How easy is it to get a job in a think tank?
Due to the exciting work and access to interesting and clever people, jobs in think tanks can be highly sought after – despite not always being well paid. Many think tanks are fairly small organisations with limited roles available however there is also quite a lot of churn in the sector and most think tanks also offer internships at least once a year so there are lots of opportunities to get stuck in. Smart Thinking has over 50 think tanks listed on its site and there are always new roles opening up!
What types of roles are there in think tanks?
When people think of careers in think tanks, they generally think of a research career, but that is not the only type of role on offer. You could work in communications and press (getting the message out to journalists), events (organising speakers, setting up venues and managing on-the-day issues), fundraising (raising those important donations) and operations (keeping the lights on, looking after staff and anything else that an organisation employing lots of different people with lots of visitors could need!)
Do you need PhD to work in a think tank?
The short answer is no. Think tanks are not academia and therefore don’t generally have the same entry requirements. You can be a researcher with a degree and/or masters. For some roles (where there is, for example, a strong economics requirement) you may be required to have a degree or masters in a particular subject and there will be some sector specialists who will also have PhDs. You can read our guide on how to transition from academia to think tanks here.
Where are most think tanks based?
Most UK think tanks are based in London and often in Westminster. However, there are an increasing number of think tanks based in the North of England, Scotland and Wales and a lot of London-based think tanks have some remote employees working from around the country.
How do I get a job in a think tank?
It depends on how much experience you have. If you are a student or just graduating, then the best way to secure a job is to first start with an internship. This gives you a foot in the door and both a chance to develop relevant skills but also to try and secure a permanent role at the end of it. Entry level roles in non-research functions are often open to those without direct experience. It is much easier to move around a think tank once you are already employed within it. So even if the entry level job isn’t exactly what you want to do it can still be a good first step. For more senior roles it is partly about keeping abreast of any new jobs being advertised, but also about building a good network so that when opportunities come up the people hiring think of you first!
What benefits and salary can I expect when working in a think tank?
Think tanks cannot afford to pay City-level salaries so this is not the career for you if you want to start earning a lot of money. However, while they may not offer huge salaries most think tanks put a lot of thought and attention into other ways they can reward their staff and the more senior you are the more you can negotiate your salary package.
