Application Support and Advice for #10000BlackInterns

The University of Oxford Careers Service is heading into the second year of offering pre-application sessions for students applying for internships through the 10,000 Black Interns programme.

The 10,000 Black Interns programme aims to offer 2,000 paid internships to Black African, Black Caribbean and/or Black British candidates each year for five consecutive years. The internships run for a minimum of six weeks with companies throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. The programme is open to any undergraduate or postgraduate students or recent graduates (2018 onwards) from any UK university, as well as those aged 18 and over who have completed their A-levels and who are on a gap year with the intention of undertaking higher education.

The Careers Service at the University of Oxford has long-standing experience sourcing and advertising internship opportunities to students and guiding them through the application process. And, our careers advisers offer advice on a wide range of careers-related topics. With backgrounds in sectors as diverse as teaching, banking, publishing, law, and beyond, they run regular sessions demystifying popular employment sectors and offering CV advice and tips for creating applications that stand out. 

We are delighted to extend our support to the 10,000 Black Interns programme. Over the month of September, specialised University of Oxford Careers Service staff are delivering one-hour sessions: 

On the partnership between 10,000 Black Interns and the Oxford University Careers Service and Internship Office, Julie Quist-Therson, Programme Manager at 10,000 Black Interns, said:

"The 10,000 Black Interns Programme supports members of the Black student and graduate population to access amazing internships across the country. In doing this, the Programme is both broadening the prospects of thousands of young black people, and making the workplaces of the UK much more reflective of the wider world. 

The Oxford University Careers Service and Internship Office have been integral to the 10,000 Black Interns Programme's ethos of opportunity and access for all. Through multiple series' of applicant preparation webinars, the team has shared specialist insight into the sectors the Programme covers, and has detailed CV and cover letter writing skills allowing attendees from universities across the country to benefit.  We consider the Service a founding partner of the Programme. Our partnership with Oxford University Careers Service and Internship Office works so well due to the dedicated colleagues who understand the Programme's aims and want to effect real change and long-lasting impact."

Commenting on the work for 10,000 Black Interns, Jonathan Black, Director of the Careers Service, said:

“At Oxford’s Careers Service, we share our expertise and knowledge with a worldwide audience; our detailed website is fully open access and more than half the website users in the past year came from outside the UK.

In line with this approach, we were pleased to be invited to support the 10,000 Black Interns programme with an extensive set of careers discussions. The careers advisors eagerly got involved, giving talks to students on the programme on topics ranging from CVs and application letters, to sector introduction sessions.

We hope that these workshops will build confidence in the audience and inspire them to consider industries that may be new to them; of course, we also hope that it may encourage some of the 10,000 Black Interns to consider further studies at Oxford, as the University has introduced programmes and scholarships to support black applicants.”

Applications are now open until early November 2022 for the 2023 10,000 Black Interns programme.