Career Services

Shape Your Career with Sotheby’s Institute

The Sotheby’s Institute of Art Career Services office provides all Master’s degree students with customized services and professional development support, working closely with employers and alumni for internship and job opportunities.

As you embark on this exciting phase of your academic and professional journey, we are thrilled to welcome you to Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London and New York. You will soon be part of a prestigious global network known for its excellence in arts education and professional development. The Careers Service is here to help you identify, pursue, and achieve your future career goals.

Embarking on a Master’s degree is about more than enhancing your future employability. It’s an opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich cultural hubs of London and New York City to build a foundation of knowledge and expertise that will set you apart in a competitive job market.

The Careers Service is dedicated to helping you turn your academic achievements and experiential learning into professional success. We offer a range of services designed to support you at each stage of your journey:

Our tailored career guidance, available across both campuses, is designed to empower you with the skills, strategies, and insights needed to succeed in the highly competitive art and luxury markets. From the moment you join the Institute, Career Advisors work closely with you to understand your individual goals, interests, and strengths. This personalized approach includes one-on-one custom career counseling across all MA programs, enabling you to develop a strategic career roadmap.

Working with our industry partners and global alumni, we facilitate year-round hands-on work opportunities within the art and luxury worlds, providing a talent pipeline for the industry. In New York, the Professional Practices course offers internship and mentorship tracks, with Career Services providing job support, exclusive listings, and networking. In London, the MA Work Placement Elective provides competitive industry placements, with over 95% secured through London Career Services.

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Our MA programs provide unmatched networking opportunities, connecting students with industry leaders, alumni, and employers who shape the global art and luxury worlds. Through intimate events tailored to each program—such as saleroom and gallery visits, Careers in Conversations, and larger panel events and speed networking with alumni—you’ll gain firsthand insights from accomplished graduates and build meaningful relationships with professionals across the creative industries.

Taking place across both campuses, the annual Sotheby’s Institute of Art Careers Fairs are key events in the academic calendar. Attended by hiring managers from many of the most competitive organizations in the art and luxury worlds, including Sotheby’s Auction House, the fairs provide students with direct access to top industry employers.

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Enjoy lifelong access to 350+ specialist industry employers from the art and luxury worlds through the Sotheby’s Institute jobs board, featuring 50+ job postings per month. From internships to director-level roles, this exclusive resource connects you with prestigious opportunities worldwide.

The Enterprise Studio is dedicated to fostering the next generation of innovators in the art and creative industries. Designed to provide unparalleled support, it offers students and alumni access to workshops, one-on-one mentoring with industry leaders, and a vibrant community of like-minded entrepreneurs.

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Success in Numbers
98%

Employed within one year

92%

Working in the arts and luxury markets

20%

Promoted within one year

1:90

Career advisor-to-student ratio globally

*Results based on survey responses from 2023

Making the Most of Our Expertise

Personalized 1 to 1 Career Counselling:

Whether you need help refining your career goals, preparing your resume, or strategizing for interviews, we are here to provide tailored advice and support.

Workshops and Events:

We host workshops on career skills, alongside networking events where you can connect with industry professionals, alumni and potential employers.

Sotheby’s Institute Community:

Our strong ties with industry give you access to internships, job opportunities and current trends shared on a closed Sotheby’s Institute jobs board.

Alumni Network:

Upon graduating you join a global network of alumni who have successfully navigated their careers post-graduation.

Career Services

The Sotheby’s Institute of Art Career Services office provides all of our master's degree students with customized services and professional development support and works closely with employers seeking students and alumni for internship and job opportunities. As you embark on this exciting next phase of your academic and professional journey, we are thrilled to welcome you to Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London and New York. You will soon be part of a prestigious global network known for its excellence in arts education and professional development. The Careers Service is here to help you identify, pursue and achieve your future career goals.

Why Your MA Studies Matter

Embarking on a master's is about more than enhancing your future employability. It’s an opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich cultural hubs of London and New York City, to build a firm foundation of knowledge and expertise that will set you apart in a competitive jobs market. At the Institute, you’ll engage with academic experts, industry leaders and a curriculum designed to challenge you. Leaning into your studies is not only crucial for the knowledge you’ll gain, but also for the intellectual and professional growth you’ll experience. The more you invest in your studies, the more prepared you’ll be to navigate and succeed in the complex and ever-evolving art and luxury worlds.

Employers Of Recent Graduates

Top Tips For Your Success

Prioritize Your Studies:

Your academic work is the foundation of your future career success. Attend your lectures, complete your coursework and seek out opportunities to apply your learning in practical settings.

Engage Early with the Careers Service:

Don’t wait until graduation to think about your career. Sign up to the Sotheby's Institute Jobs Board and all careers resources in the first semester to build a strong career plan.

Gain Hands-On Work Experience:

Internships, part-time roles and volunteer work are invaluable for building your CV/resume and gaining insights into your chosen field. Consider applying for the MA Work Placement Elective (London) and Professional Practices (New York).

Network with Commitment:

Make the most of all the extra-curricular events at Sotheby's Institute of Art. Building relationships now can open doors to opportunities in the future. Visiting lecturers and speakers will remember you and any appreciative follow up.

Engage with Your Peers:

Your fellow students will not only become your friends, but also your colleagues, mentors and professional network. Don’t be shy getting to know one another, and sharing notes on exciting openings, art world events and experiences in these two vibrant cities.

Be Adaptable and Robust:

The art and luxury worlds are constantly evolving. Try to remain open to exploring emerging trends that align best with your skills and be prepared to navigate a challenging hiring space with some potential disappointments along the way.

Real-World Experience

When Carmen Hu enrolled in the MA Art Business program at Sotheby’s Institute, she was eager to delve into the inner workings of the art market and shape her future in the field. Today, as a key figure at Waddington Custot, Hu has come full circle—offering current students the same kind of hands-on opportunities that once helped shape her own career path.

"My work placement was a turning point. It gave me the chance to step into the day-to-day reality of the art world and engage directly with people who had shaped the field. It gave me clarity about the kind of environment I wanted to work in, and the pace and challenges I felt most engaged by. Wanting to support current students came quite naturally after that."—Carmen Hu ’24

Alumni Spotlight

Matt Carey-Williams Discusses Being Driven by the ‘Yes’

After three decades of working at the world’s top galleries and auction houses, MA Contemporary Art alumnus Matt Carey-Williams is pursuing a personal curatorial project—an eponymous gallery in London with the aim of bridging the gap between artists and global audiences.

Alumni Spotlight

Laura Peh on Cross-Cultural Learning

After graduating from the MA Art Business program at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, alumna Laura Peh created Cinnamon Art Stories, a unique publishing house dedicated to non-fiction children’s books which specialize in culture, sustainability, and technology.

Resources

For Students

Sotheby’s Institute of Art Career Services works with MA students to formulate career goals and develop tools and strategies to position themselves for target art market opportunities.

Services include:

  • One-on-one confidential and impartial sessions with our experienced Career Advisors customized to meet each student’s individualized needs
  • Opportunities to network with our global alumni population through Alumni Panels, Alumni-Student Networking Events, and Employer Roundtables & Career Fairs.
  • Access to job boards with internship and job opportunities from a global network of art world employers.

For Alumni 

Please visit the SIA Jobs Board and contact alumni@sothebysinstitute.com with any questions. 

For Employers 

If you are interested in sharing an internship or job opportunity, please create an account on our SIA Jobs Board or contact our Career Services team at careers@sothebysinstitute.com. 

Career Directors

Hillary Burchfield

Director of Career Services, New York

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Diana Ewer

Head of Career Services, London

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