Business Transformation Analyst Review

I have enjoyed working in the international environment IBM offers. Placement has provided me with opportunities to further develop the skills I have gained previously through my studies, jobs, or hobbies, and opportunities to develop completely new skills. Working at IBM has been demanding but rewarding. I enjoy the working environment and the flexibility IBM offers.

I have worked with people across the Globe, so communication with my colleagues mostly happens via email or telephone. However, my colleagues have provided me with support when needed and the feedback I have received from various team members have given me the feeling I am a valuable member of the team.

My supervisor/ manager has provided me with support and guidance when needed. Working at IBM in a global team has also taught me to become more independent and I have developed my initiative. I have worked with various managers throughout the year who have provided me with support in various tasks.

My placement had quiet start. It took time to get everything ready and set up, making sure I had all the needed software and understanding of how the organisation/ team works. I slowly gained more responsibility and daily tasks, and from time to time it has been very busy which I've enjoyed greatly. However, there has been slower periods when I have struggled to find more work.

I have been allocated daily responsibilities in reporting since September 2015 (I started early August 2016), and have had the opportunity to cover the tasks of more senior employees during their holidays/ other absence. In December 2015, I got the opportunity to start acting as a Defect Manager in a global finance project, which has given me great opportunities to learn more about project management/ defect management, as well as increased responsibility.

I have developed various skills during my placement year, including communication, time management, IT skills and many others. I believe developing my ability to work in an multicultural organisation and in a large team will be important in my future career, and becoming more professional and learning work-life-balance will allow me to make the most of my studies and career in the future.

The office I worked in was quite small, and usually quiet. Many of my colleagues preferred working from home most days, but even with fewer people in the office the atmosphere was always nice and everyone was very friendly and helpful. It was easy to integrate with the current team at the office.

We had a 2-day induction in England (I am located in Scotland), which was well-organised and I got to meet other placement students and set up my laptop. However, the beginning of my placement working was really slow and I didn't have much to do. It took a long time to understand the organisation/ team I work in.