From Intern to Associate: My Journey with Packer Thomas
The path from my internship to full-time associate at Packer Thomas has been one of the most natural paths I’ve taken in my career. The road from a nervous intern to a more confident and self-assured associate hasn’t always been the easiest, but Packer Thomas has made the track as comfortable as possible the entire way.
As a junior in college, I attended an accounting career night to meet with public accounting firms in our area. This is where I met some employees from Packer Thomas and started my journey with them. Through the interview process, I talked to 9 different firms and had offers from 8 of them. I had to carefully consider what I wanted from a firm and what was most important to me. I knew I wanted to work at a place that respected and valued its interns, had opportunities for growth after the internship, and a place with a positive learning atmosphere. Packer Thomas met all these criteria and came out on top by far for me, so in 2023 I signed on for my first busy season.
The internship process ended up being a gratifying and challenging experience. The training was intimidating, but I never felt the same “being thrown in the deep end” that my peers at school shared about their internships. The world of public accounting is inherently stressful and there’s always something new to learn, but at Packer Thomas someone was always willing to answer your question (or the same question multiple times) and offer support. I was thankful to learn so much about public accounting in such a short time, but my favorite thing about my internship was the people I met. The work we do is important, but the personal connections we create make a highly supportive workplace. This atmosphere helped me to learn and grow faster, and I’m forever grateful for my internship experience.
After completing my internship, I was offered a full-time associate position after graduation which I happily accepted. Going into my senior year of college knowing I had a job at an amazing company gave me an extra level of relief that let me enjoy my last year of college even more. Even though I wasn’t actively working for Packer Thomas while I completed my degree, I was still involved and would be invited to different events like gingerbread house decorating or the annual Christmas party. Maintaining these connections and attending these events solidified my belief in how much Packer Thomas valued its people.
This past spring I graduated and started back as an associate. Before coming back, I wondered a lot about what would be different as an associate. So far, the biggest differences I’ve noticed are that I sit in a different cube and work fewer hours since it’s the summer. What hasn’t changed is the level of respect I’m given by everyone here or the supportive atmosphere that made me choose Packer Thomas in the first place. I’ve worked on new projects that have been both challenging and confusing at times, but ultimately help me grow more every day. As an associate, I have been more focused on my professional growth than when I was an intern. My plans include obtaining my MBA and CPA, which Packer Thomas has been more than helpful with and fully encourages. Studying for such a tough exam while working full-time and getting my MBA can be demanding and ambitious, but I know that I’m at a firm that values and supports my endeavors as well as my well-being which makes the entire process a lot easier. I am excited for the career ahead of me and thankful to have Packer Thomas be an integral part of it.
Written By: Liz Nutter, 2023 Intern and Current Associate
