Cloud Unit Leadership Support Review

I enjoyed my placement to the extent that I know I will not return to IBM as a graduate. Whilst it has been an amazing year for me to develop myself, personally and professionally, I had a harsh awakening that the corporate business world is not for me. That made it difficult at times to enjoy my placement but overall the good development that I experienced has lead to enjoy parts of placement.

At times I felt extremely valued and respected by my colleagues, but it was easily replaced with rudeness. This could just be a dynamic of the working business world that I am not familiar with but for a placement it can feel degrading when at the receiving end of it.

My manager was an amazing support throughout my placement - I would advise to anyone applying for a placement to have regular meetings with their manager so you can share what you want to get out of the placement so they can in turn provide guidance and support. In terms of guidance, regular meetings meant my manager was able to look at my role and think how we could improve it together.

The nature of my role meant that my role was extremely busy with many different things, no two weeks were the same for me!

In my particular role my responsibility varied week to week. Whilst I did not have weekly responsibilities, the nature of my role meant I was often busy/focused/responsible for particular projects or parts of projects.

I learned a wide array of skills that I know I will be able to take much further than my placement.

It was a real mix depending on which point in the year it is. As you would expect, month end, quarter end, it is very tense, very stressful, but at other times very relaxed, enjoyable. All office atmospheres I can imagine being the same but it is a case of understanding why the office is a dull at times.

I was fortunate to come into IBM in a new role so in terms of organisation of my placement I managed a lot of the myself. The structure of the placement in general and the internship is very good. The Foundation Community that looks after all IBM Graduates and Interns is a real asset to the business and one that IBM should be proud of in terms of Internship organisation.

Massively. The number of learning resources IBM has for interns is amazing. Not more can be said than if you want to learn something, there will be 10 things to help you do just that.

IBM like to remind interns of the slim chance there is of getting a graduate role. With the general projection of graduates, I really do not think the future employment looks appealing.

Amazing social scene. In the entire intern community at IBM Southbank there was Christmas and Summer parties, the team I work with I regularly see them out of work. I have been to football games with colleagues, museums, meals, everything. Great social scene. This was largely down to being in IBM Southbank, should I have been in another location, I do not think it would have been the same.

High, my rent was 2/3rds of my salary and socialising was never cheap, this is in London though. If you want to live cheap and socialise cheaply it can be done, it just takes a bit of time to find it.

Very good - couldn't fault it. Being based in the busiest city in the country, there is so much to do whatever your taste.

No as a result of my placement. IBM don't encourage/advertise any outside of work activities.