You did it! You’ve graduated from college, maybe passed the CPA Exam, and landed your first real accounting job. That’s a huge milestone! But once the accolades from friends and family die down and real life kicks in, you might start to wonder: “Is this what I expected? Did my internship prepare me? Am I supposed to know what I’m doing already?”

The answer: yes, no—and probably a bit of both. 

Internships: Try Before You Buy

Roughly 80 percent of college students land internships before graduation—an incredible opportunity to gain real-world experience, build relationships, and get a taste of what your career might look like. Some may even lead to full-time job offers, but a great internship doesn't always mean it’s a great career fit.

Here are four truths about internships:

• Acknowledge Differences: Not every firm or company is the same—and that’s a good thing.
• Embrace Change: It’s okay to rethink your internship—or your job.
• Trust Your Instincts: What’s right for someone else may not be the right fit for you.
• Give Yourself Grace: You’re not expected to have it all figured out the moment you graduate.

Audrey Sattison, now a senior associate at DWD CPAs & Advisors in Fort Wayne, interned at both DWD CPAs & Advisors and BKD (now Forvis Mazars). She accepted a full-time role at BKD after graduation, but it didn’t take long to realize something wasn’t clicking.

“I realized I didn’t love only focusing on one type of work and thrived when I had more variety in my days,” she explained. “I learned what kind of work I enjoy and what I want my days to look like, and that has led me to a place where I love coming to work every day.”

A year later, she moved to DWD and joined the non-profit team, where she’s found purpose and fulfillment.

“I get to do a wide range of tasks but am able to focus on the non-profit clients, and it’s so rewarding to see my work help others who are serving  their communities the best way they know how,” Sattison added.

Reality Check: It’s Nothing Like the Textbooks

You might have crushed your college classes and walked into your first job expecting to ace it all. But the reality? School doesn’t (can’t) teach everything.

"The classes you take in college don't correspond one-to-one with the work you'll be doing,” said Ian Veen, CPA, senior accountant at BGBC. “You might dislike a course you take, but then you end up liking that area of work."

The transition from academia to office can be a shock. The rules, the culture, the people, the workflow—none of it is what you’re used to. And that’s okay and completely normal.

“I think the biggest surprise I had when starting my first full-time accounting job was how little school actually taught me,” Sattison added. “There is so much you won’t know, especially when it comes to software and internal processes.”

Finding Your Fit: Firm, Role & Culture

Firm size often matters. So does the type of work you do. If you’re from a small community, you might prefer to work for a smaller firm or family-owned business where you don’t get lost in the cafeteria and everyone knows your name. Or maybe you’re looking to escape that and land a gig with a Big Four firm in a major metropolitan city. It’s all up to your desires and needs.

"Not all public accounting firms are the same,” said Sattison. “I went to a small high school and a small college, so when I started at a large firm, I thought I didn't like public accounting. But it was the size. I'm much more comfortable now at a small firm."

Even within accounting specialties, expectations may not match reality.

"Not all areas of practice you can go into are the same. When I started in public accounting, I thought I wanted to specialize in real estate,” said Caitlin Kessner, CPA, deputy controller for the City of Noblesville. “But the work wasn't as interesting to me as I thought it would be."

The lesson? Don’t be afraid to pivot.

Ask Questions: You’re Not Supposed to Know It All

Questions are part of the equation, and employers anticipate that you will have many. Your degree and Exam prep laid the foundation, but they didn’t teach you everything.

"When you graduate, they don't expect you to know everything. So you don't need to act like you know everything—you can ask questions," Veen emphasized.

“One skill that has helped me most in my early career is my note-taking ability,” said Sattison. “When you first start, you’ll be seeing a lot of things for the first time, so it’s helpful to have notes to reference when you’re unsure what the next step should be. The people you work for will appreciate that, too, because it’ll lessen the amount of times they have to repeat themselves, and work can get done more efficiently.”

Take notes, ask questions and give yourself grace. You’re learning.

Soft Skills: Your Superpower

Yep, soft skills. It’s not Excel or complex formulas that trip up a lot of new accountants, it’s the inability to manage clients—and that’s a huge part of the job.

One of the top things employers say is that many young people coming into accounting look great on paper. They had the grades, they passed the Exam, they went to a great school, and aced things left and right. But what sets professionals apart is the ability to manage clients, communicate clearly and collaborate.

"How soon will you have to be able to coach and communicate with others? Right away. You might have to tell someone 20 years older than you that something isn't correct," said Darion Harris, CPA, manager at PwC. And while that isn’t easy, you “also need to be willing to hear feedback.”

The ability to connect with others and build relationships and trust is just as important as the technical side of accounting. It’s how things get done. It’s how business is built. And without sounding like a motivational poster hanging in the break room—being a team player and effective communicator is a huge part of being a successful accountant or CPA.

Your Career, Your Way

Whether you stay at your first job for years or explore different paths until you find the perfect fit, accounting is your ticket to a flexible, rewarding career with opportunities around the globe—it’s a profession that can launch you into the life you’ve envisioned. Once you earn your degree—or even better, your CPA license—you can go anywhere you set your sights on. An accounting degree and those three letters after your name can open doors to endless possibilities.

So, perfect your handshake, ask questions, go to the networking event—you never know which connection might shape the next step in your career. While technical skills and experience matter, success in accounting is built on relationships.

Want to meet other early-career CPAs? Check out our young pros networking events to connect with a community who gets it.