Fargo Internships

Intern with the U.S. Commercial Service - North Dakota

The U.S. Commercial Service is the export promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Its goal is to help small and medium size companies expand exports. Trade Specialists in the United States help prepare companies for the export process; while overseas staff help companies enter the market. U.S. Commercial Service’s Fargo office serves the entire state of North Dakota and nine counties in Minnesota. We will be happy to assist the student in receiving academic credit. Undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to apply. There are opportunities for graduate students to earn a tuition waiver and stipend. Our internship program is designed to provide real world experience to complement academic lessons in international trade, international business, economics, and international affairs.
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 policymakers as they attempt to open international markets for U.S. products

Interns help to develop and prepare market research, match local companies with international opportunities, and answer export related questions from a wide variety of sources. Additionally, interns will also have the chance to work on special projects. Interns schedule appointments for the visiting staff and accompany the visitors to the meetings to provide assistance. Interns are often given the responsibility of representing our office in a variety of venues. We believe in giving interns responsibility for projects and mentoring them as they develop. 

Requirements  

• Must be U.S. citizen  
• Enrolled in an accredited school  
• 3.0 + GPA  
• 20 hours a week  
• Strong interest in international trade  
• Business skills and experience are a plus  
• Agribusiness and knowledge of agricultural equipment a plus  
• International travel experience / foreign language proficiency is helpful  
• Good interpersonal and phone skills  
• Excellent oral communication  
• Strong writing skills  
• Knowledge of Word, Excel, and internet. Comfort using computer is essential.  

Responsibilities  

• Conduct market research using the tools provided by the U.S. Commercial Service. This includes internet market research and literature review  
• Research regulatory, documentation requirements, country issues, commodity classifications, etc. for North Dakota companies  
• Assist in event management – ordering supplies, calling companies, designing invitations, logistical setup, etc.  
• Help prepare for state-sponsored Trade Missions  
• Assist in managing the database of exporters through the export process  

Application instructions  

Please submit a resume, a 1-2 page writing sample, and references to:  

Alexander Hall at Alexander.Hall@Trade.gov.