Santa Clara University

Accounting Careers and Internships

The Santa Clara University Career Center posts job postings for full-time, part-time, and internship opportunities. The Career Center also provides workshops on career counseling, interview techniques, resume development, and workplace etiquette, as well as job fairs and other events. The SCU Accounting Association supplements the Career Center's activities with events specially targeting students interested in the accounting profession. These two organizations are dedicated to helping SCU students make a successful transition from school to a career in accounting.

BroncoTrak

The Career Center uses BroncoTrak, an employment clearinghouse powered by MonsterTrak, to allow SCU students access to on-campus jobs, off-campus jobs, internships and the On-Campus Interviewing (OCI) program.

On-Campus Interviews

The On-Campus Interview (OCI) Program provides students with the opportunity to interview with employers during the fall, winter, and spring quarters for full-time opportunities that are generally available after graduation. InterviewTrak is the part of BroncoTrak that houses the On-Campus Interviewing system. Through BroncoTrak/InterviewTrak, students can view employer information, submit resumes, cover letters, and sign-up for interviews online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

On-Campus interviews for public accounting positions generally take place in October. Students who are interested in on-campus interviews with public accounting firms must submit their resume through InterviewTRAK in early October. Both the Career Center and the SCU Accounting Association have workshops in early October where students can have their resumes critiqued by professional interviewers and CPA professionals.

On-Campus interviews for private industry and governmental positions occur in the fall, winter, and spring quarters. See the Career Center's event calendar and InterviewTrak for more information.

Off-Campus Interviews

Many employers are interested in hiring SCU accounting students that do not conduct formal on-campus interviews. These employers post their job listings on BroncoTrak. Students are able to submit a resume online to employers who then contact the student directly to set up an interview.

Internships

Internships are designed to give students real world experience while completing their coursework. Though accounting internships can occur any quarter, most accounting internships occur in the Winter quarter (for tax season) and during summer between the junior and senior year. On-Campus interviews for summer internships occur during February. Students who are interested in on-campus interviews for internships must submit their resume through InterviewTRAK. Both the Career Center and the SCU Accounting Association have workshops in either January or early February where students can have their resumes critiqued by professional interviewers and CPA professionals.

Employers frequently post listings for internships on BroncoTrak throughout the year. For example, winter internships for tax positions may be posted in November and December before the tax season. Students are encouraged to periodically browse BroncoTrak for internship postings.

Internships provide students with a competitive advantage in landing a job after graduation. Employers often offer full-time positions to their interns after successfully completing an internship program. Students who accept these offers do not participate in the on-campus interview process as seniors.

Students can obtain college credit for their internship experience. To get college credit, students must register for an internship course. Information on internship credit requirements can be obtained from Professor Wendy Donhoe in the Accounting Department.

Externships

Some companies offer externships to sophomore and junior accounting students. The design of these externships vary by employer, but often involve meeting with employers and other externship participants on a weekly basis to discuss and work on group projects. The Career Center posts externship positions in the same place, BroncoTRAK, as they do internships. Students can learn about these programs through the SCU Accounting Association, which will discuss externship opportunities for accounting students in the winter quarter.

Meet-The-Firms Night

At the beginning of the Fall Quarter, the SCU Accounting Association hosts its annual "Meet-The-Firms" (MTF) Night. This event unites SCU accounting students with potential employers who wish to hire them. This event is the most important recruiting event of the year and all SCU accounting majors are encouraged to attend. Employers who attend the event receive a resume booklet that includes resumes from all students interested in pursuing a career in accounting. Students who wish to include their resumes in the booklet must submit their resumes in a prescribed format to the SCU Accounting Association by a deadline that occurs a few days before the event. In the weeks before MTF Night, the SCU Accounting Association sponsors a number of workshops designed to help students make a good impression at MTF Night. See the SCUAA website for more details.