Government Industry Intern, Global Business Services Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my time working at IBM. I worked with some inspirational people and was given the opportunity to work on a wide range of interesting projects. I held a level of responsibility in my role, and was expected to work like a mature, professional employee throughout the year. The placement exceeded all initial expectations.

From day 1 I felt welcome in my team. They treated me with respect, and considered me a key member of the team throughout the placement year. They had confidence to delegate various tasks to me, highlighting the level of trust they have in their employees. I felt extremely valued by my colleagues, and felt comfortable working with them on a daily basis.

Due to the nature of my role, I worked in a virtual environment as my team operated on a global scale. My two task managers were located in Sweden and on the East Coast of the United States. However, the support and guidance I received from my managers was fantastic. If I had any issues they would always offer their support and guidance. I held weekly catch-up calls with both managers, and spoke regularly through text and instant messaging services.

The most rewarding aspect of my role was the wide range of tasks and responsibilities involved. Along with my regular tasks, I would often arrive into work on a morning and have a new project to work on. The role consists of many ad-hoc tasks, which resulted in never being short of work. However, I never felt I had too much work on my plate, and the balance was perfect.

The role involved a good level of responsibility. I had the opportunity to demonstrate a range of mobile applications to clients at various IBM events, and provided support to executives and partners within my department. I was responsible for a number of tasks throughout the year, such as organising industry board calls and managing social mobile applications for events.

The skills I developed throughout the placement year will be invaluable in assisting me in my degree studies. IBM really concentrated on helping you grow as an individual, and provided various workshops to develop presentation and communication skills. My role enabled me to progress my people and self-reliance skills, as I interacted with my team on various subject matters on a daily basis.

There was a positive, feel-good atmosphere throughout the IBM Southbank office in London. There was always something happening - whether it be a networking event or a careers academy fair. There was a good range of employees there, and with 120 other placement students based in Southbank, I never felt isolated. The office is also situated in a fantastic location on the bank of the river Thames, and it was a pleasure commuting into work.

It was evident that a lot of thought and organisation was put into the work placement. The tasks I was responsible for took up a set period of time, and once the task was complete, there was always a new project to get started on. There was a strong structure around the placement, in regards to the roles & responsibilities and the support.

IBM was passionate to help grow their employees into stronger individuals. They held various workshops to help develop personal skills such as presentation and communication capabilities, and they also held a careers academy fair to help provide a better understanding of the options available after the placement year. There was also a wide range of online training programmes available at the start of the placement to help you settle in to your new job.

I am very interested in returning to IBM as a graduate. The placement at IBM has exceeded all expectations, and I would relish the opportunity to continue my employment with this ambitious and successful company. IBM offers a good range of graduate roles, and I have confidence that these roles available will help further develop my business capabilities.

The social aspect of the IBM placement was very rewarding. As there was 120 placement students in the Southbank office, you were surrounded by people of similar age and interests. There was regular social networking events, including Christmas and end of year parties. There was also a strong network of sports teams at IBM, and I got involved in the football team which was a great way to meet new people.

Living in London was always going to be expensive, and that was an aspect I was aware of prior to starting placement. However, IBM provided employees with a London Living Allowance for the Southbank based employees, which helped eased the financial complications with living and socialising. Overall, I never felt too wary of my financial situation.

The nightlight was brilliant, and certainly was a highlight of the placement year. The Southbank office is located on the bank of the river Thames - a 2 minute walk from the London Eye and Houses of Parliament. Working in this area of London was fantastic, and there was plenty of bars and restaurants close by to enjoy after work.

There was plenty of opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work. There was a strong network of sports teams, and I played for the Football team on a week night that competed in a business league in Canada Water. I also had the opportunity to play in the 2016 Corporate Games, which was a brilliant experience.