Professional U connection leads to potential internship

Alexandra Hilbert knows the value of Bloomsburg University’s Professional U events — like its recent Accounting Career Connections Expo — firsthand. Her potential summer internship came as a result of one she attended her freshman year.

“I attend all of the career expos,” said Hilbert, a junior dual accounting and economics major. “I was excited about the accounting expo, because I knew there would be reason for me to talk to every table.”

Hilbert said she landed a potential internship with RKL — Central and Eastern Pennsylvania’s top CPA and business consulting firm — because of a connection she made two years ago at a Professional U career expo.

“They were impressed by my eagerness to get my name and resume out there,” Hilbert said. “It’s never too early to start networking with professionals.”

At the Accounting Career Connections Expo students networked with representatives from various CPA firms, corporations with large accounting departments, and federal, state and local government entities looking to recruit students for entry-level positions or internships.

According to Hilbert, the accounting expo is one of the many professional development opportunities offered to accounting students. Todd Shawver, chair of the Department of Accounting, has made it a goal this fall to increase those opportunities.

“Dr. Shawver made a BOLT page specifically for accounting majors where information is directly communicated to us,” Hilbert said. “I think the main reason he did this is because BU students have the reputation of performing well, and businesses are constantly coming here to recruit.”