Starstuck

Hello I'm a high school senior interested in majoring in accounting. I know basic accounting, pretty much the credits and debits, payroll, and taxes. (I'm currently trying to learn Cost Accounting and Financial Accounting). I've taken basic Statistics and AP Micro (although I got a 2 on the exam )I'm proficient in mainly in Microsoft Office and Visual Basic.

I want to do basic accounting as an internship or apprenticeship. How do I go accounting firms and ask for an apprenticeship? Also, can I go to local small businesses and offer them if I can do basic accounting or bookkeeping?

I don't have any accounting certificates for community college but I'll eligible to get credit from one of the business colleges (not university).

Edit
I used PeachTree and Automated Accounting (accounting software)

plscatamacchia

I do not think you will be able to find anything. These firms hire accounting majors who have taken AT LEAST intermediate accounting I. And of course you will not be able to find any jobs working as a bookkeeper. There are associate degrees for bookkeepers.

Any positions for your age level would be selective, and your AP exam grade may keep you out.

Maybe you could find something if you wer certified in Excel, but you only claim proficiency in Word and Visual Basic.

You also must understand that in this economy time is even more valuable. If you have no connections, how would they benefit from hiring you? Or spending their time training you to do the most basic of jobs.

Thetaxdad

I agree - I think it will be very hard for you to find an accounting position as a high school student. My adivce for you is to find a job right now and stick with it. When you are applying to college and also in the future for an internship or career, these places like to see committment. Try to find something and stick with it so that you can possibly move up throughout your next few years. My early years in college were spent in a sales job, where I eventually was promoted to the highest volume store in my region of the country. Though sales was in no way related to accounting, I gained valuable skills in effectively communicating with people, and also in managerial skills from moving up through the ranks. Your internships in accounting can wait until later in college as plsca. stated above. There is no rush for these, and the employers understand that you will not have prior accounting experience when going into an internship.