Intern Qualifications

I began this internship knowing that it was going to be a grind – 65 hours a week, but I was genuinely excited to come into work, and I’ve learned at least five new things each and every day.  Everybody at DOZ welcomed me with open arms and pushed me to learn and grow each and every day. Most of the full-time staff, seniors, managers, senior managers, and partners were interns at one point, so they know what I was going through as an intern; they know the struggle of going into unknown territory with virtually no prior experience in the industry and given more responsibility than I could have imagined as an intern. I have had the opportunity to work with some of the most caring and selfless individuals I have crossed paths with in my life. There were some long nights where I was trying to figure out a certain series or working through some of my review notes, and there was someone there guiding me and helping me through every step.  One of the hardest parts of this internship is accepting that I genuinely did not know what I was doing when I first began on new clients and that it’s okay to not know what I’m doing at first – as long as I’m willing to listen, learn, and actively get better every single day. I knew I was going to have an amazing and rewarding time here. It’s easy to tell that DOZ has been building this top-of-the-line internship program for almost 20 years through the structure and the amount of responsibility they’re willing to give the interns, knowing that the students that they choose will be the hardest-working and dedicated people to get the job done. 

Going into my internship at DOZ, I had no idea what to expect. DOZ knew that, and they were more than able to create a comfortable working environment that helped me learn from my experiences. Though the time went by fast, I have no regrets in my decision to work for DOZ. Not only did I vastly expand my knowledge in auditing, but I learned more about myself as a person. Yes, the hours are long, but the time flies by because DOZ makes you feel at home and emphasizes to better and improve yourself each and every day. I found myself wanting to come back to work each day because of the people I was working alongside. The environment and culture of the office kept me excited.

Before I began at DOZ, I attended two summer visits which allowed me to get a feel for the building and the people that work there. Everyone seemed so excited to see me and talk with me about the firm and their journey. This pumped me up for the start of the internship, which was needed because I was originally uncertain about my ability to complete audits up to standard due to my lack of experience in the field. Going in, I was properly informed about what the hours would be like, what I would be doing on a daily basis, and how the whole intern process would play out. After a week of training, we were assigned to teams to begin working on client work.  Not once during the internship did I feel like a burden on anyone. The people I got to work with were incredibly helpful and full of knowledge. They helped me not only understand what I was doing, but why I was doing it. I was able to learn so much about the clients and the work that I was completing audits that I felt really confident with and proud of. For good reason, DOZ can brag about its culture. The environment made me excited to get to the office each day. Interning at DOZ not only gives you incredible, real life experience, but also the opportunity to meet many others within a similar field that are going through the same experience. These are not only fellow interns and employees, but also connections for the future.

Before starting my internship at DOZ, I really had no idea what to expect. But now, as my internship comes to a close, there is one main word I can use to describe it as: growth. I have grown in more ways than I thought possible throughout my 11 week internship. For me, my growth consisted of everything from my accounting and auditing knowledge, my time management skills, my roundabout expertise, and everything in between. Working at DOZ has assured me that I have chosen the perfect career path for me, and DOZ has shown me what I desire in the workplace. To say that DOZ cares about its employees is an understatement. I truly felt valued throughout this entire process. This internship has taught me more than any class I have taken in my college career. My internship was invaluable. To anyone looking for a potential career or internship in public accounting, DOZ should be at the top of your list.

This internship was definitely unlike any other. The past few months have been the most difficult time of my life. Not only was I working 65 hours a week doing work that was completely new to me, but I was also commuting from an hour away and taking a class one day a week at night. That being said, If I was going to work such long hours on such little sleep, there is probably no better place for it.  The environment at DOZ is relaxed, and the people are friendly and always willing to help. I know a lot of accounting firms that say they have an open door policy, but I would say at DOZ it was more like a “no door environment”. Questions are always welcome to anyone, and you can ask them by chat on email or go walk right up to them. Even people I had never worked with were happy to come over to my desk and help when doing one of their final reviews.  This internship is incredibly rewarding.

I interviewed with several accounting firms and received offers from a few, but when it came time to make my decision, my choice was easy. During all of my time meeting with DOZ’s recruiting team and communicating with other members of the staff, I felt so welcomed and wanted that I knew this is where I wanted to learn how to be an auditor. That, more than anything else, is what sets DOZ apart for me. They want you to be there. More than they want an auditor or tax accountant, they want you. The work we did as interns here was extremely challenging. DOZ places an incredible amount of trust and responsibility in their interns. You will be preparing entire audits, not just bits and pieces, and you’ll have to understand what you’re doing. It’s a daunting prospect, but DOZ places incredible mentors right at your side to coach you through the hardest parts so that by mid-February, you feel like you’re able to do the work independently. There’s no internship where you will be more challenged and supported than busy season with DOZ.

This internship experience exceeded my expectations in every imaginable way. I feel more developed personally and professionally from these fast-paced three months than I have at any other time in my life. Deciding to take a semester off of school and intern at DOZ was extremely intimidating to me at first, but looking back now, I am more than happy I took advantage of this learning opportunity.  The amount of responsibility given to interns and trust in completing full audits/returns is what makes this internship so unique and highly valuable. I began my internship in audit, which exposed me to multiple clients and opened my eyes to the various audits practiced at DOZ. Although I enjoyed my time and learned immensely auditing, I expressed my interest in tax early on which was well received  and gave me the opportunity to end my internship in the tax department. DOZ’s care and interest toward its employee’s was evident throughout.  Aside from the work involved, the employees at DOZ play a vital role with why this firm is so admirable. The level of investment and care DOZ expressed towards each intern still amazes me and their desire to see each of us succeed is apparent from each individual from staff up to partner. I could not be more grateful for my first busy season experience and highly recommend DOZ to students looking to challenge themselves intellectually and further grow professionally.

Choosing to intern at DOZ has been the best decision that I have made in college. Going into the internship the main goals I had were to get real world experience which always seems to be lacking in the classroom setting and get a better idea of whether or not public accounting was the right career path for me. DOZ provided me the experience to accomplish both of these goals. From the first day after training, you will get right into the real work that the full time staff is also doing. Everything that you need to know about auditing will be taught to you in either DOZ’s general overview that training provides or through one of your in-charges while you are performing the audits.  Throughout the internship my schedule had me working for multiple clients. Being able to work on multiple clients throughout the internship provided challenges that helped build my auditing skills by exposing me to more than I would get on just one client and also allows you to meet more people in management positions and be able to connect and learn from them over the course of your time on the client.

If I had to do the internship process over again, I would choose DOZ every time! The knowledge and experience I gained from my time here is invaluable. Going into the internship I had no prior knowledge of audit and was a bit nervous for the hours of busy season. DOZ does an amazing job preparing you for the job ahead of time, but they also give an amazing support system that helps you get acclimated to the grind of busy season.  Throughout my time in the internship, I was faced with countless challenges and times where I had no idea what to do. One thing that truly stood out to me about DOZ was their people. The staff always made an effort to assist me with any questions, not only with the answer, but to truly help me understand why things were happening in the way that they were. The culture that DOZ has established is unmatched, and DOZ truly has one of the best experiences for an accounting internship.

I am so glad that I chose to do a tax spring internship at DOZ. This internship experience challenged me and gave me insight into how it would be working as an accountant during busy season. It was hard to get adjusted to the hours at first, but it honestly flew by and went faster than I anticipated. During the first two weeks of training, I was definitely overwhelmed and nervous with how I was going to be able to apply all of the information I had learned to do tax returns on my own. Although I had my moments of doubt, the training was enjoyable, and I appreciated how helpful all of the staff was during the process. After I transitioned to being on my own, I realized there was no need to be nervous. I was honestly surprised by how helpful everyone was considering the workload they had themselves. Whenever I reached out to anyone with a question, they would immediately come over to my cubicle and help me solve whatever I was stuck on while explaining to me the purpose behind it. That is something I really appreciated over the course of my internship.  Overall, this internship was challenging, but it was definitely very rewarding. I am lucky to have had this opportunity to work in a public accounting firm during busy season and experience what it was like firsthand. I have learned very much during this internship, and it was great to be able to learn about accounting outside of the classroom.

Coming into the internship with DOZ, I had no idea what to expect. Professors and peers told me that there was a mix of stress and fulfillment that come from busy season internships. This left me excited but also extremely nervous for what the experience would be like. DOZ managed to calm all of my nerves immediately. DOZ made sure that I was surrounded by people that I would get along with. I had an assigned buddy to show me the ropes as well as in-charges who wanted to teach me rather than scold me. On top of that, one-on-one meetings ensured that I was fitting in with the firm. The office culture of DOZ is different than any work environment I’ve been in. Everyone gets along with each other, and there are plenty of opportunities to get to know people outside of work.  I wish that every accounting student had the chance to see what DOZ is about. The firm helped me grow by caring for me rather than pressuring me. I didn’t feel afraid to make errors or ask questions. By the end of the internship, I had completed about 40 audits and experienced each main type of audit. With each audit I completed, I felt more comfortable with the work that I was doing. By the time the internship was over, I felt like I was ready for my accounting career to start full time.

The internship was one of the greatest and most challenging experiences that I’ve had. This internship will push you past your limits you set for yourself and force you to grow. At the beginning, I doubted my abilities to perform the work they asked of me. The client I was assigned to for the majority of my internship was very difficult, but all the staff I worked with were very helpful and patient with me during my learning process. They understand you have probably never done any of this before. As such, they were always willing to help me and walk me through parts of the audit I didn’t understand. Additionally, they helped me develop confidence in myself and encouraged me to continue growing and improving. I remember early on in my internship, I asked my in-charge if the audits would get easier. He said, “No, they will not get easier, but you will get better.” As the internship progressed, he was right. I started asking fewer and fewer questions and started figuring out the solution for myself. This internship taught me how to problem solve and think for myself.  Overall, I am highly impressed with the DOZ internship. The hours are long and the work is challenging, but the experience, knowledge, and confidence I gained over 12 weeks was worth it. If you get an opportunity to take a DOZ internship, do it.

I learned a great deal through my internship at DOZ. I came in with the experience of completing one partnership return for an introductory accounting course, but other than that, I knew nothing about the work I was thrown into. The tax staff were so welcoming and relaxed, and I was amazed by how willing they were to offer their time to teach me everything they know. If I had chosen to accept an offer at a different firm, I’m sure I would have learned just as much about tax as I did here, but it’s DOZ’s community that made me want to come in to work every day. I wouldn’t have found this comfortability at any other firm.

Before I started my internship at DOZ, I was extremely nervous because I wasn’t sure what to expect, and I hadn’t taken an audit class yet. I was afraid that I was going to be lost and not understand the work that I was doing. At first the work was challenging, but it got much easier with the help of the staff. I was surprised at how patient they were, taking the time to answer every question that I had. I couldn’t have learned and done the work without their help. The work schedule is intimidating because there are a lot of hours to work each week. However, the day goes by quickly because of the people at DOZ who make the day fun while getting your work done. Events that are planned for the interns are lots of fun and provide a way to meet other interns. Overall, I loved my internship at DOZ as it provided me with a good experience and taught me so much in my time at DOZ.

Being from Cleveland and attending school in Cincinnati, I had never heard of DOZ until I received an email via handshake. I attended Xavier University and had no auditing experience and very little professional experience. However, DOZ took a chance on me, and in return, I took a chance on DOZ.

During my internship, I went through many ups and downs along the way. You will have good days, and you will have bad days. The work is challenging, and the hours can take a toll on you physically and mentally but most of the people at DOZ have gone through the internship themselves and are there to help you whenever you need it. By the time the internship ends, I will have completed around 30 audits and worked on nine different clients. It can be challenging to roll onto new clients during the internship because every client does things a little differently, but it gives you the chance to join more teams and meet more people along the way. The best part of the internship are the people you meet and get to know – it’s what separates DOZ from other companies. I knew no one on my first day, and by the end of the internship, I was playing basketball every Friday with coworkers. It is little things like playing basketball or having team lunches that make you feel a part of the DOZ community.

The DOZ internship has been a great opportunity to enhance my skills. This has been the hardest and most challenging experience I have had, but it was rewarding. Prior to doing the internship, I had not taken an audit class, but DOZ teaches you everything that you need to know. The first week of training was very challenging, but as I got into more and more audits, I felt more confident in myself. The first audit I completed was rough, but I improved as I went. By the end, I could work through an entire audit with minimal questions.  The DOZ audit team was very helpful and walked me patiently through the most stressful time of the busy season. Everyone is there to help regardless of the situation you come across. Overall, the internship was worth taking a semester off from school and doing hands on training with DOZ.

Going into my internship at DOZ I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I remember being slightly stressed about what it would be like to work 65 hours a week as well as what type of work I would be doing, but I quickly realized I had nothing to worry about. The hours flew by as I dove into the challenging work I was presented with, and after completing each task, I was left with a sense of accomplishment. Along with this, I was able to see myself grow each day, becoming more confident with each audit I completed. One piece that caught me off guard was the culture at DOZ. While many internships and jobs can feel like your entire purpose is to complete work, DOZ and the people working there are dedicated to helping you grow as an individual as well. This culture went beyond the workplace, as people would spend time together outside of work and invite others along with them.  Ultimately, I had a great experience through my internship at DOZ and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a rewarding challenge.

I am very glad that I chose to do a spring internship with DOZ. Going into the internship I was worried that I was going to be behind the curve since I hadn’t taken any tax classes, but that wasn’t true. DOZ does a great job of preparing you for your internship by starting off with two full weeks of training. This sets you up perfectly to start preparing returns on your own. The hours can be intimidating at first, but once you get into a routine, they fly by. The staff are always available to answer questions and are very friendly to engage with. The monthly evaluations are also helpful to see your growth as an intern. Throughout my internship, I was able to work on multiple types of returns in various states on many different clients. That allowed me to see many examples on different returns and how clients can handle items differently. DOZ is truthful when they say that they have one of the most challenging internships in Indiana. In the end, if you are up for the challenge, this internship will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your college career. The staff want to see you grow and will be there to help you every step of the way. This internship was an unforgettable experience, and I couldn’t be happier to have done it with DOZ.

The internship with DOZ is not only about finishing audits, it is about the knowledge you gain and the relationships you make with your co-workers. I have made friends at DOZ who have not only taught me about accounting but also worked to get to know me as a person. When I first started this internship, I was completely lost. I had no clue what I was doing, but after the first few weeks, I learned more than I ever would have in the classroom. DOZ is an extremely laid back company that I have enjoyed working for. DOZ treats its employees well; DOZ is a big family. I am glad I chose to intern at DOZ and would recommend it to any of my friends that are willing to put in the time and effort that is needed to do the work well.

The busy season internship at DOZ is intense. You are doing 30 plus audits start to finish. You are working 65 hours every week. This is not a cake walk; it is a marathon. Be ready to work harder than you ever have before, but your hard work does not go without reward. I have been rewarded with a multitude of knowledge in aspects of auditing. I was given the opportunity to audit every business process and acquired a unique insight into how business works in the real world. You can learn all you want here and still only understand a sliver of the knowledge there is. Learning is what internships are all about. You come to DOZ with a rough understanding of what auditing is, but the reason why you intern is to learn. The two and a half months working at DOZ have been more valuable than any class I took in school. I understand the business world more, matured towards a professionally focused mindset, and made many friends. Overall, DOZ exceeded my expectations, and I am proud to have been a part of the 2020 busy season.

Working at DOZ, I’ve learned more than I ever thought I could during an internship. There were many times that I would get a return and feel that there was no way I could do it, but the training that was given to us allowed me to understand what was going on and enabled me to get the job done. I also never felt like I was bothering anyone with my questions, – everyone seemed more than happy to help me.  The hours may seem intimidating, but I promise that they fly by. Not only is the work engaging and interesting, but the people around you make the day fun. It’s hard not to make friends at DOZ whether they are a part of the full time staff or an intern like you.  There were countless times that partners would go out of their way to help everyone or just make the day better because they could. I also admire that when DOZ makes a promise, they commit to it even if it might be easier to go another way. My internship was during the COVID-19 pandemic, and although we had to move to remote working and it would have been easier to end the internship early, they stuck with us. I am so thankful for that. This has truly been one of the best experiences of my college career.

Prior to this internship at DOZ, I had not taken any audit or tax classes, so I was unsure which area I wanted to start my career in. I really wanted the chance to work in both tax and audit before committing to one. This was something I expressed to DOZ during the recruitment period, and they went out of their way to offer me a chance to experience both.  I spent the first two months of my internship completing audits, where I was challenged in ways that school rarely does. There was a huge learning curve, but there were so many great people at DOZ willing to help that it was never overwhelming. Despite the fact that they were busy and had deadlines to meet, the full–time staff helped with any question that I had and helped me to understand the problem so that I could do it by myself the next time that step came around. I have spent the last month and a half of my internship on the tax side of DOZ. I think it’s worth mentioning that this pandemic has allowed me to see what DOZ is really about, and I want to say that I could not be more impressed. They have made a point to put each of our safety and our family’s safety first. They have made every possible accommodation to make us comfortable at home and allow us to continue to be efficient. If you are curious about where DOZ’s priorities are, let this be an example.