Department of Commerce International Internship Programs

The U.S. Department of Commerce and related agencies offer various internship programs for students and recent graduates interested in gaining experience in international trade, economics, and public policy. These programs provide valuable opportunities to develop professional skills, explore career options, and contribute to the work of the federal government.

Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

The International Trade Administration (ITA) uses an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot called the Global Business Navigator to assist exporters. The Chatbot, which was created using Microsoft's Azure AI services, has been trained using the ITA's export-related content to give users the information they require fast. The Chatbot seeks to make exporting's advantages more accessible by comprehending foreign languages, idiomatic expressions, and non-expert language.

As a beta product, the Chatbot is being tested and may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

The Chatbot does not collect information about users and does not use the contents of users’ chat history to learn new information. All feedback is anonymous. Please do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive, or proprietary information into the Chatbot. Your conversations will not be connected to other interactions or accounts with ITA. Conversations with the Chatbot may be reviewed to help ITA improve the tool and address harmful, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate questions.

The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation.

Read also: The CPB Logo: A Visual History

U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) Opportunities

The USITC offers unpaid training opportunities to students in high school and college, providing work experience related to their academic programs. These opportunities allow students to explore career options and develop personal and professional skills. Student volunteer work may be performed during the school year and/or during summer or school vacation periods. The nature of your volunteer assignment as well as your weekly work schedule should be part of your work agreement.

Internship Program

The Internship Program replaces the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) and Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP). This Program is designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers while still in school and while getting paid for the work performed. Students who successfully complete the program may be eligible for conversion to a permanent job in the civil service. Additional information about the Internship Program can be found at USAJOBS (external link).

Recent Graduates Program

The Recent Graduates Program affords developmental experiences in the Federal Government intended to promote possible careers in the civil service to individuals who have recently graduated from qualifying educational institutions or programs. To be eligible, applicants must apply within two years of degree or certificate completion (except for veterans precluded from doing so due to their military service obligation, who have up to six years after degree completion to apply). Successful applicants are placed in a dynamic, developmental program with the potential to lead to a civil service career in the Federal Government. The program lasts for 1 year (unless the training requirements of the position warrant a longer and more structured training program).

Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program

The Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program (external link) is a flagship leadership development program at the entry-level for advanced degree candidates. Created more than three decades ago, the program attracts and selects from among the best candidates and is designed to develop a cadre of potential Federal Government leaders. An individual may apply for the PMF Program more than once as long as he or she meets the eligibility criteria.

Veterans Hiring Programs

Veterans may be given preference during the hiring process when applying to USITC positions at USAJOBS and depending on eligibility, may also qualify for special hiring authorities. These special authorities include the Veterans Recruitment Authority (VRA), appointments for 30% or more disabled veterans, appointments under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA), and opportunities for disabled veterans enrolled in a Department of Veterans Affairs training program.

Schedule A Hiring Authority

Excepted service appointing authorities are critical tools for increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities in the Federal Government. Schedule A, 5 CFR 213.3102(u), for hiring people with severe physical disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, and intellectual disabilities. This excepted authority is used to appoint persons with severe physical disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, and intellectual disabilities. Such individuals may qualify for conversion to permanent status after two years of satisfactory service. Schedule A, 5 CFR 213.3102(11) for hiring readers, interpreters, and personal assistants. OPM has developed Bite Size Training on Using Schedule A Training to Hire People with Disabilities (external link). In order to be eligible for employment through the Schedule A non-competitive process, documentation of the disability is required. Such documentation is used to verify that the individual being hired is indeed a person with an intellectual disability, severe physical disability, or psychiatric disability. This documentation must be provided to the hiring agency before an individual can be hired. In addition, upon hiring, the individual with a disability or the agency Human Resource office should complete the Standard Form 256 (PDF file) [556.76 KB]. Applicants and employees with disabilities may also use the SF-256 to voluntarily identify their particular disability for data collection purposes only, even if they are not seeking to establish eligibility under Schedule A. Data captured from the SF-526 is used to compile the disability demographics of Federal agencies. OPM recently updated SF-256 to better reflect current definitional language with respect to the disability community.

Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) Internship Program

USTR’s Internship Program supports academic credit requests. Both part-time and full-time opportunities are typically available during the Fall, Spring, and Summer sessions. Submissions will only be accepted during the application periods outlined below. Intern responsibilities may include conducting research and analysis, compiling statistics, preparing reports and briefing materials, assisting with meeting and conference planning, drafting correspondence, and attending meetings, hearings, or legislative markup sessions related to trade policy. Internship opportunities are available across most departments within the Washington, D.C. office.

Full-time interns are required to work a minimum of 35 hours per week, while part-time interns must commit to between 15-34 hours per week. All selected applicants must work on-site at the Washington, D.C. office, as remote and telework options are not available. Please note that living accommodations and relocation assistance are not provided.

As required by 5 U.S.C. 3328, you must be registered with the Selective Service System, unless you meet certain exemptions. USTR is a drug-free workplace. Recent or current drug use is not acceptable, and selectees will be required to complete a confidential pre-employment security questionnaire that includes questions on alcohol and drug use. The Executive Office of the President reserves the right to disapprove tentative selectees based on screening results.

Department of State's Pathways Internship Program

The Department of State's Pathways Internship Program includes both the Internship Temporary Program (ITEP) and the Internship Experience Program (IEP). These programs are available to U.S. citizens enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions from high school to graduate school and professional academic levels. Opportunities are available at U.S. embassies and consulates throughout the world, as well as in various bureaus located in Washington, D.C. and at Department offices around the United States.

Virtual Student Federal Service (VSFS)

The Virtual Internship. Real Experience. program connects college students with the needs of federal agencies. Since 2009, more than 10,000 remote interns have advanced the work of the federal government. The time commitment is about 10 hours per week during the school year. There are opportunities for all, from data visualization to political analysis. Internships are paid but may be eligible for course credit.

Colin Powell Leadership Program

The Colin Powell Leadership Program recruits highly motivated individuals from a variety of backgrounds who aspire to and possess the potential to become future civil service leaders in the Department. The program includes opportunities such as The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program, The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship, and The William D. Clarke, Sr. Diplomatic Security Fellowship.

MBA Special Advisor Fellowship

The MBA Special Advisor Fellowship seeks to strengthen the Department's strategic management and operations capabilities through leading-edge solutions and academia.

SelectUSA Internship Program

SelectUSA has vacancies for unpaid internships in Washington throughout the year on a semester basis. These internships are open to U.S. citizens and currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate school program. If you are interested in applying for a specific team, please read the descriptions below and specify your team preference in your cover letter. Be sure to include your first and last name in the file name. In your cover letter, please include the dates of your availability and specifically address your interest in SelectUSA, how you would help support SelectUSA’s mission, and how the selected internship aligns with your future goals.

Applications may be submitted on a rolling basis for spring, summer, and fall semester internships. Duties will be centered on event logistics, strategic planning, program execution, risk management, development of event content and providing administrative support to the events team in the production of large-scale events, government officials; and other related administrative and research activities. Internship applications will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis.

World Trade Organization (WTO) Internship Programs

There are three internship programmes at the WTO:

The WTO Internship Programme is open to post-graduate students from all WTO members and countries or customs territories engaged in accession negotiations.
The China LDC and Accessions Programme (also known as the China WTO Accession Internship Programme).
The WTO Support Programme for Doctoral Studies.

Both (2) and (3) are reserved for post-graduate students from developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs).

Assignments given to interns are intended to enhance the individual's understanding of the WTO and of trade policy more generally. However, internships also include opportunities in other specialist areas, such as finance, human resources, language services, IT and communications. The division to which the intern is assigned determines the precise nature of the work to be undertaken. Information about the responsibilities of the WTO's divisions is available here.

Interns receive a daily allowance of CHF 60 (including week-ends and official holidays falling within the selected period). Travel expenses to and from Geneva cannot be paid by the WTO, and such travel is not covered by the Organization's insurance. Candidates should submit their applications through the WTO external jobs platform and only candidates selected for interview are contacted. The system provides instructions for online application procedures. A roster of suitable candidates is maintained from which interns are selected. Suitable applications are maintained on the roster for one year. Intake to the WTO Internship Programme is on an ongoing basis, with no specific recruitment period. The granting of an internship does not entail the right to a vacancy in another part of the Secretariat. Interns may nevertheless apply for any external vacancies.

China WTO Accessions Internship Programme and China General Internship Programme

The China WTO Accessions Internship Programme and the China General Internship Programme, sponsored by the Government of China, aim to help recent graduates and young professionals from least-developed countries (LDCs) and developing economies gain work experience at the WTO. Up to ten internships are offered under this programme annually. Five interns are placed in the Accessions Division of the WTO. The work of this division is to facilitate the negotiations between WTO members and countries/customs territories seeking to join the WTO. Five other interns are allocated to a specific division of the WTO Secretariat in accordance with the needs and priorities of the organization and based on the areas of interest of the applicant. The areas of work may include agriculture, dispute settlement, intellectual property rights, government procurement (GPA), competition policy, market access, rules, trade and development, trade and environment, trade in services and investment, trade facilitation, trade policy analysis and trade-related technical assistance.

Assignments given to interns are intended to enhance their understanding of trade law, economics and trade policies more generally. The needs of the division are balanced with the capacity-building needs of the interns.

Interns under the programme receive a daily allowance of CHF 90 (including weekends and official holidays that occur within the selected periods). In addition, travel expenses (economy class air fare) to and from Geneva are also covered by the programme. Medical health insurance coverage is mandatory in Switzerland, and interns are responsible for organizing their own health insurance prior to commencing their internship at the WTO. In this respect, interns receive an extra CHF 100 per month to subsidize their health insurance premium payments for the duration of their internship. have completed his/her undergraduate studies in a relevant discipline (e.g. The application period is from 1 June to 31 August. The granting of an internship does not entail the right to a vacancy in another part of the Secretariat.

WTO Support Programme for Doctoral Studies (PhD Internship Programme)

The WTO Support Programme for Doctoral Studies (also known as the PhD Internship Programme) aims to support the development of academic expertise on WTO issues in developing countries. The WTO Secretariat invites doctoral students from developing countries to conduct research at the WTO and provides them with mentoring/advice in close collaboration with the students' academic supervisors. Participants in the PhD Internship Programme are expected to advance their doctoral thesis during their time at the WTO, taking advantage of access to WTO facilities and information as well as opportunities for interaction with the general trade policy community. They are not expected to undertake assignments on behalf of the WTO Secretariat.

A mentor is allocated to the doctoral student for the duration of his/her internship. The role of the mentor is to provide the student with advice, as required, in close collaboration with the student's academic supervisors. Before the end of the PhD Internship Programme, the participant is required to give a seminar on his/her work.

Interns under the PhD Internship Programme receive a daily allowance of CHF 60 (including weekends and official holidays falling within the selected period). work in one of the three official languages of the WTO, i.e. English, French and Spanish. The granting of an internship does not entail the right to a vacancy in another part of the Secretariat.

tags: #department #of #commerce #international #internships #programs