The process of searching for a Year in Industry or Professional Practice placement can feel daunting. Where should you look? How do you apply? How can you maximise your chances of success?
To help you get started, we’ve developed a new programme called Kickstart: Prepare for Your Year in Industry. This 6-week programme is designed exclusively for first-year undergraduates who have a Year in Industry or Year in Professional Practice as part of their degree, to help you get started ahead of the summer vacation.
What does the Kickstart Programme involve?
Kickstart will run from 29 April to 5 June and involves a combination of skills workshops, 1-1 support from experienced Employability and Placements Advisers, and networking opportunities with employers and former placement students.
Launch Event – 29 April
The programme begins with a launch event, where you can hear from a panel of final-year Year in Industry students from Computing, Engineering, Psychology and Forensic Science. You’ll hear about how they found their placement and what they did to make themselves stand out to employers.
We’ll also have sessions on how to use LinkedIn for your placement search and tips for staying resilient during the application process.
Skills workshops
Over the following six weeks, you’ll be invited to take part in three skills workshops, each designed and delivered by the Employability and Placements Adviser for your course.
This subject-focused content will guide you through the placement journey, looking at useful sites for finding opportunities in your field, what to expect from the application process, and how to stand out to employers.
Throughout these workshops, you’ll also be supported by our Year in Industry Ambassadors, who will be on hand to share their own experiences of completing a placement last year.
Individual support
In between workshops, you’ll have access to 1-1 appointments with your school’s Employability and Placements Adviser to get individual feedback on CVs, cover letters, application answers and interview technique.
How can I apply?
Complete the online form by 5pm on 16 April. Please note that places are limited, so we will prioritise applications from students who can demonstrate they have already started thinking about their Year in Industry through their application answers.
Will there be other opportunities to get Year in Industry support?
The Kickstart Programme runs during the summer term only, as we know that the most competitive placements will open their applications in August and September, before the next academic year begins.
However, you can still access support from the Employability and Placements Team throughout the year by visiting the Uni Kent Careers Hub and booking an appointment.
What if I have questions?
If you have questions about the Kickstart Programme, your Year in Industry or any other careers topic, please contact us at careerhelp@kent.ac.uk.