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Irvine Internship Program

Irvine Internship

Orange County Export Assistance Center Student Volunteer Internship Program: SPRING / SUMMER / FALL  

Interested in international trade? 

Want to learn about doing business in foreign countries? 

The U.S. Commercial Service has open positions for volunteer student interns to help us achieve our mission of helping U.S. companies export products and services to international markets. Our student volunteers are on the front lines of organizing events, researching export opportunities, and advising exporters on all aspects of international trade. Our network includes over 100 domestic offices, and teams in U.S. Embassies and Consulates in over 75 countries. Join our fast-paced office, and gain experience in the international business world. To find out more about us, check out www.trade.gov.  

Student Volunteer Internship Requirements: 

  • U.S. Citizen 
  • Enrolled in an accredited college or university (Graduate or Undergraduate) 
  • Background check 
  • 16 hours/week for approx. 4-5 months (Spring/Fall), or 30 hours/week for approx. 3 months (Summer), or as required for school credit
  • Start/completion dates are flexible with a 6 month maximum 
  • Internship must be completed during regular office hours (Monday - Friday 8:30 am to 5:30 pm) 
  • This is an unpaid/volunteer internship program 

Desired Skills and Qualifications: 

  • Enthusiasm for learning 
  • Strong communication skills 
  • Able to meet deadlines, collaborate, and work on a team  
  • Curious about different countries, languages, and cultures 
  • All majors and study interests welcome  

Student Volunteer Activities Typically Include: 

  • Assisting our International Trade Specialist staff and client companies 
  • Market research 
  • Outreach to local businesses  
  • Participating in client meetings and export strategy planning  
  • Developing reports on individual countries, markets, and sectors   
  • Opportunity to take part in business meetings with executives from American firms in key industries, as well as with U.S. and foreign government officials.  
  • Helping prepare for conferences, roundtable discussions, and international exhibitions. This may include contacting companies to introduce events, sharing information on exporting, and sending market reports to event participants. 
  • Networking with international business executives and trade professionals 
  • Career development counseling and advice on job search in international business  
  • Training and educational opportunities provided 

Apply 

Please submit a resume and cover letter to:  

Jim Mayfield 
U.S. Commercial Service – Orange County 
International Trade Administration 
Email: OfficeIrvine@trade.gov 

Notional Applications Deadlines: 

  • Spring Session: Dec 15 
  • Summer Session: April 15 
  • Fall Session: August 15 

Important Update:

Our Internship Program is primarily in-person, with potential for hybrid/remote work.   

Due to changes in program and project needs, we may not be able to offer internships each semester.  Please contact us for availability.  

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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.

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