By Danyul Pulley, Austin Peay State University TSCPA Student AmbassadorWhen attending a smaller school, it sometimes might feel
that we are at a disadvantage to those at larger schools when it comes to
recruiting opportunities. Don’t worry, I felt the same! However, I’ll let you
know that’s not the case at all. Not as many firms may come to our Meet the
Firms events, but that doesn’t mean we can’t go to them! We must stay proactive
and get our names out there. Here are three tips to landing an internship at a
public accounting firm coming from a smaller school.
Perfect Your Resume
Your resume is going to be a very important aspect when it
comes to landing interviews for public accounting internships. The stronger
your resume is, the better chance you have of landing an interview. The best
resource for getting resume advice and assistance is through your school’s
Career Center. You are going to want to keep your GPA high, above a 3.5/4.0,
show involvement and leadership, and include any other relevant experience you
might have. The good thing about attending a smaller school is that it is easier
to get involved in clubs or organizations you are passionate about. It is also easier
to get leadership positions in those clubs!
Network, Network, Network
This is by far the most important thing you need to do to
get your name out there. The saying goes, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you
know,” and that is true when it comes to networking! If you don’t already have
one, make sure to set up a LinkedIn account, because this is how you will do
most of your networking. Start by looking to see if there are any alumni
working in the firms you wish to work at. It is easier to connect with someone
if you have something in common, such as attending the same school. Sending
them a message is a great way to learn more about their experience at the firm
and enables you to ask any other questions you might have. You can also use LinkedIn
to connect with local recruiters for the firm you’re interested in. Recruiters are
aware that there are some schools where they don’t actively recruit, and if you
are reaching out to them it shows initiative and that you are very interested
in internship opportunities.
Prepare for the Interview
When you are accepted for an interview, whether it be in
person or virtual, you need to research the firm. You need to be familiar with
the firm and know why you are attracted to that firm. You should know the
firm’s values and even the CEO or managing partner’s name.
Dressing professionally is very important as well. You want
to give a good first impression to your interviewer. Not only does this show
that you are serious, but it also gives you confidence. You’ll look good and
feel good!
Many interviews for internships will include behavioral
questions. It’s best to use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method
for behavioral questions. You want to explain the situation, what the task or
goal was, what you did to achieve that goal, and what the result was or if you
were able to achieve that goal. You want to be relaxed and be yourself. There
is no need to stress! If you are accepted for an interview that means you are already
qualified, and they just want to see if you are a good fit for their firm.
There will usually be an allotted time for questions at the end of the
interview, and it is imperative that you ask questions. These questions can
range from the firm’s culture to how to prepare for the internship.
You Got This!
Through the recruitment process, it is important to be calm
and be confident. Perfect your resume, never say no to a networking opportunity
and prepare for your interviews. Don’t let the fact that we go to a smaller
school prohibit you. You’re still a competitive applicant and with
determination, you’ll get that offer!
