9 answers
Adrian
Student
Norfolk, Nebraska
1
Question
Updated
391 views
How do you earn internships, and if you earn them how do you balance, school, sports, and the internship at once?
I am playing baseball and signed up for 16 credit hours my first semester. I am majoring in accounting and plan to become a financial advisor.
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9 answers
Dwight Thomas
Consultant
38
Answers
Cedar Grove, New Jersey
Updated
Dwight’s Answer
Hi Adrian,
I hope all is well! This is a great question! Earning internships comes down to starting early and being consistent. Build a simple resume, apply to roles through career portals and company sites, and actively network with alumni or professionals to increase your chances of getting interviews. Getting involved in clubs, gaining small experiences, and showing clear interest in your field can help you stand out even if you don’t have a lot of experience yet.
Balancing an internship with school and sports requires strong time management and discipline. Planning your schedule ahead of time, staying organized, and being realistic about your commitments is key. It’s also important to communicate with coaches, professors, and your employer so expectations are clear, allowing you to manage all three effectively.
I hope this helps you on your journey. Please reach out with any additional questions. Hope to talk soon!
Thank you,
Dwight
I hope all is well! This is a great question! Earning internships comes down to starting early and being consistent. Build a simple resume, apply to roles through career portals and company sites, and actively network with alumni or professionals to increase your chances of getting interviews. Getting involved in clubs, gaining small experiences, and showing clear interest in your field can help you stand out even if you don’t have a lot of experience yet.
Balancing an internship with school and sports requires strong time management and discipline. Planning your schedule ahead of time, staying organized, and being realistic about your commitments is key. It’s also important to communicate with coaches, professors, and your employer so expectations are clear, allowing you to manage all three effectively.
I hope this helps you on your journey. Please reach out with any additional questions. Hope to talk soon!
Thank you,
Dwight
Thank you for all the advice! I think what you had to say actually helps a lot.
Adrian
Gillian Orsburn, PHR
1
Answer
Updated
Gillian’s Answer
Hi Adrian,
I'm a recruiter at an accounting firm and I previously recruited at the campus level. I HIGHLY recommend getting involved EARLY and OFTEN with your campus career center. Generally, any firms that want to recruit at your campus will go through the career center to advertise events, career fairs, networking sessions and internship opportunities.
Work with the career center and/or upper classmen to revise your resume. Do not underestimate the importance of prior jobs, even if it's customer service or landscaping, etc. They all teach you great skills that you can leverage in your future career; the trick is thinking about what you've learned from those roles and translating that into what you plan to do in the future. For example, if you were a landscaper, you likely learned time management, client service skills, budgeting, prioritizing tasks, listening to coaching, etc. All of these are important in an accounting/finance career.
Focus on strong grades as well.
When you do get to chatting with a professional who may hire you, be ready to: 1. Share how your prior experiences have prepared you for a future career, 2. Share WHY you are passionate about working for that person's particular company. this will involve checking out the website for info about what they do and why it's interesting to you. This is silly but I like to think of it like dating...if someone came up to you and said "I want to date you" your logical next question is "why?"...if they don't have an answer beyond "I don't know, I'm just looking for someone to date" would you want to date that person? no way! Same applies to companies, they want to know why you're interested in them. And 3. Ask for specific advice/questions to get the professional engaged, such as "how did you land in the career you have now?" "what would you change about your current role (or company)?" "what are the top skills someone in my position should be honing during college?" etc. And be prepared to actively engage with their responses. This may take some role playing with trusted advisors in your network.
Good luck!
I'm a recruiter at an accounting firm and I previously recruited at the campus level. I HIGHLY recommend getting involved EARLY and OFTEN with your campus career center. Generally, any firms that want to recruit at your campus will go through the career center to advertise events, career fairs, networking sessions and internship opportunities.
Work with the career center and/or upper classmen to revise your resume. Do not underestimate the importance of prior jobs, even if it's customer service or landscaping, etc. They all teach you great skills that you can leverage in your future career; the trick is thinking about what you've learned from those roles and translating that into what you plan to do in the future. For example, if you were a landscaper, you likely learned time management, client service skills, budgeting, prioritizing tasks, listening to coaching, etc. All of these are important in an accounting/finance career.
Focus on strong grades as well.
When you do get to chatting with a professional who may hire you, be ready to: 1. Share how your prior experiences have prepared you for a future career, 2. Share WHY you are passionate about working for that person's particular company. this will involve checking out the website for info about what they do and why it's interesting to you. This is silly but I like to think of it like dating...if someone came up to you and said "I want to date you" your logical next question is "why?"...if they don't have an answer beyond "I don't know, I'm just looking for someone to date" would you want to date that person? no way! Same applies to companies, they want to know why you're interested in them. And 3. Ask for specific advice/questions to get the professional engaged, such as "how did you land in the career you have now?" "what would you change about your current role (or company)?" "what are the top skills someone in my position should be honing during college?" etc. And be prepared to actively engage with their responses. This may take some role playing with trusted advisors in your network.
Good luck!
Kayla Cody
Financial Statement Audit
1
Answer
Charlotte, North Carolina
Updated
Kayla’s Answer
Hi Adrian,
Specifically about balancing all of them --
I want to emphasize the importance of communication. You can rely on your advisers, like coaches, professors, or employers, to help you decide what to prioritize. Taking on all these responsibilities means you’re committing your time, but it's normal to feel unsure since you’re new to adult life. Don't hesitate to talk to your advisers about your workload and ask for their advice on how to manage it.
Start these conversations early to build trust and respect. This way, if things get tough, it will be easier to handle. From your question, it seems you’re ready to take on your responsibilities and succeed at each, which is great! When you first talk to your advisers, share your situation and ask for their input. You might say something like, "Between January and May, I have baseball, 8 credit hours, and an internship. All are important to me, and I want to do well in each. I’ll keep you updated on my priorities and any scheduling issues. If you see me struggling, please let me know. Do you have any advice or suggestions on how I can communicate with you better as we continue to work together?"
If a conflict comes up, involve the advisers affected. Explain the situation and suggest a possible solution, then ask for their guidance. They’ll likely want to help, especially if you have a good relationship. Offering a solution shows you’re trying to handle things on your own, but asking for their input shows respect.
I hope this helps! Feel free to reach out if I can clarify anything.
Kayla (a fellow Nebraskan)
Specifically about balancing all of them --
I want to emphasize the importance of communication. You can rely on your advisers, like coaches, professors, or employers, to help you decide what to prioritize. Taking on all these responsibilities means you’re committing your time, but it's normal to feel unsure since you’re new to adult life. Don't hesitate to talk to your advisers about your workload and ask for their advice on how to manage it.
Start these conversations early to build trust and respect. This way, if things get tough, it will be easier to handle. From your question, it seems you’re ready to take on your responsibilities and succeed at each, which is great! When you first talk to your advisers, share your situation and ask for their input. You might say something like, "Between January and May, I have baseball, 8 credit hours, and an internship. All are important to me, and I want to do well in each. I’ll keep you updated on my priorities and any scheduling issues. If you see me struggling, please let me know. Do you have any advice or suggestions on how I can communicate with you better as we continue to work together?"
If a conflict comes up, involve the advisers affected. Explain the situation and suggest a possible solution, then ask for their guidance. They’ll likely want to help, especially if you have a good relationship. Offering a solution shows you’re trying to handle things on your own, but asking for their input shows respect.
I hope this helps! Feel free to reach out if I can clarify anything.
Kayla (a fellow Nebraskan)
Angela Wong, CPA
Audit
3
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Angela’s Answer
The best advice is to start planning early when you’re looking for internships. A lot of the big accounting firms recruit on similar timelines, so it can be really helpful to keep track of deadlines in one place. Also, many universities have resume templates you can use to get started. It's totally fine if you don’t have a lot of directly related experience yet! For your first internship, companies are usually care more about your interest in the field, the classes you’ve taken, and whether you can think critically and work well with others.
Balancing school, sports, and an internship is definitely possible with good planning. A summer internship is usually a lot easier to manage than one during the school year, especially if you already have a busy sports schedule. If your internship does overlap with other commitments, it’s a good idea to be upfront with the team about your availability and see if there’s any flexibility. And don’t worry about not being able to say yes to every task. Being honest about your bandwidth is a big part of doing well in all three areas.
Best of luck to you!
Balancing school, sports, and an internship is definitely possible with good planning. A summer internship is usually a lot easier to manage than one during the school year, especially if you already have a busy sports schedule. If your internship does overlap with other commitments, it’s a good idea to be upfront with the team about your availability and see if there’s any flexibility. And don’t worry about not being able to say yes to every task. Being honest about your bandwidth is a big part of doing well in all three areas.
Best of luck to you!
Thank you for taking the time to help.
Adrian
Taylor Hughes
Strategy Consultant
3
Answers
Tucson, Arizona
Updated
Taylor’s Answer
Hi Adrian,
I agree with the other responses - as a former college athlete who also managed many different activities, being disciplined with your time is important, and taking opportunities to multitask where you can.
You connections through baseball are something you can leverage! Whether that's (a) communicating with others on your team to see if there are any parents/bosses/peers that are in careers related to finance who would be willing to talk with you about your goals/potential steps you can take to prepare for opportunities or (b) looking for people who work at the companies you're interested in for jobs or internships who have connections to baseball or athletics. Having that mutual interest can help with breaking the ice if you want to reach out to them. People who were also athletes have a more tangible idea of how much work it takes, which gives them an idea of how you'd be able to work professionally!
Good luck!
I agree with the other responses - as a former college athlete who also managed many different activities, being disciplined with your time is important, and taking opportunities to multitask where you can.
You connections through baseball are something you can leverage! Whether that's (a) communicating with others on your team to see if there are any parents/bosses/peers that are in careers related to finance who would be willing to talk with you about your goals/potential steps you can take to prepare for opportunities or (b) looking for people who work at the companies you're interested in for jobs or internships who have connections to baseball or athletics. Having that mutual interest can help with breaking the ice if you want to reach out to them. People who were also athletes have a more tangible idea of how much work it takes, which gives them an idea of how you'd be able to work professionally!
Good luck!
VIJAY NARAHAR REDDY KONDURU, CPA
Tax Senior
4
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
VIJAY NARAHAR REDDY’s Answer
Hi Adrian,
You can earn internships by consistently doing small things well. Focus on keeping your grades strong, building relationships with professors and coaches, joining business or accounting clubs, creating a simple resume, and applying early. Remember, most students don't get everything right away. They build trust first, and then opportunities come.
Plan your days and stick to your schedule as much as possible, but don't overload yourself. College is a unique time, so also spend some time getting to know the people around you. A quick chat with someone new can teach you a lot. Try to pick up on hidden meanings; this habit can help you in finance roles.
A good balance is putting school first, baseball second, and fitting an internship into your schedule when it works for you. This might mean a summer internship or a lighter role during the semester. It's not about falling behind; it's about being smart.
You already have a goal and are working towards it, which is what really matters.
All the best!
You can earn internships by consistently doing small things well. Focus on keeping your grades strong, building relationships with professors and coaches, joining business or accounting clubs, creating a simple resume, and applying early. Remember, most students don't get everything right away. They build trust first, and then opportunities come.
Plan your days and stick to your schedule as much as possible, but don't overload yourself. College is a unique time, so also spend some time getting to know the people around you. A quick chat with someone new can teach you a lot. Try to pick up on hidden meanings; this habit can help you in finance roles.
A good balance is putting school first, baseball second, and fitting an internship into your schedule when it works for you. This might mean a summer internship or a lighter role during the semester. It's not about falling behind; it's about being smart.
You already have a goal and are working towards it, which is what really matters.
All the best!
Erik Lee
Tax Consultant
6
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Erik’s Answer
Here's some friendly advice: Balancing an internship with 16 credits and playing baseball can be really challenging, so it's important to take care of yourself and avoid burnout.
Internships are often gained through networking and attending recruiting events on campus, applying via your school's career portal, or exploring opportunities on LinkedIn and company websites.
When you're ready, consider going for a full-time internship instead of part-time. This way, you gain more valuable experience, form stronger connections, and companies often view full-time interns more favorably for future job offers.
Don't forget to talk to your school's academic advisor. Many universities offer course credit for internships, which can help ease your academic load while you're working.
Right now, focus on maintaining a good GPA and adjusting to college life. Internships are usually something to think about in your junior year, so there's plenty of time.
Internships are often gained through networking and attending recruiting events on campus, applying via your school's career portal, or exploring opportunities on LinkedIn and company websites.
When you're ready, consider going for a full-time internship instead of part-time. This way, you gain more valuable experience, form stronger connections, and companies often view full-time interns more favorably for future job offers.
Don't forget to talk to your school's academic advisor. Many universities offer course credit for internships, which can help ease your academic load while you're working.
Right now, focus on maintaining a good GPA and adjusting to college life. Internships are usually something to think about in your junior year, so there's plenty of time.
Peter Thabit
Consulting
1
Answer
New York, New York
Updated
Peter’s Answer
Hi Adrian!
Great question! For me I think there are a few important factors to securing an internship. As Dwight mentioned, networking with your alumni network will be crucial. These coffee chats will enable you to get a feel for the career you are trying to pursue. Come into those conversations with an open mind, be curious, and learn about what each individual does to truly gain an understanding of whether or not financial advising is truly to career path you want to embark on. I would also recommend networking with accounting majors who may not be financial advisors to get a flavor of what other people have done with their accounting degree so you can feel confident that financial advising so for you! These conversations will ideally be a starting point to help you secure that interview for your internship. Even just one conversation a week will go a long way. Targeting your alumni network and leveraging LinkedIn will go a long way. When connecting with individuals be sure to include a message when you connect with them so they will be drawn in right away!
I hope this helps and best of luck!
Peter
Great question! For me I think there are a few important factors to securing an internship. As Dwight mentioned, networking with your alumni network will be crucial. These coffee chats will enable you to get a feel for the career you are trying to pursue. Come into those conversations with an open mind, be curious, and learn about what each individual does to truly gain an understanding of whether or not financial advising is truly to career path you want to embark on. I would also recommend networking with accounting majors who may not be financial advisors to get a flavor of what other people have done with their accounting degree so you can feel confident that financial advising so for you! These conversations will ideally be a starting point to help you secure that interview for your internship. Even just one conversation a week will go a long way. Targeting your alumni network and leveraging LinkedIn will go a long way. When connecting with individuals be sure to include a message when you connect with them so they will be drawn in right away!
I hope this helps and best of luck!
Peter
Monica Mischke
Campus Recruiter
10
Answers
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Updated
Monica’s Answer
It's fantastic that you're already thinking about internships! To get an internship, try attending your school's career fair. They usually happen twice a year, in the fall and spring. Meeting employers and networking early can be really helpful. It also lets you learn more about companies and the work you're interested in. Since you want to be a financial advisor, do you know anyone in that field you could shadow or talk to for more insights? Taking these small steps can really boost your chances of finding opportunities in college. Good luck!
Thank you for the info. I appreciate you sharing
Adrian