My experience with Schneider Downs began with the Ohio Dominican University career fair in the fall of 2018. Being a sophomore at the time, the firm’s booth representatives suggested to me a two-day leadership program that was scheduled for the following summer. I sent in my application later that night and was soon contacted for a phone interview, which then led to an in-person interview at the Schneider Downs Columbus office. During my meeting, I was able to talk with a senior staff and a senior manager representative from both the audit and tax departments. A short time later, I received a call saying that I was accepted into the program.
The first day was informational, as our group learned about Schneider Downs, the various services the firm offers, and how a career in public accounting might look. Day one also included mock interviews and career development tips.
The second day was focused on building connections and service. For a majority of the time, our group created blankets that were to be donated to the Ronald McDonald House in Columbus. The program concluded in a much more relaxed social setting, with students, staff members, managers and shareholders enjoying a Columbus Clippers baseball game.
Shortly after completing the summer leadership program, I received and accepted an offer for a summer internship in the tax department of the SD Columbus office.
My internship with Schneider Downs has given me great experience in the world of public accounting, allowing me to apply knowledge learned in the classroom to a real tax environment, plus a plethora of information that I was not exposed to in my classes at ODU. During my internship, I prepared returns for individuals, partnerships and nonprofit organizations. The biggest learning curve I faced was in understanding the tax software and how to prepare returns for entities I was unfamiliar with. The people I worked with at Schneider Downs were the greatest help. All my team members were very warm, welcoming, friendly and willing to answer any questions.
I have really enjoyed working and learning with the tax department, and I feel that this internship has given me a great starting point for my career in public accounting.
