Systems Marketing Specialist Review

My time at IBM has exceeded my expectations. Throughout my placement, I have been challenged and took on opportunities with increasingly important responsibility, which I did not anticpate. My work has been thoroughly enjoyable, working across teams due to the nature of my role building relationships in both Marketing and Sales, giving me great foundation in which to build my career upon.

From Day 1 I have been valued by my fellow colleagues, not once had I been made to feel like I am just the intern, I was included in planning calls from Day 1, despite my lack of knowledge, enabling me to build upon it. I feel I could always go to my colleagues for support and my nature to take on more responsibility and interact with colleagues and opportunities outside of my role has allowed me to network and further feel valued.

My manager has been supportive from Day 1, although she primarily works from her home office, she is always available when I need her and has supported me in taking on new, exciting and challenges opportunities. Further, my team and extended network including my mentor have been vital to my support network and have always been on hand for guidance, even if I feel the question is stupid!

Due to the nature of my role I find that I always have something to do, as each member of my team always has a task which needs completing. Given each quarter I have had at least 1 event to focus on, if not more, I am kept busy. Even on the less busier days, I have filled my time with education and opportunities outside of my job role to extend my network. I do have days where I don't get everything done and am too busy but I strike the fine balance and manage this myself.

Throughout my placement, I have been given more and more responsibility. I have had the opportunity to organise and excute on 2 events as the project manager allowing me to develop a range of skills including people and time management, thus also allowing me to expand my network. I have further had important roles in the execution of my team's events, pulling together an event support team alongside briefing them. In addition, I took on joint responsibility of event manager due to an unforeseen circumstance giving me extra responsibility managing client registrations and providing key updates and advice.

My time at IBM has given me and allowed me to develop skills I would not have had to opportunity to do by not taking a placement year. I feel my experience in industry will allow complete focus in final year and has given me the determination in succeeding and acclerating my career upon graduation. The training available at IBM is next to none, with opportunities to develop in any area you wish.

I have been lucky with the general atomsphere in the office as my team primarily work remotely, therefore I took the opportunity to widen my network and seek other colleagues to sit with. I sit with other placement colleagues allowing for us all to share our knowledge and help on another on a daily basis as well as socialising in enjoying the office experience as a whole.

The set up is good, however could do with some improvement, as we report to an Early Professionals Manager who oversees about 30 interns but day to day I report to my manager and most things I do need to be approved by her, so the back end processes making the administrative work and other issues which arise easier could do with some improvement. However despite this, the set up is great allowing for networking opportunities with fellow interns.

IBM has allowed me to develop significantly whilst here, they value placement students and the knowledge and different outlook they can bringing to the organisation. Whilst here, my colleagues have allowed me to work on personal goals, giving me the support network and resources to do so, showing they value my continued development. From Day 1, you are encouraged to take on as many opportunities of training and development as you can.

In overall terms of employment there is prospect of returning to IBM, however at this moment there is no opportunity for me to return to Marketing the area which is my primary interest and where I have spent the past 12 months. It must be said that as placement students, we do get the opportunity to apply to the graduate scheme before external candidates, making it worthwhile applying as they do offer Project Management opportunities a further interst of mine.

There are around 200 placement student at IBM this year, which the majority based at Southbank in London (my location), therefore through our induction's, to daily working, to lunch and to outside and after work, I have had a great opportunity to have a social life, meeting friends who I will continue to keep in contact with post IBM, there is always something going on, it's usually your choice whether you join in or not.

Living and working in London does come with it's disadvantages as it is extremely expensive in terms of cost of living and socialising but my tip is, to balance your costs and look out for bargains including 2-for-1 offers or smaller not so known places. It can save you plenty of money but you can still have a fantastic time and explore the city.

I would tend more to go for nightlife near where I lived or by other placement students but working in Central London means you are surrounded by nightlife, which has it perks although can be expensive. There is always somewhere open and places to go, it's just the case of looking around and finding what suits you.

Living in Central London gives you endless opportunities to get involved with activities outside of work, there is always something going on and something to suit your personal taste. A benefit of working at IBM is IBM Rewards making tourist attractions cheaper in London, allowing that opportunity to do something new. IBM also offers volunteering opportunities outside of the work environment so even that was something to take up if interested.