Last updated: August 2026
Unum Group is a Fortune 500 benefits company (NYSE: UNM) that covers 39 million people globally, and its internship program is one of the more quietly generous ones in insurance: 10-week paid summers with a sign-on bonus, plus a year-round Scholars track paying $33k–$52k annually for part-time work. For the 2027–2028 cycle, the Sales track for summer 2027 is already open (as of August 2026), and other pathways in Actuarial, IT, and Finance are expected to post between September and November 2026. Rolling admissions, no published deadline, and a hybrid model out of Chattanooga, Portland, or Baton Rouge mean timing and location flexibility are real.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Where to apply | jobs.unum.com careers portal, filter by "Intern" or "Scholar" |
| Application window (2027) | Sales for Summer 2027 open NOW (Aug 2026); Actuarial, IT, Finance expected Sep–Nov 2026 |
| Rolling? | Yes. No published deadline; positions fill on a rolling basis |
| Eligibility | Enrolled undergraduate or graduate student; 3.0 GPA for Scholars; competitive GPA for summer |
| Duration | Summer: 10 weeks full-time; Scholars: year-round, 15–28 hrs/week, 9-month minimum |
| Compensation | Summer estimated ~$25–$30/hr + sign-on bonus; Scholars $33,200–$52,000/yr (part-time, per Workday) |
| Return offers | Strong pathway to post-graduation employment (no published rate); multiple testimonials of intern-to-director conversions |
| Locations | Chattanooga TN (HQ), Portland ME, Baton Rouge LA, Columbia SC, Atlanta GA; Summer 2027 Sales in Chicago, Dallas, Phoenix |
| Programs | Summer Internship (Sales, Actuarial, IT, Finance) + Year-Round Scholars Program + post-grad PDP, ADP, AFDP |
The headline numbers: summer interns earn an estimated $25–$30/hr plus a sign-on bonus, Scholars earn $33k–$52k/yr part-time, and the Sales track is open now with other tracks expected by November 2026.
Externships are short, remote professional experience programs where you finish a real project with a real company. The Yinan Zhao Investing & Financial Modeling Externship and the HP Tech Ventures Deal Sourcing Externship build exactly the financial analysis and strategic thinking evidence a fall application needs. Explore all Externships.
What Is an Unum Group Internship?
A Unum Group internship is a paid placement at one of the largest employee-benefits companies in the world, a Fortune 500 insurer founded in 1848 that today provides disability, life, accident, and supplemental insurance under the Unum, Colonial Life, and Unum International brands. Summer interns spend 10 weeks embedded in Sales, Actuarial, IT, or Finance teams at Unum offices, while year-round Scholars work 15–28 hours per week for a minimum of nine months. Glassdoor puts the company at 3.4/5 with 56% recommending and a 69% positive interview experience, and Unum has earned Ethisphere's World's Most Ethical Companies designation alongside TIME World's Best Companies and Fortune Most Innovative recognition.
When Do Unum Group Internship Applications Open for 2027–2028?
Unum's calendar is rolling and relatively fast: the Sales track for summer 2027 opened in August 2026, with Actuarial, IT, and Finance expected to follow by November 2026. There is no published deadline for any track; positions fill as qualified candidates are identified. The interview process typically takes 2–4 weeks from application to decision, and the whole funnel, including an online assessment or pre-recorded video, recruiter call, and hiring-team interviews, moves briskly by insurance-industry standards. For Scholars, positions open throughout the year with a nine-month minimum commitment.
Summer 2027 Sales internship applications are OPEN. Other tracks (Actuarial, IT, Finance) are expected within weeks. This is the proof-building window: what is on your resume when you hit submit determines whether a rolling review reaches you.
Actuarial, IT, and Finance summer 2027 tracks are expected to open here. Rolling review means early applicants face less competition. Apply within the first two weeks of each posting going live.
Interview rounds for summer 2027: online assessment or pre-recorded video, recruiter phone screen (30–45 min), then hiring-team interviews. Some tracks include an Assessment Day. Typical turnaround is 2–4 weeks.
10-week paid internship begins. Hybrid model across Chattanooga, Portland, Baton Rouge, or satellite offices. Sales interns may be placed in Chicago, Dallas, or Phoenix. Sign-on bonus paid at start.
Return-offer decisions and post-grad program pipelines: PDP (3–4 years general), ADP (actuarial, 300 hrs study/yr), and AFDP. Multiple past interns have converted to director-level roles over time.
How to read this page: our dates come from tracking previous recruiting cycles and daily posting data. Treat them as informed estimates based on historical patterns, not confirmed dates. The company's official careers page is always the most current source. If a role is posted there, go by that, even if this page suggests the window hasn't opened yet.
Why You Must Apply the Week Applications Open
Unum runs rolling admissions with no published deadline, which sounds relaxed until you realize it means the class fills while the posting is still live. The Sales track for summer 2027 is already open as of August 2026, with other tracks expected by November. A Chattanooga Reddit thread confirms that applicants receive self-paced video interview invitations almost immediately after applying, which tells you the pipeline moves fast once you are in it. Rolling plus fast turnaround means the earlier you apply, the more seats remain open. Waiting until December to polish your resume means competing for whatever spots the early movers left behind.
Which Unum Group Internship Programs Should You Target?
Unum offers two internship tracks (summer and year-round) plus three post-graduation development programs that serve as the primary full-time pipeline from intern to employee.
| Program | Focus | Duration | Key details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Internship — Sales | Insurance sales, client relationships, go-to-market strategy | 10 weeks (full-time) | Chicago, Dallas, Phoenix; sign-on bonus; open NOW |
| Summer Internship — Actuarial | Pricing, reserving, risk modeling | 10 weeks (full-time) | Chattanooga or Portland; exam support expected |
| Summer Internship — IT | Software engineering, data engineering, cybersecurity | 10 weeks (full-time) | Chattanooga HQ; hybrid model |
| Summer Internship — Finance | Financial analysis, accounting, FP&A | 10 weeks (full-time) | Chattanooga HQ; hybrid model |
| Scholars Program | Year-round part-time across multiple functions | 9+ months, 15–28 hrs/wk | $33,200–$52,000/yr; 3.0 GPA required |
| PDP / ADP / AFDP (post-grad) | Professional, Actuarial, and Financial development rotations | 3–4 years | Pipeline from intern to full-time; ADP offers 300 hrs/yr study time |
The Scholars track is particularly notable for students who want extended experience without committing to a single summer: nine months of continuous work at near-entry-level pay, feeding directly into the post-grad programs.
What Are the Eligibility Requirements?
Requirements vary slightly between the summer and Scholars tracks:
• Enrollment: current undergraduate or graduate student. Summer interns must return to coursework after the placement; Scholars must maintain enrollment throughout the nine-month minimum.
• GPA: 3.0 required for the Scholars Program (stated on Workday postings). Summer tracks ask for a "competitive GPA" with no specific floor published.
• Availability: summer is 10 weeks full-time on a hybrid schedule. Scholars is 15–28 hours per week year-round, minimum 9 months.
• Location: most roles are hybrid out of Chattanooga TN, Portland ME, or Baton Rouge LA. Summer 2027 Sales places interns in Chicago, Dallas, or Phoenix.
Does Unum Have a Hard GPA Cutoff?
Only the Scholars Program publishes a specific number: 3.0. The summer internship postings say "competitive GPA" without defining a floor, which in practice means a 3.0 is safe and anything above 2.8 is likely still in range if your experience is strong. What actually gates most candidates is timing (rolling fill) and location fit (hybrid means you need to be near an office). International students should check individual postings for sponsorship language, as Unum has not published a blanket policy.
What Skills Does Unum Group Look For, and How Do You Build Them?
Unum's internship postings across Sales, Actuarial, IT, and Finance reveal a consistent theme: this is a company that values analytical rigor combined with interpersonal polish. Insurance is a relationship business built on quantitative foundations, and the skill mix reflects that. Communication and relationship building appear across all tracks, while technical demands split by function: actuarial wants exam progress and statistical modeling, IT wants programming and data skills, Finance wants Excel and reporting, and Sales wants persuasion and client management.
What Unum Group looks for in interns
Skills across 4 Unum Group intern & analyst job descriptions · 2026-cycle internship JDs across Sales, Actuarial, IT, Finance tracks
Method: analysis of Unum Group 2026-cycle internship postings across Sales, Actuarial, IT, and Finance tracks. Prior-cycle basis; counts skew toward soft skills shared across all pathways.
How Is Demand for Insurance & Finance Interns Moving Right Now?
Insurance & finance intern hiring: August 2026
Across US insurance and finance intern postings tracked this month · aggregate market data, all employers
August 2026 shows earlier-than-typical posting for summer 2027 insurance internships. The signal: companies like Unum are competing harder for early talent, which benefits prepared applicants who move fast.
Method: aggregate analysis of US insurance and finance intern postings, August 2026. Figures show direction and relative level, not total market share.
Build These Skills Before You Apply
And every skill in the chart maps to a remote Externship where you finish a real company project before the rolling window fills.
| Skill (from real JDs) | JD evidence | Externship that builds it |
|---|---|---|
| Financial analysis & modeling | Finance track: financial reporting, FP&A, Excel modeling | Yinan Zhao Investing & Financial Modeling |
| Strategic thinking & operations | Sales & cross-functional tracks: go-to-market strategy, client management, process optimization | Amazon Fulfillment Center Operational Strategy |
| Data visualization & reporting | IT and Actuarial tracks: data analysis, reporting, dashboard creation | Center for Improving Youth Justice Data Visualization |
How close is the overlap? The Yinan Zhao deliverable is financial modeling work in the Finance posting's own vocabulary, and the client-ready analysis all three Externships end on is the "communication and relationship building" line item every Unum track shares.
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What Is the Unum Group Application and Interview Process Like?
Unum's interview funnel is structured but fast, typically 2–4 weeks from application to decision:
1. Apply at jobs.unum.com with a resume and application questions. Filter by "Intern" or "Scholar" to find open tracks. No cover letter is required for most postings.
2. Online assessment or pre-recorded video interview. Reddit reports confirm that a self-paced video invitation arrives almost immediately after applying. This is a behavioral and motivational screen, not a technical test.
3. Recruiter phone screen (30–45 minutes). A conversation confirming the role, your availability, location preferences, and basic qualifications line up.
4. Hiring-team interviews. One or two rounds with the team you would join, STAR-format behavioral questions about teamwork, problem solving, and motivation. Some tracks include an Assessment Day with group exercises.
5. Offer. Glassdoor rates Unum interview difficulty at 3.0/5 with 69% positive experiences. The 2–4 week turnaround means you can hear back before most competitors even finish applying.
The pre-recorded video is the most distinctive element: it arrives fast and lets you complete it on your own schedule, but that immediacy also means procrastinating costs you position in the rolling queue. Practice your STAR stories before you apply so the video is ready same-day.
What Students on Reddit Say
Three threads show what the Unum experience actually looks like from the inside.
I received a self-paced video interview invitation almost immediately after submitting my application. It moved faster than I expected for an insurance company.
Unum is a great place to work. Some roles can be stressful depending on the department, but many are very manageable with good work-life balance.
In the Actuarial Development Program you rotate every 18 months and get up to 300 hours per year of paid study time for exams. It is genuinely supportive.
How Do You Stand Out When Rolling Admissions Means First-Come, First-Reviewed?
Three moves, all executable right now. First, apply the week a track opens; rolling review with no deadline means timing itself is a filter, and the Sales track is live today. Second, show quantitative plus interpersonal evidence: Unum is an insurance company that sells through relationships, so a resume line proving you can both analyze data and communicate findings to non-technical people hits both sides of their JD. Third, record your pre-recorded video the same day you apply. Reddit confirms it arrives immediately, and completing it fast keeps you at the front of the queue. The post-grad pipeline (PDP, ADP) means they are evaluating you as a potential three-year employee, not just a summer project. Interview accordingly.
What Other Companies Should You Consider?
Unum's peer set includes large employee-benefits insurers and supplemental-coverage specialists with similar intern structures.
- MetLifeGlobal life and employee-benefits giant with larger international footprint and structured intern programsCareers site
- AflacSupplemental insurance specialist with intern program in Columbus GA and strong brand recognitionCareers site
- Lincoln Financial GroupLife, annuity, and retirement provider with actuarial intern tracksCareers site
- Principal FinancialRetirement, asset management, and insurance with structured intern programs in Des MoinesCareers site
- CignaHealth services and insurance with a structured 11-week actuarial internshipCareers site
Our finance internships summer 2027 guide maps the full landscape, timeline by timeline.
FAQ
Is the Unum summer 2027 internship open yet?
Yes, partially. The Sales track for summer 2027 is open as of August 2026. Other tracks including Actuarial, IT, and Finance are expected to open between September and November 2026. Check jobs.unum.com and filter by "Intern" regularly.
How much does a Unum internship pay?
Summer interns earn an estimated $25 to $30 per hour plus a sign-on bonus (amount not published). Year-round Scholars earn $33,200 to $52,000 annually for part-time work of 15 to 28 hours per week, per Workday postings.
Does Unum require a minimum GPA?
The Scholars Program requires a 3.0. Summer internship postings say "competitive GPA" without publishing a specific floor. In practice, strong extracurriculars and relevant experience can offset a GPA slightly below 3.0 for summer tracks.
What is the Unum internship interview process?
An online application followed by a self-paced video interview (arrives almost immediately), a 30 to 45 minute recruiter phone screen, and one or two hiring-team interviews. Some tracks add an Assessment Day. Total timeline is typically 2 to 4 weeks.
Does Unum offer return offers to interns?
Unum describes its programs as a "strong pathway to post-graduation employment" but publishes no specific conversion rate. Multiple former interns have publicly shared conversions into full-time roles, and the PDP, ADP, and AFDP programs serve as structured pipelines.
Where are Unum internships located?
Most roles are hybrid out of Chattanooga Tennessee (headquarters), Portland Maine, or Baton Rouge Louisiana. Summer 2027 Sales interns may also be placed in Chicago, Dallas, or Phoenix. Columbia South Carolina and Atlanta Georgia host some positions.
What is the Unum Scholars Program?
A year-round, part-time internship requiring a minimum nine-month commitment at 15 to 28 hours per week. It pays $33,200 to $52,000 annually, requires a 3.0 GPA, and feeds directly into Unum's post-graduation development programs.
What skills does Unum look for in interns?
Across all tracks: communication and relationship building, analytical problem solving, data analysis, and adaptability. Track-specific additions include actuarial exam progress for Actuarial, programming for IT, Excel modeling for Finance, and persuasion for Sales.
The Sales track is open now and other tracks are weeks away. Rolling admissions means the earlier you apply, the more seats are available. Spend the runway building proof: a remote Externship turns "interested in insurance and finance" into a finished project a fall application can point at.
About the Author
Bifei Wang has spent 17 years focused on human flow and the growth of young professionals, spanning international education, career training and coaching, and recruitment process outsourcing. Over 7 years at Extern, he has had one-on-one sessions with thousands of students exploring careers in consulting, finance, tech, marketing, and data, giving him a firsthand view of how the job market has shifted for early-career professionals and what it actually takes to break in.
