[Anonymous]

Hello all,

This summer I will be interning in audit at a big four firm. I hear again and again “just dont mess up on a massive scale and you’ll get an offer.” At the same time, there are most certainly high expectations.

Can you please shed some light?

What is the best thing you ever saw an intern do? What was your favorite intern like?

What kind of things constitute a “massive screw up” ?

The more the better and thank you

[acamp]

Just don't mess up on a massive scale and you'll get an offer.

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[Anonymous]

Seriously, just don't mess up on a massive scale and you'll get an offer. 😉

When a senior assigns you a task make sure you understand what they're asking you to do. Take notes while they're setting you up. When they're done, reiterate what you have to do so that you have a clear understanding of the task.

Also, when they ask you to fax something, scan something, print something, and other busy work, just do it with a smile and don't act like the task is beneath you. Summer can be slow at times and some teams struggle to find work for the interns. Also having something scanned and printed for you is a pretty helpful task and does save the senior/manager some time.

[TNCPA16]

For real – just don't mess up on a massive scale and you'll get an offer! (sorry, couldn't resist…)

Congrats on getting an internship, though! The hardest part is over.

As an intern, no one expects you to know anything about auditing/tax/whatever it is you will be doing. Anything you work on will be reviewed, so don't worry too much about making mistakes (because it's expected). Big mistakes would be – losing your computer, misplacing sensitive documents, deleting important workpapers, sending one client's information to another client, etc. Just remember that you will have access to sensitive information – so treat it carefully and think before you email/print/throw anything away. Also remember that you are now a representative of whatever B4 you are working for – so your actions are viewed as a reflection of the company.

The best interns are the ones with a positive attitude, act professionally, and build good relationships with their coworkers (not just other interns!) The people you will be working with are looking for people who not only can do the work, but who they also wouldn't mind spending long hours with in crammed rooms. Personality is very important!

Anyway, good luck and don't worry too much!

[WaivingMyHands_ALOT]

Agree 100% with Jilly Beans. Big four expects you to know nothing as an intern, so there is no pressure. Biggest thing they are looking for is someone who others can work long hours with (i.e., personality/attitude). Dress professionally, be punctual, make an effort to get to know the staff/seniors.

If your office has any team building events (which they likely will) don't make an ass of yourself. Don't get wasted if there is alcohol, don't be a pervert or cross the line when talking to anyone (even if you're just trying to fit in).

Basically your main goal should be not to offend anyone during the internship. If you do that, you'll likely get an offer.

If you're trying to go above and beyond, make sure you take notes when your senior/staff is assigning a task. Not having to go back and get them to re-explain something over and over will go a long ways.

Don't lose your laptop, don't delete anything important, don't embarrass the firm in front of a client.

That's about it.

Oh yea…

Try not to mess up on a massive scale…you'll get an offer.

AUD 99
BEC 96
FAR 94
REG 96

[Anonymous]

1. Show up on time

2. Don't leave before your engagement team

3. Don't get blacked out at the happy hours and creep on opposite sex

4. Don't be an idiot

5. Don't act like you are important/dont be arrogant because the work you are assigned will not be important and you have 0 real acc experience

6. Follow 1-5 and you will get an offer.

[taxycpa2be]

The above responses are all correct. I will say this: if your B4 firm has a no-drinking policy during specified intern events (conferences, trainings, etc. — mine does), make sure you OBEY IT! When I interned, I heard of a few intern guys from another office getting their offers rescinded because they were dumb and couldn't resist having alcohol while at a intern conference. If the event specifically states that you are allowed to drink, then drink away… otherwise, enjoy your water/soda/juice while at these intern events.

The most important thing for you to do is to just relax and don't act like you're kissing up to people. It'll show. Just be chill and enjoy your summer! Congrats!

AUD: Pass (WTB)
BEC: Pass (Ninja/Becker)
REG: Pass (WTB)
FAR: Pass!!! (Becker/WTB/Ninja)

DONE!! 🙂 It's SO nice to be able to finally write this. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!

[Anonymous]

Several people have mentioned that you should take notes when your senior is explaining something to you, so you don't have to go back and continually ask them questions. I 100% agree with this advice, but I would say it is also important to ask questions if you don't understand something. I think it's just as bad, if not worse, when new staff doesn't ask questions when they don't understand something.

I have a new guy right now that barely asks any questions, and his work papers clearly show he does not understand what he's doing. I've told him countless times to ask me when he doesn't understand something, but it hasn't helped. Let's just say if you get review notes like what I'm giving this guy, there's no way you're getting an offer.

I think a big part of being a good auditor is being able to communicate effectively with both other staff and with clients. If you can do that well, it will go a long ways as an auditor.

[Anonymous]

Ok, so this is raunchy as all getup, but this is what the senior manager on my team told me at one point in my internship for B4 (and I did receive a full time offer). She said, “You have made it this far, and you have worked great so far….so you would literally have to take a sh** on a partner's desk in order to lose your offer.” I laughed so hard…but it is pretty much true.

With that said, I do know 2 people that didn't get offers. The first one hated his internship and he bitched all the time and was relieved he didn't get one….the other one just didn't do well with authority from a couple of team members and he didn't get along with one of them which affected his eval (hence making it look poorly for him).

So yea, just don't mess up and you are good.

[Skynet]

The hot women are WAAAAAAY OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE that includes the Receptionist. So don't bother. Just bury your head in the work until you get your CPA then maybe things will change. Hopefully by then you aren't too deep in the Friend Zone already : p

[Anonymous]

At my firm's new hire training, they make it a point to mention that the overwhelming majority of interns receive offers, with the most prevalent reason among those not offered a position being that they will not have graduated before the next class of new hires starts. Almost all of those people also ultimately receive offers.

As others have said, you pretty much have to be “that guy” to not get an offer, and the bar for not being “that guy” is set pretty low. To put it another way, to not get an offer you would have to be such a colossal fuck up that people would actually have to remember who you are and how egregious your transgressions were. This is incredibly difficult to do – something like failing to take a shower for a week would be a good example. Seriously, you would have to be that bad.

Just show up ready to learn, ask questions, and not act like you know everything or that you are somehow special, and you will have no problems fitting right in – pretty much act like any reasonable human being would. Doesn't get much easier than that.

[Author]

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