Career Services Spotlight – Wolf Pamphile, MIA ’23, U.S. International Trade Administration
What program are you in at Marxe? I am currently in the MIA program with a concentration in the Western hemisphere.
Where are you doing/did you do your internship? I am part of the pathway internship program with the U.S. International Trade Administration. The agency is a branch of the Department of Commerce, and it promotes and facilitates U.S. exports around the world. My direct office within ITA is the Global Markets, Office of Administrative Services. It manages major contracts and purchases for over 170 domestic and international offices.
What are/were your responsibilities in this role? As a student trainee – Program Analyst, my favorite aspect of the internship is that my team exposes me to different experiences every day. Depending on the week’s priorities, I support my team on everything from reviewing business contracts, editing extensive excel worksheets, office space management, and other special projects.
How did you find this internship? I found this internship on USAJOBS.GOV. Once I created an account, I set an email alert for new pathway internship opportunities. Most federal agencies have a pathway program. Since they are competitive and usually close after 50-100 applications, I often applied as early as possible. Sometimes around 1:00 AM or whenever I received the notification.
Did you acquire and specific skills? If so, what were they? So far, I’ve been shadowing the office director. I’m learning how to be an effective communicator and improve my leadership skills. There are also great learning opportunities, such as fully funded accredited certificate programs for management and financial skill development.
What advice do you have for current students looking for an internship? First, have a session with the MIA career services office. They helped me put my plan and ideas on paper. The office also helped me with mock interviews that boosted my confidence when the time came. Moreover, it’s essential to have a plan but remain flexible. While most of us want to work for large international organizations, internships in local government (City council, State assembly) are equally important and often lead to those larger organizations. For me, my previous summer and winter internships at New York City council and New York State assembly were determining factors in obtaining my current position. Local government internships can be easy to get; local assembly and city council offices are often short-staffed and looking for support. I highly recommend directly calling your local representative’s office and ask.