Every great story starts with an opportunity.
At AAI we offer exclusive opportunities to kick-start or further your career. Our company was built on paid graduate internships, but now you're also likely to find a great permanent role with salaries up to around £35k.
There are no age limits and our criteria is simple – we’re looking to help you be the best version of you in work.
Whatever your background, we'd love to help you step up into the position you want.
All of our positions are paid and with trusted employers. Unlike traditional recruitment agencies, our team are available to contact throughout your employment for any issues you may have.
We've placed over 1600 people from all walks of life into 1000+ businesses of all sizes.
But don't take our word for it. Find out why we’re loved by jobseekers.
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Nitika Sharma, Marketing and Events Intern
Lewis McNeill, Architecture Intern
Daniella Dei, Volunteer Coordinator Intern
Olivia Pires, Scottish Government Intern
Joe Wyman, Social Media Intern
Nitika Sharma, Marketing and Events Intern at Mackay Hannah.
"It's my first time working in a practice so seeing how a practice is run has been very eye opening. It's been a really good and varied experience."
Lewis McNeill, Architecture Intern at Dress for the Weather.
"My internship provided me with the perfect opportunity to expand my skill-set straight out of university. I worked on a diverse range of projects including the exciting Host City Volunteers Programme for the Commonwealth Games. I would definitely recommend Adopt an Intern to anyone looking to kick off their career in style."
Daniella Dei, Volunteer Placement Coordinator Intern at Glasgow Museums.
"Adopt an Intern helped me find a dream placement in Government that enabled me to contribute my talents and develop new professional skills that will make me stand out in today’s competitive workforce."
Olivia Pires, Generalist Intern at The Scottish Government.
Joe Wyman, Social Media Intern at the PR Machine.
Natasha Charlton, PR and Communications Intern
Tom Forster, Logistics and Operations Intern
Serena Mariani, Marketing Intern
Daniel Jones, Commonwealth Games Legacy Intern
Laura Waddell, Literary Au Pair
"Every day as an intern is different and I feel that my input has really been valued. It was such a confidence boost to have an employer drawing on your skills and expertise without questioning your abilities… the positive feedback I have received throughout my internship has given me my drive and motivation back again."
Natasha Charlton, PR and Communications Intern at the Brunswick Group in Germany.
"This job is exactly what I was looking for, but this experience in its entirety just goes beyond everything I could have possibly expected from an internship."
Tom Forster, Logistics and Operations Intern at Rolls Royce.
"Adopt an Intern is a great programme because it gives graduates like me a big boost in these hard times. Looking for a job was a nightmare and by interning, you can learn some basics skills and make connections with people in the sector that you would like to work. What I found most important about Adopt an intern is that by being paid as an intern, I was more motivated in working with the company, resolving issues for them, working on my own initiative and develop some of my ideas to them. I would definitely recommend it to all graduates."
Serena Mariani, Marketing Intern at CPP Seminars Scotland.
"Working within the Commonwealth Games Division has given me a raft of new skills and helped me to build upon ones I had before. I know that, wherever my career path might take me after my internship is over, I will have a whole range of new skills and competencies to demonstrate to future employers.”
Daniel Jones, Commonwealth Games Legacy Intern at The Scottish Government.
"Making space in industries which can be difficult for graduates to break into is really something Adopt An Intern do very well. The experience has been invaluable as well as leaving some room for me to develop my own initiatives in the workplace, and I feel very positive that my post-degree career has begun in such a fashion. I now have a much clearer idea of my strengths and how to move forward in my chosen field."
Laura Waddell, Literary Au Pair for Sara Sheridan.
Applying for an opportunity through AAI is easy.
• Go to our current opportunities page
• Identify the role you’d like to apply for
• Read through the role description carefully
• Tailor your CV and cover letter accordingly
• Click the apply button
• Fill out some basic information
• Upload your CV and tailored cover letter
• Hit send and it’s done!
You will receive a confirmation email and be notified of the outcome of your application whether successful or not.
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Be inspired!
Browse our graduate stories of impact to get a glimpse of what an opportunity through AAI could do for you.
Further guidance needed?
Take a look at our blogs offering advice on interviews, CVs, cover letters and much more! If you’ve tried every avenue and are still struggling to find a job/internship, you may qualify for a personal mentor.
For our ladies...
Smart Works provides high-quality interview clothes, styling advice and interview training to women preparing for employment. Please contact team@aai-employability.org.uk for more information or check out our blog.
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Frequently Asked Questions VIEW ALL
1. What is an internship?
An internship is an opportunity for you to work with an employer for a fixed term (with Adopt an Intern internships this usually last between 2 and 12 months) on a specific project. Internships offer you practical experience of the industry, which not only helps you determine if you have an interest in a particular career but also gives you crucial experience for your CV. ALL of our internships are paid.
2. Who is eligible to apply?
Adopt an Intern was created to provide a pathway into graduate-level employment for underemployed and unemployed graduates. Therefore the majority of our internships are aimed at those who have not held a graduate-level position since graduation. We also welcome applications from those who are considering a career change or those finding it difficult getting a graduate-level position after a period of not working.
Due to funding restrictions, some internships are only open to graduates who have attended a Scottish school or university.
Do I have to have graduated in a particular year?
No! You could have graduated in 1979 and still apply.
I was a mature student, can I apply?
The majority of our internships do not have an age restriction. In fact, our interns have ranged from 21 to 54 years old!
3. Can I apply for more than one internship with Adopt an Intern?
You can apply for as many internships with Adopt an Intern as you are interested in. However, CVs and cover letters must be tailored to each internship as we won't accept generic applications that fail to address the requirements of the specific vacancy.
Once you have been successful in gaining an Adopt an Intern internship you can still apply but we recommend candidates complete a maximum of two internships. After this point we encourage you to put your experience into practice in a graduate-level job.
However we cannot provide repeat positions for either interns or employers on internships funded by Scottish Government. If you are wondering whether this will affect your application, please contact us to check.