An internship at LBMC offers great opportunities for hands-on learning and career growth. That’s a given — and a line you will probably hear more than a few times from your advisor.

But what do you really need to know about being an intern at one the fastest growing professional services firms in the state?

To get that answer, we asked some of our LBMC interns from the past 12 months to share their takeaways.

Here’s what they had to say about being prepared, asking questions and what you’ll learn:

Be a sponge

“You are going to have questions. Do not be afraid to ask those questions. The people of LBMC want you to succeed and will be happy to answer. A lot of information will be thrown your way so try to take it all in and let all that information and advice mold your work into the best product possible. Pulling your weight and being a good teammate will go a far way.” — Alex Gomer

Working with clients

“One of the most exciting (and possibly terrifying) experiences you may have during your internship is client interaction. During my internship, I was able to perform both written and verbal communication with a number of clients, including CEOs and CISOs. Remember to keep a professional demeanor during your client interactions, and ensure that your communication is as clear and concise as possible.” — Chelsea Smith

Being a tax intern

“You will get a chance to see and prepare different types of returns, such as individuals, partnerships, LLCs, C Corps, S Corps, trusts, and non-profits. It gives you a great opportunity to find out which area you would be interested in. The partners, managers, and co-workers have high expectations of you, but they know that you are still new and need some time to pick things up. They are always willing to help. You will be trained at the very beginning, then start working on some depreciation reports, tangible personal property reports, simple returns. Once you get comfortable, they let you prepare complex returns. These returns are a challenge, but definitely worth it to gain more experience.” — Amanda Zhou

Asking for help

“Performing your own research to draw a conclusion can save your mentors a great deal of time. However, there is no shame in asking for help when you need it. You work with an incredibly intelligent group of people who will be happy to pass on their knowledge to you. Don’t waste too much time ‘spinning your tires’ on a problem when a second set of eyes may be able to help you conquer that problem in half the time. Your peers and mentors may have a busy schedule, so be respectful of their time. One of the best ways is to make a list of your questions and set up an appointment to discuss your questions at a time that works for both parties involved.” – Chelsea Smith

Know your spreadsheet program

“Whether you find yourself rusty or proficient in spreadsheet programs, it never hurts to brush up on your skills. These spreadsheet programs provide us with important tools to review and analyze data. Being able to draw meaningful conclusions from this data is a crucial skill that is applicable in many different careers.”  — Chelsea Smith