GBS EMEA HR Partner Support Review

Providing support to the GBS EMEA HR team; collaborating in major project work and completing a variety assigned activities. The role demands clear communication with business stakeholders, comprehensive use of Excel in data representation and regular reporting on the business activity of GBS EMEA.

The range of extra educational opportunities made available to placement students at IBM have allowed me to learn and put into practice a broad range of new skills. - I have completed educational programs on Enterprise Design Thinking, Agile Business Practices and various other badges on Exponential Technologies. Furthermore the experiences I have had working within a Foundation Volunteer Community in addition to my role have enabled me to enhance my skills in presentation, communication, leadership and management.

IBM entrusts it's placements students with significant responsibility. During my placement i have project managed a community of 13 of my peers, I have been involved in major HR project across Europe, the Middle East and Africa and provided direct HR support to an IBM business leader. I have found that IBM will proportionally increase a placement students responsibilities as soon as they prove they have the competence and confidence to manage any increased responsibility. This has been a really significant part of my IBM placement experience, and the prospect of gaining greater business exposure, and undertaking meaningful tasks has helped to drive my productivity.

IBM hold 3,6 and 12 months reviews for their placement students. These checkpoints are hosted as a one to one meeting with your manager and they enable each student to develop their own skills in self-observance, introspection and reflection. Added onto this it gives the manager a moment to understand your placement experience to data and provide advice for your steps moving forward. Generally the support I have received has been fantastic. I would however have like to have a little clarity in careers guidance. Perhaps something that focuses specifically on the consulting experience (illustrating to students what each graduate opportunity at IBM would offer).

Good, very positive. IBM's is suffused with a positive culture of Diversity and Inclusion and mutual aid between employees. Although my placement has been entirely virtual I have felt the strength and positive impact of this culture and it is a key motivation behind my application to IBM as a graduate.

I will not forget my placement experience. It has been formative for me in so many ways. I have made lasting connections with professionals from across IBM's business and I have has many formative learning experiences that I hope to carry with me into my career. While I am saddened to have never met any of my colleagues in person as COVID-19 precluded interpersonal contact. IBM did go to some lengths to remedy and address these disappointments. I would definitely recommend Placements opportunities at IBM.

Yes

Do your research on IBM's strategy and Business interests. Be yourself not the person you think IBM want as you'll have a better chance of standing out as yourself. Enjoy and trust in the process - all my interviews where run with nice people and my groups assessments at the AC were quite memorable.