Skills needed
Excellent communication (written and verbal), research skills, a keen interest in public policy, current affairs or a specific strand of the think tank’s work, as well as team working and networking are essential. At the level of junior researcher, desk-based research and getting out to meetings and talking to people will be central, but you will probably also have to do a lot of your own administration.
For many think tanks you will need a postgraduate degree that's relevant to their area of expertise, and/or some training in research methodologies. Developing a niche is becoming more important in this sector and so it is advisable to start following current political / societal / technological trends to identify and search for think tanks across the globe. In-depth knowledge of an area, region or theme central to the think tank's work can be crucial.
The work of think tanks and professional bodies utilises a wide range of research methods and involves extensive dissemination activities. Rigorous and sophisticated quantitative and qualitative techniques such as surveys, mapping exercises, interviews and focus groups are often used. Postgraduate research, experience of collecting and analysing statistics, specialist knowledge of a specific subject area and language, or some combination of these factors, are commonly asked for. Many think tank websites include staff profiles and it's useful to take a look at these to see how current think tank employees have reached their particular positions. The 'People' section of individual think tanks' LinkedIn pages also show employees’ profiles which can be researched to understand specifics of roles and career paths.
There are also non-research focused roles within think tanks, such as in events, communications, media, campaigns, and core operations (administration, HR, fundraising, IT etc.). Role-specific skills will be required, in addition to demonstration of an interest in policy and the focus of think tanks.
AI tools are being increasingly used for day-to-day work such as communications, research, administration, and fundraising (71% of Think Tanks surveyed for the On Think Tanks ‘State of the Sector 2025 Report’ found were using AI tools). Showing demonstrable familiarity with using AI tools could be an advantage, but ensuring you utilise methods and critical thinking to ensure outputs are accurate and usage is ethical will be essential.
Getting experience
Demonstrating an understanding of ‘how policy works’ in your area of interest and building relevant research skills (for roles that require them) is important. As the number of individuals employed by Think Tanks is relatively modest overall, it is common to gain experience outside of think tanks with organisations in alternative sectors that influence policy – like academia, government, charities. As these organisations are within the policy world, and often work with think tanks, they will also provide valuable experience of interest to think tanks.
If you don't have much research experience or a postgraduate degree, short internships are a good way to gain experience and start building your network, and are an invaluable addition to your CV. They usually consist of a mixture of research and administrative work. Many think tanks only recruit graduates with a master's or DPhil/PhD. Some larger think tanks offer internship programmes, and the specifics of the experience will vary greatly among the opportunities. However, in general, students should look for a few key attributes in researching internship opportunities with think tanks:
- Do the think tank’s philosophy and its core research themes match your own interests?
- Will the internship provide a range of experiences and contacts?
- Will there be an opportunity to be involved in the research or publication of the organisation’s scholarship?
- Will the experience provide a tangible project to talk about in your CV and later interviews?
Alternatively, ‘to get your foot in the door’, it could be worth considering administrative and related jobs within a think tank before moving to alternative roles – although without building up the necessary research skills and experience these roles will not automatically lead to more research-based positions. You could also see if any of the think tanks could offer you some work experience – even if this is not advertised, it can be worth volunteering your services for short periods of time to gain a deeper insight into the sector and to start building contacts. As a starting point, a list of websites is given at the end of this briefing.
Every year there are a number of international and UK-based internships offered through the Internship Programme at the Careers Service. Find out what previous students have said about them and any upcoming opportunities on the Internship Office’s webpages. Organisations such as On Think Tanks and Smart Thinking also have a vacancies page listing UK internships, graduate positions, and other job role vacancies.
As well as advertised opportunities, if you are proactive and network effectively, it is also possible to create an opportunity through alumni contacts, or through tutors or colleagues who have contacts within organisations.
Will I get paid?
Internships and summer jobs are governed in the UK by National Minimum Wage law, which means that if you are carrying out activities that class you as a “worker” by the employer, then you should be paid. Full details of Employment Rights and Pay for Interns are published by the government.
If you are undertaking a learning and development opportunity such as a micro-internship, or volunteering for a charity or statutory body, or shadowing or observing, then you may not be eligible for the National Minimum Wage. The organisation may reimburse you for your travel and/or lunch expenses, but they aren’t obliged to do so.
