Extreme Blue Intern Review

I had an amazing time at IBM. I was given the level of responsibility way above my initial expectations. The managers were really supportive and I was given many opportunities to further develop my skills.

The team I worked with was like a family to me throughout the placement. They were always willing to help me and give me professional advice.

At IBM I had both a Professional Development Manager and a Task Manager. They were very supportive and willing to guide me throughout the placement. They were really helpful when and difficulties occurred. They also provided me with opportunities to develop my skills and shared their own professional expertise and experiences.

My workload fluctuated throughout the year. Sometimes it was really quiet and sometimes I needed to work longer hours on demand. However, it was always regulated by my managers so that I could maintain a work-life balance.

I was given the level of responsibility that was way beyond my expectations. For a couple of months it was my sole responsibility to run the operations of our department. I also managed and had a full control of two different budgets.

This placement gave me the practical experience that university could not provide. The most important skill I developed was to apply the theories to real-business situations which is very useful now that I am back at uni.

The atmosphere in my office was absolutely fantastic. Everyone was friendly and there was always time for a tea at 3.

Everything was organized very well except for the fact that my predecessor has left before my starting date and so I did not have a formal handover.

My manager paid for all of the courses I wanted to attend. As long as they took place in the UK and did not collide with any work assignments, I was allowed to participate in as many as I wanted to.

If you do well in your placement year, you may apply back for the top IBM graduate scheme. The competition is still fierce but in some ways it is easier for the interns to apply back.

There were multiple socials organized but it was difficult to get everyone together as we all lived in different towns in the area. This problem does not occur to such extent at Southbank or NHBR offices though.

Winchester pubs tend to be quite pricey compared to the student nights at my university.

If working at Hursley, I would definitely recommend living in Southampton as it is the only place in the area where you can hope for a decent nightlife.

Hursley Clubhouse provides a range of activities to get involved in after work or at lunchtime.