How to successfully apply for a KTP Associate Job

If you have ever been in the position of searching and applying for a job, you might have asked yourself: how can I show the company advertising that I’m the right fit for the role? Regardless of the opportunity sitting within an academic, industry or a mix of both fields, you might want to show how your aptitudes and experience fit the profile the organisation is looking for when preparing your application. Including if you’re applying for a KTP Associate role.

First things first: Why apply for a KTP?

Considering we advertise several roles from a wide range of disciplines throughout the year – and the next one might be a fit for you! – we asked some of our Associates to share some advice based on their recent experiences of successfully joining the world of KTP. Before we go deep into #KTP advice, you might want to know what the benefit is of applying for a KTP Associate role. In the words of KTP Associate 余俊陞 (Joe) from the University of Aberdeen and Test Inc:

“A KTP will fast-track your career by giving you the unique opportunity to lead a high-impact project that bridges academia and business. Unlike standard graduate roles, you’ll apply academic knowledge to real-world challenges while managing project scope, stakeholder expectations, and partnerships. As the driving force of the project, you'll develop leadership, decision-making, and conflict management skills.”

Let’s get on with the application process advice!??

If you are ready to boost your career development and have now decided to apply for a KTP job that looks interesting for you, is time to follow the advice from Md Murshedul Arifeen (Dipto), KTP Associate with Harper UK and Robert Gordon University , who highly recommends following job search best practice by consciously researching the programme.?

“Tailor your application to highlight relevant skills, focusing on collaboration, innovation, and problem-solving. Include transferable skills such as project management and leadership. Show your ability to connect academic research with industry needs. Prepare for the interview by understanding the challenges faced by the host company and demonstrating how you can create significant impact through innovative solutions.”?

Have you ever noticed that phrase at the end of the job description providing a contact for informal inquiries? Well, Lewis Robertson , KTP Associate with Highland Distillers and the University of the Highlands and Islands ( UHI ), encourages taking the initiative of getting in touch and requesting all the details about the role that you really need to know! “Ask questions before applying to ensure you understand the role, this will help with the application process and any further interviews.”? Additionally, he shared some of the benefits he thinks a KTP job can provide for career advancement:??

“For anyone moving from higher education to employment in their sector of expertise for the first time, the KTP offers an excellent way to transition from academia to business processes. For anyone already established in their field the KTP offers the opportunity to try something new and funding for development you may struggle to get during typical employment.”??

Another of our KTP Associates agreed with the advice provided by both Dipto and Lewis:??

“Read the project description in the ad carefully and find out what you can about the Company and Knowledge Base. Then, show that you've prepared! Tailor your application and interview answers to fit the specific project. When invited to ask questions at interview, show genuine interest and ask something specifically related to the project and/or Company or KB.”?

Some advice to keep in mind for your new KTP job!??

Starting a new job, even when you are highly enthusiastic about it, comes with a period of learning and adjustment. That’s why we also relied on our fabulous Associates to share some advice about things they would’ve done differently to ease the adjustment process.??

Joe Yee, who works with AI/data-science as a KTP Associate, would've dedicated more time to thoroughly evaluate the business's existing data and revisiting the feasibility study. “I would also focus on facilitating seamless knowledge transfer from the business to the university, ensuring a shared understanding of the domain and processes. This approach would establish a solid knowledge base, align goals, and keep all parties on the same page.”?

For Dipto, the thing he would’ve done differently ties with the company’s culture. “I should have prioritised understanding the company’s internal processes and culture from the beginning. Spending more time building relationships with team members and stakeholders would have facilitated better collaboration.”??

Organisation was another key factor for Lewis Robertson, who highlighted the challenge of keeping everyone on the same page because of the unique environment of the KTP projects, and the importance of having clear and effective communication.??

“Ensure that you schedule regular catch ups with both your academic and business supervisors in the first few weeks/months until you get settled. Working between a business and a university may mean that you end up with a duplicate of processes where in regular employment you would normally only have one. This can take a bit of time to adjust but just requires a little extra communication and organisation from you as the KTP [Associate].”?

If you’re looking for a KTP job opportunity in the north region of Scotland, don’t forget to visit our LinkTree, where you can always find all the active recruiting opportunities with our six Knowledge Base partners and other information resources. Additionally, you can look at the nationwide live opportunities by visiting https://www.ktp-uk.org/jobs/?