Commercial Analyst Review

Due to my role being finance based, I was responsible for some monthly reoccurring tasks, such as preparing accruals for different projects to support our month end input, and invoicing certain projects monthly or after major releases. I was also responsible for preparing weekly reports on time booked to projects, to help PMs track effort. I took on purchasing for the account, and was responsible for obtaining approvals and managing purchase orders. I also helped build our accounting backup of account costs.

I've had the opportunity to develop my excel skills, to comfortably use it on a daily basis. During my placement I had the opportunity to get involved in opportunities beyond my role, and develop my leadership and project management skills. I've also hugely improved my communication skills and business acumen, simply from working on such a large account and working with many individuals, in different roles, on a daily basis. I also took on personal learning to develop my technical skills.

I was given more responsibility than I expected on my account, with the majority of my work directly impacting the client. I was supported where needed, but I appreciated the opportunity to demonstrate what I could achieve independently, and being given the time and space to develop. There were also opportunities within the company to take on further leadership positions and responsibility within the intern community - I took on some of these roles and really benefited from it.

I was given plenty of support and guidance from my manager throughout my placement year, but also from my wider team. Everyone at IBM was very happy to help, and willing to make time to discuss development. This made for a really positive and supportive working environment, where I felt able to ask for help and receive support where needed - making working from home feel much less isolating than it had the potential to be.

IBM has a company culture of inclusion and support, with heavy emphasis on giveback, or volunteering. This makes for a really positive, well balanced environment to work in, with strong encouragement of establishing a healthy work/life balance early on in our careers. I really enjoyed taking part in giveback, and volunteering to mentor T-Level students, run a Project Management community for other interns and apprentices, and work on an internal microsite to celebrate our achievements.

I really enjoyed my placement experience, and having the opportunity to work within my team and add value to the account. The company culture was extremely supportive, and made for a comfortable learning environment, where I felt I was able to make the most out of my time from a learning and development perspective. The placement year exceeded my expectations, and I would love to return to work at IBM after completing my degree next year.

Yes

Research IBM's values, background and expectations of new hires, and find a real connection with the company. During the interview process, remember to be authentic and consider how your experiences have helped you craft your skills. If you're successful and are preparing for your first day at IBM, don't be afraid to reach out to others for advice or recommendations - everyone is pretty happy to help unless they're super busy with work!