Your team at Cohen & Company always has your back. It’s more than a firm; it’s a family.
Imagine you are a basketball player. You practice day in and day out, working on your layups, three pointers, and every angle of shot you think you’ll need to make when you get out there on the court. You’re the new guy on the team, but you know that you can do some great things out on that court. You’ve got perfect precision, and you’re honed into the basket. The game begins, the game goes on, and fourth quarter strikes. Your team is down by two, and you know you can make a layup to tie the game. Suddenly, you make your way to the basket, and there stands at 6’5” defender ready to block your shot. You might think it’s over, that you’re all alone in this situation; the pressure is mounting for you to somehow win the game all by yourself.
But it’s not over.
You look over and see that your teammate is wide open. He’s standing at the three-point line ready to take the game back, to win the game. He’s been on this team for four more years than you. He’s had so much experience with this pressure. He’s practiced this shot tenfold what you have, and he knows exactly how to help you. You know you’re not alone. You pass the ball to him — he shoots it as the buzzer rings and the ball flies through the air.
Swish. Your team wins!
Now you might be wondering, “Cole, you’re at an accounting firm, why are you talking about a basketball game?” It’s really an analogy for how it feels to be a part of the team here at Cohen & Company. This is my first-ever internship, and I’m working in the Assurance Department, so working with a team is a huge part of it. I know firsthand now that when you come into an internship, the amount of information you take in can be overwhelming. That’s why I say auditing (and tax) is a team sport.
My team at Cohen & Company always has my back. They’re happy to answer any questions I have, and they’re willing to help me learn more than I could’ve ever imagined. It’s such a welcoming and friendly environment, and no matter how big or small an issue is, they’re always there to help. I was never a big fan of team sports, but when you’re working here you will have a team full of capable and amazing individuals that all know how to do their jobs very well.
I’m excited to continue through my internship here, grow my network and build relationships with many different people. From interns to partners and everyone in between, the people here are trying to help you succeed and win. For all future interns and anyone else who may be struggling with adapting to your internship/job, remember there is a teammate wide open, and they’re always waiting for your pass.
Cole Saxion, Kent State University
