Internships Work at Firms of All Sizes

Source: Accounting Office Management & Administration Report According to the CPA Firm Statistical Analysis Reference Handbook 2008 (for more information, visit www.ioma.com/cpa), 63 percent of all firms use interns, and 20 percent of firms with one to five people use them. Here are some tips for making internships successful:

• Choose students who are excited about learning.
• Give them responsibility for completing assignments right away. Offer challenging assignments as soon as possible.
• Set goals for them—they generally will be goal-oriented rather than task-oriented.
• Provide regular rewards, including expressions of appreciation.
• Make sure they understand the importance of the work they are doing.
• Help them develop self-respect—while you must set deadlines and monitor their progress, you can also, at times, inform them that you will not be checking on them unless they request assistance.
• Judge them by comparison to the best performers in the firm, and communicate that to them.
• Set up intern committees to discuss problems. Conduct intern brainstorming sessions.

From Accounting Office Management & Administration Report, May 2008, p. 1. For subscription information contact Institute of Management & Administration, Inc., 3 Park Avenue, 30th Floor, New York, NY 10016-5902. One-year subscription $399. 212-244-0360, [email protected].

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