Extreme Blue Intern Review

by IBM

Best Student Employer

This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.

Rating

3.8/5
  • The Role
    3.9
  • The Company
    3.9
  • The Culture
    3.4

    The Role

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
  • 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.

    4/5

  • 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
  • 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.

    4/5

  • 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
  • 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.

    4/5

  • 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
  • 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.

    4/5

  • 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
  • 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.

    4/5

  • 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
  • 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.

    5/5

    The Company

  • 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
  • The atmosphere in my office was absolutely fantastic. Everyone was friendly and there was always time for a tea at 3.

    5/5

  • 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
  • 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.

    4/5

  • 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
  • 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.

    4/5

  • 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
  • Subsidised Canteen

    Company Parties/Events

    Staff Sales/Staff Shop

    4/5

  • 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
  • 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.

    4/5

    The Culture

  • 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
  • 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.

    4/5

  • 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
  • Winchester pubs tend to be quite pricey compared to the student nights at my university.

    3/5

  • 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
  • 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.

    3/5

  • 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
  • Hursley Clubhouse provides a range of activities to get involved in after work or at lunchtime.

    4/5

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Details

Internship (1 Month+)

South East

November 2014


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