This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.
Rating
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The Role
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The Company
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The Culture
- 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
- 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
- 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
- 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
- 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
- 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
- 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
- 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
- 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
- 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
- 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
- 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
- 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
- 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
- 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
The Role
The experience was certainly eye opening. Mostly, it was enjoyable.
I did feel valued mostly. It was important to do more than just your day job, that's when I felt most valued.
Everyone I came across were really helpful but their workload meant that I didn't always receive the support I needed.
I was mostly busy, often working through lunch. But busy days were balanced with quiet days.
I was given a lot of responsibility from day one and no one doubts your ability and will support you to achieve - if you ask for it!
The skills I have learnt have been invaluable and will definitely help me both at university and in my career.
The Company
There is a different atmosphere in different office locations - all very pleasant though. The atmosphere tended to be positive and inspiring, with different workspaces to facilitate working for different working styles. The Client Centre was often buzzing with visitors at events too which was always positive to see.
The placement was well organised but I think there could have been a bit more support. Everyone has a different experience and it depends on so many factors. You receive a great induction at the beginning but after that, frequent reviews. But again, whether that happens depends on the type of manager you have.
The company invests a lot in training development, I loved the online training which was very useful and you could be awarded for completing it. There were also several opportunities to attend workshops and external events if you wished. Training and development opportunities are endless but you have to find them yourself or ask for direction from your manager.
Working from home
Future employment prospects are appealing and there is a lot of opportunity to climb the career ladder. The programmes available are varied and you receive great training when you begin. Whilst you are a grad you are safe but you have to make yourself indispensable by competing a lot of training and development and taking on responsibilities outside of your role. Your workload will most likely be heavy if you want to be successful.
The Culture
I was not involved in the social scene as I did not live close to the office. I understand that the social scene was good though amongst other placement students who often went out together and lived together. The placement students often ran events such as a theatre club or sports teams.
Very expensive, a lot of other placement students paid up to £900 p/m for a house share. London is expensive to live and socialise in but you can select a different location if you don't want to spend that much. IBM have offices in lots of locations and flexible working. You may be able to live at home and commute in.
I did't explore the nightlife, but it is London so I am sure it is great.
Yes if you looked for them. There are opportunities like join sports clubs, volunteering such as delivering workshops in local schools or doing conservation work. You could attend universities to represent IBM and I heard of some interns who went abrade for conferences and training.
Details
Placement (10 Months+)
London
June 2017