By the time Mary-Helen Kolousek graduated from UNC Greensboro with a degree in marketing and business administration in 2023, she understood the power of an internship.  

She spent every summer during college as an intern in a different workplace. Some of those jobs were remote positions; others were in-person. One was in a smaller, niche organization while another was for a larger corporation. Some job requirements were more self-directed. Others were clearly defined. But all gave Kolousek real-world career experience, examples she could reference in interviews, and a better idea of the perfect job for her. 

Her internships and the career readiness mentorship she found at UNCG ignited a passion to do the same for others. Now Kolousek is the student engagement manager for Campus Greensboro, an organization that connects students with internships in Guilford County. 

“I realized that I love being able to see that hands-on impact when you are able to help a student build their skills to get internships and watch them thrive,” she says. 

“Students who complete paid internships make $20,000 more in their starting salary. I love reminding students of this statistic.”

– Mary-Helen Kolousek ’23

The Spartan Career Readiness Advantage 

Kolousek’s work gives her a unique perspective on UNCG’s ability to effectively match students with internships. She notes that career-fair attendance and connections with local companies are strong at UNCG.  

“You can see that students have been coached well,” she adds, referring to the professional attire, résumés, and questions students ask at career events.  

This campus culture gives UNCG students an advantage when entering the workforce. Research by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) claims that students who complete paid internships make $20,000 more in starting salaries than those without. 

This is why encouraging student internships, offering career coaching, and supporting programs like UNCG’s Humanities at Work is so important to UNCG’s Department of Career & Professional Development (CPD). 

“Internships are more than résumé builders — they’re essential experiences that help students explore interests, test career paths, and apply classroom learning in real-world settings,” says CPD Associate Director Jasmine Williams.“We want every student to have these opportunities because they build confidence, clarify goals, and often open doors to full-time roles.” 

Student Success Beyond Crossing the Stage 

According to NACE, eight out of 10 employers say that internships provide the best return on investment as a recruiting strategy. Matching students with employers is the ultimate measure of success for UNCG, which means that academic departments prioritize internships in all Schools on campus. 

Between 2022 and 2024, CPD counted 134 full-time jobs offered to UNCG students by their internship employer. This includes major employers such as Volvo, Bank of America, Cone Health, and North Carolina school systems.  

After her third year, Ana Mena ’20, a consumer, apparel and retail studies major, landed a summer internship as a pattern maker with Kontoor Brands that led to a year-long internship.  

She remembers comparing internship experiences with peers: “My friends from other colleges were just told to go get an internship. They didn’t have a class like mine with Professor Wood that prepped us for interning and required us to obtain internships for class credit. I’m glad UNCG offers that because it sets you up for success.” Five years after her graduation, Mena is still finding success as a full-time Kontoor designer. 

Whether students get help within their departments like Mena did in the Bryan School of Business and Economics or at CPD, UNCG works overtime to launch students’ careers. 

8 out of 10 employers say internships provide the best return on investment
as a recruiting strategy.

Renowned Career Prep Organization Partners with UNCG 

This fall, third- and fourth-year Spartans will be among 75 undergrads invited to attend a workforce readiness bootcamp hosted by The Washington Center (TWC). TWC is a leader in career preparation development and intern placement at its Washington, D.C. headquarters — with many UNCG students participating in recent years. Now they are taking their game on the road to Greensboro for their first-ever workshop on a college campus.    

The UNCG Career Launch Bootcamp will give Spartans an advantage in job searching and early career success. Students will build skills to promote themselves, find jobs, and stand out in interviews. They will also make connections with future employers via panel discussions and networking events attended by the University’s corporate partners and alumni.  

Similar experiences at TWC cost $1,200 per student, but this event will be free for UNCG students. As organizer of the bootcamp event, CPD encourages all students to observe National Intern Day on July 31 by marking their calendars for Oct. 24-26 and looking out for the registration to open as the fall semester begins.  

In the meantime, be inspired by the following students who are working impressive internships this summer, and take advantage of UNCG’s standout career-prep resources to maximize your earning potential. It’s never too early to test your skills in the workplace. 

Story by Becky Deakins, University Communications. 
Photos by Sean Norona, University Communications, unless otherwise noted.