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 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.

PLEASE NOTE: This website uses the terms ‘Traineeship/Trainee’ and ‘Internship/Intern’ interchangeably; however, for J1-visas there is an important distinction between the two.  Please see the bottom of this page for more information.

General Requirements for all 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.
• 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.
  o    High-level proficiency in the English and German languages (unless otherwise noted)
  o    Strong research and communication skills (verbal and written)
  o    Excellent computer skills (internet navigation and the entire MS Office Suite)
  o    High degree of self-initiative
  o    A great interest in working with an international team and a high level of motivation to help GACCoM accomplish its mission 

• Applicants without United States citizenship/permanent residency will need a J1-visa in order to intern in the U.S. Once you have been accepted into the traineeship program we will provide you with information on how to apply for a J1-visa. All J1-Trainees will also receive help to get settled into Chicago.

• For American interns, the traineeship usually takes place during a semester hiatus from college or upon successful completion of a degree program in order to gain German-American business experience prior to entering the workforce.

Compensation

• Interns will receive compensation in the following amounts:
  o    Months 1-3: $500 USD per month
  o    Months 4-6: $750 USD per month
  o    After Month 6: performance-based stipend as determined by Management
  
  

To Apply:

• Please send your CV/resume and cover letter in either English or German to trainees(at)gaccom.org. We encourage applicants from Germany to write a cover letter in English and those from the US to write a cover letter in German.  Please reference the preferred type of traineeship and start date in the subject line (e.g. Consulting Services Traineeship – July 2011).

We are offering positions for traineeships in the following areas:

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.  The team also oversees the production and distribution of mass mailings prior to events and conducts live-broadcasts and recordings of Chamber events on a regular basis.

• Recent projects conducted independently by the PR-department have included the German American Business Outlook survey, other industry specific surveys, and the annual compilation of two German-American business directories for print and online publication. Our Chicago office works closely with our other US-locations to ensure a coherent brand marketing and communication strategy on a national level.

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.

The next available start date for a PR & Communications traineeship is:

• January 2013

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.
• In addition to learning routine accounting procedures the trainee will also be involved in special projects, including the implementation of a fixed asset tracking system and an accounting system conversion.

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.

The next available start date for an Accounting/Finance traineeship is:

• October 2012

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.
• Administer the Membership database and maintain accurate records for all GACCoM members; engage in activities to retain and acquire new Members for the Chamber.

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

The next available start date for a Membership & Events traineeship is:

• February 2013

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.
• In addition, the trainee will be involved in several projects ranging from supporting German business delegations visiting the Midwest to assisting German companies search for US business partners. Trainees will sometimes also have the opportunity to manage the virtual office of one or more German companies in the US.
• 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.
  
  

The next available start dates for Consulting Services traineeships are:

• June 2012
• July 2012
• August 2012
• October 2012

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.
  
  

The next available start dates for Consulting Services- Career Services traineeships are:

• August 2013

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 www.christkindlmarket.com and www.chicago-oktoberfest.com
• The trainee must be at least 21 years old. Knowledge of the German language is not a requirement but would be helpful.

The next available start dates for Christkindlmarket traineeships are:

• March 2012 (until end of December 2012)
• June 2012  (until end of February 2013)

Clarification of Traineeships vs. Internships for J1-Visa Applicants:

Internships are for those applicants who are still currently enrolled in a degree program at a university or equivalent institution outside of the United States or who have already graduated not more than 12 months before the start of their internship.  The maximum duration is 12 months.

Traineeships are for those applicants who have already obtained their degree and have a minimum of one year of work experience following graduation outside of the United States.  The maximum duration is 18 months.