Financial Analyst Review

My finance placement at IBM has been both challenging and interesting which I have thoroughly enjoyed. Going to work every morning has been really easy for me, as I work within a fast-paced finance department, where my analysis can impact important business decisions. I would prefer more analysis in the role as it is very reporting-heavy, but enjoy it nevertheless.

Before I joined I was told that the best thing about working at IBM is the people. Having spent a year here now it is clear to me that the people really are awesome and easy to work with. There will always be a few individuals who may have challenging personalities, however even they value my contribution, which is encouraging to know. The atmosphere here is really positive and I hope it can continue to be this way at a time when cost-cutting is a top priority.

The management structure at IBM for interns and graduates is second to none. I have a task manager who I receive and report into on a day-to-day basis and also an EPM (Early Professionals Manager) whose sole role is to provide maintain a pastoral relationship with interns and grads. Having the EPM makes it easy to speak with and resolve issues about the relationship with your task manager; something which can affect the whole outcome/your opinion of the role if things go wrong. None of my friends on placement have a similar setup at their companies, something my university placement tutor reiterated when she visited me here.

My role involved working closely with the brand CFO which meant working past 5pm a couple of days every week. It wasn't a big issue as it is likely to be the same for graduate jobs in most companies anyway. So it's beneficial to have this real-world experience of working life. There was always enough time for breaks, although it wasn't always possible to take lunch at midday due to meetings etc. Overall the balance was just right, and more work could be requested during quiet times; which can benefit you more than you think!

I was given responsibility as soon as my handover was complete. My role involved owning chart decks, consolidating input and finding new ways of analysing and representing data. My input was only checked before major reviews, so otherwise I was fully responsible for the work I submitted and completed. This has helped me develop my analytical, ownership and numerical skills which i can take with me.

Undoubtedly the skills I have developed will benefit me for the rest of my life. They're likely to be more beneficial in future jobs than university, although my work ethic and more methodical approach to tasks should help me succeed in my final year at university. I have become a better owner of my time, improved my communication and numerical skills and also gained confidence which i can discuss in interviews and implement in future jobs. There is no doubt that a placement at IBM is worthwhile, but to make the most out of it one should be prepared to work hard, network and ask for more work or some help when necessary.

The atmosphere was good to work in. We were able to talk with colleagues whilst others worked very easily. Everyone understood the importance of communicating with those around you to boost team morale, even discussing non-work related topics during the day.

The placement had a clear structure at IBM. All placement students have to prepare for a 3, 6 and 12 month review; whereby the 12 month review includes a presentation about the overall experience to our task manager and EPM. There was a specific team organising key speaker events and training throughout the year which helps influence our future plans.

I believe the firm invests a lot into the development of placement students. There is a clear understanding that it will take a couple of months to fully master the tasks at hand and this is when the company is spending money on managers and team members training us. We are also assigned an Early Professionals Manager whose solely purpose it to support us, as well as having various events open to us with travel expense paid for.

The graduate roles at IBM offer very competitive starting salaries and all of my other colleagues on placement are applying back. Historical data shows that having completed a placement at IBM drastically improves likelihood of receiving a graduate role compared to those who haven't done a placement year with the firm.

There was a very good social scene among fellow placement students. Many shared homes together and so enjoyed nights out. I on the other hand was living at home but still participated in team outings and had the option to join others at sporting socials when possible.

I lived at home so cannot comment on this question. Although knowledge of the local area tells me that living in Portsmouth isn't as expensive as other areas in the South and there is alot to do for students.

I didn't experience the night life as I lived at home and travelled to work, however fellow placement students have informed me of many stories of nights out. Portsmouth has its student areas so there is always something to do.

There were often things to do and this made the year even better. The South of England has a wide variety of attractions on offer, places to visit, sports events and it is also not far from Europe! Many of us travelled about during our holiday with many cheap flights available from Gatwick airport.