Transitioning from the Green to the Workplace

I have been a caddy at Edgewood Country Club for the past 10 years, where I have learned the intricacies of assisting a golfer. I do everything from reading putts, measuring distance to the hole, offering club selection advice or simply picking up the golfer mentally after a bad shot. Through this experience, I have learned many valuable lessons that I use in my everyday life, especially through school work and now, my summer internship at Schneider Downs in the Marketing Department. It may sound bizarre to think that assisting a golfer on the golf course has aided me in the beginning stages of my professional career, but it has and it certainly will continue throughout.

I’ve been exposed to many professionals in the business world during my time at Edgewood Country Club, where it has always been a point of mine to make a strong first impression. I learned to always have good posture, eye contact and a firm handshake. These are the several qualities that help to make a positive first impression, but for me, I always try to go beyond that with hard work and a noticeable passion for my work, no matter the task. I have always made it a point to hustle every second that I was on the course, and to give my absolute all to make sure that my golfer played his best game. I learned well before starting my internship that Schneider Downs truly shares these same core values, based on their service and expertise that they offer to their clients. I immediately knew after my interview that I would be extremely thrilled to be a part of the Marketing team for the summer, and thankfully, they took a chance on me, with my first day starting in June.

I didn’t know what to expect leading up to my first day, and I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t nervous. I knew I was joining a wonderful group at Schneider Downs, but I truly had no idea how great this team actually was until now. Right from the beginning, the Marketing team made it a point to make me feel a part of the firm. Before I knew it, I was working on a multitude of different projects, all of which I felt made an impact to the firm. Whether it was prospecting information for potential clients, finding trends in data that could become leads for the firm, or designing creative documents for the firm to distribute. I looked up to my coworkers because they made my internship experience a true joy. I was never afraid to ask a question on what projects my team needed assistance with, what was the best way to perform or create that project and questioning why sometimes things were done a certain way, because they always guided me in the right direction. I probably learned more about marketing in my three months here than I have through my education to this point.

During my time, I witnessed first-hand all the work that goes into marketing an accounting firm, and what has made Schneider Downs one of the top 100 accounting firms in the nation, as well as the largest independent firm in the Pittsburgh region. I could go on and on about what makes Schneider Downs great, but if you want to know what this firm is all about, simply read our slogan: “Big Thinking. Personal Focus.” At Schneider Downs, I believe we have some of the best accounting minds in the country, but more importantly, some of the best people. We offer the personal focus that a smaller company may need, but at the same time we have the knowledge and expertise to do big things in the accounting world. I love this slogan because I too try to live by that message, whether it is on the golf course, in the classroom or in the professional workplace.

For me, it is always important to make a contribution to a greater cause. Whether it is helping a golfer sink a 20-foot birdie putt, helping a coworker with a project, or maybe researching and discovering a potential client for Schneider Downs. This was my number-one goal for the summer; I wanted to make an impact on the firm. Every day I always made it a point to learn something new, meet someone new and to work my hardest. I cannot say for sure if I always made a difference, but I can promise that I aspired to reach that goal. No matter where it is, on the golf course or in the workplace, I strive to be my best and do my best. Schneider Downs was an extraordinary personal experience, one that I will cherish for a long time.

Contact us if you have questions regarding the Schneider Downs internship opportunities.

Visit the Our Thoughts On blog to read more about Schneider Downs internships.

 

 

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The Schneider Downs Our Thoughts On blog exists to create a dialogue on issues that are important to organizations and individuals. While we enjoy sharing our ideas and insights, we’re especially interested in what you may have to say. If you have a question or a comment about this article – or any article from the Our Thoughts On blog – we hope you’ll share it with us. After all, a dialogue is an exchange of ideas, and we’d like to hear from you. Email us at [email protected].

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our thoughts on
My Greatest Job Yet!
Starting from Scratch: My First Internship
Internship BY Haddae Allen
More Than Just Public Accounting
“Trust” Me, Interning at Schneider Downs is a Rewarding Experience
Student-athlete to Accountant
Impacting Through Interning
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