Communications Specialist Review

Day to day the job consisted of various tasks. I got the opportunity to meet different clients that IBM have contracts with and this enabled me to build my networks and develop my communication and business skills further. It was a very exciting role and the tasks provided you with a good level of a challenge which encouraged you to put your all into every aspect of it.

The team were very friendly and were always there to offer support and teaching when required. I was never afraid to ask for help (even if this was asking the same thing twice) they always encouraged you to do your best and gave you the opportunity to develop skills further.

From the start of my plancement I was sat next to my manager and was giving expert teaching of the role and the skills required to be successful. Throughout the placement, I regular shadowed my manager and was able to see what other roles were being done by the whole team.

The role was a full packed day of work, and rarly did you have the opportunity to be bored. However with the day being full packed resulted in the role leading into further opportunities that other placement students did not experience. I was involved with numerous accounts which varied the day, and resulted in everyday being different and hence not boring.

I was giving a fair amount of responsibiltiy whilst on placement, I was given the opportunity to be the Comms support on a new deal, which invloved running all their comms requirements and having major meetings with the Project Excutive on a regular basis. Compared to other placements, I would say I was treated more like a Graduate and given responsibilty above the standard placement student. This role provides lots of scope to take responsibilty.

The communication skills and general IT skills developed throughout this year will be with you for life. This role provides you to mature in your thinking and analysing of situations. It also teaches you to think of alternatives and select the best option, all of which, these skills are transferrable into life beyond university.

The office was busy and full of people. They mostly sat in their teams. There was a level of community, however this role allowed you to be located on client sites, so from day to day you could be in a different office. All of which have a different atmosphere. The client sites, were a great experience to work from different locations.

From first application, the whole process was fairly smooth and quick. I woulld recomend to apply early so as you can follow the process more quickly as towards the deadline dates, the witing times could become more lengthy.

IBM offered unlimited online courses that you could do alongside your day to day role. It was up to you to do these whenever you saw fit. We also had team days where all the Marketing Placement students did various activities in order to develop your skills further.

There are grad jobs available, each areas of the business with more opportunities than others. I have applied back and waiting for the assessment centre day which is the final stage in the process, so at the moment is positive for future employment prospectus.

Based in Warwick there was a good number of other placement students. We all socialised together and there was a good community. Other locations (Southbank, hursley) had more placement students, most of which all socialised again together or within smaller friendship groups.

It is a fairly small city, but Leamington Spa, Birmingham and Coventry are all close, all with lots of different priced socialising areas.

Travelling a little bit to Birmingham was a much better night if you wanted a big night out, however to stay local was also a good night that provided a different atmosphere.

Local gym, cycle tracks, and clubs in the area. Plenty to suit everyones needs. Good local attractions aswell (Warwick Castle)