DECEMBER
INTERN of the MONTH
CHRISTOPHER HOLMES
THE J.M. SMUCKER COMPANY
1 Strawberry Lane
Orrville, OH
Majors: Accounting and Finance
Clubs/Organizations:
Institute of Management Accountants – Ashland Student Chapter – PR Officer
Institute of Management Accountants – Canton Parent Chapter – Newsletter Publishing
Becker CPA Review Representatives
How did you find out about the internship?
I first found out about the internships that Smucker’s offered through Dean Pittenger when I had her for my Introduction to Management class. I was still a freshman then but I decided that it was something that I wanted to pursue.
How long did it take you to secure the internship position?
I would say that it took about three months from the time that I first pursued the internship. I attended the Smucker Career Fair and then interviewed with them when they came on campus. I finally got an offer right before Christmas.
Describe your responsibilities within your internship.
I was involved in many tasks including monthly journal entries and balance sheet reconciliations for AP [Accounts Payable]. I also worked on a project where I contacted some high dollar vendors in order to convert them to electronic payments.
List three to five highlights from your internship.
Getting to see what it is like to work in a corporation was really interesting. Smucker’s has some great people, so I would definitely say that getting to know everyone was a highlight. It is also good to see how your education can be applied in a real world setting. It really does make things a lot clearer.
What is one aspect of your internship that you would have wanted to change?
Smucker’s is about a solid hour from my home and is, more or less, in the middle of nowhere. Some days the drive was pretty frustrating, but I would not want the location to change, because it is part of the company’s heritage. Other than that, everything was great!
Did your internship confirm your anticipated career choice or path?
I have always had a bit of a bias for industry accounting over public accounting. After a few weeks I felt that working in an environment like Smucker’s felt pretty good, so I think I would like to stick with the industry. There is, however, the initial time that it takes to get use to a forty-hour work week.
Now that you have completed an internship, what advice would you give students about internships?
Start looking for internships early! You should know exactly what you want and should focus your efforts on the group of companies that meet your criteria. Attend career fairs and talk to as many people as you can while, simultaneously, tailoring your resume for the job you want. Always be confident!
