Article written by Finance CM Abby Copeland (Class of 2025)
B.A. Political Economy, Chinese Language, Sutardja Center Certificate in Entrepreneurship & Technology
What was your role at the U.S. Department of Commerce?
I was a Global Markets Trade Intern at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Within it, I worked in the International Trade Administration agency, Global Market’s Office of China and Mongolia.
What was the culture/environment at the Department of Commerce like? Did you enjoy it?
The culture was collaborative. The expectation was to keep current with the latest economic and political trends in China while, at the same time, constantly improving your individual knowledge. Education was a huge component of the culture, and there were constant opportunities to learn from in-house lectures from economists, lawyers, professors, and other experts. I also really liked the emphasis on both working with others, but also, there were plenty of opportunities to pitch my own ideas and run with them. I was given a lot of responsibility and tasked with very large-scale projects that had real-world implications. I was very aware that I was representing the government at all times. It was critical for me to think carefully about everything I did because any mistake I made could reflect poorly on the United States. I got the opportunity to make several connections with high-level officials in both domestic and international offices. I also had the opportunity to make several connections across the greater Department of Commerce and other government agencies, so there was a combination of both feeling like I worked within a specialized office but a huge overall organization. I also personally found that everyone in my office shared a mission to improve U.S. economic competitiveness and help American businesses conduct trade with China; I have a deep sense of fulfillment that I was able to play a part in improving the trade relationship and U.S-China relations.
What kind of work did you do, and what were your accomplishments in this role?
During the course of my sixth-month internship, I took on a total of over fifteen research and administrative projects. I worked on the Department of Commerce Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Initiative, where I improved the recruitment efforts for the Office of China and Mongolia and the greater International Trade Administration, which were implemented during their current internship recruitment process. One of my biggest accomplishments was being selected from a specialized office and, out of all, Commerce interns to lead the International Trade Administration Intern Network, where I was responsible for over 120 interns across the International Trade Administration and the Department of Commerce. I had the honor of representing the International Trade Administration Interns and hosting a Department of Commerce-wide meeting with senior government officials such as the Secretary of Commerce, Deputy Secretary of Commerce, and Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, as well as several diplomats and foreign commercial officers. I also did a variety of tasks, such as conducting due diligence on companies, helping U.S. companies export their products to China, conducting research on Chinese markets, and publishing reports on how American SMEs can engage in cross-border e-commerce on the trade.gov website. I also did more analytical projects such as reading, translating, and researching Chinese governmental documents, working on an initiative that tracked China’s involvement and investments outside of China, and tracking China-Russia developments.
How did you find this opportunity? (ex: networking, career fair, etc)
I actually found this opportunity on Google as opposed to Handshake or another job board. I knew I wanted to do an internship after my freshman year that combined my interests in China and economics/trade, and I was open to working in D.C. or doing a government internship. I did a few searches online relating to these keywords and happened to come across a listing for this internship. As soon as I came across this internship, I knew it was a dream opportunity. I applied with my resume and a cover letter via e-mail. One thing that was very important to my success in obtaining this position was remaining diligent with kindly following up. Because potential employers are so busy, it is easy for your application to get buried within an inbox, so it was instrumental to my success to follow up numerous times before I was eventually given an invitation to interview; I also think striking the right tone when following up demonstrates interest and initiative as well.
What personal qualities or characteristics are important for someone to have in this role?
I worked in a very specialized office, where hard skills such as knowledge of China’s economic and political situation and Mandarin were required, which I obtained over eight years of intensively studying Chinese. However, I think other soft skills, such as a high level of professionalism, the ability to multitask and work well under pressure, creativity and analytical skills, and the ability to communicate effectively, were essential. During the course of my internship, I often found myself working with the D.C. office on Eastern Time, Pacific Time, and on several calls during the nighttime with the China offices as well. As a result, it was really important for me to remain flexible and available to take calls as early as 7 am and as late as 9 pm.
How did this experience fit your long-term career goals/path? Did it affect your future choice of career?
This experience was extremely helpful in understanding my long-term goals and gaining more clarity on my future career path. It also gave me inside knowledge of how the government plays a key role in aiding business and economic efforts in large and small businesses. It expanded my awareness of how politics and global events are such an important part of understanding business. Lastly, this internship was an invaluable experience in realizing how important and in-need China knowledge is in business and finance.
How Does This Role Relate to Business?
Most of the work I did had a business, trade, or economic emphasis. When people think of working for the government, most people think of politics, but the public sector is such a diverse field. In my experience, I found that the government has a large array of different temperaments and skill sets that it welcomes. A lot of people may not consider the government for a business career, but there are tons of opportunities.
*The opinions and experiences expressed in this article are entirely my own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the International Trade Administration, the U.S. Department of Commerce, or the greater U.S. government.