A simple guide on finding an internship in London for students & recent graduates.

How do I find an internship in London? That is one of the most asked questions we receive here at BUNAC from students and graduates. The United Kingdom, but more specifically London, is a highly desired location for students to complete an internship in. Not only is an internship in London, as a student, an incredible experience to develop professional insight into your desired career, but also allows for time to explore the wondrous city that is over 2,000 years old!

Decide what you want to do and focus your search

In order to find the internship in London which will make waves in your personal and professional life, first you need to know what you want to do. This can take time to decide, but a good starting point is to research sectors related to your studies and start short-listing potential internships that jump out at you.

Tailor your resume to the internship you are applying for

Chances are, you've been told this numerous times by teachers and careers advisors throughout your time in education. You cannot overstate the importance of adapting and changing your resume depending on the internship placement. Some skills and experiences you have will not be relevant to the placement, some will. Read carefully about what you will be doing day-to-day on the internship and tweak your resume to hit as many of those duties or responsibilities as you can. Show that you have done your research and you know what the internship requires. Most of all, make sure you address your cover letter to the correct person who is hiring!

LinkedIn is your best friend

LinkedIn has become a must-have platform for engaged and career driven individuals, with over 40 million students and graduates with profiles and over 3 million job postings every day (many of them internship placements). With the ability to message individual professionals in your dream company, this is the perfect way to find out about internship opportunities. Even if they don’t have any posted on their company page, it doesn’t hurt to reach out and ask.

Be productive and follow up

After you have applied for an internship placement, send an email to the employer to introduce yourself and let them know to expect your application. Reaching out to them will show that you are interested, engaged and that you care about the opportunity. This is a great action to take that will give you a good first impression. Give yourself the best possible chance of being successful on getting your internship placement!

Secure an interview

Once you’ve secured an interview you need to prepare, prepare and prepare! Even if the interview is over Skype, make sure you wear the right attire and dress appropriately. Re-familiarise yourself with the internship job description and prepare your answers (with examples) for common interview questions. It’s important to answer the questions enthusiastically and to the point. Lastly, make sure you have some questions ready to ask the interviewer. This shows you have spent time preparing for the interview and demonstrates you’re interested in the position.

A placement company

If you are still struggling to find an internship, it might be worth looking into a structured program offered by a placement company. Many of these companies offer a pre-arranged internship placement in addition to in-country support, social events and accommodation. Check out the placement partners that use BUNAC to facilitate their students visa sponsorship here.

Find out how you can apply to start your incredible internship in London today! Any questions? Feel free to get in touch with the team!