Internships at the U.S. Commercial Service
Join our U.S. Commercial Service Intern Team!
The U.S. Commercial Service is an experienced, leading-edge, worldwide organization helping U.S. companies meet the challenges of the global economy by assisting them to find and expand their export markets. The U.S. Commercial Service is a unique government agency with a network of offices across the U.S. and around the globe. Our mission is to promote the growth of U.S. exports through trade counseling, market research, and trade promotion services to American manufacturers, distributors, and service providers.
One to two-term internships are available, as determined by each office.
About the Internship
The U.S. Commercial Service recognizes that exporting is a critical part of ensuring a healthy future for the U.S. economy and American jobs. We are the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration and are located in over 100 offices across the United States and U.S. Embassies and Consulates in nearly 80 countries. Through our global network of trade professionals, we connect U.S. companies with international buyers, providing them with market intelligence, trade counseling, business matchmaking, and advocacy/commercial diplomacy support.
We help companies meet the challenges of the global economy by assessing their export readiness, providing resources and counseling to help them learn the basics of exporting, providing market research on international markets, helping companies identify and establish contacts with potential international business partners, and conducting various trade seminars/conferences focused on specific industries, geographic areas or on best practices in exporting. Additionally, we provide U.S. companies with promotional opportunities to introduce their products and services worldwide.
Our internship program is designed to provide real-world experience to complement academic lessons in international trade, international business, economics, and international affairs. As part of the Commercial Service internship program, students will work closely with International Trade Specialists to help develop and prepare market research, match local companies with international opportunities, and answer export-related questions from a variety of sources.
Through hands-on experience, interns will come to have a solid understanding of:
- Problems confronting small to medium-sized companies in the international marketplace
- Role of international trade in a regional economy
- Problems that confront exporters as they attempt to enter international markets
Internship Eligibility Requirements
- Candidates must be a U.S. citizen.
- Candidates must be enrolled students at a college or university.
- Candidates must work within the Contiguous United States (CONUS), Hawaii, or Puerto Rico.
- Recommended availability to work a schedule of 16 hours a week during the Fall & Spring term and 24 hours during the Summer term.
Intern Responsibilities
- Evaluate global opportunities for U.S. businesses.
- Create marketing materials and campaigns.
- Conduct global market research.
- Support staff before/after local and international trade events.
- Attend trade seminars, networking events, and client meetings.
- Engage prospective and current clients.
- Support campaigns to generate attendance at trade shows and events.
- Maintain Client Relations Management database by entering, verifying, and backing up data.
Qualifications
- The ability to effectively manage time, meet deadlines, and balance multiple priorities.
- The ability to work independently and proactively, be self-sufficient, yet cooperate and work with a team.
- Strong analytical skills.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Term Time Periods & Application Deadlines
Internship terms are determined by the individual office, and terms and applications may vary by office. This is an unpaid position.
Rolling applications on a case-by-case basis may be accepted based on office needs.
Application Instructions
Email your resume and cover letter stating your interest in International Trade to the Intern Coordinator for the office offering an internship. Indicate in the subject line the term you are applying for consideration.
Once through the interview process and selected, the application process includes a security background check and the intern will be responsible for completing or providing:
- Student Volunteer Service Agreement
- Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification
- OF-306 Declaration of Federal Employment
- Fair Credit Authorization Form
- Fingerprint Cards
- Resume
- Unofficial Transcript
Please be sure to review all eligibility requirements before applying.
Find out if a U.S. Commercial Service internship is offered near you.
- For internships with the Irvine Office, please contact: OfficeIrvine@trade.gov.
Hours: 16 hours per week for fall and spring term, 30 hours per week for summer internship.
- For internships with the Indio Office, please contact: Erica.Ramirez@trade.gov.
Hours: 16 hours per week for six-month internship.
- For internships with the Ontario Office, please contact: Erica.Ramirez@trade.gov.
Hours: 16 hours per week for six-month internship.
- For internships with the San Diego Office, please contact: Aron.Davidson@trade.gov.
Hours: 16 hours per week for fall and spring term, 24 hours per week for summer internship.
- For internships with the Los Angeles West Office, please contact: Leticia.Arias@trade.gov.
Hours: 16 hours per week for six-month internship.
For internships with the Denver Office, please contact: Molly.Hope@trade.gov.
For internships with the Middletown Office, please contact: Anthony.Sargis@trade.gov.
Please send resume and cover letter to:
- For internships with the Fort Lauderdale Office, please contact: Eduardo.Torres@trade.gov.
- For internships with the Miami Office, please contact: Eduardo.Torres@trade.gov.
For internships with the Chicago Office, please contact: Monica.Toporkiewicz@trade.gov or Bethany.Bennick@trade.gov.
For internships with the Baltimore Office, please contact: Jose.Maciel@trade.gov.
- For internships with the Grand Rapids Office, please contact: Kendra.Kuo@trade.gov.
- For internships with the Detroit or Pontiac Offices, please contact: Matthew.Quigley@trade.gov.
For internships with the Jackson Office, please contact: Carol.Moore@trade.gov.
Visit the Fargo, North Dakota U.S. Commercial Service office internship page for details and application instructions.
- For internships with the Cleveland Office, please contact: Larissa.Harris@trade.gov.
- For internships with the Columbus Office, please contact: Darren.Srebnick@trade.gov.
- For internships with the Philadelphia Offices, please contact: Alexandra.Natale@trade.gov.
For internships with the Pittsburgh office, please contact LeeAnne.Haworth@trade.gov.
Please note terms and deadlines for the Pittsburgh office:
Spring Term
- Internship Term Period: January - May
Open Application Period: July 1 - October 1
Summer Term
- Internship Term Period: May - August
Open Application Period: December 1 - March 1
Fall Term
- Internship Term Period: September - December
- Open Application Period: April 1 - July 1
- For internships with the Houston Office, please contact: Jason.Wilson@trade.gov.
- For internships with the Dallas Fort Worth Office, please contact Jessica.Cheeks-Thompson@trade.gov.
- For internships with the Richmond or Arlington Offices, please contact: Olga.Molnar@trade.gov.
For internships with the U.S. Commercial Service Rural Export Center, contact Heather.Ranck@trade.gov or Kate.Best@trade.gov.