Integrated Account Intern Review

I have enjoyed my year with IBM immensely. As my first real job, this year has been a great foundation to give me an insight into how a multinational organisation operates, develop my transferable skills and get me ready for life after graduation!

The team I have worked with this year (Integrated Account team for an IBM client) has been extremely helpful, friendly and supportive. They incorporated me as part of the well established and collaborative team that they are immediately after I started my placement. I have never felt like just an intern and I've been comfortable asking questions to help my understanding of the projects the team works on at any point in time!

At IBM, every placement student is assigned a Task Manager (who is in charge of your daily tasks/responsibilities in your team) and an Early Professionals Manager (who looks after your personal development). My Task Manager has been a great mentor to me this year and has helped make my placement an unforgettable experience. My EPM, although based in a different location, has always been available for support virtually (and also around for a quick chat when he comes into the London office!)

My job role is of an ad-hoc/diverse nature which means the workload varies depending on the projects the IA (Integrated Account) team is engaging with the client on. There have been some extremely busy times (when I've had no time for lunch and have had to work overtime) and some very quiet times. I have had the opportunity to get involved in some extra/side projects in my free time including a global initiative! I personally find a good balance ideal as you get the chance to not be restricted to specific tasks and explore working in different teams.

I am happy with the amount of responsibility I have been given this year. I spent the first few months familiarising myself with my role and supporting others' projects; once I demonstrated my capability and proved myself, the team was happy to give me sole responsibility of a few projects as well as support some very senior-level tasks.

As I study law and business at university, the business skills I have developed this year will help me on the business side of my degree. The transferable skills I have built on this year (confidence, teamwork, adaptability, professional effectiveness) will come in handy not only in my final year but throughout the rest of my career!

The IBM London office is always bustling with energy as many client teams and senior management is based in here; also clients coming in regularly and events happening all around the year make it an exciting place to be. The South Bank office also has the highest number of placement students compared to other IBM locations across the country.

The IBM Foundation team looks after placement students, apprentices and graduates. There was a 2-day general induction at the beginning of the placement and various events and giveback (volunteering) opportunities organised throughout the year.

Placement students have a wide range of free online education courses available to them, although paid education is only available to graduates.

IBM has an established graduate scheme; although the number of graduates hired each year has been decreasing lately. IBM placement students get to submit their applications to the graduate scheme earlier than those applying from outside IBM, which gives internal candidates an edge.

IBM South Bank has the highest number of placement students among all IBM locations in the country, so you're bound to make friends and find people you spend time with both at and outside work.

London; enough said!

Again, London; so enough said!

There are opportunities to get involved in sports with work colleagues and trips around Christmas time, although I wasn't involved in these. There is also a Christmas party organised by placement students at South Bank.