How to get a technical tax accounting internship as a rising junior
Passing initial resume screenings and first-round interviews while still facing rejections usually points to gaps in resume positioning or professional networking within specific tax niches. Without targeted guidance on how to strengthen application materials, qualified students end up stuck in endless rejection cycles and worried about their career prospects.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- The most recent one is from October 2026.
- This comes up 22.7× more often in r/Accounting than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Being super active on LinkedIn and HandshakeDid this help you?
- 2Applying to roles through constant messages on HandshakeDid this help you?
- 3working on independent projects like financial statement analysis, audits, and SQLDid this help you?
- 4seeking mentorship from experienced professionals in the fieldDid this help you?
- 5Applying to VITA tax prep programsDid this help you?
- 6Seeking volunteer opportunities in tax preparationDid this help you?
- 7Asking for country, state, and industry specific details to narrow down optionsDid this help you?
- 8Applying to mid-tier or smaller accounting firms for internships instead of focusing solely on the Big 4Did this help you?
- 9Building a stronger resume to offset a low GPADid this help you?
- 10Switching work experience out for senior capstone classesDid this help you?
- 11Tailoring work experience to the specific jobsDid this help you?
- 12Listing extracurricular activitiesDid this help you?
- 13Refining the skills section to remove basic or cliché items like basic Excel or 10-key proficiencyDid this help you?
- 14participating in VITA tax season programsDid this help you?
- 15Polishing the resume and emphasizing extracurricular activitiesDid this help you?
- 16Focusing on building rapport, showing social skills, and treating it as a way to make a first impressionDid this help you?
- 17Asking online community members for advice on application customizationDid this help you?
- 18Graduating later to line up spring internships and potential full-time offersDid this help you?
- 19Keep spamming job applicationsDid this help you?
- 20Apply for internships around the country and crash with familyDid this help you?
- 21Try again next year or target a busy season internship during senior yearDid this help you?
- 22Visit the business career center to review resumes and interviewing skills, and replace coursework sections with experience like VITADid this help you?
- 23Apply to only one service line to avoid signaling a lack of commitment or focus.Did this help you?
- 24Applying to mid-size and public accounting firms instead of the Big 4Did this help you?
- 25Planning to get involved heavily in Beta Alpha Psi (BAP)Did this help you?
- 26Securing case competitions through local student chaptersDid this help you?
- 27Checking job boards like Idealist, Indeed, and HandshakeDid this help you?
- 28Applying to internships further out in advance (such as 2028 cycles) as soon as they open.Did this help you?
- 29Switching careers to a different field with shorter training and clearer placement paths like ultrasound programsDid this help you?
- 30Networking and applying for full-time positions instead of internshipsDid this help you?
- 31Repeatedly revising resumes with help from school and professionalsDid this help you?
- 32Applying to a large volume of positionsDid this help you?
- 33Networking at career eventsDid this help you?
- 34considering a master's degree for graduate resources and on-site job fairsDid this help you?
- 35looking into related financial fields like supply chain or financeDid this help you?
- 36relying on family connections to secure positionsDid this help you?
- 37Applying to small local firms that do not check transcriptsDid this help you?
- 38Casting a wide net on job boards for bookkeeping or tax preparation gigsDid this help you?
- 39Delaying graduation to make up credits and gain time for an internshipDid this help you?
- 40Graduating without an internship and applying directly for staff accountant rolesDid this help you?
- 41Doing a master's or additional program to extend student statusDid this help you?
- 42Checking state-specific credit requirements and firm recruiting timelinesDid this help you?
- 43Cutting the resume summary down and restructuring skills into a clean grid or bulleted columnsDid this help you?
- 44Replacing fuzzy graduation date ranges with the exact month and year of completionDid this help you?
- 45Removing high school information to eliminate fillerDid this help you?
- 46Look for government, industry, and smaller firm internshipsDid this help you?
- 47Went back to school for a Master's specifically for campus recruitment accessDid this help you?
- 48Focusing on networking and connecting with recruiters during office hours or webinarsDid this help you?
- 49Looking into internships in government, small firms/companies, and nonprofitsDid this help you?
- 50Focus on the present rather than worrying about the futureDid this help you?
- 51Accept lower pay and longer working hours to secure entry-level accounting positionsDid this help you?
- 52Walk into a few smaller offices with your resume, even if they're not advertisingDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“i’m not really sure what they’re looking for when they come to meet the students.. Is it likely i’ll get a soft rejection for now?”source ↗
“Its unfeasible, financially, for me to drop my full-time job for an internship.”source ↗
“I might wanna delay graduating to try and get a internship, I’m a junior right now and honestly haven’t had luck with getting a internship so my next best bet is 2028 spring internships but that is when I would graduate, is it best to try and drag it to get the internships?”source ↗
“I started my junior year and I haven’t did any internships yet. My gpa as of right now is a 2.2 so I don’t even know if any internships would accept me.”source ↗
“And is it to late to even apply to summer 2027 internships? or should i just delay graduation so i can focus on getting an internship.”source ↗
“I’m an incoming Accounting student for next year and worry I won’t get a internship due to many factors(GPA and overall job market) .”source ↗
“I’m an Iowa State accounting student heading into my senior year and I still haven’t landed my first accounting internship.”source ↗
“I’ve applied to countless positions, gotten a few interviews, heard back from some, and been completely ghosted by others.”source ↗
“I’m honestly starting to feel like I’m falling behind and don’t know what else I can do.”source ↗
“It seems so hard to get a job after taking a break from work to go to school.”source ↗
“Seems like most people want full timers. But I can only do part time as all my classes are in person.”source ↗
“I don't have much experience, to be honest, but I'm trying to see if i can get into VITA tax prep and at the very least, be eligible to volunteer.”source ↗
“It seems bleak to get an internship, at least in my area.”source ↗
“Currently a sophomore at UCSB and have applied to the Big 4 Summer 2028 internships, but feel like I won't be getting any offers due to my low gpa and lack of leadership positions.”source ↗
“I really need help on these questions because I'm really lost and feel like im running out of time.”source ↗
“Trying to apply for a winter internship. Was wondering if I should switch my work experience out for senior capstone classes.”source ↗
“Any way to stand out?”source ↗
“Looking for anything really for the summer, whether that's internship or summer leadership programs.”source ↗
“I’m graduating with my bachelor’s degree on December 25th this year, and I still can’t find a single internship. I’ve applied to over 100 different places, and I keep getting rejection after rejection, usually because of my lack of experience.”source ↗
“At this point, if I still can’t find a job after getting my bachelor’s degree, I’m seriously considering switching careers.”source ↗
“It’s extremely frustrating to work this hard toward a degree and feel like I can’t even get my foot in the door.”source ↗
“Over the past year and a half I have tried non stop to get internships and I have yet to get an interview.”source ↗
“I have the grades, just not the experience, but how am I supposed to get experience without having experience.”source ↗
“I'm a rising junior and I am struggling to land a single internship.”source ↗
“I'm interested in going into more technical tax but I cannot land an internship to save my life”source ↗
“still got a rejection email today so I don't know what to do anymore.”source ↗
“Zero internships | Entering third year | 45+ applications | Low GPA so I can't put it”source ↗
“I’m an incoming third year, I’ve been applying to internships since June of this year but haven’t had any luck.”source ↗
“I’m worried that my gpa is too low (3.3) and I won’t get an internship at all.”source ↗
“I’ve applied to a few internships for summer 2027 and was not selected.”source ↗
“Some of the applications won’t even let me put a start date later the current month and year.”source ↗
“It’s very discouraging but I haven’t started any classes, been to networking events, etc…”source ↗
“I’m currently a first year BBA student at WLU, does anyone have any advice on getting an internship/co-op in accounting this year/summer? Any advice for networking or where to apply?”source ↗
“Deloitte has a tax and audit internship role open and I was thinking of applying to both to have a better chance of landing an internship. Would it be better to apply to just one?”source ↗
“For internships, do I apply to summer 2027 internships or summer 2028? Am I even eligible for summer 2028 internships?”source ↗
“Do internships still want you to pursue 150 if your stage only requires 120?”source ↗
“I think that I need some guidance on how to make my resume stronger and find internships.”source ↗
“I'm just really worried about my future.”source ↗
“Am I cooked. i'm a sophomore standing at a target school in nyc and was wondering how I could be successful especially because I have no experience at all. To add on I have a 3.0 gpa, mediocre excel skills, and i'm going to do vita for 2027 tax season. help.”source ↗
“Anything specific I should mention in the cover letter/CV? Wanted to specify I have experience in oil and gas internships idk if that helps.”source ↗
“yes tbh, graduating later with an internship and potential full-time offer is wayyy better than graduating early with nothing”source ↗
“Market just sucks. We had like 50 interns and made offers to 5. Waaaay less than usual.”source ↗
“yeah, I was hoping for 2 internships during undergrad, so if I only get one summer of junior year, might try for a busy season internship senior year”source ↗
“Glad to know im not the only UIC accounting undergrad whos cooked”source ↗
“only thing is some places won’t let me put my actual start date for my grad program. Should I just put this month and leave a comment or what?”source ↗
“Don't think there's much available for first-years unless you've got family connections, most firms target second-year and up.”source ↗
“So I am not getting interviews for any internships. What should I fix/add to my resume?”source ↗
“Also, the reason I am applying now and have no experience is that I am graduating early, in 2025-2028 instead of 2025-2029.”source ↗
“Hello, I'm just creating a post because I have been constantly searching for internships within Audit and/or tax for the past 3 months and all I have really seen was rejection. I am asking to see if anyone knows what companies accept sophomore's for internships.”source ↗
“I got my bachelors degree in accounting last year and couldn’t land a single entry level job after 7 months of searching.”source ↗
“Now I’m back in school, but I haven’t been able to land a single internship.”source ↗
“I’ve been either rejected or ghosted from the majority of them.”source ↗
“A masters degree with no internships is meaningless.”source ↗
“the accounting hiring pipeline is so weirdly gatekept, like they expect you to have 2 internships before they'll give you an internship”source ↗
“I have 2 years of experience at a corporate job in financial services for a Fortune 500 company (fidelity investments). I am MORE than qualified for a 10-12 week internship.”source ↗
“I would appreciate it if anyone with experience in the field could guide me.”source ↗
“lf companies who are accepting internal auditing student for internship (550 hours needed)”source ↗
“I'm first-gen, so I didn't understand how competitive traditional internships can be for accounting/finance until I walked into class the first day this semester and everyone was complaining about how internship recruitment for the summer 2027 is basically over.”source ↗
“When I look around, I don't see my local non-profits offering internships, especially for finance.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 52How to break into accounting as an international student with a low GPA
- 11How to get tax experience without an entry-level job
- 5Which entry-level accounting job offer should I take?
- 17Why is it so hard to find a remote accounting job?
- 8How to get an accounting job without a CPA
- 5Why can't I get an interview at a public accounting firm?