Student placement opportunities
Working in the public sector
We work with Kent Universities to promote one year placements and short project placements with our partners in councils and blue light organisations.
Kent IT Alliance (KITA)
KITA is an arrangement between Kent Connects and the three Kent universities to find ways to work together. One of our most successful activities is the KITA Year in Industry Placement scheme which offers students an opportunity to work for year with a Kent Connects partner organisation.
Other universities can find out more about KITA by contacting us by email.
The range of participating organisations and types of job may change from year to year. The case studies from our previous students give an indication of the types of roles which may be available.
Students may contact the Partnership Office for more information about the placement scheme.
The placement process
Every year, Kent Connects Partnership Office asks the partners if they want to employ a student. The partners send in job descriptions and we forward them to the universities. Job descriptions are made available in January but we are happy to discuss placements with students at any time of the year.
The Partnership Office and some of the current students visit the universities in January to give a presentation about the available jobs and to answer any questions from students. We encourage students to ask questions about the jobs either at the presentation or to contact us by email.
Job descriptions are sent to the universities placement teams and are available by contacting us by email.
Students are asked to produce a separate application for each job that they are applying for. Each application should include a CV and a covering letter explaining why they would be a good match for the job. We do not offer interviews to every applicant, so covering letters should focus on skills relevant to public sector organisations rather than a generic reference to the candidate’s strengths.
The CV and covering letter must be sent to enquire.kentconnects@kent.gov.uk by the closing date. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Interviews are held in March and may be face to face or online. The Partnership Office will contact all students who have applied to confirm if they have been shortlisted. Students who are shortlisted for interview will be given a topic to prepare for discussion at the interview. Students who have interviews for multiple jobs should prepare the topic for each job.
Following interviews, the interviewing managers will contact the candidates to advise them of the interview results. If students would like feedback following their interviews, they should contact the Partnership Office.
All contract arrangements are managed by the employing organisation not Kent Connects. Students who are appointed will be contacted by the interviewing manager.
Kent Connects organises two meetings during the year for the KITA students to share experiences and to support each other working on their logbooks. The meetings take place in the autumn and spring at times and locations convenient to all students.
Current students
Our Current KITA student has shared their experience of working with the Kent Connects Partnership.
Former students
The KITA Placement Scheme has hosted 32 students over 8 years. Some of our KITA students have shared their experiences of working with the Kent Connects Partnership and their work after they graduated.
Would you like to learn more?
We hold recruitment events at universities in Kent. Please contact your own university for more information or contact us directly if there isn’t an event for your campus.