Marketing Internship Advice UK | The Mind Collective
Applying for a marketing internship? Honest advice from The Mind Collective on CVs, interviews, culture fit and standing out in competitive early-career roles.
We’re about to post a new intern role at The Mind Collective (TMC), and after years of recruiting directly (and reviewing hundreds of applications), I wanted to share some hints and tips that will genuinely help you stand out.
This is written with honesty and good intent. Not judgement. Not gatekeeping.
BEFORE YOU APPLY - DO THIS:
1) Read the job profile. Properly.
2) Check the location and commutability - Scotland isn't commutable to Birmingham on a weekly basis!
3) Make sure you actually meet the role criteria as stated on the LinkedIn job posting -> https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4361560016/
4) Do your research on the business, the clients we work with and the team.
5) Be clear why you want to go into marketing; understand how broad the function really is. Not all marketing roles are the same.
6) Think about cultural fit. Do our values align with yours?
7) Don’t assume a typical day at TMC looks like our TikTok videos
YOUR APPLICATION MATTERS MORE THAN YOU THINK:
8) Make your CV stand out. Clear, well-structured and easy to read.
9) Check spelling and grammar. Multiple times!
10) Ensure your LinkedIn profile is up to date and active.
11) Don’t undersell your experience. Hospitality, retail, sport, societies - think transferable skills.
12) Endeavour to let your personality come through in your CV or cover letter.
13) Unashamedly sell yourself! This is not the time to be overly modest, demure or quiet as a mouse.
14) Understand that a CV or LinkedIn profile saying you’re desperate to get into finance is unlikely to land you a marketing interview.
IF YOU ARE SHORT-LISTED THEN CONSIDER THIS:
15) Ask questions. An interview is a two-way conversation.
16) Please don’t ghost us if you apply. We assume interest unless told otherwise.
17) Don’t stalk the team via email, WhatsApp or LinkedIn if you’re not shortlisted.
18) Don’t lie about academic results. It will come out.
19) Prepare for the interview; think about what we could ask you and what you want to ask us!
UNDERSTAND THESE REALITIES:
19) Accept that marketing internships are grass-roots roles that provide broad foundational experience.
20) Candidates with prior work experience (especially marketing) will naturally sit higher in the candidate shortlist.
21) Don’t take it personally if you’re not shortlisted or don’t get the job. One role. Hundreds of applicants.
22) Take feedback as learning and not a character assassination.
23) Don’t burn bridges. Opportunities often come up for second or third position candidates.
24) And finally… don’t give up. There is a job out there for you. BUT, understand that finding a job is a full-time job!
Internships matter and we proudly support talent at the grassroots. Over the years we have kick-started the careers of lots of amazing individuals!
If you’re applying, good luck!
To our intern to be - WE CAN'T WAIT TO MEET YOU!
Letty x