ABOUT SOTHEBY'S

Established in 1744, Sotheby’s is the world’s premier destination for art and luxury. Sotheby’s promotes access to and ownership of exceptional art and luxury objects through auctions and buy-now channels including private sales, e-commerce and retail. Our trusted global marketplace is supported by an industry-leading technology platform and a network of specialists spanning 40 countries and 70 categories which include Contemporary Art, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewelry, Watches, Wine and Spirits, and Design, as well as collectible cars and real estate. Sotheby’s believes in the transformative power of art and culture and is committed to making our industries more inclusive, sustainable and collaborative.

Sotheby’s, the oldest and largest internationally recognised firm of fine art auctioneers in the world, has been uniting collectors with world-class works of art since 1744.

We will be looking for exceptional candidates at graduate-level or equivalent to participate in our unique 14-week paid Internship Programme this Autumn.

The objective of the Sotheby’s Internship Programme is to provide practical training experience to candidates interested in pursuing a career in the auction world. Placements are available across both Specialist and Business areas at Sotheby’s.

Interns will be assigned a department based on their academic interests and professional goals, and will work under the supervision of a designated staff member. Over the course of the autumn auction season, our interns will have the opportunity to learn about the inner workings of a renowned auction house, see great rarities and works of art, and discover potential industry careers. Interns will also attend seminars led by senior staff members on a regular basis and will be assigned a group project to present to a panel of programme sponsors during the final week of the internship.

Our Autumn 2025 Internship Programme will run from Monday 8th September 2025 - Friday 12th December 2025.

Candidate Profile

A curiosity and passion for learning
Teamwork experience
A positive attitude and self-motivation
Strong interpersonal skills
A strong academic record

Eligibility Requirements

Candidates must be graduate level or equivalent
Must be able to commit to the entirety of the 14-week program, Monday – Friday, 9am - 5pm
Candidates must be authorised to work in the United Kingdom without visa sponsorship

Deadline

Applications for our internship will be open from 12pm UK Time on Tuesday 6th May 2025 and close at 12pm UK Time on Thursday 22nd May 2025.
Incomplete or unsubmitted applications will not be considered.
Once your application has been submitted, please note you may not receive any communication in response to your application until 20th June 2025.

Departments

Please use the list below to indicate in your application up to 3 departments (in order of preference) your areas of interest for the autumn internship. Sotheby’s will strive to match each candidate with an appropriate department based on interest and background. We cannot guarantee you will be placed in the department of your choosing and not all departments offer internships every programme cycle.

Client Strategy
Marketing
Books & Manuscripts
Contemporary Art
Communications/Press
Impressionist & Modern Art
Indian Modern and Contemporary
Decorative Art
Jewellery
Legal
Old Master Paintings
Watches
Regional Art and Objects

To view our Candidate Privacy Notice for the US, please click here.

To view our Candidate Privacy Notice for the UK, Hong Kong, France and Switzerland, please click here.

The Company is an equal opportunity employer and considers all applicants for employment without regard to race (including, without limitation, traits historically associated with race, such as natural hair, hair texture, and protective and treated or untreated hairstyles), color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership/union status, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic predisposition, genetic information, reproductive health decision, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, alienage or citizenship status, domestic violence victim status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/province or local law. The Company complies with applicable state and local laws prohibiting discrimination in employment in every jurisdiction in which it operates.

2025 Autumn Internship Programme

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