Product Technical Support and Development Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my work placement at IBM. I enjoyed the amount of responsibility that was offered to me and in parallel the wealth of support and guidance provided to me throughout my year. I extremely enjoyed working with IBM's clients and partners to digitally transform their businesses for their customers. Furthermore, I enjoyed the social aspects of working at IBM, there were constant social activities within the project I worked on as well as larger IBM hosted social events and activities. As a result of my year at IBM, I would like return back to IBM as a graduate.

I felt extremely valued by my colleagues, there is a great amount of respect shown from all IBM employees regardless of position or role. If I ever required any support, every IBMer is more than happy to help. As I was provided with a lot of responsibility, my value to my colleagues increased throughout my year with IBM. As an intern, my position could very easily be overlooked however, my colleagues were respected my role and tasks / responsibilities that I managed and offered support and help when required ensuring I felt valued as an IBMer.

I was provided with great management support / guidance throughout my year at IBM. I was assigned a day to day task manager along with a early professionals manager. Both these managers provided me constant support and guidance on my progression and any concerns I had within my role. I had weekly meetings with my task manager on the progress of my work within my role. Both managers were always there to support me within my role and help and guide me throughout my year at IBM. Overall, management support and guidance at IBM is brilliant and has allowed me to reach my full potential.

I was very busy on a daily basis, this is obviously linked to the responsibility that I took on and the trust senior management had in me. However, this is natural for the type of role and industry that I worked in, I enjoyed putting the hours in and seeing the results at the end of it. If I ever felt to busy on a daily basis or that I was doing too many hours I would raise this to my task manager who was more than happy to help.

12 months ago, I did not think that I would have had the responsibility that I have had during my placement with IBM. As an intern I manage two programme management processes and lead a number of individuals that are a lot more senior that I am on my project. The opportunity to pick up additional responsibility is endless and once again there is a wealth of support and guidance. If you're looking to have a real job with real responsibility providing real value, IBM is the place to work on a placement year.

The skills and training that I have received throughout my year at IBM will most definitely assist me in my final year and beyond. For example, the leadership skills that I have learn through being the Risk Manager on the project will support me in final year group projects where a team leader may need to be assigned and also in my post degree graduate job. Furthermore, the teamwork skills I have learned through being part of a small project management office team will prove valuable in my final year at university where working as part of a team is required.

I worked on a client site which was an interesting experience. The client had a fun and laid-back company culture, the atmosphere was great, there was always something exciting going on that was inclusive for all companies and employees in the office. This created a really fun and laid-back atmosphere in the office.

The work placement was very well organised, from day 1 the whole set up and foundation team that manage us are extremely organised. There is a dedicated team that focuses specifically on placement year students and our progression. Regular communications are sent out keeping us interns in the loop on what’s going on and opportunities for us to get involved in. The placement scheme is very well structured, you're placed in a role with a full handover provided you along with support and guidance to help throughout your year at IBM. Overall, very well structured and organised placement year.

IBM invested a lot in my personal training and development throughout my placement. For example IBM have a huge learning tool for all IBM employees to use that covers everything IBMers can and may want to do. For example, I needed to learn advanced excel skills to create management reports on my project, I used the learning tool which enabled me to undestand what was required and learn the skill which as a result, helped me in my role on the project.

Future employment prospects within IBM are great, I have recently applied back to become a graduate. There is an application form that is required for completion and a final review which you're assessed against the other interns that determine your score as to whether you return back as a graduate. The Graduate scheme is very competitive, however IBM invest their time in ensuring current interns have the best possible opportunity in returning back as an IBM graduate.

As I was on a client account away from IBM offices I very rarely go to meet up with other placement students in the company. I already knew a few other students from my university, however if I hadn't then I would have had very little interaction with the other students unfortunately.

The choice is between living in Leaminghton Spa and Warwick, For a single room (en suite) they are both expensive - Leighton more so, but if you can find people to house-share you can go down to £350 or so per person per month. Leaminghton Spa en suite is £600 (bills included) but is a better location for going out (no clubs in Warwick).

In Warwick the nightlife is limited to very few clubs and mainly pubs (spoons is always a good choice) but if you want to go to a proper nightclub - go to Leaminghton. There are a lot of students from Warwick university that go to Leaminghton. If you value this it might be a good idea to live in Leaminghton not in Warwick

There were a lot of opportunities available to placement students outside of your day to day role - these included events and conferences, volunteering in helping out at internal and external events, side projects, and even the chance to work at Wimbledon. Most of these tended to be in the London area.