Our favorite thing about summer is the possibilities it brings. Something about the sunshine and 8:30pm sunsets make you feel like anything can happen. It’s only fitting that this summer you have secured your accounting internship, where the sky is truly the limit and you get to make the most of it.
Internships are great in a lot of ways — from getting real world experience to getting paid. 🤑But we want to talk about one of the underrated benefits of internships — building relationships.
Networking
We’ve talked about networking a couple of times now, and that’s because this really does make a difference. And while there are plenty of ways to network prior to your first internship, it remains a continuous process. And for a young soon-to-be professional, we find that there’s no better place to network than at an internship. When else will you get this much access to so many accounting professionals at once? Exactly!
Going up to someone you don’t know can be nerve-wracking in a casual setting, let alone at a new job, so we have some examples on how you can start a conversation organically. Since we know accounting roles (yep, internships too 😉) come with a side of flexibility, we have tips for both remote and in office days.
Virtual:
- Introduce yourself in the different messaging groups (FYI: a lot of companies use technology like Slack or Microsoft Teams to communicate quicker than email) and share that you’re interested in having one-on-ones to learn more about them and how they contribute to the work being done.
- Got some new meeting invites? Try showing up a few minutes early. Not only is it good practice to ensure you’re on time, but while the meeting is waiting to get started, you can introduce yourself and see if they’d be interested in scheduling a virtual one-on-one or grabbing coffee on the days you go into the office.
- Practice active listening and pay attention to comments they make. If you come across some relevant information or research that relates to the point they made, forward them the link with a note about how it reminded you of their comment.
- Do a little research on a team member’s background via LinkedIn and share that you’re interested in a similar path and would love to hear more about their story.
Office:
- If you work in an office that has an open floor plan and allows employees to choose where they sit, then be strategic with where you place yourself. Choose seats located near areas with a lot of foot traffic such as entrances, meeting rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms. This will increase the odds of you running into people, being able to make eye contact, say hello, and begin a conversation. (Read the room though; if someone’s headed to the bathroom, wait until they come back. 😅)
- You can take advantage of meetings or events in the office too. When you show up early, feel free to find someone who doesn’t look busy, make eye contact, offer a handshake, and introduce yourself: “Hey, I don’t think we’ve met. I’m _______. It’s nice to meet you!” At the end of the meeting, resist the urge to exit right away, and make an attempt to approach someone and drop an “Hi, I’m _______,” accompanied by a “I loved your insight/approach/idea about _______.”
- Did a team member’s comment or background pique your interest in a virtual meeting? Message them and share that you’ll be in the office that week and would love to meet up in person if they’re available.
In all of these scenarios, remember to add them on LinkedIn, so you can keep in contact with them after your internship is over.
Peer-to-Peer Networking
The cool thing about internships is that you’re not alone in trying to figure everything out since usually you’re a part of an intern cohort. If you find networking a little intimidating to do with full blown accounting professionals, consider starting with your peers first. A lot of times, we forget that some of our best connections are those that are working in the trenches alongside us. They could have other companies that they interned at who they still have good relationships with and can put in a good word, or they might have tips on how to excel in a specific specialty, if their last internship coincides with your current one.
Accounting is a field that cares about a healthy work-life balance, so if you find yourself getting along with your coworkers, feel free to see if they want to hang out outside of work. Again, stay professional and be thoughtful about the information you do share. Who knows, you may meet your work-bestie this summer!
Sponsorship
Here’s what they don’t tell you about the professional world: doing your work is only part of the job. When it comes to elevation, it’s not enough to just do, people have to know you. This doesn’t mean they need to know everything about you (nor should they — exercise professional caution), but in order for them to be able to advocate for you, they do need to feel like they know enough. You won’t always be at the table when major decisions are being made about who to offer a full-time role, or who to place on a major project. But if you have a sponsor in those rooms, they can represent you and sing your praises.
Sponsors are essentially vouching for you, which can affect their reputation. They need to see you as a reliable team member who can get things done, so the first step is making your contributions noticed. An internship is typically 3 months, which is a short amount of time to make an impression. Use this time to show your ambition. This doesn’t necessarily mean always working after hours, but making sure your impact is felt when you are on the figurative clock. Are you responsive? Do you meet or exceed deadlines? Is the work you hand in organized and thorough? Do you ask follow up questions to ensure the work you produce is going to meet expectations? Are you paying attention to routine requests and trying to be proactive? Do you communicate when you’re having trouble with a task? Do you share ideas with your manager that might solve problems?
Once you’ve got a rhythm going, it’s time to up the score. 😎 Start taking on challenging tasks by asking for it. If you don’t feel ready, see if you can shadow or support a team member on a similar project and then raise your hand for when another similar opportunity becomes available. Having an impact on the entire team will have other people at the table backing your sponsor’s recommendation.
You already had the skills you needed to do a great job at your internship; now you have the tools to maximize the opportunity. Ready to see how one internship can be multiplied into hundreds of connections that can support you throughout your career journey? Then, prepare to action these tips!
