Overview

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  Majoring in accounting can feel like a full-time job all by itself. Regardless, one of the most valuable opportunities you will have while in college is the ability to gain on-the-job, practical work experience. A variety of school-sponsored and part-time opportunities are available for accounting majors that will allow you to focus on your studies while simultaneously obtaining real-world accounting experience.
  
  

Internships

• Internships are one of the best ways to gain experience in your field of study while in school. While many internships are unpaid, building experience in the field before you are ready to enter the workforce full time represents the best way to prepare yourself for finding a job when you graduate. Your school’s career services office can help you find an internship in accounting. Websites that cater to accounting services available are online to help you find an accounting job.
  
  

Co-Ops

• Obtaining a co-op is another way to gain experience while still an accounting student. A co-op allows you to work full-time in your major field for a semester at a time. If you choose to co-op, you will usually end up extending your program by a year or two (a four-year program becomes five), but you will end up graduating college with valuable work experience under your belt. Your school holds the responsibility for setting up a co-op. If you are interested in a co-op experience, enroll in a school that offers this type of program.
  
  

Part-time Employment

• A part-time job is an excellent way to get experience in accounting while you are still in school. While most big companies will want you to have a degree, working for a small, independent company or nonprofit is a good way to gain valuable experience and earn some extra cash. Visit your school’s career services office for assistance finding a part-time job. Most schools keep a list of part-time jobs for students. They might also have some openings working for the school on campus.
  
  

Temporary Jobs

• If you are looking for experience between semester breaks, or part-time employment while in school, a temp job might be exactly what you are looking for. A number of professional temp agencies specialize in the fields of accounting and finance. For example, "Fortune" ranks AccountTemps No. 1 in its industry. This agency lists accounting and finance job opportunities at every experience level within the field.