As I wrap up the third week of my internship, I have learned a lot, but know I still have a lot to learn. In the world of tax, you are constantly learning, because everything is always changing, so it’s very important to be adaptable.
Prior to my internship, I had taken one tax class in college, which was helpful but didn’t cover how many avenues you can explore in your career. I enjoy tax because, as many people I work with have said, it is like a puzzle and the satisfaction you get when all the pieces fit perfectly together is unbeatable. However, I would be lying if I said I never got frustrated when the pieces didn’t seem to fit.
As an intern, it’s important to remember that you will not know how to do most of the work on your own. In a way, it is like learning a foreign language at first. I struggled with this a lot, as anyone would. There were times I wanted to figure everything out on my own, but learning takes time.
My advice in those difficult times would be to take advantage of all the different resources the firm offers. Looking at the firm’s training materials, which include step-by-step instructions, was a huge help. I’d also recommend reaching out to other interns or other staff members because everyone is always more than willing to help, no matter how little or how big the question may seem.
In this profession, there is just so much to learn and not enough time. I can’t believe I have already been here for three weeks. At least for me, time is flying by, so I would like to challenge myself and encourage other interns to take advantage of every single moment. Make those connections early because, later down the line, you will thank yourself. We were told this internship is a lot like an extended interview, so it is important to take this into consideration and present yourself well. For me, it is difficult to put myself out there because I am a shy person, but I continue to push myself to reach out to others.
I am looking forward to the rest of my internship and the opportunities to come, and the exposure I will gain from this experience.
Grace Mast, Kent State University
