Landing a successful accounting job normally requires a strong foundation in internships and on-job exposure.

Aspiring Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) must take every opportunity to network, build on-job exposure, and position themselves in their professional industry.

Effective networking and marketing of internship positions can help in securing full-time employment and accelerate professional progress. The following is an overview of strategies future CPAs might use to start and develop their careers.

Understanding The CPA Career Path

Before networking, understanding how to become a professional CPA is imperative. The overwhelming majority of accounting students and recent college graduates prioritize internships. Nonetheless, having a grasp on the initial steps to becoming certified is equally important:

• Timeline of becoming a CPA: Start by getting a bachelor’s in accounting or in an equivalent subject. Take required credit hours, pass the CPA exam, and earn sufficient work experience to obtain licensing.
• Internships matter: Many companies now require internship experience for full-time CPA roles.
• Networking early: Connecting professionals enables candidates to identify job vacancies, receive mentorship, and map their careers.
• Ongoing learning: Staying up to date on industry practices, regulations, and best practices makes transitioning to professional life less challenging.

Building A Strong Professional Network

Successful networking is more than just attending industry events. Networking is an intentional means of building forward-thinking partnerships. Here are tips to expand your professional network:

• Leverage university connections: The majority of accounting programs have professional career services and alumni networks to provide top-notch networking.
• Join professional organizations: Professional society memberships, including membership in the AICPA, state CPA societies, and Beta Alpha Psi, may include access to networking events and mentorship programs.
• Effectively utilize LinkedIn: An effectively designed LinkedIn profile, including internship experiences, skill sets, and professional goals, is capable of attracting future employers.
• Attend industry events: Industry events, including job fairs, conferences, and professionally arranged meet-and-greets, provide direct access to recruiters and professionals.
• Engage in online forums and discussions: Online communities offer future CPAs a platform to interact, ask questions, and network with professionals.

Maximizing Internship Opportunities

Internships offer recent grads and students something greater than technical skills. An internship can help you make an enduring impression on future employers.  Take these steps to stand out professionally while on an internship.

• Set clear goals: Determine what skills and experiences you want to gain through your internship.
• Seek out challenging projects: Requesting challenging jobs and seeking extra workload reflects capability and commitment.
• Develop strong relationships: Engage with colleagues and supervisors to build meaningful professional connections.
• Request feedback regularly: Understanding areas for improvement ensures continuous professional growth.
• Document your achievements: Keeping on hand a list of chief contributions and achievements is helpful for revising resumes or explaining in job interviews.

Marketing Your Internship Experience

Once you have gathered valuable internship experience, it is crucial to effectively market such experiences to potential future employers. Developing an effective resume and presenting yourself in such a way as to showcase achievements is what separates you.

Some tips for writing your resume include:

• Highlight relevant skills: Both technical and soft skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving.
• Quantify achievements: Present achievements in quantitative figures and concrete examples to illustrate their impact.
• Tailor applications to job descriptions: Tailor your resume and cover letter for each opportunity to fit in accordance with employer needs.
• Use storytelling skills: Share concrete examples reflecting on your ability to adapt and solve problems.
• Create an online portfolio: Having a professional website or portfolio of reports, case studies, or projects is an advantage in today’s job market.

Leveraging Work Experience For Career Progress

Work experience, either in internships or entry-level positions, is vital in shaping a CPA’s professional life. Aside from technical skill development, utilizing experience for future advancement requires planning. The following are how you might use your work experience to advance in your professional life:

• Maintain professional connections: Keep in touch with former mentors and co-workers who might have future job leads or future job referrals.
• Continue professional development: Pursue additional certificates, workshop attendance, and industry trend updates.
• Consider specialized career paths: Specialized fields such as tax advising, financial consulting, and forensic accounting might have special opportunities for professional advancement.
• Demonstrate leadership: Mentorship roles and leading projects in an organization signify preparation for senior leadership.

Conclusion

Networking and marketing internship opportunities have the power to impact an emerging CPA’s professional life in profound and lasting ways.

By understanding the CPA professional pathway, building strong professional connections, maximizing internship opportunities, and marketing their experience strategically, candidates can position themselves for future professional success in the accounting industry.