Cost Analyst Review

I really enjoyed my placement with IBM. This is down to the fact that you are always challenged day to day with tasks that push your current capabilities and being part of a great team. I know that thanks to the placement with IBM that my future looks a lot brighter in terms of employability post-graduation.

I felt very valued by my colleagues. From the moment i joined IBM i would get praise for the good pieces of work i completed. There are regular intervals throughout the placement year where feedback is formally given, but if you put the work in, then you definitely feel the appreciation from those around you.

The support and guidance i received from management when i first joined IBM was much more than i expected. There was a 90-day plan set up to enable me to get to grips with all the daily tasks and processes, which was all explained to me by my manager at the time. Even after this, if you are unsure of anything, it is really encouraged to just ask the question that is in your mind.

Every day during the placement i had work to do, this isn't the sort of placement where you can sit around twiddling your thumbs. I thought this was great as it ensured I was getting the vital experience i wanted to gain from the placement year. If things start getting too busy, such as lots of work on the same day, then it is fine to communicate with your manager and find a solution.

During the placement, the responsibility rose as soon as you were able to complete the tasks already set. I really enjoyed having the high level of responsibility given to me during my year, as it made me feel like a professional colleague, and not just a placement student.

The skills I have developed during my placement I am sure will assist me greatly in my degree studies and beyond. For example, i received lots of training in excel spreadsheets and this was also developed through my placement. I can now take this into my final year at University where i know excel spreadsheets will feature, and also walk into my first graduate job knowing how to work the excel files presented to me.

The general atmosphere in the office was great, everyone was very friendly and also approachable. At no point did i feel i stranded as there was always someone willing to help or assist.

I think the work placement was extremely well set up, as was expected when i joined IBM. There are regular meetings where you review your progress, and also get suggestions on how to keep that progress going. There are constant education sessions running on a variety of areas to further improve yourself as a professional. The induction sessions were well ran, very informative and that really set the tone for the rest of the year.

I had access to a lot of material to improve myself, such as online education sessions and colleague ran events. Lots of colleagues took time out of their schedules to train/develop my skills throughout the year.

There is a clear intern to grad scheme which is open to apply for, but due to the nature of IBM being a huge global company, lots of opportunities are offshore.

The social scene at IBM was good, and this is actively encouraged by the company. IBM also arrange social events for colleagues to attend.

I found the cost of living to be expensive in the area, but I moved to the area with my partner, instead of house sharing with other interns. I'm sure the cost of living will be a lot better if you take the house-share approach, and I would strongly recommend it.

Portsmouth has a great nightlife, from small bars to nightclubs.

IBM organised lots of events to get involved in, such as sport activities etc.