2025 Summer Internship in Executive Search | Odgers Berndtson | Berwick Partners | Odgers Interim

To download the full briefing pack please click here 

About Odgers Berndtson

Odgers Berndtson is one of the world’s leading Global Executive Search firms. Our reputation for excellence and integrity has been established over 50 years and we are a partnership driven by the client, candidate, and employee experience.

We act as trusted advisors to our clients and candidates and engage with a diverse range of leaders for the most influential roles across a wide variety of industries.

The service we deliver is creative, insightful, and most importantly, in partnership; we pride ourselves on maintaining personal relationships.

At Odgers Berndtson, we are proud of our progressive, diverse, meritocratic, and collaborative culture where you will find support, training and career development working with colleagues striving for excellence in all they do.

We are UK headquartered with colleagues across 35 countries specialising in over 50 sectors and functions. We operate as 3 as different brands, Odgers Berndtson, Berwick Partners and Odgers Interim.

For full details of our organisation please visit www.odgersberndtson.com

A Summer Internship in Executive Search

Our summer internship programme is important to us. We believe in growing our talent and this means investment in you.

The summer internship is designed to give you an insight into what we do and demonstrate how rewarding a career in Executive Search can be.

Our Research roles require persistence, creativity, and a thoroughly meticulous approach; it is intellectually stimulating and immensely rewarding.

In return, you will work as part of a team within an environment that encourages the sharing of ideas and enables you to thrive.

Excellence is demanded, recognised, and rewarded.

What to expect

You will be based in our London Head Office and assigned to one of our specialist practice areas. The day-to-day aspect of the role will entail research and mapping led projects, a fundamental part of the Executive Search process.

• Conducting mapping and research – you will be given a research project, relevant to your team, which will be used for either business development or critical market insight, to complete within the five-week internship.
• Providing project administrative support on live search assignments.
• Assisting with the creation of documents and presentations.
• Shadowing our researchers, consultants, principals, or partners on live assignments.
• Attending meetings and interviews when appropriate.

What support do we offer?

• A designated workplace buddy to support you during your internship.
• Induction and a training day with an informal lunch to get to know your fellow interns.
• An excellent range of networking events and skills workshops for you to attend.
• An end of the internship feedback session.
• Potential for ongoing mentorship and opportunity for fast-track graduate application.
• Employee Assistance Programme.

What are we looking for?
At Odgers Berndtson, we have all had different journeys. We don’t measure you against these. Instead, we look for the core characteristics that connect us and make us great.

Curiosity
You have a hunger for knowledge and a genuine interest in people, current affairs, and business.

Communication
You can speak and write clearly, confidently, and concisely with a range of people, from colleagues to industry influencers, and understand that the most important part of communication is listening.

Resilience
You are not afraid to try and, if you make a mistake, you regroup, bounce back, and try again.

Collaboration
You enjoy working as part of a team, can build strong relationships, and have your own opinions but can take on other people’s too.

Proactivity
You drive your own destiny; don’t wait for things to come to you, but make things happen instead.

Applications

We conduct an inclusive selection process for our Summer Internship.

To apply, please complete a written task of no more than one page or 500 words. In the same document, include a summary of your work experience to date, detailing what you have learned from each role, whether it was a paper round or a city internship.

Upload your written task and work experience summary as a single document and please remember to add your name and surname at the top of the document.

Please note that we do not accept CVs, and educational details should not be included

Written Task

We would like you to choose a person that inspires you and tell us why. What do you think makes them so successful? What were the key moments or pivotal decisions that influenced their career? How have they influenced business or society? And what can you learn from it?

Interviews

Successful applicants will be invited to attend an interview with Sam Boon, Recruitment & Talent Manager, and Petrina Jackson, Partner, and Head of Research. All interviews will be conducted by Zoom. If you need any adjustments for any part of our process, please do let us know.

Useful Information

Finding short-term accommodation in London for your internship 

Odgers Berndtson is one of the world’s leading Global Executive Search firms. Our reputation for excellence and integrity has been established over 50 years and we are a partnership-driven by the client, candidate, and employee experience. We function as trusted advisors to our clients and candidates and engage with a diverse range of leaders for the most influential roles across a wide variety of industries. The service we deliver is creative, insightful, and most importantly, in partnership; we pride ourselves on maintaining personal relationships.

At Odgers Berndtson, we are proud of our progressive, diverse, meritocratic, and collaborative culture where you will find support, training and career development working with colleagues striving for excellence in all they do. We are UK headquartered with colleagues across 33 countries specialising in over 50 sectors and functions. 

Hybrid Working

Our Hybrid working policy is based on the principles of empowerment, mutual trust and flexibility, recognising that we work best when we make choices about when, where and how we work.  At the same time, we are reminded that time together is so important.  We are a client-service business in which our relationships and our culture provide a significant advantage. Our offices remain critical to how we work; they are a place for collaboration, learning, and support and an anchor for the culture of which we are so proud.

We operate a hybrid working model which would typically see you spending a minimum of 2-3 days working from the office and the rest remotely. We encourage our Interns to spend as much time in the office as they would like to get the most out of the experience, however, should you need a more flexible working pattern we would be happy to discuss how we can make adjustments to enable you to do your best work.

Odgers Berndtson is committed to continually improving the diversity of our workforce through the attraction, retention, and development of a diverse range of talented people. We want people to be comfortable bringing their whole selves to work and recognise that inclusion brings further opportunities for innovation and creativity.

We welcome all new employees to get involved by joining one of our Allies groups or simply being part of one of our many initiatives to help us promote Inclusion in our business. Our Inclusion & Diversity agenda is driven by our I&D Council and our Allies Programmes, and we celebrate our diversity each year with our ‘Unlimited Festival’.

As an equal opportunities’ employer, Odgers Berndtson is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination of any kind. We strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join our business, and we will support any requirements for reasonable adjustments

Sustainability

Modern businesses have a duty to be environmentally responsible and operate sustainably. We believe this represents not only sound commercial sense but also recognises our ethical responsibility to minimise the impact of our activities on the environment and to leave a positive legacy for future generations.

We have committed to, and set, science-based decarbonisation targets, and have received verification of these goals from the Science Based Targets initiative  (SBTi). These targets will hold us accountable to our sustainability strategy while enabling us to measure our progress. This is complemented by us continuing to provide sustainability insight to our clients and cultivating a track record within sustainable businesses and in placing sustainability leaders.

Corporate Social Responsibility

We take Charity seriously – but like to have fun too. Our CSR team are always thinking up new events and activities to get involved in and raise funds for our chosen charity British Heart Foundation. 

We also have a variety of social clubs and learning opportunities to suit everyone such as the Brunch and Learn Session, Odgers choir, the book club or one of the many sports clubs

Whats on offer?

A competitive base salary, supplemented by our benefits package and discretionary bonus

• 25 days Annual leave + 3 gift days for the Christmas closure + bank holidays
• Private Medical Insurance with Bupa and cash plan with Simply Health
• Group Company Pension
• Season Ticket Loan & Cycle to work scheme
• Give As You Earn
• Group Income Protection
• Group Life Assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Charity Day
• Wellbeing Programmes, support and speakers
• On-boarding, induction training and ongoing professional development
• Corporate member discounts and benefits available through Bupa and Simply Health including Gyms Discounts 

Accessibility & Adjustments

We are committed to an equitable recruitment process and ensuring everyone can access our website and application processes. Should you require access to these documents in alternative formats, need to apply in a different format or need any adjustments made for any part of the interview process please contact our Talent Team at careers@odgersberndtson.com

Eligibility

You must be eligible to live and work in the UK