Industry Analyst Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my work placement. IBM supported my development throughout the year and allowed me to gain an insight into numerous different areas of the company. I had the privilege of attending numerous external events such as the IBM THINK Summit, the Festival of Innovation and the Aviation Festival.

IBM make you feel like part of the family. You are treated as a valued member of staff as opposed to an intern on their placement year. My colleagues were always willing to offer me support and encouraged me to take on new opportunities. The team involved me in numerous projects and ensured I felt comfortable from my first day.

I was massively supported by both my task manager, foundation manager and the rest of my team. The year is what you make of it and as long as you make an effort to get involved in things that interest you, your team will support you all the way.

I was very busy most days during my placement however as my role was cross industry I was made aware of the heavy workload at my interview. Although there was a lot of work to do; the work was of value and I gained a sense of satisfaction from completing my tasks. I would often receive ad hoc tasks on top of my core tasks which ensured I had a diverse range of work to be doing for numerous people.

I was given alot of responsibility during my placement. Once my manager was comfortable that I am conducting my day job efficiently, I was supported completely to venture out into different areas of the business. I would be responsible for ensuring tasks were completed on time and sent to the relevant people (often senior members of staff). The level of responsibility I was given increased throughout the year.

The skills I have developed will assist me massively during my degree studies and in the future. I developed my analytical skills which are essential for conducting an economics degree. Conducting client research through analysing annual reports improved my ability to extract key pieces of information and to condense them into succinct points. Creating and managing numerous excel spreadsheets allowed me to improve my attention to detail. I was also able to improve my confidence and presentation skills through presenting to my team as well as my technical skills through the completion of IBM badges relating to different areas of the business such as AI.

The atmosphere was quite relaxed and enjoyable. My colleagues were chatty and everybody seemed like they wanted to be there. Everyone would greet you with a smile and would acknowledge each other.

The work placement was organised in a professional manner. The handover process from the previous placement student to myself was very smooth and the team ensured I had all the information I needed. My tasks were clearly outlined for me and I was made aware of the way the team works straight away.

The company supported me in any internal training I wanted to do. IBM have a colossal number of badges that you can complete in order to gain knowledge in different areas of the business or to acquire new skills. Whenever an external event came up, IBM were more than happy to allow me to attend and ensured I got the most out of my year.

I have applied back to IBM for a graduate role and I am hopeful that I will be successful. IBM tend to hire back their interns therefore future employment prospects are looking bright. IBM is a brilliant place to work and I would be thrilled to return back as a graduate.

There was an amazing social scene amongst the majority of placement students. IBM hire a large number of students for their placement year positions therefore there are many students just like you starting at the same time. This is very beneficial as many IBM placement students tend to house share together. Many people will also meet up for a drink at the bar just outside the IBM office therefore there's always an opportunity to meet people!

The cost of living was relatively expensive however it is expected when living in London. There are a lot of places that you can go with student offers therefore you can save some money if you look in the right places. As the office is based in Southbank, a lot of the food places in the vicinity are quite expensive.

I didn't go on a night out around the area I worked in however I did go to a few bars. There is a good atmosphere and there's always people around. During the winter months there are stalls around the area serving drinks so you could always have a few before going out!

The year really is what you make of it so if you look for opportunities you are bound to find some. IBM offered some sports teams such as a netball team. You can also join communities who will meet up a number of times a week. There's something for everyone!