Business Consultant Review

I have a partly internal, partly external role. This has really helped me to understand the challenges and opportunities we face within the business, but also with our clients. Internally, I have supported the leader of IBM iX-Customer Transformation, looking at issues like utilisation, pipeline planning, and bids and proposals. Externally, I have performed three roles across business and design. I have been a UX and Service Designer for two of our largest oil and gas portfolios, before working in luxury retail, and sports and entertainment. As part of giving back to the iX Community, I also lead the Sports Club - a place for sports fans to connect, and learn more about sporting trends and the clients we work with.

I have learnt so many new skills this year. I came into IBM with no prior experience in Consulting, so I learnt a variety of soft skills - such as diplomacy, communication, and problem solving. I also learnt some hard skills, after discovering my passion for UX Design. IBM iX were very welcoming with me trying new things, and so I spent any spare moment completing Figma courses, and shadowing a senior UX Designer. I built on my existing skills within recruitment by assisting with bench, staffing and utilisation initiatives.

I was given a huge amount of responsibility on my placement year. Throughout my year, I have supported the iX-CT Leadership Team. At the start, I had to gain the trust of these well accomplished individuals, as the scope of work was often highly confidential and had a big effect on employees, and clients. I have been fortunate enough to have attended multiple leadership team cadences, including weekly meetings, where we look at key challenges and opportunities affecting the service line. I have taken on a project management role in this, and my responsibilities have included keeping track of actions, and pulling data views from sometimes rather large data sets/disparate information in a way that the leadership team can easily analyse. I was also given lots of responsibility with clients, often tasked with facilitating discussions and hosting workshops.

I received lots of support on my placement year, from a variety of employees - both junior, and senior. I also received support from my foundation manager, who is there from a pastoral and wellbeing perspective.

Company culture was great! I really enjoyed working in IBM iX, as it was a more casual way of working, with lots of young people. I've been continually amazed by how intelligent and talented people are - and also the willingless to learn from all people, regardless of seniority. I felt as though my ideas were genuinely appreciated, even though I was often the most junior person in the room.

I thoroughly enjoyed my placement year! It has been the biggest growth year for me. My parents have noticed how much I have matured as a person, and furthered my hard and soft skills. I have also met SO many wonderful people who I will definitely be staying in touch with. Some of the interns who I bet are going to be friends for life.

Yes

Be yourself! Don't be afraid of being the most junior person in the room - you bring a fresh and dynamic perspective on things that will really be valued. Take advantage of the learning culture - innovation and curiosity are so important at IBM.