Internships at German American Chamber of Commerce in Chicago (Revolving Application Deadlines) The mission of the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest (GACCoM) is to promote and assist in the expansion of bilateral trade and investment between Germany and the United States. GACCoM is located in downtown Chicago and offers traineeship programs for both German and American students and recent graduates. All internships/traineeships offer the opportunity to gain work experience in a truly bilingual and bicultural environment, with support from colleagues that can help speed the learning curve of understanding intercultural differences and nuances. General Requirements for all Internships/traineeships: The minimum duration for traineeships is nine months for interns requiring J1-visa sponsorship and six months for interns that do not require a visa; however, longer traineeships of up to 18 months are prefered. For a full list of internships, possible start dates, and the application link, go to: gaccom.org/en/career-services/internships-at-gaccom The following are the main requirements for all internship positions at GACCoM. Trainees must also meet the specific requirements for the type of internship for which they are applying. * High-level proficiency in the English and German languages (unless otherwise noted) * Strong research and communication skills (verbal and written) * Excellent computer skills (internet navigation and the entire MS Office Suite) * High degree of self-initiative * A great interest in working with an international team and a high level of motivation to help GACCoM accomplish its mission Compensation: Interns will receive compensation in the following amounts: * Months 1-3: $500 USD per month * Months 4-6: $750 USD per month * After Month 6: performance-based stipend as determined by Management Internships are available in these positions 1.) PR & Communications: The PR department is in charge of the marketing of all GACCoM programs, initiatives, and events, while also carrying out projects of its own. The main responsibilities of the PR-team include maintenance and development of GACCoM’s and several related websites, production of Chamber publications such as electronic newsletters, contributions to the German American Trade Magazine, and other promotional materials like brochures, event flyers, etc. Specific Requirements: * Ability to prioritize and work with little supervision; good problem-solving skills. * Solid writing skills and the ability to produce written materials in a fast-paced environment while consistently meeting deadlines. * Strong proof-reading and editing skills and great attention to detail. * Web content management experience (preferably Typo3). * Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office applications, online research and mass mailing programs such as ConstantContact; knowledge of Adobe Photoshop/GIMP a plus. * Experience with creating and monitoring social media campaigns a plus. 2.) Accounting/Finance The trainee will learn about the day-to-day accounting procedures within the Chamber, and gain practical experience in the areas of general ledger accounting, account reconciliations, maintenance of subsidiary ledgers, preparation of supporting schedules and ad hoc reports. Specific Requirements: * Solid understanding of generally accepted accounting principles. Ideally, the trainee should have completed at least 6 semester hours of financial accounting coursework. * Very strong attention to detail, financial aptitude and excellent organizational skills. * Strong skills with Microsoft Excel are required, including the ability to run advanced functions such as Macros. Exposure to computerized accounting systems such as Quickbooks or Peachtree would be a definite plus. * Very strong English skills are required. German language skills, while not required, would be very helpful. 3.) Membership & Events: The trainee will gain valuable experience in events management and will actively participate in marketing activities to new and current members. In addition, the trainee will also answer general telephone inquiries. The trainee will assist with full-cycle event management activities for a wide range of events, including: designing invitations and event brochures/programs; carrying out logistical arrangements for events such as travel itineraries and researching venue and vendor options; promoting events and acquiring sponsors; and conducting post-event follow-up and review. Major events where trainees are typically involved include political visits from Germany, the annual Merlin Awards Gala, Wine Dinner, Economic Forum, CEO Speaker Series, Young Executive Committee events and other networking events. Specific Requirements: * Excellent organizational and project management skills. * Exceedingly high attention to detail and a solid understanding of Communications and PR. * Prior experience in event management, public relations and graphic design would be particularly helpful. * Strong relationship management skills and the ability to interact effectively with Members and event-related business partners 4.) Consulting Services: The trainee will learn first-hand about issues surrounding bilateral trade between the US and Germany from the practical perspective of handling daily inquiries that are received from companies interested in expanding their transatlantic business activities. Typically, the most common projects are related to the industry fields of renewable energy, architecture and energy efficient building technologies, machinery and automation, automotive-related technologies and medical devices. A wide range of other technologies and industries are also addressed on an ongoing basis such as nanotechnology, specialty chemicals and coatings, software, electronics and consumer products. Specific Requirements: * A strong understanding of fundamental business concepts is required. Trainees should be able to comprehend and assist with the development of effective strategies for bringing diverse products to market and possess an aptitude for understanding sales channels and other issues affecting B2B business operations. * Ability to use internet-based research effectively to gather market intelligence and identify prospective partners for client companies. For this traineeship, a strong technical aptitude/affinity is necessary. While technical or engineering experience is not expected, Consulting Services trainees should have an interest in learning more about new technology and its applications and a desire to assist in promoting these new technologies in the US market. * Very strong English skills are an absolute requirement. Trainees must have a strong phone presence and be comfortable with ‘cold-calling’ companies to help promote the products and services of GACCoM’s client companies to prospective business partners. 5.) Consulting Services- Career Services Focus: The trainee will support GACCoM’s Career Services in addition to participating in other projects and daily tasks within the Consulting Services department. He/she will spend roughly half of the time focusing on Career Services and the other half on the activities described in the Consulting Services internship description. The trainee will learn first-hand about personnel recruitment and other HR-related issues in an international environment. The trainee will have the opportunity to identify and reach out to potential candidates for open positions and assist with broader business development and marketing activities and initiatives for Career Services. Experienced trainees may also have the opportunity to interact regularly with external clients. Specific Requirements: * Suitable candidates must fulfill all of the qualifications criteria for Consulting Services internships in addition to having an interest in HR/recruiting. 6.) German American Services, Inc. (GASI) Event Organizers of the Christkindlmarket Chicago and Germany’s Best & Oktoberfest: The trainee will gain experience by helping to organize one of the world’s largest holiday markets outside of Germany as well as a traditional Oktoberfest that also showcases Germany’s modern face as a leader in business, technology, education and more. Trainees will primarily assist with activities related to event planning and coordination, for example organizing entertainment for the market (choral groups, dance troupes, etc.) and performing important administrative tasks. Trainees will also assist with some event marketing activities such as media outreach. The trainee will focus on pre-event planning and administration as well as sponsorship acquisition. In September and October, the trainee will be on-site at the Oktoberfest to coordinate and assist with daily event activities and tasks. In November and December, the trainee will help on site at the Market and at the on-site office handling customer relations, sales and vendor administration. Specific Requirements: * For more information on these events, please visit christkindlmarket and chicago-oktoberfest * The trainee must be at least 21 years old. Knowledge of the German language is not a requirement but would be helpful.
Posted on: Sun, 14 Jul 2013 18:31:33 +0000
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