Cloud services offering Global Support & Offerings Requirements coordinator Review

I have thoroughly enjoyed my placement year it has been both challenging and stimulating, fast paces but enjoyable at the same time. I have also enjoyed the challenge of working with a globally distributed team in different countries and time zones, this has really helped me appreciate the different mindsets, points of view and terminology used.

Well I could not have felt more valued by other members of the local team and the wider IBM as a whole. I received feedback from other IBM’ers throughout my placement that I was not considered an intern, more a well-seasoned professional, and when we were in conference calls everyone’s view was valued and encouraged to be shared.

Being an intern we are assigned an Early Professionals manager who apart from our task manager is our main point of contact if we have any concerns or issues throughout our placement. My task manager was also very knowledgeable, and was always willing to chat if I had an idea, encountered a problem or if I needed to clarify something. I learned a lot from both my EPM and Task manager throughout my placement.

It changed on a day by day basis, some days I would be extremely busy on conference calls, web meetings and e-mails etc., other days I would have time to read, study other subjects, technologies and undertake courses provided by IBM. Overall once I had settled into the role I developed a daily task plan which I adapted to suit workload.

I was responsible for two roles while on placement, both as developer and technical support for the global team with minimal supervision from my task manager. I was trusted to carry out these roles without supervision and responsible for helping to transform the way the global cloud team handled new requirements from sellers and customers alike.

I feel that this experience will have a positive impact on my final year and in beyond, it has helped me think more laterally and be more creative in my approach to my work. I also feel that the experience of working with a global team will help in my future team working. The knowledge I have gained will help me in my future studies as this has made me more aware of timeframes and targets.

The general atmosphere was very good, there was a good sense of camaraderie while maintaining a professional attitude as well. Everyone got on really well and we would have regular after work social events such as meals out. There was also the opportunity to meet up at lunchtime with the other interns and futures that were based in the location.

My role was new as of last year so the scope of the roles I was covering is still being defined and will be subject to change on a ongoing basis. The overall experience placement was well organised, the contact for on-boarding to IBM was good and the contact throughout was more than adequate for me personally.

IBM as a company has a policy that everyone must undertake 40 hours of learning, and there were frequent ‘technical updates’ where we would spend one or two days learning about the new products coming along. We were also encouraged to develop ourselves. Other training was enabled through handovers, talking to other team members and we had regular workshops that anyone was welcome to attend.

I thing that the prospects are good, IBM is such a market leader constantly expanding renewing itself that there are new roles being created and I have discovered that a lot of people I have worked with tend to be long-term IBM’ers meaning there is a good retention rate as well. I could see myself working for them in the future.

There was a very good social scene for those wanting to take part in it. There was lunchtime meetups on a daily basis and regular work socials which anyone was welcome to suggest, and the IBM club which requires a trivial fee and even interns can join, offers reduced tickets for events.

The cost of living was reasonable and the cost of socialising was also.

I an not really a night-clubber so I didn't go out clubbing so I cant really comment on that, but if I fancied a drink there was a pub close by and the prices were reasonable.

There were a few opportunities to get involved in out of work activities such as team softball.