Service Delivery Intern Review

I enjoyed my placement at IBM hugely - I was given the freedom and opportunities to explore various different areas of the account I worked on, and was supported by my manager throughout. I was able to request and gain more exposure to the areas of the business I most enjoyed working in, and was able to tailor my experience according to the skills I wanted to develop with full support.

The sense of community in the office really helped me settle into my role. If I struggled with any work, I never hesitated to ask for help as my colleagues always made it clear they were happy to help me in any way they could. We were able to build a great rapport within the team and if I had a problem I know I would be supported.

Support and guidance has been fantastic throughout my placement, from induction to my reviews, my managers have always been very attentive. I was immediately made aware of who to contact if I ever encountered an issue, however the rapport between team members meant that I felt comfortable seeking guidance from all managers and team members.

In the first few months the workload was lighter due to the time it takes to learn about how the account works, such as the structure of various teams and how the teams interlink. After I became more comfortable, I was offered more work, but never pressured into taking this on. It was always made very clear that I could ask for more responsibility, or request for a lighter workload if I ever struggled.

I was given a reasonable amount of responsibility within my first three months, with guidance from other team members to ensure I built up my confidence with the workload I was given. After this, I was given more and more responsibility, and had frequent meetings with my manager to discuss how I was feeling with regards to my workload and responsibilities.

I have been able to build both soft and technical skills throughout my placement, and have found my communication and teamwork skills have improved dramatically since my placement. These are skills for life, and will not only help me in potential group projects upon my return to my degree studies, but also in my future career as I have seen how a team should be.

I worked in a slightly smaller office outside of the central IBM hub, however I found this added to the atmosphere as it felt more like a small community. Everyone is very helpful and friendly, generous and lighthearted. People will often go out of their way to make people feel comfortable, welcome and included, especially during religious holidays and seasons.

This placement was very well organised, as we were given a location preference during the application process, meaning we had an idea of where we might be working. There is also a buddy system, where you are given the contact details of the intern that works in your position currently so you can ask any questions before you start your placement, as well as social media groups where you can find others who are working in your location.

IBM has a fantastic personal training and development system called YourLearning, you are encouraged to actively develop your knowledge and understanding of various topics and can earn badges for doing so which can be uploaded to your LinkedIn profile. There are also opportunities to ask for exposure to other teams where you may be able to learn different skills.

Future employment prospects are very appealing within IBM. As interns, we are given priority over external applicants for the graduate scheme. We are also given the opportunity to meet and shadow graduates who are currently working in positions we are interested in applying for. The opportunities are very broad and allows us to tailor the experience to our desired career path.

We are given the opportunity to work with and meet other placement students who work in the area, and are encouraged to meet up with them outside of work as well. There are events such as First Wednesday Drinks where you are able to meet other placement students and colleagues in a non formal setting.

The cost of living in Warwick is quite high due to the fantastic location. However, the socialising aspect is quite cheap as there are many free things to do, with lovely parks and historic landmarks. There are also many pubs and restaurants to enjoy, as well as a couple of clubs, but more nightlife opportunities in surrounding cities.

As a small town, the nightlife opportunities are quite limited and are more enjoyable if you have friends living in the local area. However, pubs are still very enjoyable if you are new to the area, and there are many more clubs in nearby cities such as Coventry and Birmingham.

There is a fantastic service IBM offers called IBMClub, where you pay a very small monthly premium for discounted access to local activities such as theatres, orchestras and museums. There are a lot of activities in Warwick specifically, more so than nightlife, and these are often good opportunities to meet up with colleagues and other placement students after work or at weekends.