My internship at one of the world’s leading accounting firms

Name: Eric Hernandez

Hometown: Miami, Florida

Major: Accounting and business administration in finance

Where did you intern? I was an audit intern at Grant Thornton LLP

How did you get your internship? I attended Ahead of the Game, a career expo at FIU hosted by Beta Alpha Psi and ALPFA, and began networking with the firm. I was told to apply to Grow with Grant Thornton, the firm’s summer leadership program. At the end of the program, I was offered the internship position. After completing my internship, I am happy to say I was offered a full-time position starting in 2018.

What projects did you work on? I worked on 401(k) audits, quarterly reviews and general planning for the yearly audits. I was also assigned to a research position for the marketing department.

How did your internship connect back to your coursework? My coursework allowed me to have a basic understanding of what audit procedures were and the objectives they were meant to accomplish.

What was the coolest thing about your internship or that happened during your internship? By far the coolest thing I was able to do during my internship was to audit the Marlins and be able to take pictures with their World Series trophies.

What did you like most about your experience? I liked how I was treated as an associate within the firm. I was given the same responsibilities and it gave me exposure to how my full-time position would be.

What did you learn about yourself? I learned I need to be able to ask for assistance when needed. I always try to solve problems on my own, but sometimes it is better to ask for help when you are stuck.

How did the position increase your professional confidence? It greatly increased it because I have performed the tasks that are done by actual accountants.

How did you expand your professional network? I was able to network with a great deal of associates, seniors, managers and partners within the firm. While it is likely that a good amount of them will not be at the company when I start due to turnover, I do have a solid foundation for when I start full time.

How did it help you prove yourself in the “real-world?” I essentially got a sneak peek at my life in 2018. I performed my role as an auditor while paying bills and feeding myself. Essentially, I began “adulting.”

What advice do you have for those beginning the internship process? Attend every networking event that you discover and use all the feedback that is given to you.