Work Experience

We offer unpaid work experience placements to people aged 15-18 who are interested in natural history, science education, or libraries and archives. Placements will last for one week, in which time candidates will visit all departments of the Society—Engagement, Collections, and Operations—to get an overview of our work.

Placements are unpaid, as an opportunity to learn more about the world of work. If you are over 18 and interested in joining our team as a staff member or volunteer, keep an eye on our vacancies page.

We’re a small team, and placements are limited to four per year. They take place in two periods—from May to July, and September to December—with a maximum of two placements in each period. The precise dates of each placement are flexible, and will be confirmed with successful candidates. We sadly cannot accept placements between January and April.

If you’re interested in a placement, please complete the application form, including a short personal statement (maximum 200 words) saying why you would like to work with the Linnean Society. In your personal statement, please describe your interest in biology and natural history, science education, or library and archives work, and what you would like to get out of a placement with us. You can also submit your personal statement as a video, to be no longer than 2 minutes.

The closing dates for applications are:

  • 31 March for placements in May to July
  • 30 July for placements in September to December.

Applicants will be informed of the decision within two weeks of the closing date.

If you have any questions concerning work placements with us, please email learning@linnean.org.

Apply for our May-July placements

Safeguarding

The Linnean Society is committed to safeguarding the welfare and wellbeing of our participants to help achieve the best possible outcomes and to protect their right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. Our policy covers under 18s and vulnerable adults.

As such, this scheme puts two protective elements in place:

  1. Work experience applicants must provide a contact email for a parent or guardian. They will receive an email from us outlining your involvement and ask whether we may use your photo in publicity materials. You can give the contact email of a teacher, but they will not be able to sign off on the use of photos.
  2. Work experience students must not have 1-1 meetings alone with staff members. There will always be a second staff member present in any meeting.


Visit our safeguarding page for more information about our policy and contacts.