Group of People at a Meeting Table with Papers
Internships in Canada
Internships are available at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa or at the U.S. Consulates General in Toronto, Montreal and Calgary.

Canada-Internships

The U.S. Commercial Service Canada offers internship opportunities throughout the year at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa and the U.S. Consulate General’s in Toronto, Montreal and Calgary.

What You Would be Doing

The U.S. Commercial Service is the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. Our office analyzes information on the Canadian market, facilitates contacts with Canadian businesses, promotes U.S. products in the Canadian marketplace, and advocates for U.S. business interests. We assist trade missions to Canada and provide logistical support to U.S. companies holding product launches and exhibitions.

After a brief orientation period, the intern will be involved in ’on-the-job’ training by working on a pre-defined project or projects relating to U.S./Canada trade development.  Intern responsibilities may include conducting market research, preparing reports, drafting replies to trade inquiries, promoting and recruiting exhibitors for trade events and making business appointments for U.S. companies seeking strategic alliances in Canada.  The intern’s work assignments shall be in the public interest, and to the maximum extent possible, shall provide an appropriate educational experience for the intern.

Interns work in a progressive environment and quickly become familiar with the dynamic field of international trade.  Upon completion of the internship, each intern will receive a letter of referral based upon performance.

Who is Eligible?

In order to participate in this program, you must meet the following qualifications:

  • Pass a U.S. government non-sensitive security clearance
  • Be enrolled at a university or institute of higher education after the second year /sophomore year of academic studies
  • Have fluency in English
  • Be availability for up to 12 weeks
  • Have good communication and computer skills

Selection is made without regard to consideration of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, marital status, or disability. Every intern must receive a positive security check by the U.S. Government and a medical clearance prior to the start of his/her internship.

Payment and Insurance

This internship is a volunteer service. Federal regulations prohibit financial compensation. An official letter of recommendation will be provided. Some universities may provide credit for a completed internship. No federal government liability is assumed.

How to Apply

We offer internships throughout the entire year, starting in January, May and September. You much apply at least 3 months in advance. Your application must include:

  • Cover Letter: Why you want to be an intern, what you have to offer, how you hope to benefit from the internship and the time frame in which you are available.  Please note to which post you are applying.
  • Resume: Future goals, computer skills, experience, including academic accomplishments, citizenship, and years of study at post-secondary schools.
  • Writing Sample: Provide a writing sample that displays your market research and your writing skills.  Business and market research papers are preferred.  Do not submit group work projects.

For Your Planning

The internship will last up to 12 weeks, starting dates are flexible. Remember to plan up to 3 months ahead until your security check is completed (including a personal interview with an official security officer). Our offices are closed on official Canadian and American holidays.

Application

Please submit your application via email to the office location you wish to perform your internship or call us if you have any questions. Please let us know if you apply in more than one of our locations.

Ottawa

Embassy of the United States of America
U.S. Commercial Service
Tracey Ford
P.O. Box 866, Stn. B
Ottawa ON  K1P 5T1
Tel: 613-688-5406 (office) / 613-295-4235 (cell)
Email: Tracey.Ford@trade.gov

Toronto

American Consulate General
U.S. Commercial Service
Bojan Opsenica
360 University Ave.
Toronto ON  M5G 1S4
Tel: 416-595-5412 x224 (office)
Email: bojan.opsenica@trade.gov

Montreal

American Consulate General
U.S. Commercial Service
Yamilka Pena
955 1re Avenue #USA
Ste-Catherine, Quebec J5C 1C5
Tel: 514-592-8523 (office)
Email: yamilka.pena@trade.gov

Calgary

American Consulate General
U.S. Commercial Service
Connie Haider
615 Macleod Trail, S.E. Suite 1000
Calgary AB  T2G 4T8
Tel: 403-351-7761 (office)
Email: connie.haider@trade.gov

 

 

×

Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The 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. 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.

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. 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.

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. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

Privacy Program | Information Quality Guidelines | Accessibility