Exploring Foreign Commercial Service Internships in Morocco

Morocco, the "Western Kingdom" of northern Africa, has become a popular destination for travelers. Its rich history, unique culture, and strategic location make it an ideal place for internships, particularly within the Foreign Commercial Service. Internships in Morocco offer individuals the opportunity to learn more about the Arabic and Islamic traditions that are shaping our interconnected world of today. Steeped in a rich history, it’s easy to see Morocco’s global appeal.

Opportunities with the OECD

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) offers internships that aim to bring motivated students from diverse backgrounds into the organization to support its work. These internships are available on an ongoing basis, addressing diverse policy challenges, from artificial intelligence and climate change to regulation and education.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for an OECD internship, applicants must:

Be enrolled in a full-time degree program for the duration of the internship in a field related to the OECD's work.
Be available for a minimum internship duration of one month.
Have an excellent command of either English or French, the two official languages of the OECD, and a willingness to learn the other.

Practical Details

The majority of OECD internships are based at the OECD’s headquarters in Paris (France). Internships are primarily allocated to OECD member country nationals, while also open to non-OECD Member country nationals for specific programs and projects, including across OECD-affiliated bodies and agencies. The duration of the internship is for a period between one and six months (renewable up to a total of twelve months), on a full-time basis (40 hours per week). In exceptional circumstances, part-time internships (minimum 20 hours per week) can be organised. The OECD grants a contribution to living expenses of €1,000 per full month worked to interns located in Paris. Interns are entitled to annual leave that amounts to two and a half working days for each full month worked.

Application Process

The application process involves:

Completing an online application on the SmartRecruiters platform.
Providing a cover letter in the “Message to Hiring Manager” box.

The OECD recruits on a rolling basis, allowing applications to be submitted at any time. Applicants are required to indicate their availability as part of the application process. Internship start dates are determined based on the availability of selected candidates and the needs of OECD hiring teams. Providing accurate information about availability is essential for ensuring a smooth recruitment process.

Internship Experiences in Moroccan Cities

Morocco offers diverse experiences across its major cities, each with its unique charm and opportunities.

Rabat: The Capital City

Fast-paced Rabat promises to teach interns about its history starting with their first taxi ride. You will undoubtedly find yourself immersed in conversation with the driver who will tell you to wander the streets of Rabat’s famous Kasbah les Oudais, colored in white and blues. For a slower pace, interns need look no further than the sandy beaches, just a ten-minute walk from the city center, that stretch all the way down to Casablanca. Rabat, Morocco’s vibrant and culturally rich capital, is celebrated for its unique blend of Arab, Amazigh, and French influences. CIEE’s excursions and cultural activities in Rabat will open doors for you to explore Morocco’s rich diversity, language, culture, history, and timeless beauty in ways that will enhance your time abroad.

Marrakech: A Tourist Hub

If you want a little more of a Western filter on your Moroccan experience, Marrakech is the place for you! A major tourist destination, it is a great city to pursue a hospitality or journalism internship in Morocco. Also home to the largest Berber market, interns will undoubtedly find snake charmers and henna masters, or merchants tempting CEOs and families on holiday with their brightly colored scarves and shinny metal teapots.

Fez: A City of Tradition

Fez, a charming city in the middle of the country, is home to one of the oldest universities in the world and the most intricate medinas. The Medina of Fes el-Bali, or “old Fez,” is the most visited area of the city; interns will enjoy wandering through its narrow streets, just beware of speeding motorbikes or the odd ambling donkey. Interns can experience the age-old tradition of the Hammam, a popular steam bath, something that has remained untouched by modern technology during their free time in Fez.

Read also: Opportunities in Foreign Relations

Types of Internships Available

International business internships abroad can cover a broad range of specialized fields, as many professional careers have a business aspect.

Intern Abroad HQ

Intern Abroad HQ offers a diverse range of intern abroad programs, as well as remote internships that you can complete from anywhere in the world. These internships are available year-round with minimum durations starting at 2 weeks and flexible start dates. Remote internships programs are also available year-round with customizable scheduling, ranging from 100 hours up to 250 hours, completed 100% online. Depending on the internship you select, the type of business work varies. Whether you want to intern abroad or intern remotely, Intern Abroad HQ provides comprehensive support services and an exclusive experiential learning curriculum to foster the transferable skills favored by employers.

CIEE Summer Global Internship Program in Rabat

CIEE’s Summer Global Internship program in Rabat lasts 8 weeks and features two key components:

A full-time internship with an international organization (approximately 30-40 hours per week).
An internship seminar.

Enhance your experience with co-curricular and extracurricular activities while building career skills, expanding your professional network, and immersing yourself in Moroccan culture.

CIEE Rabat: Housing and Accommodation

CIEE Rabat offers diverse housing options to ensure you're comfortable in your home away from home. From homestays to shared apartments, your accommodation preferences will be met. Additionally, all housing options are located in neighborhoods with convenient access to public transportation, shops, cafés, and eateries.

Read also: Expand Your Horizons

Standard Housing

Includes a private room in a homestay with an Arabic-speaking family in the heart of the Old Medina of Rabat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In many cases, families are multilingual, speaking Tamazight, French, and/or Spanish and their homes combine Western and traditional Moroccan elements. Homestays feature a traditional Moroccan living room, kitchen, and bathroom shared with the family. Internet access and laundry services are provided. Students are only steps away from a variety of local cafés, family-owned bodegas, and small restaurants. Homestays are typically located under 20 minutes from the CIEE Rabat center via public transportation (tramway or taxi) or on foot. Families provide a home-cooked breakfast and dinner of traditional Moroccan cuisine on weekdays and weekends and are able to accommodate many dietary restrictions including vegetarian, kosher, halal, dairy free, and gluten free needs.

Select Housing

Includes a double room in a shared apartment with another CIEE student. Apartments feature a shared bedroom, living room, bathroom, and kitchen. Wi-Fi is provided and there are laundry facilities nearby. Shared apartments are located in a vibrant and modern neighborhood only steps away from a variety of local cafés, family-owned bodegas, and small restaurants and are typically located under 30 minutes from the CIEE Rabat center via public transportation such as taxis or the tramway. Select housing requires an additional fee.

Select Plus Housing

Includes a single room at a shared apartment with another CIEE student. Apartments feature single bedrooms and a shared living room, bathroom, and kitchen. Wi-Fi is provided and there are laundry facilities nearby. Shared apartments are located in a vibrant and modern neighborhood only steps away from a variety of local cafés, family-owned bodegas, and small restaurants and are typically located under 30 minutes from the CIEE Rabat center via public transportation such as taxis or the tramway. Select plus housing requires an additional fee.

Living Costs and Cultural Considerations

The cost of living in Morocco is relatively high, especially in larger cities. To save on living costs, it is advisable to live like the locals do.

Cultural Values

While working in a largely Islamic country, it is extremely important to understand some of the basic values of Islamic society. Always dress and act rather conservatively, as Moroccans highly value honor and dignity. Businesses follow a hierarchical system and often respect Muslim practices, which means that most shops are closed on Fridays and sometimes Thursdays, as Fridays are holy days, and most Moroccans pray five times a day.

Language

The official language spoken in Morocco is Arabic, although French is also often used. In some parts of northern Morocco, Spanish is widely used as well. While many of the young, educated Moroccans are learning English as a third language, do not expect to be able to use English locally.

Networking

Networking is a must for business professionals in Morocco. Since respect and trust are highly valued, one will often need to develop a personal relationship before entering into a business agreement or partnership.

IES Abroad Internship Programs

IES Abroad offers both full-time (summer or semester) and part-time (semester) internship programs.

Program Features

Full-Time vs. Part-Time: Keep your semester plans at school and spice up your summer with an international professional internship. Establish a new routine and get deeply acquainted with your internship and new city for a whole semester.
Flexibility: You choose the term you want to intern, what you want to do, location preference, how many hours you want to work per week, and IES Abroad makes it happen.
Diverse Fields: IES Abroad offers placements in a variety of fields from film to finance to health care and more.

Global Business Navigator Chatbot

The International Trade Administration (ITA) offers the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

Limitations

As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests.

Privacy

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.

Translation

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

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