Security Business Development Analyst Review

I very much enjoyed my placement year with IBM. It is a very respected company so you can be proud to work there! IBM also offer all of their 'Foundation' employees a year full with different experience and learning. Unlike a lot of companies, IBM treat placement students like equals, with no discrimination when it comes to going to meetings. And you aren't made to make coffee either!

I felt very valued by my colleagues, as they saw value in having me work with them. If you show that you can help your colleagues and be of use to them, 'IBMers' will give you the respect that you deserve. This also means that you can be put forward for additional opportunities outside of your immediate role, as the company arre interested in the career progression of their interns.

My manager was exceptionally good with giving support. During my time with IBM, I was given two managers, my Line Manager, and my Early Professionals Manager. My Line Manager made sure that I got experience from different areas of the business, to ensure that I gained as much experience from my placement year as possible. He also helped me with the work that I had to do for my placement, such as my placement journal, final presentation, and application form back to IBM. My Early Professionals Manager was always available to discuss my future with IBM, and regularly sent emails as a reminder of how he could help.

My schedule would vary from day to day, week to week, and quarter to quarter. This is because my jobs would come from my team, and at times where my team were on annual leave etc. my days would be less busy. Having changed roles halfway through my year, this changed my working pattern slightly. It also meant that I had about a month with no role, and therefore no daily routine. Because of this, I would assist other interns in tasks, to ease their workload. For the most part of the year, I would have the majority of my day booked up with tasks to complete. I definitely saw a rise in workload once I moved over to IBM Security, and could offer my help with the team there.

I was given a fair amount of responsibility during my placement year with IBM. During my first 6 months, I was invited to go out to client sites and assist in the arranging of client meetings. Then during my second 6 months, I was asked to complete work that would be used by a team to make sure that processes were completed correctly, to make sure that our records were correct when we were being audited. Working at events also has a level of responsibility, as you are the first impression of IBM that the clients will receive. Being able to do these things shows that IBM trust you to be professional at all times.

The education that I have been given this year along with the real-life insight that I have gained by working with IBM, will really help me with my final year at Uni and jobs in the future. IBM topics have expanded my thought for my dissertation into a technological field, and I now feel like I have the knowledge and contacts to complete an interesting piece of work around technology.

The atmosphere at IBM South Bank is great. The office is large, with the majority of placement students being situated here. You are able to catch up with people in the building, or meet by South Bank's many restaurants and bars. As you share desk areas with other IBM employees, you aren't cast away from people and can always find someone to talk to! People in the office are generally friendly and up for a chat. It's also a great way to find someone to shadow and gain experience from. As many IBM employees came into the company as Interns or Graduates, they understand what it is like and are happy to help you with anything!

The IBM placement is one of the best organised placements out there. They have a whole 'Foundation' team set up to help Apprentices, Gap year students, Interns and Graduates during their time with the company. This means that you are offered help and guidance from the team whenever you need it. They also set up events to teach you about what IBM can offer you, and round table meetings to increase your overall learning.

IBM offers a large amount of learning to their placement students. As well as their 'Think Academy' portal that they offer to all employees, they arrange training sessions during lunch times for everything from presentations to computer coding. They are also always open to ideas and will try to find someone within the business to conduct learning sessions.

IBM try to recruit half interns and half non interns onto their Graduate Scheme. This is therefore encouraging that I will be able to get onto one of the Graduate Schemes that they offer. If not, the fact that I have done a placement year with the company should help me if I were to apply for a job with IBM in the future. All of the learning that I have gained throughout the year should help me also!

The social scene is very good in London with IBM students, as there are multiple places to go nearby! The busiest night of the week is Thursdays, when a lot of the interns will go to the Understudy next to the office, then across the river to Walkabout. Although, there is a huge dip in the popularity of this as the weather changes into the winter months! As the pub 'The Understudy' is right next door to the office, a few last minute 'team drinks' tend to get arranged with colleagues on other nights of the week.

As I was based in London, the cost of living was pretty high. If you aren't used to London prices then it will be a shock, but the pay that you are given for working in London accounts for this, making it easier to afford the London lifestyle!

Again, being in London, you can rely on bars and clubs always being busy. South Bank is close to different areas of the city where good clubs are situated, meaning that you are never short of places to go!

IBM does offer sports clubs that you can participate in during the year. There are multiple pages within IBM Communities where you can find out about what the company has to offer.