing cable manhole histories in Excel exposing 2 infrastructure risks."
Last is prioritize applying early.
Most companies give out interviews on a rolling basis so the first candidates they see that have quality resumes will be the first to get interviews which can fill up quickly.
Updated
Wong’s Answer
Hi Salma. Applying for internships can be frustrating, especially when you keep getting rejections. First, you may need to make a list of 10–15 companies you really want to work for. These could be accounting firms, finance departments in big companies, or even smaller local businesses. Research each company: What kind of interns do they usually hire? What skills do they mention in their job posts? Who works there (check LinkedIn)? This research will help you tailor your resume and cover letter to each company.
Next, tailor your resume and cover letter to each company. Don't use the same version for every application. Highlight the skills and experiences that match what the company needs. Even if you don't have direct accounting experience, mention coursework, group projects, or part-time jobs where you used similar skills like attention to detail, time management, or Excel.
The next step is networking. Try to connect with people who already work at these companies. When people know your name and your interest, they're more likely to refer you when an opportunity comes up.
Finally, learn from rejection. If you don't get an offer, ask for feedback. Use it to improve your next application. Sometimes it's not about your skills, but about timing or competition. Hope this helps.
Next, tailor your resume and cover letter to each company. Don't use the same version for every application. Highlight the skills and experiences that match what the company needs. Even if you don't have direct accounting experience, mention coursework, group projects, or part-time jobs where you used similar skills like attention to detail, time management, or Excel.
The next step is networking. Try to connect with people who already work at these companies. When people know your name and your interest, they're more likely to refer you when an opportunity comes up.
Finally, learn from rejection. If you don't get an offer, ask for feedback. Use it to improve your next application. Sometimes it's not about your skills, but about timing or competition. Hope this helps.
Updated
vignesh’s Answer
Find the companies you want to work for, match your skills and resume to what they need, and make connections there to get referrals and be noticed for job openings.
Chin Chin Leong
CFO, Finance Leader, Financial Analyst, Financial Management, Finance Manager
2
Answers
Updated
Chin Chin’s Answer
I would suggest to focus your applications on your skills, interests or achievements which differentiates you from others, and how they will help you be successful in the organizations you are keen to join. To do this, you also need to spend time researching these orgs, in terms of, recent news, history, what they are known for, the industries they are in etc.
Additionally, make your resume shine, by paying attention to the format (eg: Headers, bold key terms) and keep it concise. Look at free online templates to get started.
Additionally, make your resume shine, by paying attention to the format (eg: Headers, bold key terms) and keep it concise. Look at free online templates to get started.
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Daniel’s Answer
Hi, here some thoughts for you... I hope you find it useful:
How to Make Your Offer Stand Out
- Be Bold and Innovative: Your proposal should capture attention—show confidence and creativity.
- Craft an attractive subject line: Make it engaging and highlight your unique approach or differentiator.
- Keep It Concise: Brand managers and decision-makers have limited time. Avoid lengthy proposals.
- Lead with a strong hook: Start with a compelling reason to read further.
- Show clear value: Explain briefly why your work delivers results and why it matters.
Good luck!
How to Make Your Offer Stand Out
- Be Bold and Innovative: Your proposal should capture attention—show confidence and creativity.
- Craft an attractive subject line: Make it engaging and highlight your unique approach or differentiator.
- Keep It Concise: Brand managers and decision-makers have limited time. Avoid lengthy proposals.
- Lead with a strong hook: Start with a compelling reason to read further.
- Show clear value: Explain briefly why your work delivers results and why it matters.
Good luck!
Updated
Lior’s Answer
If you want to stand out in your career, it’s not just about what you studied or where you volunteered. Lots of people have taken the same classes and followed similar paths. What really matters is what you bring to the table beyond that.
Think about the skills you’ve built - not just technical ones, but how you solve problems, work with others, and adapt when things change. Can you handle unexpected challenges? Learn something new quickly? Lead a group or support a teammate under pressure?
These are the things employers notice. They want someone who’s flexible, curious, and ready to grow. So when you talk about yourself, focus on how you’ve applied your knowledge, how you’ve grown through experience, and how you can contribute in ways others might not.
It’s not just what you know - it’s how you use it.
Think about the skills you’ve built - not just technical ones, but how you solve problems, work with others, and adapt when things change. Can you handle unexpected challenges? Learn something new quickly? Lead a group or support a teammate under pressure?
These are the things employers notice. They want someone who’s flexible, curious, and ready to grow. So when you talk about yourself, focus on how you’ve applied your knowledge, how you’ve grown through experience, and how you can contribute in ways others might not.
It’s not just what you know - it’s how you use it.
Updated
Malini’s Answer
Update your resume: Highlight your key skills, relevant courses, and hands-on experience. Adjust it for each internship to match what the employer needs.
Expand your network: Networking is crucial in New York. Attend local accounting events, career fairs, or alumni gatherings. Use LinkedIn to connect with professionals and reach out to recruiters.
Pursue certifications: Consider beginner certifications like QuickBooks or Excel, or start your CPA journey. These can help you stand out.
Improve interview skills: Practice is key. Try mock interviews or use career services at your school to get ready.
Apply wisely: Look beyond big firms. Smaller firms, startups, or nonprofits can offer valuable experience and future opportunities.
Stay motivated: Rejections happen, but keep learning and applying. Your persistence will lead to success.
Expand your network: Networking is crucial in New York. Attend local accounting events, career fairs, or alumni gatherings. Use LinkedIn to connect with professionals and reach out to recruiters.
Pursue certifications: Consider beginner certifications like QuickBooks or Excel, or start your CPA journey. These can help you stand out.
Improve interview skills: Practice is key. Try mock interviews or use career services at your school to get ready.
Apply wisely: Look beyond big firms. Smaller firms, startups, or nonprofits can offer valuable experience and future opportunities.
Stay motivated: Rejections happen, but keep learning and applying. Your persistence will lead to success.
Updated
Holly’s Answer
Keep your spirits up! Writing a handwritten letter to the stakeholders can make a great impression. It's even better if you can deliver it in person, showing your commitment to the role. If possible, offering to work a few hours for free as an intern can highlight your eagerness to gain experience. I also suggest joining networking sessions to connect with these businesses. You've got this!
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