My internship has been an educational and enjoyable experience.
INTRODUCTION
My internship has been an educational and enjoyable experience. It has given me the chance to practice the theories I have learned in class in a suitable environment. During the internship, I realized that only learning in the classroom is not adequate for the workforce since one does not usually possess all the skills required. To perform effectively in their field of study, an individual must have some practical experience. I can say with absolute confidence that my internship has equipped me with the skills and work experience needed for my field.
During my internship, I worked as a Data Collector and editor at Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. Some of my responsibilities included; examining data and giving feedback to my supervisor, sorting and filing documents, typing documents, and preparing them for mailing. Working with the service has broadened my view on the different workplace positions and the importance of everyone fulfilling their duties.
- COMPANY DESCRIPTION
Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc is a firm that was created in 1982. The company grew slowly over the next few years, even opening various outlets. It is the second-largest tax service in the United States, and it provides tax returns for about 3.5 million middle and low-income customers. The company’s brand logo and slogan are ‘working hard for the hardest working.’
- PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
The purpose of the tax service is to provide its clients with tax preparation services and electronic filing. The different types of tax they focus on include computerized state income tax, federal and individual tax. Through the company’s website, the employees can provide online tax preparation and e-filing services.
- STRUCTURE/ORGANIZATION
There are more than 5,500 franchise locations supported by the company in the United States. The company also gas an online support center along with staff specially trained to meet the technology and software needs. There is also an online support center that caters to remote assistance, telephone, chat, and email support. In 2005, there was also an ESS scan system that was developed, which allowed the paperless uploading of customer files to a secure server.
- BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The company first began selling franchises in 1986 and had 22 offices at that time. The company grew and had 189 stores in 1989. However, this growth happened too fast, and the company had to close 67 of its offices. Fortunately, by the end of the next year, it was back on its feet and was able to open more locations. By 1992, Jackson Hewitt had over 500 offices, and the following year, there were about 400 more opened. At this point, they filed around 312,000 returns. The company went public in 1994 and was acquired by HFS Inc in December 1997. The company filed for bankruptcy protection in May 2011 and ceased trading in the New York Stock Exchange. In August of the same year, Jackson Hewitt became a private company. Its president is Philip Sanford, who is also the Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors.
- EXTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE
My classes were extremely beneficial to me during the internship since the theories I had learned were what I was implementing. I have also gained Microsoft excel, access, and word skills, which were required in the workplace. The new skills I acquired during this internship were communication skills with clients and coworkers. I also learned to be disciplined and not be on my phone when I was supposed to be working. Finally, I was able to improve my Microsoft excel skills, which were basic, to begin with. In the future, I will use these skills to develop good relationships with my coworkers and clients. The other skills I gained will also help me become more efficient in the workplace. The individuals I met during that time will be beneficial for y future since they could help me get employment in this field by telling me when there are job openings or referring me to other places. The experience furthered my belief that this is the career path I want to follow since I will also be helping people by assisting them in filing their taxes.
- EVALUATION
- Practical
The internship surpassed my expectations since I learned more than I thought I would at the beginning of the experience. I became more confident since I could interact with more people professionally. It was mainly because I understood my role and what was requires of me. I performed well during the internship, and I could tell since my manager congratulated me and told me I had done better than expected at the end of my experience. The only thing I would change about this experience was the long hours I had to work with few breaks in between. I would make sure there were at least three short breaks and one long one during the workday.
- Personal
I learned a lot about the workplace’s required practices, like getting to work on time, the right attire for work, and how to interact with employees. I also attended a few meetings, which educated me on the proper behavior to display. My knowledge of taxes, their complexity, and their importance, also improved significantly during my time at the company.
- Academic
I was able to significantly improve my Microsoft Access and Excel skills in the workplace. I also learned how to do taxes, which is a skill everyone needs.
- RECOMMENDATION
The changes I would recommend would be for the company to hire more employees since with the number of clients they have, it can be overwhelming for those employed to handle everything.
- CONCLUSION
My internship experience was informative and educational. For anyone interested in Money Tax Services, Jackson Hewitt is the company to be at. Its employees are professional, friendly, and willing to lend a helping hand at all times.