Volunteer Service Intern Program
U.S. Commercial Service
Rome, Milan, Florence and Naples, Italy
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I. Purpose:
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- To provide college/university students
in the fields of international affairs, business
administration or related fields with "hands-on"
experience working in the American commercial section
of a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. As the
principal government organization involved in
international trade development and assistance,
the U.S. Commercial Service offers a unique
internship opportunity for those interested in pursuing
a career in international business.
- The program is voluntary and uncompensated.
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II. Criteria - Students applying for the program must meet
the following basic requirements:
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- Majors in business or public administration,
economics, international affairs, or related field.
- A superior academic rating.
- Bilingual in Italian and English preferred
(written, read, and spoken).
- All applicants must be either Italian or
U.S. Citizens.
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III. Position Description / List of Duties:
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- Students will work approximately 20 hours per
week for a period corresponding to the academic year
of the university in which the student is enrolled.
- Although no remuneration is possible, students may be
able to earn credits toward graduation based on a formula
in line with the policies
of the participating university.
- Some work may be performed outside
the Commercial Service office. Some travel (reimbursed)
related to a specific project
might be required.
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”Under 5 U.S.C. 3111, a student volunteer is not a Federal
employee for any purposes other than injury compensation and law
related to the Tort Claims Act. Service is not creditable for
leave or any other employee benefits.”
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The types of possible tasks are numerous and may at times
include some administrative duties as needed. The object is
to introduce students to a broad range of commercial and
economic issues of interest to the U.S. government and to
business, especially small and mid-sized enterprises. In
addition, students are introduced to the processes and
practices of a large administration. Specific duties that
might be assigned include the following:
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- Assisting Commercial Specialists in program
activities, including trade show recruitment and
participation, launching promotional campaigns for
American firms, conducting market research, contacting
the Italian business public to support product and event
promotions, and identifying sources of supply in the
United States for Italian buyers.
- At the Milan CS office, for example,
there are five Commercial Specialists who cover over 50
industry sectors, among them apparel, franchising,
furniture, pet products, sporting
and recreation goods, consumer electronics,
scientific instruments, computer products, computer
services, environmental products, food processing and
packaging equipment, etc. Interns will have the
opportunity over the course of their internship to
become familiar with certain industry sectors.
- Major annual trade shows which interns could support
include: SMAU for information products and
services; BIT for tourism promotion;
TAU for environmental technologies;
Zoomark for pet products;CHIBI for
designer jewelry, and the Franchising Show,
among others.
- Supporting Commercial Specialists
with computer work, therefore fluency in Microsoft
Word, Excel, and Lotus Notes is expected. Interns
will learn to operate the U.S. Commercial Service's
Client Management System (CMS), a global organizational
database for U.S. clients and foreign buyers, to assist
with client tracking and internal communications.
- Performing an independent research project on the
Italian economy as it affects U.S. trade interests.
Working with the Commercial Officer, candidate will
select a topic for independent research culminating in a
written report, which may then be submitted to the
Department of Commerce in Washington, DC, and/or U.S.
business interests for dissemination.
- Providing logistical and administrative support when
needed, i.e., answering routine commercial inquiries from
American and Italian companies, filing, data entry, and
copy work.
- Working closely with an American officer
in the administration of the office, including drafting
weekly reports submitted to the Department of Commerce,
statistical reporting, and database management.
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IV. Sensitivity Level of the Position:
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V. Procedure for Application - The participating university
will propose a selection of candidates who meet the minimum
requirements outlined above. Each applicant needs to
provide the following information regardless of whether he
or she is currently residing overseas or domestically:
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Forms can be sent by email, fax or post: U.S. Commercial
Service Rome
American Embassy
PSC 59, Box 30
APO AE 09624
Tel: +39 06-4674-2184
Fax: +39 06-4674-2113
email: Rome.Office.Box@mail.doc.gov [email: Rome.Office.Box@N0SPAM.mail.doc.gov ]
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What kind of work will I be doing?
Interns do a variety of tasks, from recruiting American companies
for a trade show to writing market research reports. The actual
work that an intern will do will depend on when the intern
volunteers.
2. I am a citizen of Country X. Given my citizenship, am I
eligible for the internship?
To be eligible for the internship, a student must either
be:
a. An American citizen.
or
b. An Italian student who is enrolled in a school in Italy.
3. I am graduating this summer and would like to intern in the
fall after I've graduated. Can I do that?
Under 5, United States Code 3111, the term "student"
is defined as an individual who is enrolled, not less than
half-time, in a high school, trade school, technical or
vocational institution. An individual who is a student is deemed
not to have ceased being a student during an interim between
school years of no more than five months. So, if you graduate
before doing the internship, you would be eligible to do the
internship during the school interim if you will be enrolled in
another academic program within five months of having
graduated.
(You will be required to provide supporting documentation that
you have been accepted into another program.)
4. Can I get some type of stipend or remuneration? The
internship is non-paid. Interns do not get stipends or
remuneration of any kind.