DOUBLING DOWN ON INTERNSHIPS
is titled an “ Accounting , Audit , Tax , Treasury and Finance Internship .” Besides exposure to various areas of accounting , the two experiences will enable him to compare the corporate and industrial arenas .
He adds , “ I ’ ll also get to experience living in different parts of the U . S . The Georgia-Pacific mill is likely to be in a small town , and Southwest is in a big city .”
Hannah Skurzewski has interned with Georgia-Pacific at its Hosford , FL , building products mill and with FedEx at its Memphis base .
Geoffrey Taylor with Sen . Roger Wicker
Internships immerse students in the practice of professional accounting . The benefits are clear : real work experience , preparation for the professional environment , networking opportunities , a competitive edge when seeking employment and , frequently , offers of employment .
Many students at the Adkerson School of Accountancy participate in internships , and they find the experience to be an invaluable component of their education . A handful , however , seek out multiple opportunities . Why do they do so ? Is there really that much more to be gained from a second or third internship ?
“ Usually a big decision for accounting students is between tax and audit ,” observes Geoffrey Taylor . “ This will help me know what kind of work I enjoy – and give me more to work with when I start graduate school .”
Taylor graduated in December 2016 . Before starting grad school next fall , he will have completed two accounting internships . At Southwest Airlines ’ Dallas headquarters in the spring , he will work in tax , helping prepare returns and performing research . Next summer , he will be in one of Georgia-Pacific ’ s mills , in what
“ After taking my two Principles classes , I wanted to get out there and experience accounting in the real world and be sure it ’ s what I want to do ,” says the junior , who interned earlier than most students . “ In my coursework , it ’ s helped me visualize how the information is useful . At the mill , when I analyzed the equipment , I could see why you depreciate it .”
At Georgia-Pacific , she would collect data and analyze trends for a piece of equipment to determine how productive it was and if it was being used in the most cost effective way . She also had tasks in inventory and other areas . At FedEx , she worked in the tax department , gaining experience with income tax , tax planning and analysis and international , transportation and sales and use tax .
“ They were two very different environments . One was more corporate , and at the other I sometimes put on a hard hat to go check the equipment ,” she remarks .
The ASAC Career Fair opened the door for Skurzewski to these two companies . Taylor likewise connected with Georgia-Pacific at the annual event . The MSU Career Center ’ s Kelly Atwood advised him when he began pursuing a corporate internship and Southwest in particular .
Taylor also credits his professors for their support . He realized many – particularly Dr . Noel Addy – are well acquainted with what various internships entail and because they also know their students ’ strengths , could
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