Testimonial: Jean Hannah Edelstein
Everyone I worked with was very friendly and supportive, and as a result I established the roots of a professional network that has been incredibly valuable as I've gone on to work in publishing and journalism (I got my first 'real' job in publishing as a direct result of my internship). I don't think I could have?had a better introduction to the London media industry.
To get the most out of your internship, you have to be patient - everyone is very busy and will not necessarily have time to be peppered with questions, but you'll find you'll learn a lot if you're prepared to prove yourself through hard work and a positive, enthusiastic attitude. Particularly coming out of college or another, more responsible job, it can feel a little bit frustrating that the work you do is often not exciting - no, filing is not fascinating - but the atmosphere makes up for it, and once you demonstrate that you're capable you may find that you get more responsibility.
I'd definitely recommend doing an internship, especially if you're interested in working in the media but not quite sure exactly what direction to take - it gives a unique, cross-cutting perspective on both the creative and business side of things. And I got to speak to my hero, Margaret Atwood, on the telephone.
Read Jean Hannah Edelstein's blog on guardian.co.uk
Testimonial: Sophie Baker
I did my internship in the Books department just after I had graduated from university. I spent most of my time drawing up permission licenses and reading submissions. I got particularly involved with Foreign Rights, and I now work as an assistant in the Foreign Rights department.
The highlight of the internship for me was being able to read the new Lauren Weisberger novel before it was published, and give my thoughts on it. There were bad moments too - I made all the usual mistakes, like clicking ‘save’ rather than ‘save as’, and losing an entire afternoon’s worth of work.
I absolutely loved being an intern, and I would definitely recommend doing it, but be prepared to read anything! Being an intern made me realize that there is so much more to the world of publishing that being an editorial assistant.
Working in agencies is great because you get to see a writer’s development from an initial submission to a published work. I’ve realized that an agent can have the same impact on an author’s work as an editor might have in a publishing house.
Testimonial: Felicity Blunt
I had just graduated from bar school and decided, much to the delight of my parents, to start interning at literary agencies instead of turning my head properly to the law. I had a year before I was supposed to be taking up a pupilage in barristers’ chambers and suddenly the idea of defending criminals for a living didn’t hold as much sway as it once had. When I started the internship here it felt like coming home.
I interned in the Books department, helping with permissions, reading, filing, sending out statements, covering for holidays - everything any assistant or agent has to do. The best bits were being offered a job here and poker nights!
Definitely, without being an intern I wouldn’t be employed here. It gave me a great grounding in the department, and allowed me to slowly acclimatize to being an assistant, rather than having to hit the ground running on my first day in the job. To start an official job surrounded by familiar faces is a real blessing.
If you’re thinking of applying for an internship, I’d say do it! It’s brilliant fun, the company is vibrant, and you will gain access to all media fields, not just the field you do your internship in. Working hard is the best impression you can make and people do go out of their way to be helpful in setting you up in the industry after you leave.
Testimonial: Cynthia Okoye
I studied law at university but I was always interested in the entertainment business. I knew I didn't want to practise law and I thought agenting would be a great way to combine my interests and my training. I looked at the internship page on the Curtis Brown website for ages before finally going for it and applying - I thought I didn't have enough background knowledge about the industry, but I got accepted and I haven't looked back.
I am currently interning in the Theatre, Film and Television department. I ended up here by accident - initially I wanted to be in the Actors department - but I've discovered my real interest lies here. Mostly I cover for assistants when they are away, so I've had the chance to work with almost everyone in the department. A typical day includes answering phones, dealing with the mail and unsolicited manuscripts, organising meetings and updating the website. There was one week when everyone went off to Edinburgh and I was left covering about six offices - a bit challenging but a great way to prove yourself.
The best thing about it is getting the inside track on everything that's happening - reading scripts before they go into production and going to advance screenings of new films before they're on general release. I even got to meet Josh Hartnett at a party! Being an intern has confirmed for me that I definitely want to be an agent, and this is the first step on the ladder.
Testimonials
Here's what some of our previous interns have said about it.
"I thought I didn't have enough background knowledge about the industry, but I got accepted and I haven't looked back." Cynthia Okoye
"I established the roots of a professional network that has been incredibly valuable as I've gone on to work in publishing and journalism." Jean Hannah Edelstein
"Being an intern made me realize that there is so much more to the world of publishing that being an editorial assistant..." Sophie Baker
"People do go out of their way to be helpful in setting you up in the industry..." Felicity Blunt
Everyone starts somewhere - could you start here?
Media and publishing are amongst the most popular career choices for graduates, yet often these industries can seem like a closed shop for those who don't already have experience or contacts.
We offer bright and energetic first-timers an opportunity to discover what agencies are all about. Our internship scheme gives graduates an introduction to the world of agenting in our Books, Theatre Film and Television, Presenters and Actors departments.
The internships last for 12 weeks and you will work with agents and their assistants to gain hands-on experience of agenting, publishing and the media world. You should have good administrative skills and genuine enthusiasm for and interest in the industry.
You also get paid £200.55 per week, payable in arrears on the last working day of each month, directly into your bank account. In return, we ask that you work from 9.30 to 5.30 (with an hour for lunch) and that you commit to stay here for the full 12 weeks.
Finally, you must also be either a British citizen or have a valid work permit, and you must be a graduate or currently studying as an undergraduate. Unfortunately, we are unable to help interns with work permits, and we can't help you with finding accommodation. You will need to make your own arrangements to live in the Greater London area during your placement.
Ready to apply?
Our next available internships are:
Books From 19 October 2009 to 19 February 2010
Applications accepted 1 August – 1 October 2009
Actors From 10 August to 13 November 2009
Closing date for applications 26 June 2009
Theatre, Film, TV We will be accepting applications from
1 July 2009 for an
internship to start 7 August 2009.
Complete the application form below and send it, along with a CV and covering letter, to:
Internship Programme
Curtis Brown Group
Haymarket House
28-29 Haymarket
London SW1Y 4SP
Download Application Form (PDF 75kb)
You should expect a reply from us within four to six weeks. Good luck!