Enterprise Sales Analyst - Travel and Transport Review

I've had an unforgettable year at IBM. I've met people that I will never forget and also, people who I will use as assets to know for years to come. My year has been fully enjoyable, learning about an international corporation, how general businesses work and also a large amount of skills that I would not have had otherwise.

I work in a team of 10, every one of them treat me with the upmost respect and as an essential part of the unit. It's rare throughout IBM that you will be treated as just a "placement student". This information if not openly available so for anyone to find out, you'd need to be the one that tells them.

As a placement student, I have two managers. An Early Professional Manager (EPM) and a Task Manager. Your EPM is there to help you through the year, direct you to the right people and help you with any problems or questions that you would otherwise have. Your task manager is your everyday manager. They will assist you with all you business needs, help you improve and also guide you to be the best you can.

Personally, I was busy 4 days out of 5. However, the free time was and is essential if you choose to use it in the right way. The day or two that you have free, you should do extra learning, go and see clients, help out at recruitment events or shadow roles that you are aspiring to work in. Personally, although I have done a vast amount of above, I chose to learn to code. I can now speak/code several different languages.

Every placement student I have spoken to at IBM have an essential role. My responsibilities have grown throughout the year. I now run the finances for my unit, assist and gather information on clients and deals, analyse the information that I have been given to and therefore assist my manager.

I'm currently doing a Sales analyst position at IBM, and studying for accounting and finance. Although this role isn't exactly what i'm studying, I have learnt skills that I won't only need for my final year. I will be able to use them for years to come. Whether it be punctuation, business etiquette or just business know how.

My office is fairly laid back, business dress but you are left to do what you want as long as your work is completed. through my year, I sat with 8 other placement students and there was never a dull moment. It's a fairly large office which meant that there was always someone there to say hello to and have a catch up with.

In terms of set up, It was fairly impeccable. We had two days of training at the beginning of the year down in Portsmouth which got us set up on our computers and introduced us nicely to the company, I then started at my office on the monday after and was given a week or two with the previous placement student to allow me to learn my day-to-day tasks.

There wasn't much training and development that was essential, but you're free to do as much training as you want online as it is all open. Like I previously said, Throughout my year I learnt to code in: HTML, Javascript, Python and Terminal. Along side all of the tools and systems that I learnt to use.

Vast, although it's rare to be given a job at the end of the placement (although it does happen). You're given a must higher chance of getting into the grad scheme. This depends on how well you "wowed" the right people throughout the year though.

Yes, I worked in southbank (London) where there was a large social scene. Being the vast amount of placement students and colleagues that worked in my office, if you wanted to, you could go out and socialise every night.

Central London is never cheap, you are paid good money so you should be able to afford at least one beer a week ;). Thursday is the student night and you get discount in some of the local food vendors and pubs/bars.

Good, it's hard to have a dull night in London when you're surrounded by some of the best clubs and bars in the country. As I said before, you get discounts in some of the bars, restaurants and clubs surround Southbank.

Yes, Through my year I assisted in recruitment and mock assessment centres at my University, there's a chance to work at Wimbledon at the end of your year, with other opportunities to do various different activities.