Business Intern for Healthcare & Life Sciences Review

IBM stands out amongst many of the large corporate or Blue Chip companies as you simply do not get treated like an 'intern.' On day 1 it is clear you are an IBM employee and this means you can make a real difference to your team. I have been able to add value in so many ways and the better you do, the more responsibility you are given. For example I started in a Business Operations role, which turned into operations, marketing, strategy, business development and much more!

IBM has a meritocracy where you are valued more when you produce high quality work. There will always be a support network around you to help. Positive contributions will be recognised and appreciated by team members.

I had weekly meetings with my manager which played a key role in supporting my tasks and agreeing new ones. Even outside of these meetings, I was welcomed to ask questions informally and discuss any matters. My team as a whole was very supportive and showed a personal interest in my experience as an inter.

In the first few weeks I was a bit lost. However when I met my manager and the rest of my team the work started piling in once they realised I was there to support. There is too much or too little to do. You can always find projects/ tasks to get involved in or find others to lend a helping hand when you need one! There is a network of over 100 other interns you can call up on for a start!

The more I proved myself, by working efficiently and producing high quality work, the more responsibility I was given. IBM has a strong networking culture whereby you can find responsibility by increasing your network and meeting new people. There will always be someone that would really value your contribution. I was able to take ownership of our social media initiatives, decide the messaging and content for the biggest event of the year for my team and I was trusted to produce the quarterly and yearly financial forecasts with little dependence on others.

I have excelled in confidence and my presentation skills are now very polished. IBM Sales School is internationally renowned. I engaged in activities surrounding Sales which has strengthened my personal influence and taught me soft skills that will be very useful in the future..and not just in business! My academic background is not in business however I have developed strong business acumen and am able to spot opportunities unlike ever before.

I worked for the Healthcare team which sat within a wider Public Sector team which had other interns too. There was four of us who worked closely on a day-to-day basis. This made the atmosphere very pleasant and relaxing. The senior members in my team were always happy to see me and engage me in their projects. I felt very comfortable at work and the office was a very pleasant, buzzing, dynamic environment to be in.

The Foundation Team at IBM truly impressed me from my induction on Day 1 right through to my leaving date. There is a very large, experienced and caring team of people that support this structure. I was given an Early Professional Manager to oversee my placement year from a Foundation perspective. He was very supportive and always welcomed any questions. Your EPM is their to support you both professionally and personally if needs be. The induction was slick and a very productive two days of networking with other interns and learning the basics. Throughout the year, the Foundation Team held numerous optional training sessions about IBM/Industry/Soft Skills or similar topics.

Further education (online and in person) is highly accessible for all employees at IBM..including interns. There is no formal qualifications at the end of the placement. However you will come away with valuable technical and soft skills that you couldn't have elsewhere.

Future employment prospects are appealing if you perform successfully during your placements. There are 3,6 and 12 month reviews that contribute to this. If you do well, you will be fast-tracked to the assessment centre for a graduate position. If you do exceptionally well you will be fast-tracked to the graduate interview. Career progression in IBM is highly attractive. There are many different lines of business, technologies and teams. It is an multi-billion international company which many people spend their entire careers working in.

Interns organise their own social gatherings. During the last few years, a group of interns have taken responsibility to organise an Intern Christmas Boat Party and an End of Year Party of which you will need to buy tickets to attend (as this is not subsidised by IBM). Note this is for the London offices. I think there is less of a social scene at the other locations. Depending on your IBM team, there may be frequent socials at the pub or drinks after work.

I worked in the Southbank location so my living costs in London were very high! London placement students do however get a £1000 bonus at the start. If you are smart with your money and don't go out/eat out everyday then the salary is enough for the year. Those working in locations outside of London will be paid less, but will enjoy a much lower cost of living.

London nightlife is great if you like clubbing. There are many different clubs to suit everybody's taste. Some even have student nights where you can get in cheaper. You can also attend the student nights at UCL/King's if you have friends their. If not, there will always be something to do! Southbank has the beautiful Christmas market, sometimes a circus. I went to Winter Wonderland, the O2 and The Shard. As off August, Tubes will be running 24/7 which will be very practical and cheap for Nightlife!

IBM has a Netball team in London where you can play and socialise with other interns. You can to pay though. I'm sure they have a football team too. Most other activities in London are organised by yourself and your colleagues/friends. However there will always be something new to do! You can use apps like TimeOut to find what is happening in your area or find cheap tickets for West End shows.