Internship Experience Provides Fresh Start for Tony Yang

With graduation only a semester away, Tony Yang accepted an offer from Magna International to work as an intern over the summer in Troy, Michigan. The internship opportunity came about in an unusual fashion and ended with a full-time job offer.

Mike Viscariello, Director, U.S. Tax for Magna, was on a campus visit with his daughter to learn more about the UAB School of Nursing when a conversation came up about UAB’s accounting program. He was impressed with what he heard about the program and left his business card for someone to follow-up about the possibility of hiring accounting students for internship positions in the Magna US Tax Department in Michigan, and some of their manufacturing facilities in the Southeast.

Shortly thereafter, Mike was contacted by Whitney Wilson, Accounting Internship Program Coordinator, to discuss the opportunities. After gaining a thorough understanding of Magna and what Mr. Viscariello wanted, Whitney selected resumes of students interested in an accounting internship who she felt fit the corporate culture of Magna and offered the traits and talents that Mr. Viscariello was looking for in an intern and possible future employee. Through an in-depth process that included a phone interview and in-person meeting, Tony was selected for the internship.

Pleased with his past experience interning with Culotta, Scroggins, Hendricks & Gillespie, P.C., Tony felt like the experience would be valuable and the timing was right. “Moving to Michigan provided a fresh, new start,” says Tony. “It is a great start on to the next phase of my life.”

While in Michigan, Tony was able to complete his degree by taking UAB’s on-line courses and accept a full-time offer from Magna as Tax Associate. Tony credits his UAB internship experiences for helping to establish a scope and foundation for his future career path.

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