finding an internship in england
WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
If you really want to spend the summer in the UK , you may need to get a Blue Card. You cannot take even an unpaid internship without getting a work visa. Plan on applying for a Blue Card (visa) through the British Universities North America Club (BUNAC) or working through an established program like AIESEC.
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Unless the organization to which you're applying is American, the word “internship” may be unfamiliar to them. Talk in terms of summer work placement or experience.
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Organizations with formal internship programs, e.g., The Economist, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, are highly competitive, tend to give preference to those with citizenship in an EEC country, and expect applications by the end of December. Decisions are usually made by March or April.
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Most organizations do not have formal internship programs. There is often no deadline date for applications and decisions are made very late – often at the end of May. That's because British students don't finish their studies until late June or even July. If you can't find an internship, an alternative is to apply through the student organization AIESEC for an internship in Britain .
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You have some advantages over British students, because many of them don't work at all during the summer. Also, you can start work earlier and because of your past experience, you may have more job-related skills. However, most internship opportunities, particularly in financial services or the media, are very competitive.
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British students usually complete their degree in three years. They don't use terminology like sophomore or junior. If you're a sophomore, say that you're in your second year at University; if you're a junior, say that you're in your penultimate year. No British university has a grade point average or a transcript, so unless asked, you don't need to include it.
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Key characteristics that British organizations look for are energy, enthusiasm, initiative, willingness to work hard and human relations skills. The British often place emphasis on hiring those who they think will fit in well.
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Languages and computer skills are probably your greatest asset, in addition to those skills directly related to the position for which you are applying.
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Don't expect British organizations to have heard of Brown. They will have heard of Harvard and Yale, however, so you'll need to find a way of making a connection (e.g., it's an Ivy League University like Yale). If you know of alums working in the organization, mention their names (as long as the alum is agreeable).
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Be prepared to spend money on international telephone calls. Don't forget that UK time is 5 hours ahead of US time.
HOW CAN I INCREASE MY CHANCE OF GETTING HIRED?
Create a Strong Resume
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Refer to it as a CV (Curriculum Vitae).
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If you have British, or EEC nationality, make that very clear.
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“Translate” your American educational qualifications into language they can understand.
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Give full personal details, e.g., date of birth, nationality, willingness to travel, interests.
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Consider including a skills profile.
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If you have particular skills like foreign languages or computer skills, make sure you list them.
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If you have British references, use them. In Britain , references are called referees.
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Make sure it's easy to read and has no typographical errors.
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Include your email address and any other information that makes it easy for them to contact you.
Craft an Effective Cover letter
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The name and address of the contact are accurately spelled, and there are no errors in the letter.
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You state clearly in the first paragraph that you will (not may) be spending the summer in England , and that you will be held liable.
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If you have knowledge of the local economy or the economy of the country with which they do a lot of business, state it.
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You know something about the business of the organization to which you are applying, and can relate your qualifications to what you believe their needs be. If Brown has a recruiting relationship with this organization in the U.S. , say so.
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The organization knows from your letter that they will be gaining as much or more from having you as an intern as you will gain from the experience. If you have particularly valuable skills (e.g., you can deign web pages), or personal attributes, like the demonstrated ability to take initiative and juggle multiple responsibilities, make sure you state that.
Sources of Information on Internships
Best Advice
Don't apply indiscriminately (make sure you're qualified) and don't expect the organization to contact you. Call them to make sure they received your CV, and that it has been sent to the right person. Then find out when you can call back to check on the status of the application. Be pleasantly persistent. Make friends with the person who answers the phone. Make yourself available (at your expense) for a telephone interview. Make sure your answering machine has a professional message on it (e.g., short, no music).
Researching Businesses in the UK
General Information about UK Companies
http://www.quality-solutions.co.uk/busuk/buk.htm
http://www.britishcompanies.co.uk
http://www.carolworld.com/
http://www.cbi.org.uk/home.html
http://www.corporateinformation.com/
MB 6/2/04
