Commercial Marketplace Analyst Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my placement at IBM and felt the transition from university to work was made easier by the support I was given by the company. Having a two day induction at the start meant that I felt comfortable when starting my role and I was able to meet other interns who I'd be working with over the year. My role as a Commercial Marketplace Analyst was very interesting and I completed a range of weekly and monthly tasks. I was also able to get involved in extra projects and training days which aided the development of my professional and personal skills.

I felt valued by my colleagues and my team were very appreciative of the work that I completed for them. Throughout the company, placement students are treated the same as full time employees and so I felt that I was able to make a significant contribution to my team. I was often asked to complete ad-hoc tasks, which showed that my team trusted me to be able to complete work I wasn't familiar with to a high standard.

I was given support with both my role and my personal development, which meant I felt very supported throughout my placement. My Task Manager supported me with my role and even though I was remotely managed, she made herself available to come into the office when I needed her. I also had a daily catch up call with my Task Manager to go through any tasks I needed assistance with. In addition, I had an Early Professional Manager (EPM) to support my personal development. She helped me set objectives for the year and produce a plan to how to meet them.

I had a range of weekly and monthly tasks to complete and so I was never bored in my role. On days where I completed my daily tasks early, I was able to ask for additional work and would be sent ad-hoc work to complete on top of my set tasks. On occasions where I was required to work late, I felt happy to put in extra time as I took ownership for the tasks I was completing.

I was given a lot of responsibility throughout my placement as the tasks I completed were required for my team members to be able to complete their own work. I was responsible for a range of different tasks that each had their own deadline and so I had to ensure that I organised my time well enough to be able to meet each deadline. I was also responsible for completing work without being reminded to do so, therefore I had to ensure I organised my week effectively.

Both the professional and personal skills I have developed throughout the year will help me when I return to university and begin my graduate career. For example, having experience interacting with professionals has improved the way I communicate in a professional environment and how I come across in formal situations. The time management skills I have developed will help me when returning to university and I have now adapted to a more structured 9-5 day and so will be able to complete university work with the same structure.

The office was quiet and so there wasn't much of an atmosphere but I was able to sit with several other interns which made the atmosphere in our section more lively. The office had more of a relaxed atmosphere in comparison to the South Bank office, but this didn't have a great effect on my time at IBM.

The placement was well organised and there was a clear structure to the year. The placement began with a two day induction which meant I was able to set up my laptop, meet other interns and become more familiar with IBM before starting my role. This made the process of transitioning from university to working life more comfortable, Throughout the year I had a 3, 6 and 12 month review which meant I could keep track of my progress and determine whether I was meeting my objectives. At the end of my placement there was time to think about graduate roles and to complete my application to the graduate scheme.

My Early Professional Manager emphasised the importance of developing my personal and professional skills throughout the year and having a 3 and 6 month review meant I could track my progress. IBM offered many opportunities to take part in education workshops based on developing specific skills and there were also a range of online sessions that I could take part in. I was often encouraged to increase my learning in terms of both role based skills and personal skills.

Having the opportunity to complete shadowing during my placement meant I could determine which part of the company to apply to as a graduate. IBM offer a range of graduate roles and there is a strong graduate community so employment prospects are appealing. The opportunities for role change and career progression also make IBM an appealing company.

The social scene was quite good. A small group of us often did things outside of work but as a whole intern community we rarely did things all together. We often went for group meals and nights out in Leamington which made the working week more fun. I have made some good friends throughout the year.

There were many nice bars and restaurants in Leamington which were all reasonably priced and included major restaurant chains. I lived at home so did not pay for accommodation but from speaking to other interns it seemed that the cost to live was average. There were also a range of nice pubs near the office that were also reasonably priced.

The nightlife in Leamington was good but there weren't a huge amount of clubs. As the students from Warwick university go out in Leamington, bars and clubs were often lively.

IBM offer the opportunity to complete give back on top of your daily role which includes things such as volunteering at Careers events and organising events in the office.