Business Consultant Review

The placement year was excellent, it provided a great overview to what it was like to work for such a large company. We were all actively encouraged to undertake futher work outside of out day job in areas that interested us in order to experience other parts of the business which was great

Colleagues valued us exteremely highly and the work that we were doing was of actual client value and value to the business. I think this is what I enjoyed the most about my year was that I was actually contributing to the businesses output and I had a purpose being there

I was given great support and guidance by my manager and supervisors, we had two managers an EPM and a Task Manager. I had hands on, weekly meetings with my task manager but fairly limited contact with my EPM since they were based elsewhere. My EPM was v proactive during the COVID crisis, creating team communications and having weekly calls, which was brilliant

Due to the nature of the work and everything being project based it really swung in roundabouts. One week I would have so much on and be working fairly late and other weeks I would be waiting for the next project to initiate and have fairly little on - this is the nature of the industry however!

I was given a surprising amount of responsibility, working on client site, meeting clients and putting together decks for senior leadership. My placement year really provided value to the business and I was able to contribute to the business winning work in the future. It was great to have this responsibility so early on in my career.

I think the most valuable asset is the CV boost. However the time management skills and the knowledge of the consulting business, how bids and proposals run, how to balance work and life will be really valuable in the years to come. I am really looking forward to going back to University and taking with me all my developments.

The office was a great environment to work in, located on South Bank it was an excellent location and everybody was so friendly. There was always some sort of social or event going on that you could attend and meet new people and network, which was such an opportunity not to be missed!

Everybody was given a core role in which you would work with your task manager in, you'd then be aligned a business area which you would work to. However, this was not set in stone and it was very easy to get involved in projects in other areas through networking and asking!

Very senior partners and colleagues spent a lot of time with me explaining processes and areas of the business which was really great. At all times I felt comfortable and confident to be able to ask a question and it would be welcomed with open arms and explained to me in a very clear and precise manner. It was a great learning environment and so I was able to take a lot out of it

I have applied back and I am waiting to have my first interview to go back on their graduate scheme. It is such a great company and I would love to have the opportunity to work for IBM again. There is so much room for progression and learning within IBM!

There were around 80 placement students and futures students in South Bank I think. Which was then super easy to meet and socialise with other colleagues of a similar age. There was a Christmas boat party organised and events such as Think were everyone volunteered and we all worked together. It was great to make new friends and will definitely keep in touch with them.

London in inherently expensive and most of the generous salary went on rent however. Despite this there was still a lot of socialising to be done and I was taken out several times by more senior colleagues for food and drinks which was a great experience and good to get to know them better.

South Bank is so central in London and is a great place to work, Winter Food markets to roof top terrace bars in summer. It was such a good area to be in and a great area to go out in! The only downside is the expensive London prices but was definitely affordable when only there for a year!

There were so many opportunities and activities, every day somebody was posting an event or an activity that you could get involved or volunteer for. This was so good and meant that your job could be very varied and you could gain a wide range of experience in only one year!