Project Management Office Review

I definitely enjoyed my placement year a lot - the role I was offered was challenging but it meant I learned a lot in the process.

Even though I was just an intern, my contributions were valued and I was held to the same standards as more senior employees.

Support was always available if I needed it and I could reach out to the management team whenever I was stuck - they were always willing to help and happy to teach me along the way.

Generally the workload would fill my time well without being overly stressed or too busy. Some weeks were more quiet and others too busy, but in general the workload was well balanced.

IBM give you a great opportunity to shine and show your abilities. My work was visible to some senior individuals and a lot of important work was assigned to me. Definitely one of the best aspects of the placement with IBM.

I learned / developed several valuable skills during my year which I'm sure will come in useful in the future. There is plenty of opportunity for learning and developing your skills further - you can find training on a vast range of topics on the IBM learning website.

I was based at a client site where I worked with IBMers as well as employees from other companies. The general atmosphere in the office was good, especially amongst the IBM team who all got on well with each other.

The application process was clear to follow and you're always informed of what the next steps are. If you are ever in doubt of something, it's clear who to contact for more information. Personally, I had to wait quite a while before I was interviewed for a role, however this was not the case for most people.

Learning opportunities are encouraged and your supervisors will ensure that you are correctly trained to complete your day-to-day tasks. I had the chance to shadow the previous interns for a few to learn the job from them.

As an intern, you get the chance to apply for the graduate program ahead of external candidates, which puts you at an advantage. Therefore the placement year is a great way to pave your way for a future with IBM.

I got on well with the other interns at my office and we became good friends. There were also several graduates which were friendly and easy to get on with. Even some of the senior people at the office got involved with social events and were fun to be around.

As I worked at a client site, I was able to claim travel expenses to get to the location. If you live a significant distance from the location, there is also the option to stay in a hotel during the week (which can also be expensed). The area itself had a few pubs and a nightclub.

There were a few pubs in the surrounding area and a local nightclub which was good fun.

IBM offers free drinks at select locations on the first Wednesday of each month. The team at my locations organised get togethers and events every few weeks which was good fun.