Operational Support Review

I've had an amazing placement year at IBM. I worked with a fantastic team and the work I was doing was really fun. I had so many opportunities to get involved in different projects, from supporting colleagues on client work to attending large-scale events. Each day was different from the next, which made it really exciting and challenging.

With any new job there is always a period of settling in and getting to know people. Everyone I met was so polite and friendly, and really welcomed me to the team. Throughout the year I felt like my contribution to the team was valued and I was never treated like an 'intern'.

I was always given the support and guidance required for me to complete any of my tasks. Not only do you get the support of your task manager, you also have an Early Professional Manager who you meet regularly to discuss your placement and ensure everything is going well. The support I received from both my managers was amazing and I will always appreciate the guidance and advice they gave me throughout the year.

Every day was different throughout my year, which meant some days/weeks were extremely busy, whereas other times it was much quieter. At times when the workload may have been less, there were always opportunities to support team members and seek a project to get involved in.

I had a lot of responsibility during my placement year which is not something I was expecting when I started. I always thought that I wouldn't want responsibility over important tasks, however, the satisfaction of being trusted with such tasks was great and considerably improved my confidence and made my year at IBM so worthwhile.

The skills I have developed throughout my placement year have already made a huge impact on both my professional and personal development. I have no doubt that my skills and training will support me in my final year of studies, especially in my dissertation which I plan to write on a subject relevant to my placement. Even more so, what I have learned throughout my year will assist me in the world of work afterwards, which will hopefully be as an IBM graduate.

I worked in the South Bank office on a daily basis which has a very varied atmosphere throughout the building. For example, some teams have allocated office space and so they have the opportunity to work collaboratively together in a hub and make it their own. Other parts of the office are hot desks so each day different people will be sitting together, you just have to find an empty desk. I found the hub areas much more relaxed and fun, which benefited the overall atmosphere.

The application process went very smoothly for me until I was past the assessment center stage. If you pass the assessment center, you get put into an application 'pool' where task managers will look through the applications and select a candidate. I was selected for a department and passed my interview with them, however was afterwards told they were no longer in a position to hire me (I now know it was probably budget that affected this, but at the time I took it personally!). This was a huge blessing in disguise though as I was soon after selected for the role I completed my year in, which I wouldn't change for anything.

IBM invest a lot in every employee's personal training and development. There is an amazing learning platform that has thousands of courses etc. around a variety of subjects and skills. There is an opportunity to earn badges in particular areas which are accredited by companies other than IBM, and you can share your badges on LinkedIn. As well as the learning platform, there is a coaching tool where you can make appointments with other employees who can coach you in a subject, and you can also coach in an area that you have gained skills in.

I worked with a number of graduates in my team and gained an understanding of the grad scheme and the opportunities it provides. I applied back to IBM through the intern-to-graduate process, and am hoping to return back as a graduate in the same team I did my placement year in. The graduate scheme is extremely competitive, but IBM allow interns to apply first so that they have the best possible opportunity to return as a graduate.

There were little social activities that placement students could attend, partly due to the number of students there were. There was one event around Christmas that interns organised for everyone, however, a lot of placement students were very social in smaller groups and went for drinks after work each week etc.

I lived at home while on my placement year and therefore had a relatively low cost of living - I just had to pay for my train ticket into the office. Being in central London, prices are higher for food/drinks in local restaurants and bars, however there is a huge variety of things to do and places to go.

There are a number of nice pubs and bars located very close to the South Bank office. Being in London though there are always places to go further afield that are still easily accessible.

There were a huge number of opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work. IBM have a 'Giveback' portal where you can search for volunteering opportunities that you want to get involved in, such as attending careers fairs at universities or supporting events with schools.