Carson College of Business Internship Program Sample Learning Goals

Please choose one learning goal per category in relation to your major for a total of five learning goals:

Academic Learning

  • (ACCTG) Learn about internal monthly reporting (sales reports, expenditures report), month end and year-end procedures, including closing the books.
  • (ACCTG) Obtain proficiency in preparation of account reconciliations, journal entries and account analysis.
  • (ACCTG) Identify, understand and propose resolution for discrepancies in account reconciliations, journal entries and account analysis.
  • (ACCTG) Document a cycle for an entity.
  • (ACCTG) Analyze an internal control system using the COSO framework.
  • (ACCTG) Gain an understanding of the audit of a city through fieldwork.
  • (ACCTG) Gain an understanding of the audit of a school district through fieldwork.
  • (ACCTG) Learn to analyze and research client issues to complete income tax returns.
  • (ACCTG/FIN) Analyze all firm accounts and prepare a trend line (or forecasting) of accounts.
  • (FIN) Grow an understanding of how capital markets work and how they relate to and shape the economy.
  • (FIN) Research and gain awareness and understanding of the financial services competitive landscape and apply it to daily calls/emails/communications/etc.
  • (MIS) Examine variation of employee efficiency using monthly metrics in order to build a report using graphical representation via excel.
  • (MKTG) Develop a “marketing orientation” based on fulfilling needs, rather than a “production orientation” based solely on company capabilities.
  • (MKTG) Learn how consumer behavior principles apply to marketing.
  • (General) Analyze and draw conclusions from large amounts of data by providing a reports/presentation.

Career Development

  • (General) Attend business meetings within the firm.
  • (General) Attend professional development events within the firm or in the community.
  • (General) Maintain professional contacts outside of the firm.
  • (General) Train new employees and/or interns.

Skill Development

  • (ACCTG) Understand the audit procedures for an area and be able to complete assigned audit tasks.
  • (ACCTG) Understand the Washington State tax system and be able to complete the relevant tax forms.
  • (ACCTG) Further develop individual tax return preparation skills for high net worth individuals.
  • (General) Understand how the budgeting process works for my company by shadowing managers and forecasting for the next fiscal year.
  • (MIS) Acquire analytical skills by extracting raw data, transforming and loading data into the firm’s internal data warehouse using Access and other reporting applications.
  • (MIS) Apply critical thinking practices to develop an analysis of information while using the firm’s internal information system to generate results and provide a report/spreadsheet/etc. with the findings.
  • (MKTG) Learn the math of marketing such as calculating markups at various stages of the distribution channel, average cost pricing, gross margin return on investment (GMROI) for retailers.
  • (MKTG) Develop sales skills to be used in sales calls.
  • (MKTG) Determine how marketing creates values for customers and the firm, and identify relevant marketing metrics.
  • (General) Learn how to use the firm’s software _____ (list the software).
  • (General) Analyze business transactions to report to a supervisor.

Personal Development

  • (MGMT) Renewing old procedures and make them more efficient with new technology for the company and provide a report with the results/findings.
  • (MKTG) Develop communication skills to be able to identify a potential client’s needs and articulate how or if we would be able to add value.
  • (MKTG) Develop emotional intelligence to deal with the pressures of sales positions.
  • (General) Phone and office communication skills. Learn how to communicate with management in a professional setting through agendas for meetings/emails/phone calls/one on one meetings/etc.
  • (General) Learn to communicate with clients with professional tools such as email, phone calls, or other professional documents.
  • (General) Edit training manuals for future employees and/or interns.
  • (General) Learn how to prepare projects for supervisors.