The Business HIRE (High-Impact Rural Experiences) program is a high-impact experience dedicated to placing Poole College of Management undergraduate students in paid summer internships at companies in rural North Carolina counties. Students are matched with rural companies based on their industry and functional role preferences and spend the internship immersed in that community, building both personal and professional relationships.

This impact-driven program gives Poole students a way to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom and gain invaluable on-the-job career readiness skills while having a positive economic impact on rural North Carolina counties.

This full-time, 12-week, paid summer internship program also provides career coaching, professional development workshops, and a process to help translate the skills you learned on the job to future employers. While internships will be individualized, students will spend time connecting and learning with a cohort of their peers who are going through similar rural experiences.

For questions, contact Jill Willett at jewillet@ncsu.edu.

Virtual Info Session

Access the Zoom recording and transcript of the Business HIRE virtual info session held on October 7. 2025. Members of Poole’s high-impact experience team and the Career Development Center shared details about the Business HIRE program, the unique nature of rural internships, the types of companies and available internship roles, and the application process and timeline. Use password, when prompted: u+q^7!W^

Employer Testimonials

• “Our student far exceeded our expectations for a summer internship and help on several projects. Their future employer will be lucky to have them!” – Rebecca Larkin, KIOTI
• “This internship match what we were hoping for, in fact, it exceeded our expectations!” –Southern Fabricators, Inc.
• “Our interns quick adaptation to our system and proactive problem-solving enhanced operational efficiency and supported key projects. Their collaborative attitude and fresh ideas fostered a positive team environment, leaving a lasting contribution to our workflow.” – Steve Scott, Tri-State Steel