With the pressure in the accounting field to have internships, it is easy to feel like not having one before the summer is the end of the world. That said, it is not. There are solutions, and the bottom line is that many firms hire accounting professionals for full time positions without internship experience. If I were in this position, here is what I would do.
Keep looking for 2026 internship opportunities
There are still internship opportunities. While many big internship opportunities have been taken, there are still a handful of positions out there. With many of the students with the top resumes already having accepted positions, it is a good time to apply to these roles. Go to the Ledger Launch internship page to find 2026 roles.
Consider a fall or winter internship
The downside of a fall or winter internship is that you may have to take classes while you work. The upside is that you can still get internship experience before graduating if you missed out on the summer 2026 window. Additionally, working a busy season internship can give you a good feel for whether the firm is a good fit, as you see what working there is like during the toughest part of the year. Winter or spring internships are more common than fall internships, though both exist and both can lead to return offers. On the Ledger Launch internships page, there are opportunities for these types of internships.
Consider living in a different city for the summer
I live in Boston, where there are a lot of universities and many have accounting programs. This makes it a tough market to break into. Often other cities can be easier to break into. While there may be a high cost, accounting internships can pay around $10,000 a summer. It may be a worthwhile investment considering the work experience it gives you. Some firms may let you accept a full time offer away from where you had your internship. If your firm does not, then you can take the internship experience and apply elsewhere.
Conclusion
If you do not have an accounting internship at this point, it is not the end of the world. It is worth it to keep trying until it is too late and to understand that you are still employable without internship experience.