Take Your First Step Toward a Rewarding Career
As a college student, you know that an internship is a crucial part of your education — and your key to gaining real-world experience that so many prospective employers require. Choosing the right opportunity and the right organization can make all the difference. Beyond practical factors, such as relevance to the career path you’re on, the internship you select can help you understand what you want out of a work culture, as well as what you can expect in terms of growth and advancement.
If you’re pursuing a position in accounting, tax, or business advisory services, consider an internship at EHTC! We pride ourselves on our positive culture, strong core values, and passion for supporting our team members in their professional development.
But, don’t just take our word for it. Following are the first-hand experiences of three of our past interns, who all accepted positions with EHTC when their assignments were complete!
Mitchell Williams is an Assurance Associate with EHTC who started as an intern in January of 2024. He began working as a full-time employee after graduating from Grand Valley State University with a degree in Accounting. Mitchell learned about EHTC during a job fair and also through a classmate who told him about his own positive experience. While he had other options, Mitchell ultimately chose EHTC because of word of mouth and the fact that he was able to visit the office and see the environment before accepting the internship.
During his time as an intern, Mitchell gained a lot of hands-on experience. He was given responsibilities, but was also given the grace to make mistakes and learn from them. Being paired with a “buddy” to work alongside and ask questions of was also helpful, whichmade him feel supported and at ease. “The culture is really good at EHTC and the people are very inviting,” Mitchell says. “They’re willing to help you learn, grow, and like the work that you're doing every day.”
For those starting out as interns, he says, “Just keep your head down. And then keep working and trying to learn — and don't be afraid to ask questions if there's something that confuses you.”
Kiara Ludwig began her internship at EHTC in January of 2023. She worked through the busy season before returning to Grand Valley State University to complete her studies and graduate with a dual degree in Accounting and Economics. Post graduation, she took a full-time position with EHTC as a Tax Associate. Kiara was also introduced to EHTC at a career fair, but had no previous knowledge of the firm. What stood out to her was the genuine conversation she had with the associates who approached her, and a sense that they really cared about her as a person. She applied for an internship that night and had an interview the next week.
The smooth interviewing process and open communication throughout were deciding factors for Kiara in choosing EHTC for her internship. “It was really emphasized, during the interview and then my first week, that they wanted it to be a good experience for me,” Kiara says. “They wanted me to learn whether I would like tax accounting, and they also wanted me to learn about myself and what I wanted my career to look like.”
When asked what she would say to other students considering a similar path, Kiara encourages them to start looking for an internship earlier rather than later. She adds, “Find a firm that feels refreshing to you. Because the truth of the matter is, you're going to have a lot of work to do, so if you can enjoy the atmosphere, it makes a huge difference.”
Andrew Kolar is a Transaction Advisory Services Associate who also started his career at EHTC as an intern. After graduation from Ashland University in Ohio, he accepted a permanent position in June of 2024. Andrew first learned about EHTC while working at Cascade Hills Country Club, where he met Erik Olson, a member of the club and a Tax & Advisory Services Partner with EHTC. Andrew was attracted to EHTC because of their smaller size, which gave him a comfort level coming from a smaller college with smaller class sizes.
For his internship, he was initially assigned to the valuation side of the firm, but then transitioned to supporting a new partner in getting his practice off the ground. What really impressed Andrew was how he was treated. “This is definitely a place where I feel like everybody is valued, no matter their position,” he says. “I also think it's a fun place to work. And everybody's interested in getting to know you, too.” Seeing there would be opportunities for growth is what ultimately sealed his decision to continue on with EHTC as a full-time employee.
Looking back at his own experience, Andrew advises future interns to ask more questions. “It’s the only way you're going to learn,” he says. “And, embrace the opportunities in front of you and try to say ‘yes’ to anything that comes up.”
While their stories are all a bit different, Mitchell, Kiara, and Andrew all agree that while the field of finance may seem old or stuffy to some, it doesn’t have to be if you choose the right firm. A more progressive organization like EHTC, with a diverse mix of people who are committed to cultivating a sense of community and open to new perspectives, changes that notion completely!
Interested in learning more? Visit our Careers page here!
