Landing an internship with a Big Four accounting firm can be a major step toward a career. For Thao Nguyen, it also meant moving to a new city, navigating a new workplace, and learning what it takes to work directly with clients.
Nguyen, a senior double-majoring in Accounting and Economics, recently completed a two-month internship with PwC in Pittsburgh as a tax intern. It was her first internship that involved working with clients, giving her an opportunity to take what she had learned in the classroom and apply it in a professional setting.
Nguyen worked with PwC's Wealth Management Tax Services team on 990 forms for nonprofits, charities, and other tax-exempt organizations. She provided support on the compliance process as they worked toward filing deadlines. Through that work, she was introduced to the team's automation workflow, which was new to her.
Nguyen said the experience was sometimes difficult, but it allowed her to learn a lot about the industry and take her accounting education beyond the classroom.
“It was challenging at first since I hadn’t taken any formal classes on it, but it was also one of the most interesting parts of the internship because I was able to teach myself and my fellow interns the basics and understand how automation supports efficiency,” Nguyen said.
Nguyen quickly learned that succeeding in the workplace required a different kind of communication than she was accustomed to in the classroom. Rather than waiting for direction, she had to become comfortable asking questions, reaching out to colleagues, and working with people across her team.
“It's more of an expectation of asking a lot of questions and working in a team, so you know how to work with different people,” Nguyen said.
But accepting the internship was only the beginning. Nguyen still had to figure out how to make a summer in Pittsburgh financially feasible.
Living in Morgantown, Nguyen needed to find housing in Pittsburgh. Without a car, she also had to consider transportation and moving costs.
Those are the kinds of challenges Chambers’ internship funding is designed to address. After securing an internship, students with qualifying financial needs can apply for funding to help offset the costs associated with participating in an internship.
Nguyen said the funding was a huge relief and helped her focus on her internship, rather than stressing out about costs.
“It helped me with accommodating a new environment to Pittsburgh,” Nguyen said. “Also, I had to consider renting a place in Pittsburgh while also paying rent in Morgantown because I have to pay rent for both places. So that internship funding really, really helped me.”
For Nguyen, the funding meant she could take advantage of the opportunity without carrying the full financial burden of temporarily living in two cities.
Sarah Glenn, Assistant Dean of Career Development and External Engagement at the Center for Career Development, said situations like Nguyen’s are exactly what the funding is meant for.
"Internships give our students real-world experience that often leads directly to a job offer after graduation,” Glenn said. “But paying two rents can be a barrier for a student weighing an offer. We want to make sure that if they land an internship they're excited about, they have the support they need to say yes."
Recent data from Chambers shows that undergraduate students who have at least one internship prior to graduation have a job placement rate of 81.5%, compared to 57.7% for students who don’t have at least one internship.
The CCD does more than assist students with funding. Nguyen credited the CCD with helping her on interview prep as well.
Logan Mayhew, Program Director of Student Success at the CCD, said students can get advice on interviews and resume building, as well as find professional clothing through the Career Closet.
For students who aren't sure where to begin preparing for an interview, Mayhew said an appointment with the CCD is a good place to start.
“A lot of times if a student comes in and they don't have a lot of interview experience then it becomes a conversation,” Logan Mayhew said. “What experiences do you have? What stories would you want to tell? And then we start putting that together.”
Although her internship is over, Nguyen will likely stay busy during her senior year. She serves as chair of the Vietnamese Student Association and works with the Student Government Association. She’s also a Neidermeyer Scholar and tutors students in Accounting 201.
After a packed senior year, Nguyen plans to earn her CPA and take the next step toward a career in accounting — bringing with her the lessons she gained both in the classroom and during her summer in Pittsburgh.
-WVU-
JC 9/9/26
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jacob Comer
Senior Communications Specialist
John Chambers College of Business and Economics
jrcomer@mail.wvu.edu
Photo Credit: Thao Nguyen
