Troy University accounting students networked with many firms at the annual Meet the Firms event held by the William H. Carr School of Accountancy.

Students and employers met at the Stadium Towers Wednesday afternoon for an opportunity to seek out connections and internships.

“Networking is so very important, and we encourage our students to get involved in the recruiting process as early as possible,” said Amanda Paul, the Associate Director of the Carr School of Accountancy. “The recruiters come to campus and spend time with students from freshman year all the way through senior year, and it helps students get internships and hopefully turn those into full-time positions.”

Paul emphasized the importance of connections – some of which made Meet the Firms possible to begin with.

“It really started when I was a student, and it helped me to make connections,” said Paul. “I used those connections when I was in public practice and then those same connections are the people who come as alumni and recruit our students.”

Accounting students have been able to secure internship opportunities from the event, and Paul said firms have a high satisfaction rate with TROY students.

“These networking opportunities are fantastic when it comes to internships and future job prospects,” said Bradley Smith, a junior accounting major from Marietta, GA. “I’ve already gotten an internship for my spring semester of senior year.

“It’s not even just my internship offer – the people I’ve met have been very helpful in understanding the accounting field and seeing what I want in my future.”

From year to year, students can cultivate relationships with the firms who visit Troy University and see familiar faces.

“I’ve been coming to the event since my freshman year,” said Hayle Jackson, a junior accounting major from Jackson. “When you really make connections with people and reach out to people, they’re more likely to remember you.

“I’ve had conversations with people that I remember from freshman year. It’s helped me step out of my comfort zone, and every year I feel more confident.”

More photos from Meet the Firms is available at troy.edu/photo.