YOUR INTERN IN BRITAIN

TOOLKIT
Your complete guide to searching for and securing your
internship in the UK
Intern in Britain Toolkit
Welcome to your Intern in Britain Toolkit – in this comprehensive guide we will steer you through the process
of successfully securing your dream internship in the U.K.

What is Intern in Britain?

The Intern in Britain program allows you to gain the direct professional experience and development you need
to get ahead in your career whilst growing your passport, cultural understanding and overall independence.
The UK is one of the biggest international hubs of business and development and is home to London - one of
the o ld s ost lo ed, espe ted, a d i te atio all e og ized ities fo both business and lifestyle. You can
intern in practically any sector, so you'll be getting resume boosting skills and experience in the career field
you want to work in. The only industries the Intern in Britain program does not support are roles in hospitality
or healthcare.

How can BUNAC help me?

As the largest A-rated Tier 5 visa sponsor in the UK, we ensure your Intern in Britain application and overall
experience is as smooth and efficient as possible. The success that applicants have experienced once here in
the UK is a direct result of the effort they put in and is exactly why the Intern in Britain program continues to
inspire top employers throughout the country to open their positions to overseas applicants.

We have broken this guide down into the following sections, allowing you to consult the sections that relate to
you at each stage of the process;

1. Finding an internship
This section will provide you with top internship recruitment sites, tips on searching for your
internship and the steps you ll eed to take th oughout the hole p o ess of fi di g a i te ship.

2. UK CV guide
In this section we have illustrated how to format a UK CV, which is surprisingly different to an
American resume. It is crucial to get this right, to ensure your application stands out to employers.

3. Letter to send to potential employers

We have provided you with a letter from BUNAC that you can attach to your internship application to
explain how the Intern in Britain program works and who BUNAC are. It clarifies that you will have the
appropriate visa to intern in the UK at no extra cost to them, as we know that this is a common
question from employers.

We e looki g fo a d to helpi g ou oost ou esu e a d e plo e Britain in one awesome international

adventure.

The BUNAC Team

www.bunac.org/usa
info@bunacusa.org
866-220-7771

BUNAC Intern in Britain iib@bunac.org.uk UK: 0333 999 75165 USA: 866-220-7771
www.bunac.org/usa
 1. Finding an internship
Top tips for finding and securing an internship

 Focus your search – Ask yourself the question, what do I want to do? Start researching sectors that
relate to your studies and start listing potential internships in each one. This will ensure you stay
focused when searching for an internship.

 Prepare for your internship job search – No ou e a o ed do ou sea h, ou ill eed to

produce a great CV to send to potential employers. In this guide we have provided you with a
template for completing a UK CV. Cover letters will also be an important aspect of your application. It
is important that each cover letter is customized for that employer, pulling out your experience and
education to fit the internship job specification.

 Network – Seize networking opportunities to assist in your internship search. Use LinkedIn to
research contacts at specific companies, use social media to ask your friends and followers for any
contacts they might have, research alumni from your college that might have done an internship in
the UK and speak to your school careers centre. In the below section we have provided you with a
selection of the top internship job sites in the UK, which will help kick start your search.

 Apply for the internship position – it s i po ta t to do ou esea h and tailor your application.
Make sure you address your CV and cover letter to the individual; you can find this information on
LinkedIn or give the company a call to establish the recruiting manager. If you want to apply to a
o pa that is t u e tl ad e tisi g fo a internship position, establish who the HR department
contact is and call or email them about potential opportunities. This is your chance to sell yourself.

 Follow up – be prepared to follow up with an employer for a position. Send an email to the recruiting
manager about the internship position that you have applied for. In this email you can remind them
of ou appli atio a d tha k the fo looki g o e ou CV et . We do t e o e d aski g a
employer when you might hear from them, this is meant as a way to show your initiative.

 Secured an interview – O e ou e se u ed a i te ie ou eed to p epa e, p epa e, p epa e!

Even if the interview is over Skype, remember first impressions count, so make sure you dress in
interview attire. Re-familiarise yourself with the internship job specification and have stock answers
for common interview questions and e a ples that ou a use. It s i po ta t to a s e 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 ou e
interested in the position.

Placement companies
If you would like support in finding your internship placement, along with other great benefits such as
accommodation and in-country support, BUNAC can recommend a selection of placement companies who can
find the internship on your behalf. Find out more about them here.

BUNAC Intern in Britain iib@bunac.org.uk UK: 0333 999 75165 USA: 866-220-7771
www.bunac.org/usa
 Useful websites
BUNAC have compiled the top internship sites for your internship job hunting. If you plan on interning in one
of our top sectors e e a o ed do the sea h fo ou. Fo all othe sectors we have sourced the top UK
general sites for finding an Internship. Happy internship hunting!

Marketing / PR www.reed.co.uk/jobs/marketing-intern-in-london
www.glassdoor.co.uk

Business www.ratemyplacement.co.uk
www.studentjob.co.uk/internship

Research www.ratemyplacement.co.uk/science-and-research
www.studentladder.co.uk/Internships/scientific-research.html

www.ratemyplacement.co.uk
Legal
www.ibanet.org
www.anyintern.com/uk/legal-internships-in-uk

Politics
www.indeed.co.uk/Political-Research-Internship-jobs

www.internwise.co.uk
www.e4s.co.uk
www.gradjobs.co.uk
www.milkround.com
All industries www.charityjob.co.uk
www.indeed.co.uk
www.inspiringinterns.com/
www.jobs.theguardian.com
www.step.org.uk/opportunity-search/type/Internship
www.targetjobs.co.uk/internships

BUNAC Intern in Britain iib@bunac.org.uk UK: 0333 999 75165 USA: 866-220-7771
www.bunac.org/usa
 2. UK CV Guide
A résumé in the UK is known as a Curriculum Vitae (or more commonly phrased, a CV). By aligning your current
résumé to what a UK employer would expect to receive from a potential internship candidate will improve
your chances of securing an internship.

American résumés are generally shorter than a CV. Do t e af aid to add o e detail. It is ge e all sta da d
to have a C.V that spans over two pages. The CV example on the following page will give you an idea of the
types of information to include.

Your C.V should include the following sections:

Education Experience
This should include all education from high school and above, with specific focus on your current or recent
studies.

Work Experience
This should be a list of most jobs you have ever had.

Volunteering Experience
If you have undertaken any voluntary experience then you should include this

Personal Statement / Skills

This should be a round-up of your strong skill-sets that you have developed during your education and
e plo e t listed o the CV. It is t u o o to i lude ho ies a d i te ests i this section to give
potential employers an idea of what kind of person you are.

BUNAC Intern in Britain iib@bunac.org.uk UK: 0333 999 75165 USA: 866-220-7771
www.bunac.org/usa

Include an overview of
your profile. Include
where your experience
lies and what you are
seeking
A Sample CV
Priory House, 6 Wrights Lane, London, W86TA
UNITED KINGDOM
Email: iib@bunac.org.uk
Phone: +44 333 999 7516

A committed and enthusiastic Geology graduate seeking summer internship opportunities in the UK within the
petrochemical sector. Key academic expertise lies within petroleum geology.

EDUCATION
2010 – 2016 University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom. EDUCATION HISTORY:
BSc (Hons) Geology & Petroleum Geology Provide all study, high school
 Achieved Upper Second Class Honours (2:1). and above, that you have
 AGA Prize for Distinguished Students at Level 3. completed along with course
titles and awards achieved
2011 - 2010 University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
International Exchange (Earth and Ocean Sciences)
 Studied abroad during my second year, excelled academically.
WORK HISTORY
2002 - 2008 Matthew Humberston Secondary School, United Kingdom. Include specific
 Scottish Standard Grades, Highers and Advanced Highers. achievements in previous
roles that demonstrate
your professional
WORK EXPERIENCE
capabilities
Feb 2016 – Present Barista/Keyholder/Shift Runner, Costa Coffee
Aberdeen, United Kingdom
 Work in an extremely fast-paced environment, serving great quality drinks and food.
 Immediately recognised as having excellent customer service.
 Within 3 months I was promoted to Keyholder/Shift Runner, responsible for opening and closing of
store and the management of staff and resources.
 Developed a passion for coffee, and for food and drink service.
 Ensure a clean and safe environment is maintained for customers and colleagues.

August 2015 – Jan 2016 Technical Administrator (Reservoir Geology), COREX

May 2014 – August 2015 Formation Damage Geologist/Project Coordinator, COREX
Aberdeen, United Kingdom
 Performed various specialist geological analyses and produced detailed reports.
 Responsible for coordinating a number of projects: liaised with clients, colleagues, various
departments and subcontractors; ensured projects run smoothly.
 Direct contact for clients: updated clients weekly and responded to any queries, ensuring clients were
satisfied.
 Worked under pressure and met tight deadlines.
 Performed administrative duties, coordinated sales and prepared quotes.
 Performed research and presented results to team.

Sept 2007 – April 2014 Customer Service Assistant, Tesco Superstore

Huntly, United Kingdom
 Developed excellent customer service skills and understand the importance of developing great
relationships with customers and clients.
 ‘e ei ed se e al se i e supe sta a a ds.
 Experience working under pressure and dealing with difficult situations.
 Acted as a relief Team Leader, responsible for coordinating a team of colleagues.

BUNAC Intern in Britain iib@bunac.org.uk UK: 0333 999 75165 USA: 866-220-7771
www.bunac.org/usa
FURTHER WORK EXPERIENCE
May – Aug 2013 Summer Placement – Exploration, TAQA Bratani
Aberdeen, United Kingdom
 Worked both independently and as part of small team, conducting a research study.
 Produced report and presented findings to the Exploration Manager, allowing informed decisions to
be made regarding future investment.
 Supported colleagues by carrying out additional administrative and data management tasks.

Jan – Dec 2012 Junior Estimator, Titan Steel, Blackburn, United Kingdom
 Worked in a small team and directly with company director.
 Calculated quantities used for the construction of steel framed buildings.
 Prepared detailed summaries to send to clients, with pricing quotes.
 Taught the importance of accuracy over speed.

August 2000 – Sept 2007 Roberts of Rothiemay, Near Huntly, United Kingdom
 Started supporting the family business at an early age, with responsibilities growing over the years to
include lone supervision of premises.
 Duties included cleaning of coaches and shop, answering telephone, serving customers, serving fuel,
cash-handling and relief supervision.
List any voluntary or
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE internship experience
you have undertaken
March 2014 Volunteer, Lab in a Lorry
Aberlour, United Kingdom
 Volunteered aboard a lorry running science experiments with primary and secondary school pupils,
with an aim to encourage young people to pursue STEM subjects.

Oct 2011 – August 2013 Fundraiser, Childreach International

Aberdeen, United Kingdom
 Fundraised over £3,000 in aid of Childreach International by successfully planning and organizing
events, and through sponsorship for trekking the Great Wall of China.
 Su se ue tl ele ted as G oup Fu d aisi g Coo di ato fo the U i e sit of A e dee s di isio of
the charity.
 In this role, I was responsible for ensuring 95 fundraisers met their targets, organising fundraising
events and ensuring all fundraisers acted in the best interest of the charity.
 This role further developed my communication skills.

BUNAC Intern in Britain iib@bunac.org.uk UK: 0333 999 75165 USA: 866-220-7771
www.bunac.org/usa
 3. Letter to send to potential employers
On the following page, please find a letter from BUNAC that you can attach to your internship application to
explain how the Intern in Britain program works and who BUNAC are. It clarifies that you will have the
appropriate visa to intern in the UK at no extra cost to them, as we know that this is a common question from
employers.

We are happy to speak directly to potential employers to answer any questions they have about the program.
Please feel free to give them our contact details which can be found at the bottom of each page.

BUNAC Intern in Britain iib@bunac.org.uk UK: 0333 999 75165 USA: 866-220-7771
www.bunac.org/usa
Dear UK employer,

This is a letter to confirm the appli a t s i te t to apply for an internship in the UK. BUNAC is an A – rated
Government Authorised Exchange (GAE) visa sponsor in the UK, and is able to provide Tier 5 visa sponsorship
for eligible students and recent graduates within 12 months of completing their studies. BUNAC, established in
1962 have been running the Intern in Britain programme since 2009. Within this time, BUNAC have sponsored
thousands of students and recent graduates to further develop their skills through an international internship
experience.

Permitting the individual meets the programme requirements detailed below, BUNAC can sponsor the
individual to undertake an internship with your company for up to 6 months.

 Be a full-time student stud i g at least at asso iate s deg ee le el o ha e g aduated ithi

months from the start of the internship
 Hold nationality outside of the EEA
 Have an offer of an internship which must be at least 25 hours per week, be a supernumerary position
designed specifically for an intern and have a full time staff to intern ratio of at least 5:1

There is no cost to your business and the individual will have full rights to intern in the UK on either a paid or
voluntary internship. Once the individual secures a suitable internship, BUNAC will vet the internship and issue
a Certificate of Sponsorship which allows the individual to apply for a Tier 5 visa.

More information on the Tier 5 scheme can be found at https://www.gov.uk/tier-5-government-authorised-

exchange/overview

More information on the BUNAC Intern in Britain programme can be found on our website at
https://www.bunac.org/usa/intern-abroad/professional/britain

Best wishes,

BUNAC’s Intern in Britain Team

www.bunac.org/usa
iib@bunac.org.uk
0333 999 7516

BUNAC Intern in Britain iib@bunac.org.uk UK: 0333 999 75165 USA: 866-220-7771
www.bunac.org/usa